#and during lovely maine summers while we go beach-hopping up the coast and some trail exploring etc i want to. INHALE him. 😩 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

urbanadventureleague · 6 years

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Despite some of you readers who think I live a life of leisure (snicker) and am travelling all the time, I really don’t. Sure, I have trips, but they are spaced apart. My last extensive time away from town was in August.* So, it was time for Emee and I to get away. Where to? Originally we thought about going up to the San Juan Islands but originally we thought we had less time** so we decided to head out to Long Beach, WA again. It’s about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Portland, close enough that a weekend can be made out of it, far enough to feel like a getaway. Oh yeah, there would be the beach!

We left on the evening of Friday October 26, after I got off work. We got to Long Beach around 9 PM, arriving at the Adrift Hotel where we’d spend three nights. We actually had a view of the ocean from our room! We chose the Adrift not only because of its proximity to the ocean, but because of the Pickled Fish, its restaurant which makes delicious New Haven-style pizzas! (We knew this from the last time we visited the area in July.)

Saturday was mostly spent lounging around the hotel. We made a quick cruise to the beach before the rain moved in for the day. Late October is a crapshoot for weather on the Northwest Coast, but the weather mostly stayed decent throughout the trip with Saturday afternoon into evening being the exception. Oh, and Emee got a massage from the on-site spa. Bonus!

Sunday had better weather, a mix of sun and passing showers. This time we decided to do a bit more exploring. We didn’t bring bikes, knowing that the hotel had a fleet of no-charge rental bikes.*** These are your basic no-frills “beach cruisers” ubiquitous to beach towns. Most of them were from a brand called Firmstrong, a company I wasn’t familiar with, but are a brand specializing in entry to mid-level cruisers. I have no issue with single-speed beach cruisers in situations like this, but it would have been nice had there been a few extras like a bell, front basket, and oh, fenders, and if the fleet would be oh, maintained a bit. Both our bikes had chains that look like they last saw lube during the Carter Administration. But with a few adjustments, they were okay for a bit of cruising.

We first hit the North Jetty Brewing about a mile from the hotel, on the main drag on the Long Beach Peninsula. And it was good timing, as a good shower passed on through as we were enjoying the brews. After the liquid sustenance, we pressed south to around the entrance of Cape Disappointment State Park. We intersected the Discovery Trail. a paved bike path that runs from the town of Ilwaco, through the park, and them north to Long Beach. We followed the trail south for a bit until it turned inland at Beard’s Hollow, a former bay now turned into lowland marsh. We found a nice side trail down to the beach, right at the point where the rocky headland of Cape Disappointment meets the Pacific Ocean. We watched the setting sun for a bit, then headed north back to the hotel.

And oh man, was it a workout with those bikes! Emee’s Strava said it was just about eight miles but it felt longer. The wide saddles and not well kept bikes did not help. As I said, I have no problems with a nice heavy “beach cruiser” (technically my Schwinn Heavy Duti falls into this category), but hotel bikes are hotel bikes. Next time we’ll probably bring our own bikes along.

Anyways, we rounded out our evening with a sit-down Mexican dinner at a restaurant that was a bit…further than we thought it was.**** We passed through the heart of Long Beach. During the summer, this touristy downtown would be hopping, but on a rainy Sunday night in late October, it had the feeling of a ghost town. We did pass by a few drinking/eating establishments which looked to be occupied by the locals, and weirdly enough the arcade was open.

On Monday we got in the Emeemobile and left Long Beach. Our destination for the day would be Astoria, about 20 miles south and across the oh-so-wide Columbia River. We would be spending the night at the lovely Commodore Hotel, an old hostelry that has been converted in the last decade to something like a boutique hotel. The prices are pretty reasonable, and most importantly, it’s in the heart of downtown. While Astoria is no big city (population 10,000), it does stretch for a few miles west-east along the river. So getting something central would mean being able to just walk to the various attractions easily.

We first did a pit stop at Buoy Brewing right on the river. We had some lovely beer while looking out on the river at all the big ships waiting to move up to ports upriver (like Longview or Portland) or cross the dangerous Columbia Bar out to sea. Oh yeah, we also listened to the barking of California Sea Lions, which are all along the waterfront. There’s actually a glass panel on the floor to see all the Sea Lions underneath the building!

