I found Matador Restaurant on Instagram and was excited to try a tapas restaurant that was closer than Boston. 

I made a reservation online for the two of us and I'm glad I did as the restaurant was quite busy. We were seated after a few minutes wait and our server welcomed us. 

I wasn't thrilled with the cocktail menu and honestly my order was a bit on the tart side. My 2nd order was a Cava and I should have just started and finished there. 

For our meal we selected Iberico ham, boquerones, pan con tamate, patatas bravas, charred galician octopus, seared wild mushrooms, and the flaming chorizo. Our favorite dish was the seared wild mushrooms with a close second place going to the boquerones (sardines). 

Otherwise nothing was memorable. For the price paid we would rather drive into Boston for tapas. 

When I think about a staycation and a true New England feel it's Rockport that comes to mind. The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed, and the scenery is outstanding. 

​Our first stop in town is always a walk along the waterfront. Even Fred enjoys it!

A few of my favorite shops are Lula's Pantry, Wicked Peacock, One Ocean One Love Shop, and Floating Lotus.

We've dined at a few sit down restaurants in Rockport but we lately we opt for enjoying a more casual meal. A few of our favorite foodie spots are Top Dog, Roy Moore Lobster Co, Helmut's Strudel, and Tucks Candy Factory. 

We bundled up and went for a walk to lunch. We decided on Bistro L'atelier. The atmosphere was welcoming, casual, and yet trendy. The cocktails were delicious! For meals we ordered the spicy tuna poke bowl and the cauliflower general tao. Both dishes were delicious the only downside was that Greg didn't realize the cauliflower was battered and fried. He was trying to make a healthier choice but he thoroughly enjoyed the dish. 

After dinner we took a leisurely walk back to our hotel. Even in the rain and cold the city is beautiful and enchanting. Quebec City is definitely one of my favorites.

When on vacation and the weather is awful a wonderful idea is to head to Ile d'Orleans and spend some time touring wineries. Our first stop was to Cassis Monna & Filles. The staff were friendly and extremely knowledgeable. We sampled their creme de cassis as well as cassis wines. Everything we tried was outstanding. We purchased several items for ourselves and others for unique gifts. I would love to come back in the warmer months when their restaurant is open. 

Our next stop was to Vignoble Ste Petronille. The property is stunning and the staff friendly. We both opted for the tasting with their sparkling wine. Neither Greg and I agreed on a favorite so we purchased a bottle for him, a different bottle for me, and a few others as gifts. 

Early Saturday morning we loaded up our car and headed north. Fred doesn't travel so easily these days so we usually stop in Kittery Maine for a break. Starbucks provided the coffee and matcha lemonade while When Pigs Fly Bakery​ provided us with bread for breakfast.

Once we arrived in Portland we met my parents at Portland Head Lighthouse. We enjoyed a beautiful summer day looking at the lighthouse, the ocean, and strolling on a few different paths.  ​

For lunch, we popped into Mami. I first tried their food at Lamb Jamb in Boston and loved their bold take on cuisine. 

When you enter the restaurant you order at the counter, then find a table,  and the staff brings the food to you. I don't know if they are being financially efficient or if it was a tough day, but while there I noticed the one woman working (ringing up orders, getting drinks, delivering food, and cleaning tables) . Throughout our visit she look frazzled and this played into our difficult situation later on.

We ordered onigiri, takoyaki, karaage, kobayashi dog, shishito peppers, steamed buns, and the oyakadon.

Everything was cooked perfectly, seasoned nicely, and was a delight to eat. It's a combination of street, comfort, and modern food that is delicious.

Unfortunately, the woman working came over to our table to clean up. When my father commented that he loved the oyakadon she commented back that it was her husbands favorite. My dad replied that she should make it some time for him. The employee then said, "yup it's the woman's job to do all the cooking and cleaning right." My father's intention wasn't that she was a woman but that she works at the restaurant and so maybe should know the recipe. Little did she know that my 73-year-old father loves to cook, buys tons of cookbooks, does all of the cooking and most of the cleaning for my mother and the rest of his family. 

I kept my mouth shut inside the restaurant because I didn't want to embarrass my father further nor disrupt other patrons experiences but this left a horrible taste in my mouth. I wrote to Mami on Instagram and the response I received was very apologetic and understanding, however, I can't return to their restaurant. With that said I love their food and encourage others to visit them and experience their unique flavors.  

