The Boston Harbor Island Ferry Center

If you are vacationing in downtown Boston, you’ll find that it’s not very easy to access the shore.  Of course, Massachusetts is home to dozens of fabulous beaches, but many of them are quite a distance away and can be hard to access if you don’t have a car.  For a quieter Boston waterfront adventure without renting a car, consider taking a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands.

There are 30 Boston Harbor Islands – 12 that can be visited.  Georges and Spectacle Islands are each serviced by their own ferries, while Lovells, Grape, Peddocks, or Bumpkin require a transfer at Georges (or you can catch a ferry on the South Shore).  Thompson Island sometimes has its own ferry, or you can catch a connection at Spectacle.  There are also four peninsulas that are part of the Boston Harbor Islands – Deer Island, Nut Island, World’s End, and Webb Memorial.  To access Little Brewster Island, you’ll need to sign up for the Lighthouse Tour.

The Boston Harbor Islands all offer different activities – including free jazz concerts, yoga, kids’ tide pool exploration, kayaking, island caching, hiking, and more.  On a recent trip to Spectacle Island, we visited the beach (one of the few on the Boston Harbor Islands), collected sea glass, and participated in a tide pool exploration.  Check out everything online before heading out so you can decide which island you want to visit, because they are all different.

If you do want to spend time on the Boston Harbor Islands, you may want to stay at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf, which is just a few steps away from the ferry center.

Disclosure: I received complimentary ferry tickets to the Boston Harbor Islands.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Tacos - Humanity's Second-Best Food Invention

You love tacos. I love tacos. Tacos are a close second on the list of Humanity’s Most Perfect Foods (number one being pizza, of course). Well, have I got an event for you. And sorry for the short notice – I just found out about this, myself.

The Arizona Taco Festival is THIS SATURDAY (as in, tomorrow the 9th) at the Scottsdale Waterfront in Arizona. It is the first stop for the National Taco Association’s National Taco Tour, which is also headed to Las Vegas Nevada, Los Angeles California, and Austin Texas. Over 30 teams consisting of local professionals and restaurants, as well as amateur competitors, will compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. Other contests include best guacamole, best salsa, and best “anything goes” taco. There will also be plenty of tequila, margaritas, and beer.

The Scottsdale Waterfront is located at 7025 E. Via Soleri, across from Olive & Ivy. The festival runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. General admission is $10, free for kids under 12. VIP tickets are available for $50 and get you any combination of 10 food or drink items inside the Macayo’s VIP Ten, a special boutique Corrido Tequila Bar, and a swag bag. For general admission participants, food samples will be $2 each, and alcohol is available for between $4 and $12. Select proceeds will benefit Waste Not.

I defy you to come up with anything better to do on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Now that we’re into fall, Arizona temperatures are actually bearable. It’s supposed to be in the mid to upper 80′s tomorrow. Glorious, and with the addition of a fistful of tacos, perfection.

Photo credit – “Tres Tacos” by Evan P. Cordes on Flickr Creative Commons.

Washington State Ferry from Seattle Waterfront

Seattle is a port city. It exists and thrives today because of its long history of maritime shipping, trade, and proximity to the natural resources of the Great Northwest. Scenically nestled at the edge of Elliot Bay on Washington’s Puget Sound, Seattle  still has a unique and intertwined relationship with the sea. If you are interested in experiencing a taste of that relationship the next time you visit, leave the high-tech, cosmopolitan atmosphere behind for a refreshing and scenic nearby side trip. No car required, just head down the hill from the heart of downtown shopping and dining, until you find yourself at the waterfront along Alaskan Way.

If you are interested in a walking tour of Seattle’s Waterfront, try starting on the southern end at Pier 52, where Washington’s famous ferries depart Seattle for Vashon and Bainbridge Islands, or Bremerton on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s enough fun to watch the big boats come and go, but if you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can walk on for a $7.00 round trip fare. It would be well worth your time, because on a clear day, the views are outstanding and the air refreshing, though cold, so dress warmly.

Walking North on along the waterfront you will shortly come to Pier 54 and another Seattle icon, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, a store loaded with interesting artifacts, novelty items, oddities, and the main attraction a pair of actual mummies on display, as well as rice grain carvings (seriously!) and other curiousties. It’s a bit tacky, but fun, so I recommend you stop in and take a peek, so you can at least say you have been there.

Waterfront Pier

Pier 56 is home to Argosy Cruises, where you can book a sightseeing or dinner cruise, book a sailing expedition on Puget Sound, or board the Elliot Bay Water Taxi ($3.00 one way) for a 20 minute crossing to West Seattle and Alki Beach which offers abundant dining and recreational activities.  A free bus shuttle on the other side will take you to Alki Beach or the West Seattle Junction (more on this neighborhood in a future post).