For dinner, we hit up Fort George Brewing to have some delicious pizza along with the beer. We had a good view of the river, and all the ships were lit up like Christmas trees.

And like that, the trip was over. After a good breakfast on Tuesday morning, we drove back to Portland. We wished we had more time, though. Another day in Astoria would mean more time to explore, like check out the Maritime Museum and go get the great view from Astoria Column. Thankfully, it’s not that far away!

*Okay, to some of you, having a trip only two months ago is extravagant. My apologies.

**The San Juan Islands are just far enough away, about 4 1/2 hours by car to the ferry terminal (longer by train), plus the logistics and added time of the ferry rides.

***We also borrowed them on Saturday for a short trip.

****We could have drove, but wanted to park the car for a couple days. And the rental bikes didn’t have lights.

A weekend on the coast Despite some of you readers who think I live a life of leisure (snicker) and am travelling…

#astoria #beach #cape disappointment #long beach peninsula #pacific coast #pacific ocean

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runawaywidow · 4 years

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For the past several summers I have put my United States passport to good use and traveled around the world. I’ve shared photos and posts about some exciting places but my most popular post is about a small town in upstate New York, 17 things to do in Ithaca.

Like many, I am hesitant about traveling this summer. We are now entering phase 3 post pandemic, so some places are opening up here in New York but I will not be going too far away. In fact, with an abundance of outdoor opportunities on Long Island, I will share my summer bucket list with my fellow islanders.

While the state parks do charge an entrance fee of $10, the Empire Pass can be purchased for the year for $80 and with this summer of limited travel, it is well worth the investment.

1. Robert Moses, Field 5

Yesterday I drove myself over the bridge to Robert Moses ocean beach on Fire Island. Clean, soft sand, refreshing salt water with moderate waves, qualified life guards and open bathrooms make this beach a true pleasure. If your ideal day is to sit in a chair under an umbrella and read or to take a long walk along the shore, visit the lighthouse and maybe stroll into the small beach village of Kismet, this can all be done in a day trip. Walking east along the shore I will warn you that some bathers prefer not to wear swim suits. Just remember to wear your mask in the bathrooms at the beach.

Parking $10 or Empire pass. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/7/

2. Montauk

The eastern most point of Long Island has this amazingly, still quaint fishing village. The cost of hotel rooms has sky rocketed in recent years but since you save money on air fare and time and the hassle of driving through New York City, it can be worth the splurge. More ocean beaches, fishing trips, fresh seafood, hiking trails, cliffs, surfers and a light house to climb are just some reasons people keep coming out year after year to visit. My friend has made 2 visits already this summer with her kids to watch the sunrise at what is called THE END – and breakfast spots are open for the early birds too.

Hotel rooms are available but the average price per night is around $500 with a 3 night minimum on weekends. Day trip or a little getaway; I’ll be planning my trip out east soon.

Montauk – Budget Friendly Vacation

Montauk Point lighthouse

3. Sunken Meadow State Park

What I love about this park is the 2 mile boardwalk along the beach for walking and riding bikes. This park has hiking trails through the woods, and a public golf course with a driving range. You must reserve a tee time in advance. In addition, I like to visit this location as it is where we got married on the beach last June and had a fun celebration with family and friends. We’ve been back a few times this spring and always enjoy some time outside.

Parking $10 or Empire pass: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/37/

4. Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve

This scenic park is located on the North Shore in Lloyd Harbor. The old estate and buildings are still standing on the hill above the Long Island Sound and active horse stables give the feel of being a guest at a country estate. The three mile paved and shaded trail is available to pedestrians and bicycles only. No dogs allowed.