We quickly packed our stuff, checked out of the Kimpton Brice Hotel and started to make our way north to Washington D.C.

Our intentions with D.C. was to just spend the night and go to a nice dinner. Halfway there we decided that we had enough rich food and could use some light sightseeing. 

We arrived at The Madison Washington D.C., almost got hit by another car trying to valet, and were helped by the nice staff. 

Inside the hotel, the staff welcomed us, thanked us for being Diamond members, and checked us in. We made our way to room 1031 and the interior was adorable. Greg made a statement about the bathroom has a strange smell and I don't know if I was stuffy or what but I couldn't smell anything. The next morning though it was evident.

Before heading out for a walk, we decided on a drink and a small bite in the bar area. We ordered 2 Manhattan's and 2 pork belly sliders. The sliders were a perfect combination of sweet, salty, crunchy, and soft. Delicious! ​

We made our way to the National Mall and quickly stopped by the White House. The sunny and warm night was perfect for a stroll around the National Mall. We stopped by a few of the monuments as well as the new Museum of African American History (I wish we arrived before closing for a visit). The architecture of the building is incredible. 

We slowly made our way back to the hotel to head to bed early. We are definitely eager to get home to see our little Fred.

We checked out of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and started heading back north. Along the way, we were going to pop into St. Augustine but the area was very busy and we didn't want to spend too much time trying to find parking. We ended up with a quick drive through and then continued on to Savannah GA. This wasn't our first time in Savannah but we picked places in the area that we haven't visited previously.

Our first stop was at Wormsloe Historic Site. We pulled in and I took photos of the gates while Greg went inside to pay our admission. 

Driving up to the parking lot we stopped along the way for photos of the marvelous driveway. We walked past the visitor's center and made our way on to one of the paths. We walked past ruins, beautiful fauna, and then down to the wetlands. Before we could decide what to do next it started raining on us. Inside the visitors center, we purchased a couple of souvenirs. ​

After an error with Google maps, we finally found the creepy beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery. Between being in a cemetery and the cloudy and rainy weather one would think that it would be sad and dark.

Both Greg and I felt emotional, amazed, and the love that family members must have felt for those who are departed. 

We opted to drive through the cemetery pulling over when we wanted to take pictures and were glad we did. Others parked in one of the lots and ended up getting soaking wet when it rained on all of us. 

We absolutely loved our visit to the cemetery and highly recommend it for your next vacation in Savannah.

After our meal, we drove to the Kimpton Brice Hotel. We pulled up to the valet and were helped with the car, luggage, and asked if we need any tips for places to visit. We chatted how we had been here before and how this was a last minute see what comes our way visit.

The lobby is adorable with seating areas, a coffee bar (in the morning), restaurant, and bar area. Check in was efficient. I can't really say any more than that. The hallway to the elevator is behind the bar/restaurant area and you feel like you're heading in the wrong direction but you're not. 

Up to the 2nd floor, we found our room 214. The room is a mix of modern decor with warm accents. I normally don't like sink areas that are outside of the bathroom but given how adorable this boutique hotel is I let it go. The wifi is free for members of their loyalty club however it is an open connection so keep that in mind. 

After wandering around Savannah for a little while we decided to enjoy a couple of cocktails at the bar. Both staff members were friendly but did seem a little overwhelmed at times. We both ordered Manhattan's and they were perfect! ​

Walking around Savannah before the rain started again was lovely. We walked the garden area across from our hotel and made our way down to River Street. Some of the shops were closing so we decided to visit again tomorrow. In the past, we enjoyed cocktails at Rocks on the Roof inside the Bohemian hotel but we weren't exactly dressed for evening cocktails so we'll have to visit again another time. ​

I found a really cool looking vegan restaurant on Instagram and couldn't wait to try Fox and Fig. With a dairy allergy you rarely get to enjoy a good pancake breakfast so I was thrilled to see pancakes on their menu.

The exterior and interior of the restaurant are adorable and welcoming. For drinks, Greg ordered a coffee and I chose the Earl Grey Lavender Latte. My drink was amazing. The latte was creamy, sweet, and not overly floral from the lavender.

For our meals Greg chose the soaked chia porridge and I selected the coconut cream pancakes. Both of our dishes were visually stunning. My pancakes were fluffy, fresh from the lemon and coriander, and lightly dressed with syrup. I was a happy camper.

We chatted with our sweet server about how long they have been open, the savory meal options, and how good the pancakes were.

Whether you are vegan or not you have to try the food at this gem! 

