Before we would check out we ordered room service for breakfast. Greg opted for the Healthy Breakfast and I chose the Japanese Inspired Breakfast. The order was taken smoothly but after a short time the staff member called us back. Apparently there was a glitch in the way they process orders and she was resubmitting it so there would be a short delay. This wasn't a problem for us since we weren't in any rush. Today was probably our busiest and slowest day of the vacation. On one hand we were insanely trying to figure out where we should go instead of Mont Tremblant over our breakfast. We really would like to visit Mont Tremblant but the weather was miserable (rain) and the next day was going to be freezing cold and we felt we would end up just sitting indoors rather than be able to go hiking. After some research we made the decision to head to Burlington VT. Burlington was somewhere we have wanted to visit and it wasn't too far away so we decided to go for it! We called for our car and help with the luggage before checking out downstairs. Before exiting the hotel I stopped and mailed a postcard to my friends daughter who is battling cancer. To read about how amazing she is and how you can also send her some mail visit here. The 4 hour drive took us on the highway for a while. We took a chance and pulled off the highway to shop at Toys R Us. We totally lucked out being able to buy some Unicorn Fingerlings and Star Wars BB8's to send to Ruby and her friends. After that stop we were on small country roads until we got to the border crossing. Once we got to the border we noticed that the agent was looking through our passports again and then he had to close the window for a question. We were then asked about our travels to Indonesia (that occurred 4 years ago). . After telling him we went for vacation and hiking he gave us back our passports and we entered the country. This was definitely knew for us. We made our way into Burlington and found the Hilton Burlington. We pulled into the hotel and had an easy checked in. Our room got upgraded to a lake view but this gave us 2 queen size beds. We don't like 2 beds in hotel rooms but it was only for 2 nights so we went with it. The hotel and room are a bit dated but clean and seem to be maintained. After the long drive we were in need of a snack and some adult beverages. The Mounted Cat (inside the lobby) was very relaxed and the staff terrific. We ordered drinks along with fresh made chips which came with fry sauce. After freshening up we walked up the street to Hen of the Wood for dinner. We called earlier and were able to snag a last minute reservation. The staff seated us at a nice table for two (although the tables were a little too close for my preference). To start our meal we ordered the Hen of the Woods Mushroom Toast and the Calamari. Both dishes were good but the toast amazing flavors but a little messy to split and eat. Both of our entrees were satisfying in taste and texture. The only downside to the evening was that we felt the restaurant used a little too much salt. Once we were back at the hotel we decided to just hit the hay. Hopefully we'd be refreshed and ready for our hike in the morning!
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After bundling up we went for breakfast at Starbucks. I was happy to see that I was able to get a Matcha Lemonade here in Quebec City unlike when I was in France. We sat down and enjoyed our drinks and pumpkin bread (dairy free). Our first adventure was climbing the snow covered hills of Parc du Bastion de la Reine for views of the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac. We weren't the only ones enjoying the area as there was a family who was enjoying the snow by sledding. Our next stop was to the Citadelle de Quebec. The fort is still an active military base so you are limited in where you can go. We toured the museum and heard (thank to a friendly and enthusiastic guide) a wonderful story of bravery. On our way to Le Marche du Vieux Port we stopped for pictures along the Ramparts of Quebec City and at Parliament. Once at the market we shopped for Pate de fruit, maple digestifs, donuts, and so much more! A foodie haven! Climbing the hills back to the Fairmont we worked up an appetite. We decided to enjoy lunch at Bistro Le Sam. We were seated right away without a reservation. Our table was in a lovely room that provided us a view of the Terrasse Dufferin. To start our meal we ordered wine along with the duck wings and salmon tartar. I only had a small bite of the duck wings but they were delicious and not overly sweet. The salmon tartar was cold, fresh, and nicely balanced. My entree was the fish and chips. The dish was hot and extra crispy just the way I hoped it would be. Greg ordered the "Big Sam" and big it was! My picture doesn't show the enormity of this sandwich! Greg did enjoy it but was full the rest of the day. After lunch we spent some time resting and getting organized as we would be living Quebec City in the morning. Once it was dark we ventured out into the city again. Where did this wind come from! I guess the forecasters weren't joking about the cold front! We wandered around the hotel and then made our way back to the Petite Champlain District. I absolutely love this city there is so much to see and do and it's so photogenic!