Parking $10 or Empire pass: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/23/details.aspx

5. Cold Spring Harbor hiking trail

This one is Free. Simply park by the library on Harbor Road in Cold Spring Harbor and you will see the sign to the entrance. This is the north end of the 19 mile Nassau-Suffolk trail and does have some hills to climb. People often bring dogs along on a leash. I would highly recommend spraying for ticks before you head out on this trail or any trails on Long Island and be sure to check carefully when you return home as well.

https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7029784/cold-spring-harbor-state-park-out-and-back

6. Huntington Village

The restaurants in town are most creative as they set up outdoor dining tables on side walks and alleys. Musicians on the street, music coming from the restaurants and people walking around make us forget that we have been sheltering in place for 3 months. The waitstaff is required to wear masks and you have the option to wear a mask as well. Walking around the town, getting an ice cream and seeing people again can make us all remember we are part of a bigger community. And when you go out to eat, you can feel good about supporting the local economy too!

7. Planting Fields, Oyster Bay

If you prefer gardens, this former Gold Coast estate features 409 acres of gardens. The Coe house and greenhouses are currently closed but the grounds are open for walking and enjoying the outdoor gardens and architecture from the early 1900’s.

https://plantingfields.org/plan-your-visit/

8. Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Located on the south shore in Great River, the grounds are open everyday except on Mondays. The trail along the river is lined with a variety of trees and plants in an informal setting. The house is closed currently but this is a beautiful park to visit and learn more about the types of plants in this area.

https://bayardcuttingarboretum.com/

9. Long Island Aquarium

A favorite place to visit with families is the aquarium in Riverhead. The sea otters, penguins and sea lion exhibits are outdoors. Sting rays and sharks are indoors and masks are required. Due to reduced guest capacity, reservations must be made in advance.

https://www.longislandaquarium.com/purchase-tickets/pricing/

10. Fire Island by Ferry

I grew up on the south shore in Sayville, known as the “friendliest town in America”. This is really a great little town with restaurants and small shops along a quaint Main Street that often closes for town events like car shows and summer festivals. Following Foster Avenue south towards the Great South Bay and turning left at the end, you will see the docks for the ferries. Two of my first jobs were cleaning houses at Fire Island Pines and making pizzas at Cherry Grove. Both awesome little beach communities that do not allow cars, homes are connected only by boardwalks and the vibes from the New York City gay community are alive and vibrant.

The ferry to Sailors Haven and Sunken Forest also leaves from the same dock area and while homes are not available to rent and only a concession stand is available for dining, this natural setting makes for a great day trip for families.

Ferries cost $16-18 round trip and you can pay to bring your dog as well. Ferries leave approximately every 2 hours.

http://www.sayvilleferry.com/schedule-pines.php

10. ROBERT MOSES, Field 2

The western most end of Fire Island National seashore has a 3 par 9 hole golf course right there at the beach. No reservations necessary as it is first come, first served. Perfect for beginners and beach lovers. Pack a lunch or dinner, play golf and take a long walk around the point or hop in for a swim in the sea.

$10 parking fee or Empire Pass.

11. Jones Beach, Field 6

Although the concerts have been cancelled this summer, the iconic boardwalk at Jones Beach is still a treasure. I prefer field 6 on the eastern most part of the park as it is the shortest walk to the water and right on the boardwalk. Also a great place to walk with a stroller. The playground may be opening soon and a there is a small 9 hole pitch and putt golf course along the boardwalk as well. My grandmother and mom used to tell stories of going to the pool located in the building during the summer and the many evenings they spent dancing to music outside at the bandshell.

$10 parking fee or Empire Pass

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/jonesbeach/

12. Kayak River Rentals

I have heard wonderful tales of kayaking the Nissequogue River starting in Smithtown near the bull (It’s a famous statue here on Long Island). So you make a reservation and meet the group – sign some papers and board the kayak. Double kayaks and canoes cost about $60 for the approximately 3 hour tour down the river toward the Long Island sound. Nature, birds, and water are the best, just prepare for the sun, bugs and hydration on your adventure. A bus even brings you back to your car. This summer I will definitely try this.

http://www.canoerentals.com/

13. Motor Boat Rentals

Living near the beach, I have always had either a sailboat or a motor boat… except for this summer. While I am happy to save on the expense of maintenance and repairs, I will miss going out in a boat.