Unfortunately, Old Fort Jackson wasn't open while we were in town so we decided to visit Fort Pulaski again. When we pulled up Greg read that the entrance fee was included in the America the beautiful pass and we recently purchased a new one. Score!

We briefly looked inside the visitors center before entering the fort. We started with the tunnels before entering the main area. We opted to wander around on our own but didn't spend too much time outside because of the heat and humidity. Inside the store I found a fun t shirt for the parks, and some small gifts for our nephews. 

We were on our way to check out the beach on Tybee Island when we glanced at a sign for the Tybee Lighthouse. We turned around and headed to the lighthouse. Once we parked we found another fort, museums, and the working lighthouse. We paid our admission and decided to be crazy and climb the steps to the top! Did I mention that I still have a broken foot? What can you do sit around or experience these moments! The 360-degree views were wonderful and made the climb worth it!

We slowly made our way back down on our shaky legs and decided that we were getting kind of hungry. We decided to visit a previous favorite for some bbq. Wiley's Championship BBQ is a casual spot with amazing staff and delicious food. We both ordered lemonades to cool us down. My order was the pulled pork plate with green beans and sweet potato casserole. Greg opted for the brisket, beans, and coleslaw. My meal definitely one. The pulled pork is tender and flavorful but when you add their mountain sauce it's perfect! The sweet potato casserole was addictive! Greg's meal while good wasn't as good as mine. ​

Before heading up to our friend's place we stopped and paid $22 to park at Universal Citywalk so we could try Voodoo Doughnuts. There wasn't a line and there also weren't any good vegan donuts. Apparently, morning isn't a busy time for them so they have limited flavors. As the day goes on they bring out more. 

We ordered regular donuts for Greg and our friends and I chose the vanilla sprinkle vegan donut, chocolate glazed donut, and the plain donut. When I mentioned coming back later on the staff member wrote a note down on our receipt so we could skip the line. At the time I didn't think much of this. 

Later on, we visited again (it's free to park after 6 pm) and there was definitely a line this time. I showed the person at the door our note and we were able to bypass all of the lines. We ordered one of all of their vegan donuts. Their plain donuts are good but nothing to write home about. In Boston we love Union Square Donuts, they are soft, melt in your mouth, and have great flavors. Voodoo donuts excel at their vegan flavored donuts. My absolute favorite was the Portland cream. It had been so long since I had a filled donut! Delicious! I also enjoyed their maple cake.  ​

We met up with my friend at her place and spent a fun morning checking out the grounds of her place, playing pool, and joking around. 

For lunch, the 3 of us went to Saint Anejo. We were seated right away, ordered some skinny margarita's and ate a bunch of chips with salsa. For entrees Greg chose the al pastor tacos, my friend ordered the carnita's tacos, and I opted for the chicken mole. My mole was very flavorful but the sauce was thin and my chicken was very tough. If the mole continued cooking for dinner service I bet it would be terrific! Greg's tacos were very good but the absolute winner was my friends carnita's. The carnita's are outstandingly tender, savory, and delicious. 

Our server was so nice and took my meal off of the bill which wasn't necessary but definitely appreciated. 

In the afternoon, my friends parents and boyfriend joined us for drinks at her place and then on to dinner. We walked nearby to The General Public House. We were seated right away even without a reservation. We ordered our drinks and decided to pass on starters. Greg ordered the Odd Bird and I chose the Rock Shrimp Po Boy. Both sandwiches were plentiful, cooked perfectly, and very tasty thanks to different accompaniments. I also always appreciate good truffle fries (sans cheese). 

We parted ways after dinner and made plans to see each other again in a couple of months. Earlier I told you we stopped by Universal CityWalk again. After that we went back to our hotel enjoyed a donut each while watching the fireworks again. 

To end my celebration we made a reservation for the Omakase dinner at Morimoto Asia. We have enjoyed Omakase dinners at 7 different restaurants and this is hands down our favorite. Last year we did the Omakase with Chef Alex at Morimoto Asia and had a truly memorable experience. 

Tonight's dinner was with the restaurants Executive Chef Yuhi Fujinaga. Our server Jesus welcomed us to the sushi counter, offered us a drink menu, filled our water glasses, and gave us towels to wipe our hands. To accompany our meal we both opted for the drink pairing. We were definitely pampered with 10 courses for dinner. Chef Yuhi welcomed us, talked a bit about his background, and how the restaurant offers their Omakase (Kaiseki style).