After gathering our belongings we decided to skip a big breakfast and get on the road to Quebec City. Our drive was a mix of cloudy skies, flurries, and very thick fog! Not exactly the stress free start we were hopping for but mother nature has a mind of her own. Halfway there we stopped at a Tim Hortons (my favorite coffee chain after Starbucks) for some coffee and donuts. I chanced fate, took a Lactaid pill and enjoyed every bite of a maple frosted donut!! Before heading into the city center we stopped at Montmorency Falls for some pictures. There were a couple other cars in the lot (several more pulled up after us - who also happened to be from Massachusetts). We figured out that the open entrance was all the way to the right of the visitor center. We also considered driving up to the top for more photos but were too excited to get into the city. We pulled up to the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac and the valet greeted us and helped with our luggage. We walked into the lobby and entered the check in line. We were helped by a very friendly gentleman who also happened to be from the area we just drove from. After a nice chat and an easy check in our room was ready with one small exception. The foam pillows I requested weren't in the room yet but he was sending someone to deliver them right away. Room 6128 was on the 6th floor and offered a king bed, a bigger bathroom than at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu but it also had a noisy air system. A few minutes after we arrived a staff member knocked on the door with our foam pillows. Perfect! We grabbed our hats and gloves and went out to explore the area and to visit the Christmas Market. We started with the pool area then on to the lobby, stores, bars, and restaurants. The hotel is stunning and maintained to the highest degree. The Christmas market was incredibly busy! Two different areas of stands and people were packed in at both. We looked around an the artisan crafts for a bit and purchased a couple of items. We were hoping to enjoy a pork shank at the restaurant inside the market but unfortunately right when we were hoping to enter they were closing for a bit. Instead we opted for something sweet! I have seen pictures and videos and finally here I was able to try maple syrup on snow! How could I have not tried this sooner! Decadent, sweet, and oh so yummy! For lunch we decided to just go nearby to Le D'Orsay Pub. We were seated right away at a high top table. We ordered a couple of drinks and settled into the warmth. Greg ordered the sausages with duck fat roasted potatoes while I enjoyed the fish and chips. The food and service were both very good. After lunch we walked around Quebec City a bit more before heading back to the Fairmont. I especially had to make a shopping stop at Delices Erable & Cie. After a rest in our room we decided to enjoy a drink at 1608 wine and cheese bar. We were seated a a high top table and our server brought us snack mix along with some popcorn. We ordered the Corpse Reviver and the Little Wing. Both drinks were wonderful! Our dinner plans for the evening were at Le Lapin Saute. We walked from the hotel down to Petite Champlain Quarter. This was the area I had been dying to see! Between the brick buildings and the decorations it feel magical here! We entered Le Lapin Saute and told them of our reservation. We were seated right away and had drinks ordered. To start we opted for the Maple Whiskey Smoked Salmon, the Maple-wood Smoked Duck Breast, and the Foie Gras with Maple Blueberry Compote. Our plates were clean when the staff came back for them! All three of these dishes are outstanding but my personal favorite was the Foie Gras. Add the fresh baked bread brought to us and I'm in heaven! For our entree we decided to go with the Cassoulet. I have had several cassoulet's including my own and this is the absolute best. This dish has something for everyone and plenty for 4 people (Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs)! The dish includesVegetables, pork belly, duck leg, rabbit leg, duck sausages and a side salad! At this point we were incredibly satisfied and insanely full. Would you like any dessert? I guess we can't leave without trying the Berry Sugar Pie! I can't wait to go home and try to make a sugar pie. This pie had a wonderful crust, a creamy texture, and the berries cut the sweetness. Perfect! Every single item that came out of the kitchen was well balanced, plentiful, and cooked to perfection.