Having friends with boats is always a good alternative. But if your friends don’t have a boat, it is possible to rent boats for a day or even half a day. I did this last winter in Florida with my sister and her family and we had a blast. So as a consolation to staying home this summer without a boat, I have been looking into day rentals and am considering two. For a boat that could accommodate 8 people, for the day it is about $1000.

In Freeport, the rental shop offers hourly rentals starting at 2 hours for about $300.

https://summerboatrental.com/

In Port Washington, Long Island Boat Rentals offers deals for small boats as well as captained boats for the day.

https://liboatrentals.com/

I am looking forward to trying out one or both of these places this summer. Who’s in?

I am grateful to live in such a beautiful place and to have the summer off. I can not imagine what the fall will bring for me as a teacher but I know that I have today to get out and enjoy. Keep safe, wear a mask if you will be near people and have a great summer!

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14 Awesome Things to do this Summer on Long Island For the past several summers I have put my United States passport to good use and traveled around the world.

#beaches #joy #longisland #Montauk #newyork #NYbeach #summer #summervacation #travel #walksonlongisland

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artycreative-blog · 6 years

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March in Malta

For my Mum's 60th birthday in April, we decided to return to the country of her birth for the first time since she was three years old. We had a lot of expectations of what it was going to be like; we were right about some and so wrong about others! I'm going to talk a little about where we stayed, how we got around, what we visited and where we would recommend restaurant wise.

Mellieha Bay Hotel

Tucked away in the north of the island, Mellieha Bay Hotel is a fair sized resort situated next to the 'best beach on the island'. The beach isn't anything special when you compare it to other countries around the Med, or even some in the UK, but the sea view rooms all have glorious vantages over the bay, which is beautiful. The decor inside is lovely and has clearly been done up at some point over the last few years. It's got a big restaurant, bar/club, two outdoor pools and one indoor, as well as a host of activities available each day that start in the morning and go on into the evening. It seemed more geared up to pensioners than anything else, as that was the majority of the residents that we saw there. There were also some families and younger couples, but there's not as much for them to do. The hotel also had three small shops; one for snacks, one for jewellery, and another for souvenirs, all run by one friendly lady who spoke very good English.

Our room looked nice at the outset; fresh looking, bath with shower, balcony, all nice things. However, the beds were hard, the air conditioning only blew out hot air no matter what we tried, the TV wasn't set up correctly so it cut off a decent chunk of the picture, and the toilet was broken so you had to slap the flush button to make it stop leaking.

As we wanted to take it as easy as possible while on holiday, we elected to go half board, so we would only have to worry about getting lunches out. Breakfast and dinner were both buffet style all week. Breakfast remained mostly the same, other than they switched potatoes for mushrooms on alternate days, which was a bit of a pain for someone like me who can't eat bread and doesn't like mushrooms. It wasn't very geared up to gluten free eaters, although there was usually one lactose free meal and one vegetarian meal each evening. The evening buffet had four main meals, including a carvery, as well as a host of cold food, and two to three desserts, with jelly and ice cream. Overall, we think that eating at the hotel wasn't the best considering it was supposed to be a four star resort. The buffet style didn't lend itself to a high quality of food because it had to be made in such large portions and it was often left out for a while, which meant that the food could go dry. One example of this was the pork carvery, which was horribly chewy. Their fried eggs were a highlight, as was their lamb shank.

Although the hotel is close to two bus stops (one goes north and the other goes south), which are served by buses that go to Cirkewwa, Buggiba, Sliema, and Valetta, in terms of distance it's so far from everything but the ferry port to Gozo and Comino that journeys end up being very long, compounded by bad roads and busy traffic.

If we ever go back, we'd choose to be much closer to Valetta or stay somewhere on the south of the island.

Buses

I'll warn you now, I don't have much good to say about Malta's public transport system! The bus station in Valetta is good, straightforward with good signage, and has sheltered areas with seats. However, people can smoke while they're waiting for the bus, which isn't pleasant for asthmatics. There is also a wide network of buses that go around the island, so you can get pretty much everywhere important without a car. In hindsight, though, we wish we'd rented a car. Our two main buses from Mellieha to Valetta took an hour and a quarter at the very least because they took all the back roads (which are falling to pieces) and stopped at every stop along the way. This meant that buses were often packed to overflowing, the only way to get a seat was to get on at the first stop at Valetta or Cirkewwa. Also, for some reason, the seats were all curved up at the edges (I'm assuming so people are less likely to fall out while the buses rocketed around the twists and turns), which meant you had to have a tiny butt to be comfortable!