Walking further north along the waterfront, you will pass several shops and restaurants, including Ivar’s Seafood Bar and Elliot’s Oyster House (where I dined on delicious fresh pacific oysters during a rare night out not long ago). Eventually, you will come to The Seattle Aquarium at Pier 59. The recently remodeled Aquarium is a world class facility with several fascinating permanent exhibits focusing on Pacific marine life, including a 360 degree glass domed room which will be a hit with the small people in attendance. I have been a member, and highly recommend the aquarium.

As you continue north along Alaskan Way, you will be treated to abundant breathtaking views of Elliot Bay, and on a clear day, the Majestic Olympic Mountains beyond. Once you reach Pier 67 you will come to an attractive lodging option for your next Seattle stay, the luxury Edgewater Inn. The Edgewater, situated right on the water and which many will remember as the place where the Beatles famously fished out of the window of their hotel room during a 1964 Seattle concert visit, offers what could very well be the most unique and scenic lodging experience in the city.

Fab 4 Fishing from Edgewater Inn

Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park  (free to the public) is a wonderful outdoor space, just before the scenic and peaceful Myrtle Edwards Park. The Olympic Sculpture Park is a spectacular new waterfront park where visitors can view a variety of sculptures 365 days a year, in an outdoor setting. I have not been there yet, but my better half has, and she was duly impressed with the layout and interesting variety of the thought provoking sculpture.

You can check out nearly all these spots in a single day (with the exception of the ferry rides), but they are so nice you might want to take your time!

With its upscale restaurants, landmark buildings, beautiful bridges and breathtaking views, San Francisco always tops the lists of favorite US cities and tourist destinations.  Many people come to visit during the summer months and get disappointed by the cold fog and damp weather. However you would be pleasantly surprised if you made a trip to the city during this time of year.  The winter months often bring cold temperatures but very blue skies during the day and nights full of stars.

San Francisco is almost more beautiful at night during the holidays than any other time of year – and that is saying something.

During the holidays living in the City is such a gift: the bright lights on the Embarcadero Center row of buildings, outlined to look like giant present boxes; the beautiful window displays in high-end stores like Gump’s and multi-colored lights adorning neighborhood parks and homes. Walk through any of these areas of the city and you can’t help but smile and get a little more into the holiday spirit.

If you are visiting the City or planning to in the future and want to experience a uniquely San Francisco evening, I have the perfect recipe for you. The itinerary will need a little planning but should only require one phone call for the dinner reservation.  This evening is a local favorite for a romantic date but it can be adjusted for just a great night out with friends or family.

First thing you want to do is plan on wearing some warm layers of clothing, especially a scarf and gloves.  San Francisco at night, during this time of year, can be very cold. Wear some nice holiday clothes and comfortable shoes and you will be set for the evening.

Begin the evening with a drink at the beautiful Big Four Restaurant on Nob Hill. Located inside the Huntington Hotel, this secret spot doesn’t have the view that you can get from the Top of the Mark, but this is the place locals go. Filled with beautiful dark wood, the bar area is rich and a historic reminder of the robber barons that built San Francisco.

After a glass of wine or cold cocktail, walk slowly across California Street, watching out for the cable cars and taxi drivers heading across town. Criss-cross the street and stroll through Huntington Park, a wonderful small city park situated between Grace Cathedral and The Fairmont Hotel.  It is one of my favorite parks to visit at night during the holidays because the neighborhood association installs beautiful old-fashion lights in the trees.

Walk through the park towards your dinner reservations, at Venticello Ristorante on Taylor Street. This wonderful Italian restaurant has a warm intimate setting that reminds you of San Francisco society pages from the 1920s. I have had dinners where I have watched patrons walk in that could have been related to Grace Kelly or Kim Novak, in their style of dress and manner. The food is classic Italian with homemade pastas, risotto and roasted meats. The fireplace and wood oven add warmth to your dinner setting along with a backdrop of cable cars going up and down California Street.

After your dinner walk down Taylor Street to Jackson Street and catch the Powell-Hyde Cable Car, with its maroon colored sign, to head towards the waterfront and Hyde Street Pier.  The cable car ride will be very chilly but you can cuddle up inside the center of the car or wrap your scarf tighter and hang onto the outer poles like a local.

Your ride will take you up past Nob Hill and across Russian Hill until you head down Hyde Street to the end of the line. Hop off and turning your back to the bay, walk into The Buena Vista Cafe – home of the perfect Irish Coffee!

Irish Coffee

The recipe of this famous drink was created in 1952 when the restaurant owner and a well known travel writer worked to re-create a highly touted “Irish Coffee” served at Shannon Airport in Ireland.

The Irish Coffee served here at the Buena Vista is the perfect night cap any night of the year, but especially in winter.  How and when you decide to end your evening is up to you, but after all the lights, rich foods, fresh air and drinks – I recommend taking a cab home. Enjoy!

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to San Francisco.

Photo credits to bill lim, tinou, shayne kaye and rick