Le Lapin Saute is a casual restaurant with comforting food and it is also in my top favorite meals we have ever enjoyed! When I think of my favorite restaurants I think of pricey and beautifully plated meals. Le Lapin Saute with their amazing flavors is of the same caliber! We woke up and decided to order breakfast in an effort to avoid dairy for me. Again the staff were very friendly and easily accommodated my allergy. After breakfast we bundled up and gathered stuff into our day-pack. Greg went downstairs in hopes of finding out more information about the hiking trails and the doorman from the day before hooked us up with a map of the trails and area! We set out and enjoyed views of the water and the followed the trail led by the solar system (an informative installation of the planets). Unfortunately about 1/3 of the way up our trail we were met with workers who were fixing the trail and had it closed down. We turned around and made our way back to the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu where we explored a little more. We decided to take a drive at this point. We wanted to explore La Malbaie and ended up driving for a couple of hours up the coast. We visited several adorable coastal towns that must be wonderful in the summer season! Before heading back to the hotel we stopped in La Malbaie. We visited the local grocery store. Sounds boring but this is something I do in all new cities we visit. I like being able to find unique foods to the region, sometimes wine that I haven't seen before, and always a good snack for in the car. Once we got back to the hotel we wanted to freshen up and didn't want to have to rush so we ordered room service. Greg ordered the club sandwich and I ordered the tuna poke. Greg's sandwich was delicious (I may have stolen a bite). My tuna was good with the exception that I couldn't eat the rice. The rice was inedible to do under cooking. At night we explored the hotel some more. My biggest regret was not venturing into their heated outdoor pool at night! Before unwinding at Bar La Brise we visited the Casino. I love being able to walk underneath the hotel to the casino - no need for a jacket! Score! The Roulette table was empty so we decided to just spend some time at the slots. We both had $20 CAD to spend. I know big spenders right! Greg lost all of his money within 5 minutes! I on the other hand walked away with 80 CAD. Bring on the Le Sour Quebecois! We finished our night at Bar La Brise and then it was time to get organized for our drive to Quebec City!
We just returned from a week getaway that combined relaxation, the outdoors, restaurants, art, and so much more!! We packed the night before we left. I'm not sure if this is a good strategy or a bad one. I used to start packing 2 weeks before a trip and now I just seem to just go with the flow. I was pretty happy with how the packing went until I realized I only brought the 2nd half of my toothpaste duo! Oops! We brought Fred to my parents and got him settled (so hard to say goodbye). We hopped back in the Fiat and headed north to our 1st destination of La Malbaie Canada. The 7.5 hour drive was interested. We started out with average temperatures and cloudy skies. When we got to Lincoln NH we entered a beautiful snow covered area. A little further north and there wasn't any snow at all. This continued with one area snowy and the next just drab all the way. We entered into Canada after a quick stop at the border and continued past Quebec City up to the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. We pulled up to the valet and were helped with our bags. We did advance check in for our 2 night stay and the doorman had our keys ready for us. This seemed like a great idea 24 hours ago however, now it was slightly frustrating. We didn't have our preferences checked, couldn't upgrade, and ended up in an area we wouldn't have selected (We were definitely missing our Hilton Diamond Status here). We ended up with a room on the 1st floor surrounded by a large group who were at the hotel for a work party. The hallway basically sounded like the party was on our floor and not in a function room. Room 166 was of good size, clean, and offered a king size bed. In addition to the noise level the room didn't have a view, the minibar wasn't fully stocked, and the bathroom was way to small.
The hotel staff from the doormen to room service were all friendly, patient, and professional. At night we went to Bar La Brise and enjoyed the last of the sunset over drinks and food. We ordered a beer and a Le Sour Quebecois (a delicious whiskey based drink). For food we enjoyed the Salmon with celeriac remoulade along with Chips with assorted mayonnaise. The salmon was bold in it's smoked flavor and complimented by the creamy vegetables and shrimp. The chips were salty, crunchy and accompanied by three delicious and unique dips. These dishes were exactly what we were looking for. After a long day driving we decided to head to bed and be refreshed for some hiking (on site trails) the next morning.
This winter we're planning a week long road trip in Canada to hopefully play in the snow and get excited for Christmas! Let me start at the beginning.... I love fall. Fall is one of my favorite seasons. Winter is usually my least favorite time, so much so that we usually only travel to the Caribbean. We started out by planning a cruise to Cuba but with so much time being devoted to my sister's wedding we couldn't get our stuff in order so we cancelled the cruise. Greg and I started looking at alternatives for our vacation. We were hoping for some thing affordable, easy, and different than our norm. We looked at the Caribbean, Key West, Orlando, New Orleans, Austin, and a few other places. Nothing felt quite right. My mother suggested going to Canada. For some odd reason going up north and being cold but Christmassy felt good! Today we see we made the right choice but are crushed that some of the places we love and would have visited have been devastated by hurricanes. We've helped out and if you would like to as well here is where we donated:
Back to our plans for our trip to Canada. We're heading to all new cities for the both of us so this is very exciting!