Our ExplorePlus Cards were not worth it for the price, the E21 cards would have been fine to cover us for the bus trips that we did. It might be more suitable in the summer when the fares go up by 50 cents. One of our cards also stopped working the second day on the island and their main pass office in Valetta refused to do anything about it, saying that it had expired when it had only been activated the previous the day. Not only were they rude, but the bus drivers were too. I have a certain amount of sympathy because they had to get around quickly and didn't have a lot of time scheduled for each journey considering how bad the traffic was the vast majority of the time. However, this doesn't permit you to yell at your passengers or hit them. I've never been so disgusted with a bus driver in all my life.

My final issue with the whole system is their app. It's not a bad app by all means, but when none of the buses run to time and they don't know where half of them are, it makes looking up times, routes and live information pointless. Your best bet is to just go to a bus stop and wait for whatever comes that will get you to your destination.

Comino

On our first full day in Malta, the sun was shining so we decided to take a trip to Comino, which is the smaller of the two islands situated to the north of Malta. We ended up hopping off the bus too early when we saw signs for the 'Comino Ferry' which, uh, was a speed boat. This ended up being a hilarious accident, because we actually got a tour of some of the island’s caves included in our trip, before whizzing round the island at high speed, disco music blaring, and laughing all the way as the choppy waters made the boat bounce. On the way back, even the two elderly people at the front were cackling as they got soaked.

Comino is almost completely uninhabited, apart from a few farmers and a couple of small hotels, which are closed during the winter months. This means that the land is mostly untouched, apart from a few buildings dotted about and St Mary's Tower, which is a majestic figure up on the hillside. I made my family trail all the way over to it to take pictures because it was featured in one of my favourite films, The Count of Monte Cristo. It's impressive considering it's 400 years old.

The island is also home to three bays, including the Blue Lagoon. It doesn't disappoint. The water is stunning and clear, the high winds made for some impressive photographs of the sea spray. I loved it.

Two small things to bear in mind when you visit: there are two toilets on the island, one at Blue Lagoon, which isn't very well kept, and one at Santa Maria Bay, which we didn't visit, so be aware for when you want to take toilet breaks. The paths are also very rocky, so make such you wear appropriate shoes. I got sore knees walking around in Sketchers.

Hagar Qim Temples

Wednesday was probably our most eventful day because of the bus pass incident, but it was also the day that we had the longest journeys, none of which were particularly pleasant. We did, however, have a very nice lunch in Valetta at the The Pulled Meat Company, which I will talk about later.

After lunch, we headed out to the Hagar Qim Temples on the coast. They're some of the oldest free standing buildings that still exist, built in around 3200 BC, using only stones, balanced on top of each other to create walls, doors, and ceilings. The history of the place is fascinating and the views from the walkway down to the second, larger temple are fantastic. There's a small island out in the water that the British Army used to use for target practice during WWII.

There isn't much to see at the site, which is a shame considering how long it can take to get there. My recommendation would be to also visit the Blue Grotto down the coast on the same day. It's supposed to be amazing and would have made a nice edition to the day had it not been so late when we left the temples.

Mdina

The walled city of Mdina was my favourite day out of the whole trip. It can trace its history back over 4,000 years, with a lot of the current architecture having been built in the 1500's. The whole city has been so well kept that you would think it was built yesterday. It's Catholic cathedral was a highlight for me because of the ornate decorations and the marvelously detailed painted ceilings. The museum opposite was great as well as it housed pieces from the cathedral, as well as old coins dating back to the early Roman era.

I could have taken photographs of the city all day.

If you head to the far wall from the main gate, you can climb up onto a walkway to look out across the surrounding countryside, all the way to the main city. It's an unbelievable panorama, one of the best views on the island.

