On the Road (Summer Photo Album)

Took some beautiful sunset photos from the road recently. Felt really good to update the Shutterstock Portfolio. Please check them out and let me know what you think (click to enlarge).



www.shutterstock.com/sets/102450632-on-the-road.html?rid=186880126

Things to Do in Panama City Beach, Florida (DAY 4)

To check out the rest of our trip, click here,

Day 1 click here, and Day 2 pt 1 Myrtle Beach and Charleston,  Day 3 Savannah.



Going South from Georgia, we stopped in Jacksonville and discovered a place called Taco Libre that had the most incredible, huge $3 horchatas and tacos. This was the only restaurant that prompted us to take leftovers with us on the road. And let me tell you, eating pork tacos with your feet up at a random gas station in the middle of nowhere, is one of the greatest enjoyments one can have.



Panama City Beach seems to be known more for beach and hotel rentals than hip eats and exciting things to do. But we found it all!



In the New York Times article '36 Hours in Panama City Beach', it's written,

"In this self-styled “Spring Break Capital of the World” — a moniker validated by the hundreds of thousands of students who descend on the town every March and April — you’ll find a predictably high density of tattoo parlors and mini-golf courses. But hidden amid this lowbrow mix are welcome additions including a farmers’ market and the area’s first craft beer pub. And in 2010, the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport opened just north of the city, making the trip south even easier. So trade in expectations of starched tablecloths and fine-art museums, and embrace the carefree notions that swirl with silly pineapple daiquiris and every facet of the relaxing life aquatic here on Florida’s laid-back Emerald Coast."



We had dinner upon getting into town - at a place called Schooner's Last Local Beach Club. I called ahead and asked if it was busy, and the woman on the phone giggled. I soon discovered why, as we pulled up. This beach-side institution looks like the most popping place in town. People lined up 5 rows deep waiting for a table. We put our names down, and walked along the beach (watched the sun beginning to set) until I got the text that our table was ready.



They seated us right by the water, and the cannon- which they shoot off every night at sunset. Enjoyed a pina colada (in complimentary plastic tumblr- it's substantially large), grouper (me) and chicken (him) sandwich.







We walked back onto the beach at night and enjoyed feeling the soft sand under our feet.

The next morning, we were so excited to wake up.

We had an appointment for the Dolphin Encounter at Gulf Marine World Park!

This was such a bucket list item for me. It was just enough time to really interact and enjoy the moment. But there were a lot of other great things happening as well, and with the Dolphin Encounter ticket we also had the opportunity to see the rest of the park afterwards. Here is a video of some of the highlights.









We stopped by a Sea Lion Show:

Saw some sharks!

Touched a stingray or two:

And then we were off to New Orleans!

24 Hrs in Savannah (DAY 3)

We had so much fun the whole week before and after hitting this city.

To check out our preplanning, click here, Day 1 click here, and Day 2 pt 1 Myrtle Beach and Charleston, click the city names.

(Prints of the photo below, because I'm in love with it, are available here.)







Savannah was a great place to be immersed in Southern Gothic-ness and it's own definite culture. We've heard so many things from friends in the past, and were definitely looking forward to this leg of our East Coast Road Trip.







One of my old coworkers, Paige, had given some great tips. She went to Savannah College of Art and Design, and ended up having her wedding there during the time that we worked together. Everywhere we walked, we would see the SCAD logo and various parts of the campus.



For hotels in Savannah - cannot recommend Mansion on Forsyth Park more. We'd had a relatively smooth ride in from Charleston, but were more than ready to check in to this luxurious place. There was Versace furniture and flavored water and apples we snacked on, in the lobby. If you walk through the lobby out the back, there is this gorgeous pool you can take a dip in.