We're planning stops in Charlevoix where we're hoping to do some snow shoeing or hiking (depending on weather). I'm looking at some wonderful restaurants right now that are making me reminisce about our trip to Paris. In Quebec City we'll hit the German style Christmas Market, tour old Quebec and maybe head to Montmorency Falls. Our third stop will be in Mont Tremblant where we'll try out a Nordic spa and hopefully some more outdoor activities. Our final stops were going to be in Toronto and Niagara Falls but our plans changed. We are sad we'll miss those two cities but we're excited to head back to New York City. We found out that there will be a multiple exhibits from Yayoi Kusama. We have been hoping to see her work for some time and were planning on visiting Toronto next year. When we combine getting to see her exhibits plus New York City at Christmas time we couldn't say no! Don't worry Toronto and Niagara falls we'll definitely get to you next time!! I'm so excited for this trip that I need to stop trying to plan everything out or make reservations too early! Can't wait! We left Boston around 6 in the morning after bringing Fred to grandma and grandpa's house. We were a little smarter than usual for this trip. We stopped at the first Starbucks that we saw! Sounds silly but after the Framingham plaza Starbucks are few and far between. We got our coffees (matcha lemonade for me) and some dairy free pumpkin bread and made our way to The Met Cloisters. We arrived a little after opening time and luckily found a parking spot right out front. We wandered up the stairs and paid the suggested entry fee (If you have it why not support the arts). We opted for a map alone and began wandering the area. We went in and out of the various rooms, gardens, and courtyards. While we didn't spend a lot of time here we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We loved the art, history, and the calm (even finding a small seating area where we relaxed and enjoyed the weather without being disturbed). After our visit we headed into the city and made our way over to the Millennium Hilton One UN Plaza our home away from home for the night. For future reference the hotel address is 1 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 however the valet and hotel entrance is on E 44th St. We had stayed at this property a few years ago when it was just the One UN Hotel and were happy that it's now a part of the Hilton family. Once we parked we had a good time joking around with the Bell Service staff! We discussed my car and who has or hasn't been to Italy. Very humorous conversation. We headed inside to the check in desk and our room wasn't ready yet but we did get upgraded to a suite (yay Hilton Honors). We dropped off our luggage and decided to go to lunch. We couldn't decide on where to go. Do we head to Bareburger and try an Impossible Burger (worried about how my body will react to it though), do we head to Chelsea Market right away and get sandwiches at Num Pang, or do we head back to Momosan Ramen for Ramen and Sake? Finally we decided on a savory and comforting bowl of Ramen. The hostess welcomed us right away and sat us at the bar. Perfect for us! After perusing the menu we ordered the lunch specials of Tonkotsu with a small order of Guydon and Tonkotsu with a small order of curry. To accompany our meal we opted for the Morimoto Sake Flight. While the meal was slightly on the salty side it was very satisfying with the combination of flavors and textures. This was our 2nd visit and we can't wait to return again. Once a year and only in New York I head to Desigual for some shopping. In previous years I have purchased a coat, jeans, and purse that I always get complimented on. This year I lucked out with 2 purses thanks to their buy one get 50% off sale! Purses and shoes are my favorite things to buy so this made me a very happy camper! With bags in hand we walked on to Chelsea Market. At this point the temperature outside was pretty warm so our first stop was for some sorbetto from L'Arte del Gelato. Greg opted for the dark chocolate while I went with passion fruit. My passion fruit sorbetto was delicious and refreshing. Unfortunately, Greg wasn't impressed with his and wished we could head to Grom for theirs. We continued our walking tour of NYC and headed back to the Millennium Hilton One UN Plaza. We checked in again and our keys were ready and waiting for us. We were in room 3343 a one bedroom suite. The room was bright, large and clean. The room was almost perfect except for a few large tears in the carpet in the living area. At this point we decided to cool down and relax in our room for a little while. Around 6 we went to the 30th floor to the Sky Lounge. The snacks weren't to our liking so we opted to spend $10 on two glasses of red wine. At a small table we sat side by side and talked about our day