There were several places to eat, only a couple that did gluten free food. It was quite pricey because they know that tourists don't really have any other options, but the atmosphere was nice and the food was decent. Just be careful to check the opening times when you're researching places to eat, as some places don't open at lunchtime, only in the evenings. This may be beneficial if you want to be in the city at night. They call it the silent city when darkness falls, which could be an interesting experience!

Restaurants

We didn't eat a lot of great food while we were away, but these three are worth a visit if you're thinking about visiting Malta.

Munchies (in Mellieha)

Munchies can be found on the beach, just down from the Mellieha Bay Hotel. They do plenty of different meals, including Maltese specialties and breakfasts past midday. It was number three out of my top three, as we had food elsewhere that was spectacular, but my chicken tasted awesome and the fries were cooked perfectly.

The Pulled Meat Company (in Valetta)

We tried to visit this restaurant on Monday, but it turns out there are quite a lot of places that are closed all day Monday in Valetta -- another thing to bear in mind! When we came back on Wednesday, it was definitely open, with staff standing in the doorway hoping to entice people inside. It has a TripAdvisor award for its food, which is well deserved. We all decided to have the brisket burger, as it sounded so delicious. Rarely are burgers so tasty. Slow cooked to perfection, we stuffed our faces until there were none left! Would definitely recommend unless you're vegetarian, this is definitely not the place for you.

Vecchia Napoli (at the Airport)

Our best meal on the island was actually our last. I was looking up places to eat at the airport and Vecchia Napoli came highly recommended. A little taste of Naples in Malta, we got a table quickly and ordered a variety of meals, including lasagna and two different types of chicken. My chicken with garlic, honey and seasoning was tremendous and my Mum and sister both thoroughly enjoyed their meals too. If you arrive in Malta starving, this is place to go for lunch. There's also a sushi bar and a place that does English style food (Bert’s) on either side. Vecchia and Berts both label all their food with what contains gluten, lactose, garlic etc and which are vegetarian.

There was also a chef doing pizza tossing at the front of the kitchen! What's not to love about that?

Overall, our trip was a bit hit and miss. There was stuff that we really enjoyed, like Comino and Mdina, but a lot of stuff we could have done without experiencing, like the bus drivers/rides and how distant the locals and staff could be, among others. We probably wouldn't choose to go back, but that's our personal taste. For someone a little looser, who has lots of energy and isn't picky about what they eat, this could be a fun adventure for you.

#malta #blog #travel blog #mdina #comino #valetta #hagar qim temples

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janerchambers88 · 7 years

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8 Best Beer Cities (And Must-Try Breweries) In America

Thirsting for your next vacation, but not sure where to go? Why not visit one of the best beer cities in the country!

Best Beer Cities in America

From the quaint side streets of Bar Harbor to the bustling neighborhoods of downtown Seattle, we’ve narrowed it down to eight amazing beer cities truly worth raising a glass to. Each spot has top-notch breweries with extensive lists of IPAs, pale ales, porters, pilsners, and more on tap. If you can name it, you can taste it in these destinations. While we can’t cover all the great craft breweries, we’re featuring our favorite in each city, so that you can spend more time tasting than planning.

Better yet, each of these destinations has a variety of vacation rentals from FlipKey to fit every budget and travel style. Whether you rent a luxurious condo in the heart of the city or an away-from-it-all cottage by the beach, we guarantee you’ll love having a comfortable home to retreat to after a fun-filled day at the brewery (and/or night at the bar!).

Plenty of fridge space for your take-home growlers, too!

Boston, Massachusetts | Trillium Brewing Company

Historic landmarks, fiercely loyal sports fans, and lots of craft beers to choose from—a trip to Boston offers something for everyone. While well-known breweries like Sam Adams and Harpoon have helped put Boston on the map as one of the best beer cities in the country, Trillium Brewing Company has emerged as a local favorite. It’s a unique New England farmhouse-style brewery offering a variety of beers that satisfy every palate. This family-run spot is just off the beaten path in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood, so make sure not to miss it!