We got asked later that night (when spontaneously chatting with a couple near us, also watching the sun set) why we picked this hotel, rather than one of the many located at the River. If the above details aren't enough, here are some of the reasons we gave them. When Mark had been here in the past for rugby, he remembered Forsyth Park fondly. We also knew there would be a Farmers Market there in the morning (it's every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), so we could just walk across the street and get breakfast there. And as it would turn out, we would also see the start of the Savannah Mile Run that morning. We still enjoy remembering a group of probably coworkers, all in yellow shirts, who started out walking, and later we saw ending the run walking, having a great time the whole way.



We also ended up finding out that the hotel has a complimentary shuttle to their sister property, The Bohemian located on the Riverfront at Bay Street. It runs every half an hour on a first come first serve basis. We ended up going there to see the sun set, with a great view from their rooftop bar. To be able to go back to a quiet room, away from the craziness of the Riverwalk after a night out, was great. And the most incredible soaking tub was in our room, waiting.











(P.S. Don't pay for valet, there is sufficient on-street parking available around the park and side streets and we ended up finding parking on the same block as the hotel, every time we needed it)



Our walking route was along Bull and Whitaker from the Park towards the River and back.



Made a stop at a friendly looking bookstore called E Shaver Booksellers, which had an attached oasis called the Tea Room. They had Outlander-themed tea! (for anyone who remembers that show and the Jamie character fondly) As their website says, first and foremost, they love tea. Mark had a bit of a cough, so they made a batch of 'Emperor's Bride' with a strong recommendation that it would help him feel better, and it did!



Dinner was at Olde Pink House & Planters Tavern at 23 Abercorn Street, which I'm told, is always busy. I had pulled up the restaurant on my phone as I'm apt to do sometimes when I want to go somewhere nice but hadn't thought to make a reservation yet. I'll literally do it in the parking lot right before going in, just to have that to say to the host. But this time, I couldn't do it. There were not open tables, or so we thought. It's a huge, historic place (16,000 square feet) that any host or hostess will give you a tour to show you all the wings and different facts that have occured there. Despite not having even a last minute reservation, we walked in and were treated really well. We were walked around and given descriptions of every room, and it turns out a table opened up as soon as we got back to the entrance.

We were seated in an old bank vault room. It was wonderful. I got the pork, he got the chicken, we both got collard greens and a delicious sweet potato with pecan brown sugar sauce on the side. In total it was around $50 with drinks.



We strolled to the Riverwalk and saw the boats and people milling around. Last time Mark was here, his rugby teammates had spent more of there time here near the water. He'd gone to Smiles Dueling Piano Bar so we stopped and listened for a minute. Got a signature pina colada frozen daquiri from Wet Willies and sat in the park, watching people with glow sticks running around.



The next morning, we walked outside to see this race setting off. So many participants going by the front of the hotel, right at that moment! We crossed that street and walked into the park, strolling through the stalls of the Farmer's Market. I HIGHLY recommend one vendor, Alake's GA Pecan's. His 'Sweet, Salty, Buttery' 2 oz bag of pecans is their best seller, and addictive.

We snacked and munched on our way past the park (the opposite way from our stroll last night to the river), towards Foxy Loxy Cafe. Artwork litters the walls. We got sausage breakfast kolaches from someone named Chloe, and sat in their main seating area along with a few student-looking patrons perched at their various laptops.

After all that walking, we were ready to relax in our room and start thinking about the next destination. And good thing, because it started to rain. Our next city was Panama City Beach, Florida (DAY 4), so it was about to be a long drive.



*A recommendation for the best road stop you could imagine- is on the way out of Savannah heading South- the Smallest Church in America in Darien, GA.

 

A Day in Charleston, South Carolina (DAY 2 pt2)

WE LOVE CHARLESTON.

Here is a video montage of our morning biking through this wonderful city. A lot of people visiting Charleston South Carolina, choose to rent bikes and go by the water, and I completely understand why, now. This is the third part of our earlier road trip posts along the East Coast (see also, Virginia Beach and Wilmington, and Myrtle Beach).