while we sipped on our drinks. We went back to the room and had time before our dinner reservations. Unfortunately I started feeling sick. I had previously been having some sinus pressure and a sore throat and I think the warm air caused me some more discomfort. My head was pounding, my throat scratchy, and my eyes were bloodshot. We decided it would be best for me to hang in tonight and try to get some rest. We cancelled our reservations at Sake Bar Hagi 46 (we'll see you next time) and made our way to Shake Shack for some take out. We ordered burgers (mine gluten and dairy free), french fries, and strawberry mint lemonade. A quick walk back to our hotel and we were enjoying our food before heading to bed. On Sunday morning we knew check out time was 11:00 a.m. so we got up early grabbed some breakfast at Starbucks and walked 3 miles to Chinatown. We stopped along the way for some pictures of the skyline and some street art. Once in Chinatown we headed to Keki Modern Cakes. If I'm going to deal with the pain of my dairy allergy it should be for something amazing. Keki Modern Cakes makes wonderful Japanese bouncy cheesecakes. The cheesecakes are light, airy, and not overly sweet. We also purchased a fancy cheesecake for my parents. According to my father it was a piece of heaven! Since we were running out of time we took a cab back to our hotel. We grabbed our luggage, called the valet, checked out of the hotel, and were outside only a few minutes before our car pulled up. We hopped in the car, turned on Waze and made our way home. A short while after leaving Manhattan I have to admit I fell asleep. It could be part of the cold I have but I also have a bad habit of falling asleep during road trips. I don't know why but being in a car is relaxing to me (maybe the car was used to soothe me as a baby lol). I had heard about a BBQ restaurant in Sturbridge MA and as we were about a mile away I mentioned it to Greg. We decided why not give it a try. We pulled into the full parking lot at BT's Smokehouse. We ended up parking behind the restaurant in a baseball field lot. Once we were inside the restaurant we were confronted with a very long line of people. Rather than stand in the crowded area we went back outside and ordered online. We got a confirmation email stating that it would be ready in 30-40 minutes. We decided to go across the way to a local coffee shop for refreshments and to just enjoy the wonderful weather while waiting for our order. Finally our order was ready. We picked up our brisket, ribs, pulled pork, whole wings, cole slaw, beans, and carrot salad. On the counters you will find a variety of sauces to package up so we selected 4 different types. Hopping back in the car we made our way home where my parents would meet us with Fred so we can all enjoy the food we ordered. The food from BT's Smokehouse was pretty good. I would say the restaurant is in my top 5 BBQ places we've tried so far. The meats were tender, and flavorful although a tad on the salty side. My favorite was the lean end of the brisket. Greg enjoyed the cole slaw while I loved the carrot salad. Unfortunately the sauces were too acidic for my taste. We both agreed we would venture back out to Sturbridge for a 2nd visit. All in all it was a wonderful weekend getaway for the two of us! Saturday morning and we finally get a little bit of a sleep in! We finally get out of bed and dressed and I hop downstairs to confirm with Valerie our information for our hairdresser. Greg and I went next door for some Starbucks for breakfast. Sadly the coffee machine in the hotel looks as though it contains milk so I was hoping to avoid any cross contamination. After breakfast we walked up the street looking in around a few shops. I found an adorable children's clothing store for gifts for friends as well as a unique chocolatier for other gifts. It was close to noon so we headed back to the hotel and Greg went off on his own while 4 of us met with the hairdresser. The hairdresser felt she needed more space than the rooms provided so Valerie offered us the breakfast lounge. I really can't express our gratitude to Valerie and the Tourisme Avenue Hotel enough. During our time in the "Salon" we were lucky that my dad went and purchased lunch for us. Even Valeri would stop in and see how we are doing, asked if we needed anything, etc. At the last minute it was decided we should get a small bouquet for the bride to carry. Greg was up! Even though there was a language barrier Greg and Fleurs d'Auteuil did an amazing job of creating a bridal bouquet. Around 4:00 p.m. we were ready for makeup, pictures, and getting dressed. My sister and I headed to my room where I could help her with whatever she needed. Eric Snyder the photographer and friend from Massachusetts came up with us and took beautiful photos of the dress, accessories, and my sister getting ready.
