Time for a Road Trip

This is another one for any beer lovers out there as we hunt for Heady Topper. Brewed by Alchemist, it is made in small batches and only available at the brewery, select retail stores and restaurants in Vermont. Supply definitely does not meet the demand and for that reason they frequently run out of stock. There are stories of people following their delivery trucks so they could be first in line to make sure not to miss out. Given that the beer is shipped only on certain days of the week that seemed like the best option if you arrive on the same day but our first stop didn't quite match. We were in Burlington and happened upon The Farmhouse Tap & Grill but their delivery day is Thursday and unfortunately they were out. This was a Wednesday and after checking the Alchemist website schedule finding that Prohibition Pig in Waterbury was on the list we were on our way. Before even sitting down I yelled out to the hostess, do you have Heady Topper? And luck was on my side bec...

When we think of our favorite comfort foods there is mac and cheese, pizza, hamburgers, chowder, and meatloaf. Most of these we can make at home unless you're like us and prefer to have someone else make it for you. Anyway, there is one that is very difficult to prepare at home and that is fried seafood. You could buy one of those small fryers or set up a large commercial fryer in your kitchen but for most of us it is just better cooked by somebody else. With the smell of fried seafood permeating in our minds we took off on a recent warm day to Captain Frosty's on Cape Cod in Dennis, MA.

Many of you probably go to the Mystic, Connecticut area to visit a casino but we found another reason. A store that has some of the best fudge we have ever tasted. Located at Olde Mystic Village, Munson's Chocolates has several stores throughout the state and this is our favorite.

This week I was perplexed when my husband asked me to write about our latest road trip since this adventure was all his idea. So, instead delving too deeply into the reason why, I agreed to honor his request and then it all became perfectly clear.

Mark you calendars for the Yarmouth Clam festival scheduled for July 21st through the 23rd in Yarmouth, Maine. This is one that we keep going back to year after year and is definitely worth a drive if you are looking for something to do that weekend.

Fond memories come to mind when I think of the small seacoast town of Kennebunkport, Maine. Back in my college days, I spent a summer there working at the Colony Hotel and jogging by George Bush’s house down the road. It has been a long time since then but my wife and I go back frequently for the shopping, ocean, and of course the food.

Now that Memorial Day has past the summer driving season is in full swing and what could be better than a trip to the great state of Maine. But where should you go with so many beautiful and fun choices? We headed to one of our favorite haunts for the first time this year in Ogunquit, Maine to check out MC Perkins Cove.

When you think of Mystic, Connecticut the movie Mystic Pizza probably comes to mind featuring Julia Roberts. We are not saying that you shouldn’t check out the actual Mystic Pizza restaurant but wanted to enlighten you to another tasty shop in this New England town. Just before you cross over the drawbridge leading to the downtown area is a small side street where we discovered a piece of cupcake heaven, Li's Bake Shop.

For my in-laws recent wedding anniversary my wife was trying to think of a restaurant that was not too far of a drive but something a little bit different for a special celebration. Since they love the ocean she remembered our enjoyable visit to the Seaglass Restaurant a few years ago. Remembering the beautiful views and delicious food this seemed like the ideal location.

My wife loves a good lobster roll and we have been known to travel far and wide in our search to find “the best” one. When she heard about how great they are at the Raw Bar in Mashpee we were on our way. This was one of our best road trips in a long time. It had it all the necessary elements, getting lost, asking for help and having no idea if we were going in the right direction. In the end it was all worth it.

Winter tends to be a tough time of year to plan a road trip because of the cold weather and worries about possible difficult driving conditions. However, on those days that are nice we always find time to get out of town. Newport, Rhode Island is generally thought of as a summer destination but you may want to take a trip to help get you in the holiday mood. With the festive season upon us, we thought it would be the perfect place to enjoy seeing some Christmas decorations. Three of the historic Newport mansions (The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms) are open and dressed in their holiday finest from November 19th to January 2nd. 

We found a restaurant (new to us) on the water in Tiverton, Rhode Island for our next road trip. The Boat House faces the water to the west instead of the east like so many other establishments on the Atlantic coast. For this reason they can offer some of the most beautiful sunset views you will see in New England. Because of all the large windows, every seat offers the same breathtaking views.

Bar Harbor has quickly become one of our favorite places in New England. Between the beautiful views of the coast, cute shops in downtown, and Acadia National Park just down the road, there’s so many reasons to visit. All of that is wonderful but I would also add that Bar Harbor is home to some of my favorite breakfast destinations.

Manchester, Vermont is one of those quintessential New England towns that everyone should visit at least once. Think of green lush grass with beautiful white houses throughout as you drive along and find what we believe is the cutest of them all.

The next time you are up for a trip into Boston we found a Mexican place that you should take some time to check out. Just off Boylston on Dartmouth Street is Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar. In addition to their delicious food many will appreciate the gothic environment that conjures up vampires and dark places. If you are like me and enjoy a horror movie or strange and weird spots this is perfect.

My father in law is not obsessed with food like some of us. When we go out and I ask him what he thought of a meal, the typical reply is that it was “okay”. Although he won't admit it, there is one thing that he enjoys more than any other and that is desserts – particularly cheesecake. So every once and awhile we would be chatting and casually mention that the cheesecake at some random place is really good and he would always pipe in and say "but it's not Junior’s cheesecake!" Since I’ve never had Junior’s, I didn’t understand what the big deal was but apparently their cheesecake is what he compared all others to.

We love a road trip that brings you to the water and this time we take you to the small town of Essex on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Essex is a quintessential New England town with its historic houses some dating back to the 1600’s, antique shops, and plenty of dining options. Although there are a number of restaurants in the area that serve seafood, Periwinkles is one of our favorites. Situated on the Essex River this is a nice quiet spot to chillax. Grab a seat on the outside deck and you will soon forget all your troubles as you enjoy the beautiful surroundings. For those of you who prefer to dine in air conditioned comfort, have no fear. There is also a large dining room inside the restaurant.

This Sunday when the temperature in New Hampshire is expected to hit 70 degrees naturally we start to think about ice cream. Of course my wife would argue that ice cream tastes just as good on a winter’s day so we know that many others enjoy this sweet confection year round. For anyone visiting New England for the first time or if you usually eat the store bought variety, do yourself a favor and put visiting a homemade ice cream on your bucket list of must do’s this spring or summer. Since New Englanders eat more ice cream per capita than any other part of the country, there are many spots to choose from and one our favorites is Kimball's at Bates Farm in Carlisle. We have visited numerous times over the years and we’ve never been disappointed.

(Editors note: Unfortunately from what I have been reading Cappy's Chowder House has closed. There is plenty to do in Camden so this is still a destination worthy of a road trip.  Happy travels everyone, Rich) Camden, Maine is one of those picturesque New England coastal towns that you really should visit when you have a chance. You may recall that Memorial Day this year was miserable weather wise. With the rain pouring outside we debated whether to take a road trip or stay home. Well, you guessed it, getting out of the house and on the highway won out over hanging out at home so we started driving.

With road trip season in full swing we decided to head south to Connecticut over the holiday weekend for one of our favorite breakfast places of all time. Our story begins back in 2006 when my wife and I were on vacation in San Diego, California. As many of you know we are always looking for great places for breakfast so we feverishly search for the best local joints when we travel. During this quest I stumbled upon Hash House a Go Go as the favorite. We stopped by and the wait was something like 45 minutes. After passing the time chatting with the locals, we had what was one of the best breakfasts of our lives.