Our amuse bouche offered a poke, a ceviche, and a shrimp cocktail but not in the typical sense. The poke was of octopus that still had a chew for texture, the ceviche was a marinated anchovy with pickled okra, and the shrimp cocktail was with a tomato sofrito. 

The 1st course was lightly torched Wagyu steak. What I loved about this dish, besides that it was Wagyu, was that the vinaigrette and pickled ingredients made this rich beef taste almost refreshing.  

The 2nd course was the sushi course with Chef David. I can't remember each item we ate but there were 5 delicious and fresh pieces. 

Our 3rd course was the Otsukuri (Sashimi) course. Any other day and the Kusshi Oyster would have been my favorite but I loved the O-toro. The O-toro came over a container that was lightly smoking it and topped with black lava salt. The dish was beautifully presented and was an incredible bite. 

The 4th course is hands down my favorite of the evening. Foie Gras Chawanmushi (custard), topped with a duck consomme, and crispy Peking duck. This dish had everything. Silky, crunchy, and and so much depth in duck flavor.

Shark skin flounder was our 5th course. This was a solid dish. The flounder was cooked beautifully and came with the most surprisingly sweet beans I've ever eaten. I love a happy surprise.

I was pleasantly surprised by the 6th course. I have tried miso glazed cod at a variety of Omakase dinners but the Miso glazed salmon Chef Yuhi prepared was delicious. The sweetness was well balanced which I appreciated. 

Definitely getting full at this point but it's so hard to stop when all of these incredible dishes are in front of us. I'll admit I didn't eat much of the 7th course because I knew it would be filling. We were given a large portion of mochi rice stuffed chicken topped with Peking drippings.

Over the last couple of years, I became a fan of lamb dishes. Our 8th course was one of the best lamb dishes I've ever eaten. The Hunan Lamb Shank with Japanese curry jus was coated with a delicious rub, crispy on the outside, and, incredibly tender inside.

The 9th course was unique and special. Tuna-kotsu ramen, tuna collar, and tuna prosciutto (that the chef cured himself). I'm not a fan of fish based soups personally but I did try this dish and could appreciate the efforts involved. 

Dessert was up next and it was delightful. Greg was given a creme caramel with caramel sauce and black sesame air cake. My dairy-free dessert was an almond milk custard topped with fruit, boba, and a mango sauce. It was all delicious and I wish I could buy that mango sauce! ​

We were definitely ready to be at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and to start relaxing so we woke up early for the 3.5 hour drive from Brunswick to Orlando. 

We checked into our hotel and our upgraded room wasn't quite ready yet but they would text us as soon as it was. We settled down at the Peacock Alley for a cocktail and snack while we waited for our room and friends to arrive. The mimosa and vegan Mediterranean Flatbread were delightful. 

We received a text saying our room was ready. Unfortunately, this was another fail. Last year we were in suite 930 and our room smelled like fried foods. The staff assured us that the vent issue was solved and so up we went to check our room 630. I was again hit in the face with a fried food smell the minute I walked into the room. There is a vent right above the entrance to these particular suites and it is connected to the kitchen. I am appalled that the Waldorf continues to let this occur. Back to reception we went and asked politely to turn down the upgrade and explained the situation again. 

The staff were friendly and gave us a smaller upgrade that wasn't quite ready yet. Our friends arrived and met us for drinks and fun while waiting for our room.  ​I also noticed after our check in that we were supposed to get complimentary breakfast vouchers but never did so. ​

We decided to have a late lunch/early dinner at Disney Springs since we waited for our room and our friends had to go home early. 

We chose to eat at The Edison. First Impressions were that the interior was unique and exciting but the lunch menu was limited so there was a bit of concern. Our server was very friendly, helpful with my allergies, and never made us wait. 

We started with cocktails and the DB Clothesline Candied Bacon (dairy free). We all loved the appetizer! The combination of sweet, salty, peppery and the chutney were delicious. For lunch we ordered the turkey club, the Edison burger, and the fish and chips. 

My fish and chips (also dairy free) were good but had a little too much coating on it. My friend stated the turkey club was the best she's ever had, and both guys enjoyed the burgers. 

I recommend this restaurant and I would return but probably for dinner rather than lunch. 

I thought I would have had a harder time finding a special request but found the rose gold mouse ears Porscha requested. For dessert we walked over to Sprinkles so I could enjoy a vegan red velvet cupcake!