Our guests were scheduled to meet at our hotel for 6:00 shuttle ride to the wedding destination of Yachts de Paris. We were told by our drivers that there was a concert, demonstration, and LGBTQ parade all happening at once during our scheduled time. With the suggestion to leave early we rushed around to finish getting ready, and contacted all the guests to rearrange the schedule. As you can imagine this became rather hectic. I literally got dressed in 5 minutes, helped my sister finish getting ready, brought Greg the thank you gifts for the yacht, and tried to gather everything else we needed. Thankfully Greg and a few others helped usher the guests into the shuttles as they appeared. My aunt and uncle and I were the last shuttle to leave with my parents and sister in a sedan behind us. Apparently all of the traffic was in getting to our hotel and not getting to the dock. We arrived very early and had to wait alongside the dock for a bit. The staff of Yachts de Paris were gracious in letting us on board a little early even though they were still setting up. At 7:00 pm I helped bring my sister up onto the top deck of the yacht and watched her walk down the aisle to her future husband. Immediately after the ceremony we enjoyed cocktail hour with champagne, an open bar, and hor d' oeurves. We then watched as the couple had stunning photographs taken of them before taking group photos. It was incredible that we had perfect weather, a perfect sunset, and perfect views for the ceremony and photographs. At 8:30 pm we went down into the dining room for a 4 course meal. Our starter was an Antipasti with Buffalo Mozzarella (Foie Gras for those with a dairy allergy). Our entree was Veal vegetables (Hake for dairy allergy). Next was a Cheese Course. For dessert we enjoyed the Power of Chocolate (Fruit Salad for dairy allergy). The food was elegantly presented, beautifully seasoned, and perfect portions. Guests raved about the food especially the veal. In between the courses we enjoyed several speeches (even one from me which I'm petrified to do), a couple of special dances, and finally the incredible cake ceremony. The chef brought out the cake, turned down the lights, and had sparklers flaring. The talented singer sang Dream a little Dream in french (requested by the bride) while the couple cut the cake. After dinner it was time to dance! We enjoyed music from a DJ as well as a female singer. The evening was truly magical! As a thank you for the staff I prepared a gratuity but also a thank you bag. I brought some gifts from Massachusetts that I hoped they would like. The first item was Maple Syrup, the 2nd was caramels, and the 3rd was sea salt. At Midnight we disembarked the yacht and made our way over to the shuttles. When we arrived back at our hotel I helped the bride out of her gown and showed the groom what to do the next day for more photographs. A group of us then made our way over to Le Zinc for a final get together! A perfect end to a wonderful week! It's Thursday morning and luckily we brought most of our stuff to the hotel already! We're helping clean up from breakfast, gathering the trash, and helping my parents pack and catch a taxi. Thank goodness for smart phones for language barriers! We arrived at the Tourisme Avenue Hotel and ran into our cousins from California! Yay! As people started to trickle in we helped bring in their stuff, store passports and purses in our room, and enjoyed seeing family and friends who just flew in. My aunt and uncle made it to the hotel after a very long experience at customs (just like us). After checking in we went across the street to Le Primrose for some lunch. We ordered a variety of dishes French Onion Soup, Omelette, Beef Tartar, Spring Rolls, along with several glasses of wine. Our waitress was very patient with our limited French, very friendly, and didn't rush us. After lunch we took my parents to tour Notre Dame Cathedral. When we arrived there was a pretty good size line but rest assured the line moves very quickly. My mother lit a candle and said a prayer before exploring the cathedral. Afterwards we walked along the river, enjoyed the garden area, and just relaxed. My parents were getting pretty tired so we made our way back to the hotel which was good timing as other guests rooms were ready. We were just about to nap when our new friend Lindsay popped by and asked if we'd like to go for a drink. We ventured across the street to Le Zinc (which would become our late night hang out for the rest of the week). For dinner we were meeting up with my parents and aunt and uncle at Les Cocottes. We walked in and found a table right away. To start our meal we ordered the Foie Gras, Lobster Bisque, Poached Egg and Rocket Salad, and the Pasta. For entrees we ordered Beef Check Stew, Caramelized Potatoes with Pig Feet, Risotto, and a couple of Roasted Chicken dishes. Dessert was shared so we ordered the Egg Flan and the Waffles. Of course this was all enjoyed with 2 bottles of wine.