Stayed at the Spectator Hotel, easily one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in or will ever. There was a butler! His name was Chuck and he had the best stories about the city and his life. Even helped us figure out where to go to dinner. Note: there are so many free snacks (My favorite were the benne wafers by Charleston Specialty Foods), and free cocktails in the room (as well as water, coke, and local sweet tea) that you might not get that hungry.







But the weather was wonderful and we could hear a local troubadour singing from City Market nearby, so we wandered down a block or two and saw the night stalls that were open. Through there and another block or two, we made it to Anson Restaurant. Really nice ambience, and a perfect romantic dinner of chicken for him, and grouper for me, by candlelight. On the way back from the restaurant, back through City Market, the singer was now singing 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran, and I couldn't help but hum a little bit and stop with Mark against a wall to listen to him finish til the end.



Can we just talk about the view one wakes up to?







Brunch was at Butcher & Bee, a super hipster cafe where I got a Lamb Pita and Turmeric Tang juice, and Mark got the Roast Beef Sandwich. Took this photo outside:







'A good time occurs precisely when we lose track of what time it is' -Robert Farrar Capon



Drove to the nearby Shepherd Fairey mural that was still on the wall of their old location, then it was on to Savannah, Georgia.

Surprises at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (DAY 2 pt1)

DAY 2 of our East Coast Road Trip is split up because of just how much happened when we hit the Carolina's. (DAY 1 on Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington here)



The rain was coming down really hard, the morning we set off for Myrtle Beach. This city is on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, and the hub of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile string of beaches. The plan had been to get toes wet at the water's edge, but the downpour and a slight burn from Virginia Beach the day before discouraged us. Went to Wal-Mart to get some sunscreen and snacks, and I researched from last minute indoor activities.







Black Biker Week was going on, as it happens, every year over Memorial Weekend at Myrtle Beach. It was the coolest thing to see all the bikers and their motorcycles. I remember seeing the event on an episode of Eastbound and Down, and it was something we also hadn't planned but were really happy to be unwitting spectators.

There was an area on Celebrity Circle that had a bunch of cute shops. The rain had stopped a bit we were able to feed fishes from a boardwalk. I'll never forget, relaxing in one of the deck chairs under a shop awning, watching the rain. Everything smells more clearly when it's wet, and the all the colors around you look richer, more saturated.

Wandered into a Laser Maze Challenge. This was probably more for children, but made us feel like Catherine Zeta Jones in Entrapment. And we beat the Expert Level- twice! There was also a connected Mirror Maze, that was really fun. They give you gloves when you go in, because you keep your arms out to check which pathways are real, and which are the mirrored halls.

Grabbed lunch at a big restaurant by the water called the Sea Captain's House, mostly because it had a big parking lot across the street and you could walk from the dining area to the water. Pleasantly surprised to try she-crab soup for the first time there; it was really good.



Went back to another boardwalk and shops area but this time to see some tigers!

The best possible last minute thing ever - the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station at Myrtle Beach Safari. The first time slots start at 5:00 pm, so we hit up a magic store across from the entrance (saw a 'Zoltar Speak's machine, just like they have at Coney Island and the Tom Hanks movie, Big). When the time finally came- we were so excited. The admission goes to funding preservation efforts- and the monkeys, wolf cub, and two-month-old tiger were so amazing to hold and touch. I still can't believe we had that once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was my favorite part of our time at Myrtle Beach.

And then it was off to Charleston for the evening.

Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington (DAY 1)

DAY 1

Let me just preface by saying that we planned this entire road trip for a long time! (for example, this entry from February). Lots of hand-scrawled notes and maps and google spreadsheet formats. Right on the cusp of our thirties, we really wanted to make the most of this trip and hope you enjoy the tips we found useful.

Woke up bright and early Wednesday morning before Memorial Weekend to visit Colonial Williamsburg VA, Virginia Beach VA, and Wilmington NC. This was the first leg on a road trip that would span all the way down the East Coast of the USA from Baltimore, MD.