Before sampling the city’s thriving nightlife, take time to discover Boston’s famed attractions. Follow the Freedom Trail’s red-brick path through the city, catch a baseball game at the iconic Fenway Park, or find a park bench and watch the swan boats glide by in the Boston Public Garden. Your days are sure to fly by in this fast-paced city.

See all Boston vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Oakland Park, Florida | Funky Buddha Brewery

What better way to cool down and quench your thirst than by ordering an ice-cold glass of beer at Funky Buddha Brewery! Located in Oakland Park, this hip spot features tours of its funky brewhouse, a wide variety of bold craft beers, and a fabulous menu. Sample a Floridian Hefeweizen in the taproom, or fill up a growler of Eternal Summer to take home to your Oakland Park vacation home.

During your trip, venture just 15 minutes down the road to Fort Lauderdale where blue-green waters and world-class beaches await. Whether you swim in the shimmering Atlantic Ocean or shop on Las Olas Boulevard, this part of southern Florida will keep you busy from sun up until sun down.

See all Oakland Park vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Rapid City, South Dakota | Firehouse Brewing Company

Firehouse Brewing Company opened its doors in 1991 as South Dakota’s very first brew pub. The legendary spot, which is listed on the National Historic Register, has nine beers on tap at any given time, and there’s even an on-site winery for those who prefer a glass of red or white instead. Stay for a meal (and a live performance under the band-shell!), or pop into the taproom for a quick drink during your stay.

Beer fanatic or not, Rapid City is a fantastic destination to visit. It’s the ideal home base for travelers looking to tour the scenic Black Hills and the perfect spot if you’re simply looking to experience a taste of the Midwest.

See all Rapid City vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fulton Beer

What started as a small brewing operation run out of a garage is today Fulton Beer, one of the best breweries in downtown Minneapolis. At the taproom, you can sip on a cold one just 38 feet from where it was brewed, or pick up a Sweet Child of Vine six pack to enjoy in the comfort of your rental. Whether you prefer hoppy IPAs or flavorful barleywines, there’s no shortage of bold brews to choose from at Fulton Beer.

It’d be impossible to talk about the best beer cities in the country without mentioning Minneapolis, but this Twin City is full of excitement. The Mall of America (just 15 minutes away) is an absolute must, while the city also boasts a thriving theater and arts scene. Perfect for weekend getaways or week-long vacations, Minneapolis is a superb destination to visit year-round.

See all Minneapolis vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Seattle, Washington | Fremont Brewing

Fremont Brewing is a family-owned Seattle brewery that’s been producing first-rate artisan beers for nearly 10 years. Here, brewing is done in small batches only using the finest local ingredients—so it’s no surprise that this hot spot makes Seattle one of the best beer cities in America. Sample pale ales, IPAs, oatmeal stouts, and more while you’re at Fremont Brewing.

Besides beer, it wouldn’t be a trip to Seattle without a stop at the original Starbucks for a brew of a different type. For a snack, head to Pike Place Market, a hub of mouthwatering eats and delicious scents. Book a private retreat on the water or a central apartment in the city, and make the most of your time in Seattle.

See all Seattle vacation rentals on FlipKey!

San Diego, California | Thorn Street Brewery

As new breweries keep opening up, San Diego has quickly emerged as one of the best beer cities in America. But, one in particular continues to stand out among the rest: Thorn Street Brewery. This local watering hole is dog-friendly and boasts a lineup of rotating nightly food trucks that are the perfect complement to the vast selection of craft brews on tap. Stop in for a quick pint or kick back and relax with friends in the large, open taproom.

You can’t visit San Diego and spend all your time indoors, though. Swim in the Pacific at La Jolla Shores Park, wander around Balboa Park, or people watch from your rental’s beachfront patio—the possibilities are endless!

See all San Diego vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Boulder, Colorado | Avery Brewing Company

While Boulder is undoubtedly an ideal destination for families, you ought to consider this sophisticated Colorado city for an adults-only getaway, too! It’s home to the award-winning Avery Brewing Company, which offers 30 “thoroughly American at heart” beers on tap—at all times! From year-round beers like the Belgian-style White Rascal to seasonal favorites such as the peach-flavored Perzik Saison, you’re sure to find something that will quench your thirst.