We quickly found a taxi for my parents and aunt and uncle. Greg and I decided to walk back. We enjoyed walking past the Eiffel Tower, seeing a gourmet bus, and walking past stores and restaurants. Once back at the hotel we met up with the rest of the group (who dined out on Italian food) at Le Zinc for drinks and lots of laughs (let's just say the conversation included bidet etiquette and squatty potty's)! The 3 1/2 hour drive from Boston to Lake George took us about 4 1/2 hours. We hit traffic coming out of Boston and then we hit several spots of heavy rain causing major slow downs. Once we got into Lake George we met our friends at the Courtyard by Marriott Lake George. We had two rooms and our room 505 was ready when we arrived. The hotel is clean, modern, offers a bar, has a restaurant, and is in a convenient location. Our room offered two queen size beds, a good size bathroom, a mini refrigerator, and a boring view of the parking lot. During our stay we stopped at the lobby bar a couple of times. The staff was very friendly however it wasn't the best service. One our first visit the bartender didn't know off the top of her head how to make the hotels signature drinks. The bartender had to refer to a printout for the recipes. The bartender also ignored our money on the counter after handing us our bills. A few minutes later we had to finally ask for our change. Our 2nd time there and she was pretty overwhelmed. There was a wedding in the hotel that evening and the guests were also using the lobby bar. The hotel really should have been better prepared and had more than one bartender. The 6 of us were walking to a restaurant we found online for lunch. When we got near the restaurant we noticed it was pretty small and since we had two toddlers with us we needed a little more space. We decided to give 163 Tap Room a try. We opted for an inside table and our waitress quickly brought us waters. We ordered drinks, jerk chicken wings, french fries, boneless wings, and burgers. The food was good although the chicken wings could have been a bit crisper. After lunch we walked along the lake taking in the beautiful views. Lake George is a bit of a contradiction to me. On one hand you have this beautiful lake surrounded by lush green hills and then you look left and it's arcades, shops, and restaurants. For some dessert we stopped and tried some Shave Ice. My first experience with Shave Ice (odd I know). I opted for pineapple and coconut only. The dessert was tasty and refreshing although once it started to melt I threw it out since it ended up being too syrupy. After a quick cat nap at the hotel it was time to get ready for dinner. During this trip we were on the toddlers time schedule! The kids love Italian food and a couple staying at our hotel recommended Mario's Restaurant so we made a reservation for 6:00. We were seated right away at a nice round corner table. Our waitress Page was perfect for us! Page is lively, funny, offers great suggestions, and made sure we had everything we needed. We started with the fried calamari which was lightly breaded (dairy free) and was very tender. With our meals we all opted for the salad option. We received lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a piece of raw onion with our chosen dressing. For entrees we ordered the chicken piccata, sausage peppers and penne (dairy free), penne with meatballs, seafood fra diavalo, and the . Being Italian, cooking Italian food, and living so close to some of the best Italian food in Boston we were nervous about the restaurants sauces. We were thrilled that the food was in fact delicious. All of our dishes were tender, seasoned perfectly, and offered a nice balance. After dinner we stopped for a night cap and turned in for an early night. The next morning we woke up early and decided to try Flapjack Pete's for breakfast. Depending which review website you checked the restaurant was either hit or miss. For us it was a hit. We were seated right away (although we had to thoroughly clean the high chairs). The staff were friendly but leaned more towards efficient. We ordered waffles, corned beef hash, pancakes, and poached eggs with bacon and a bagel (dairy free). The food was fast and delicious.
We walked through town and decided to take the kids on the carousel. The first carousel ride definitely didn't leave a great impression on them. We then walked up to Fort William Henry Museum but decided the timing and the entrance fees weren't what we were looking for. Instead we opted for a cruise aboard the Minne - Ha Ha. We purchased our tickets, sort of waited in line (made a faux pas) and opted for the first level since we were with a stroller for the kids. The hour long cruise was filled with pretty sights, friendly locals, and views of lots of Parasailing. After our cruise we stopped by the craft market along the lake. We purchased some delicious lavender products including lavender honey, lavender jelly, and culinary lavender. Our next stop was for our friends to buy some fresh made lemonade. Our friends ordered one with fresh strawberries added while the other opted for fresh pineapple. Then we made a stop at the hotel for a quick change for the kids. Lunch time brought us next door to Giuseppe's Pizza and Restaurant. We ordered two medium pizza's for the 6 of us (yes the kids love pizza). Our friends ordered a cheese pizza while Greg and I opted for a pizza with their cheese free sauce (have to ask for it as their usual has Parmesan in it) topped with sausage and spinach and held the mozzarella. Everything was delicious! After our lunch it was time for some shopping. We visited Lake George Distilling Company for some Rye Whiskey and Lemonade Moonshine. We bought some wine at Adirondack Winery. Finally we bought some salt at at Lake George Olive Oil Co. It was now around 3:00 p.m. and it was time for Greg and I to get back on the road to home. The drive home wasn't too bad until we were near Sturbridge MA that's when traffic back up again. Finally we picked Fred up and the three of us went home and unpacked. |
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