Out of the many options out there- we went with National Car Rental Service. Got lucky with a Hyundai Tucson that had only 9 miles on it! Though it was picked up at the BWI Airport, the expectation was that it would only be driven one-way and dropped off at the NOLA Airport eventually. Armed with Starbucks Almond Chai Latte (no foam, no water) and Herbal Tea, we started heading down 95.



If you drink water and tea at the start of the trip, you'll start wanting to take a rest stop around Colonial Williamsburg appearing on the route. Having never been there before (but I had heard stories about the reenactments and history), we stopped by the Visitor Center and wandered through the Great Hopes Plantation for a bit. The weather was really nice, and there a lot of old examples of housing structures and a windmill.







VIRGINIA BEACH



This is the largest city in Virginia, known for it's naval installations and shoreline beaches. It wasn't long after leaving Williamsburg that we got to Cape Henry Lighthouse. I had no idea it was part of a military establishment! Fort Story is a beautiful area right on the water. Though we weren't expecting for our vehicle to be investigated before admission, it made the destination feel more hidden and special. There's a Memorial and beach outlook point across the street from the Lighthouse, that's nice to stop at. *One thing we found out the hard way is enter through Gate 8*.







I highly recommend printing out the VA Beach Public Art Scavenger Hunt map. It made it much easier to identify the art installations scattered along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and became a fun game. Our favorite were the Beach Balls and Birds in Flight.

We dipped our toes in the water, and ate froyo from Kohr's when it got hotter (Strawberry/Banana, and Chocolate/Peanut Butter).



We stopped at Commune for lunch, and were not disappointed. There was a healthy mix of families and young people. Everything was responsibly sourced and delicious. I had iced coffee (from local coffee company, PJ's) with burnt honey and a Ham & Jam Biscuit (both the Peach and Strawberry jams were great) for less than $10 total. The parking lot they share with Esoteric, a bar and restaurant is so beautiful, right?







This was our longest driving day, 550 miles, so to get something that would keep us alert and feeling our best went really, a long way.



WILMINGTON



Chris Dixon writes this in this New York Times article 'In Wilmington, N.C.', "a band of fortune seekers and opportunists braved the un-air-conditioned heat -- as well as the mosquitoes, alligators and bears along the banks of the Cape Fear River -- to create Wilmington, which in time became the northernmost hub of the Southern rice culture. Now it makes its living as a resort, a busy port and an aspiring movie capital. In 1983, Frank Capra Jr. found Wilmington a good place to shoot his film "Firestarter," and now his Wilmington studio, EUE/Screen Gems, says it is the largest film production facility east of California. Downtown this fall, you might find the cast of the WB network's "One Tree Hill" among the contented tourists in search of antiques, a night at the theater or a bowl of ground white hominy".



Dinner was at Front St. Brewery Taproom. I'd heard good things, and the person who checked us into our hotel also recommended this place. Best Pulled Chicken Burrito I've ever had, for around $10. The Mug of the Day beers are a great deal, where you can get their choice of beer that day for $1.99. (Normally it's $4.99 a beer.)



We wandered into KGB Lounge nearby for drinks, sipping a mule and dark & stormy. From there we kept walking down to the water a bit before getting some much needed rest.







In the morning- the heaviest rain we would get occurred.

Ate breakfast at Ezzell's Breakfast House, a local diner. The coffee was strong. Solid breakfast food. A little group of local older folks held court near the entrance.



Full and happy, we headed down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Enjoying the ☀️

Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina off of Key Highway in Baltimore is just a short walk from Riverside Park to the water. Like I wrote in my Presidents Day Brunch Post- there's the coolest huge mural on the wall here with a handwritten headline  'Land of Eternal Spring'. We were definitely in the mood to enjoy the Spring weather, and hopefully it'll stick! It was an ideal date. Not too hot or cold, and all we needed was a light jacket.

I didn't know until coming back here, that they've been serving Cuban-inspired cuisine on the South Baltimore waterfront for almost 20 years, and it was once a former Feed Supply warehouse!