Of course, Boulder also has plenty to do to help you burn off those beer calories! Explore the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, bike along the river, or stroll around the University of Colorado’s flagship campus during your trip.

See all Boulder vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Bar Harbor, Maine | Atlantic Brewing Company

A quintessential New England beach town with some of the best beer in the region? You guessed it—we’re talking about Bar Harbor! It’s where you’ll find the Atlantic Brewing Company just minutes from the quaint cobblestone streets of downtown. Over the years, the brewery has grown from a small one-barrel operation to a 15 barrel-system that produces tasty pints of English-style beer.

Visit Bar Harbor for the beer, and stay for the salty air and pristine natural beauty. Sunbathing along the coast and strolling down the famous Shore Path are two or Bar Harbor’s simplest pleasures. Want to see more of the island? Head to Acadia National Park or hop in a kayak to discover this charming New England destination’s showstopping scenery.

See all Bar Harbor vacation rentals on FlipKey!

America’s Best Beer Cities for a Vacation

Oakland Park, Florida

Rapid City, South Dakota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Seattle, Washington

San Diego, California

Boulder, Colorado

Boston, Massachusetts

Bar Harbor, Maine

The post 8 Best Beer Cities (And Must-Try Breweries) In America appeared first on The FlipKey Blog.

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mrrolandtfranco · 7 years

Text

8 Best Beer Cities (And Must-Try Breweries) In America

Thirsting for your next vacation, but not sure where to go? Why not visit one of the best beer cities in the country!

Best Beer Cities in America

Plenty of fridge space for your take-home growlers, too!

Boston, Massachusetts | Trillium Brewing Company

See all Boston vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Oakland Park, Florida | Funky Buddha Brewery

See all Oakland Park vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Rapid City, South Dakota | Firehouse Brewing Company

See all Rapid City vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fulton Beer

See all Minneapolis vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Seattle, Washington | Fremont Brewing

See all Seattle vacation rentals on FlipKey!

San Diego, California | Thorn Street Brewery

See all San Diego vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Boulder, Colorado | Avery Brewing Company

See all Boulder vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Bar Harbor, Maine | Atlantic Brewing Company

See all Bar Harbor vacation rentals on FlipKey!

America’s Best Beer Cities for a Vacation

Oakland Park, Florida

Rapid City, South Dakota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Seattle, Washington

San Diego, California

Boulder, Colorado

Boston, Massachusetts

Bar Harbor, Maine

The post 8 Best Beer Cities (And Must-Try Breweries) In America appeared first on The FlipKey Blog.

from The FlipKey Blog http://ift.tt/2h7npRX

0 notes

kevingbakeruk · 7 years

Text

8 Best Beer Cities (And Must-Try Breweries) In America

Thirsting for your next vacation, but not sure where to go? Why not visit one of the best beer cities in the country!

Best Beer Cities in America

Plenty of fridge space for your take-home growlers, too!

Boston, Massachusetts | Trillium Brewing Company

See all Boston vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Oakland Park, Florida | Funky Buddha Brewery

See all Oakland Park vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Rapid City, South Dakota | Firehouse Brewing Company

See all Rapid City vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fulton Beer

See all Minneapolis vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Seattle, Washington | Fremont Brewing

See all Seattle vacation rentals on FlipKey!

San Diego, California | Thorn Street Brewery

See all San Diego vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Boulder, Colorado | Avery Brewing Company

See all Boulder vacation rentals on FlipKey!

Bar Harbor, Maine | Atlantic Brewing Company

See all Bar Harbor vacation rentals on FlipKey!

America’s Best Beer Cities for a Vacation

Oakland Park, Florida

Rapid City, South Dakota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Seattle, Washington

San Diego, California

Boulder, Colorado

Boston, Massachusetts

Bar Harbor, Maine

The post 8 Best Beer Cities (And Must-Try Breweries) In America appeared first on The FlipKey Blog.

from Tips For Traveling https://www.flipkey.com/blog/2017/07/28/best-beer-cities-america/

0 notes