Walt Disney World Resort Memories

This time last year, we were in front of where Harry Truman used to hang out in Florida on a family vacation to Disney World. It was my first time, a bucket list item.

RIP Barbara Bush. Half of another Gemini couple (George Bush Sr. and her were the longest married presidential couple), and someone who accomplished an incredible amount in her life. She said in 1990 Wellesley College commencement address:

"At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend, or a parent."

Weekend Hiking at Ricketts Glen ❄️

Spent this weekend camping with Mark's family at Ricketts Glen State Park. It's one of the most beautiful places I've seen, with over 22 waterfalls and 13 acres out a few hours from Baltimore, in Pennsylvania. We did this same trip in April last year, when it was warmer. This time, there was still snow on the ground, but it was nice to see the woods in a different way, and feel the crunch under our feet.



Mark and I love road trips, and had stocked up on three different brands of bottled tea (honey green tea and half tea half lemonade varietals), beef jerky, and Gardetto's (the only brand of trail mix that doesn't need spin-offs- it's perfect). The hours pass quickly with the radio on intermittently and some dancing, sometimes a podcast, and enjoying the scenery.



We drove along the Susquehanna River for a while, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. It was early morning, so the sun was just rising, and you could see a little fishing boat here or there on the water. The sun dappled the road ahead of us, and we couldn't resist taking a few photos of the open horizon. Lots of cute little houses out there and farmland. Some antique stores. When you finally get to the park- there's a very steep road right before getting to the campgrounds- so if you ever go, it can be a surprise.



The cabin had electricity and running water. I never grew up camping, so a few tips I've learned through Mark's family are- keep a burn box (of items that can go in the fire), and a recycling box (plastic water bottles mostly). Set the thermostat to 60, because it'll get more than hot enough in the rooms- and pack extra socks.



We walked to Lake Jean for a bit, then did a hike that was around 7 miles through the trails. Had dinner and played a card game called 'Mille Borne' that I really enjoyed. Mark's mom makes meals that I wonder at because of the volume and variety that are still safe enough choices for 8 people.



There are so many memories that I don't write about, but I just get the feeling this was an important one. I was drawing on some of our experiences from the year before to inform how to pack and what to expect- and I expect I'll do the same referencing if we make a trip like this in the future. And if anyone reading this has more information or finds the above useful, all the better.

California Weekend | Cinequest 2018 & Seeds

Mark and I went to California this weekend! The purpose was to see my sister, and attend the ‘Seeds’ film
premiere at Cinequest Film Festival. Made it into San Francisco Thursday night and had dinner at ‘wonderful’
a really delicious Hunan Chinese restaurant in Millbrae. Her boyfriend knew the
menu well- we had a great time. I’m very proud of the life she’s made for
herself there and was happy to celebrate an early birthday with her. 

Friday we walked around the pier and Ferry Building Marketplace. Ate breakfast burritos and hung out before catching the Caltrain to San Jose. It was a smooth, quiet ride. Got off in Sunnyvale and were able to meet Mark's friend who works at Apple, and see the campus! It's so crazy and beautiful- got lunch together and took a little tour. From there, we Uber'd (my referral code is andreac2181ue and if you use Ibotta- QSABWBM for $1 off all Uber rides) to the Fairmont Hotel, and started festiva-ting.

Seeing everyone from the film who was able to come, was so great. I think the premiere went well - it was Saturday at the California Theatre. Really grateful to Owen and Younny Long as well as the whole cast and crew, for making the experience possible. Here is a review by Fanboy Planet, http://fanboyplanet.com/cinequest-2018-seeds/ and an article by Screen Anarchy http://screenanarchy.com/2018/03/seeds-exclusive-clip-thriller.html

Thank you to Wearaway, Salon Three Sixty One and Kevin Johnn for helping me feel confident and beautiful. (I meant to try out Stylebee but the timing didn't work out- if you want to- my code is achen25 for $20 off!)

And most of all to Mark for being the string to my kite, the tree to my vine, my rock, everything- all the things. I love exploring together.