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Portland, ME – Lighthouses & Lobsters!

Who doesn’t love impeccable views of lighthouses? Well, Portland’s got ’em, along with the freshest lobster your taste buds will ever experience.

The best way to get front row ocean views of some of the most famous lighthouses in Maine is by a boat cruise.  We chose the sunset cruise with a bar! This 1 hour 45 minute tour routes you through the small and minimally occupied islands. Each beach-style waterfront home is beautifully designed, sitting tall with white framed windows, light and soft colored paint and large porches.  And you can only imagine how much wealth is behind each one.  Most of the islands only structures are homes, civilians would need to boat into mainland for groceries, etc.  Talk about seclusion!

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Portland, ME

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The most picturesque and well-known lighthouse is the “Head Light”.  It is the oldest lighthouse (and still operating) in Main painted in a crisp white with rich red accents.  It is truly the perfect picture, especially at sunset!

Portland, ME

Back on land, Commercial and Wharf Street are where it’s at.  Commercial lines the waterfront where you can stroll along, gazing at all the sailboats and yachts, step into shops and boutiques for the cutest knick-knacks you may not find anywhere else and enjoy a nice lunch or dinner with drinks right over the water.

Ri Ra is an Irish Pub that our Airbnb hosts recommended.  We stopped in for an afternoon beer and app.  The pub offers Victorian lounge seating and 19th century design structures all the way from businesses in Dublin!  The food we did have (potato balls) was amazingly delicious and the view of the harbor offered a calm and relaxing outing.

Porthole is another restaurant with a more relaxed, casual vibe with typical bar food and of course plenty of lobster and fish & chips.

Portland Lobster Co. is located right next to Portland Discovery Tours and has an area that extends over the water where you can enjoy refreshing beer and plenty of lobster!  There is also a live band most of the nights in the summer!

Kennebunkport is where you’ll discover Maine’s cutest small coast town.  Beachy boutiques, lobster/clam shacks and ice cream shops fill the tiny downtown area.  Make your way into David’s KPT for a fancy dinner or a more budget friendly happy hour.  H.B. Provisions is the local coffee shop that’s more than just a cup of brew.  Here you will find the most delicious whoopie pie ice cream, a mini market and a sandwich/deli counter.

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Highly educational lobster boat tours are available and are quite fun! Captain Bob with Rugosa Lobster Tours takes you out to his lobster traps while he and his tour guide explain the process of catching, the rules and the anatomy.  Maine will not keep lobsters if they are longer than 5 inches (from the eyeball socket to the end of the abdomen) as they are prime reproducers.  If you ever eat a lobster longer than 5 inches and they tell you it’s from Maine, it’s a lie.

Captain Bob pulled up 3 traps during our tour and each of us got to hold one.  JC even banded the claw of one! This tour was a pure hands on experience and we walked away knowing more about lobsters than ever expected!IMG_8060

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Kennebunkport

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After our tour, we drove along Ocean Ave. taking in the beauty of the gorgeous mansions and stunning ocean views.  You can see the Bush Compound perfectly from Walker’s Point as it extends out on one of the peninsulas.  George Bush Sr., Bush Jr. and Jeb Bush all have their homes here (Jeb’s being the most recently built).  The two houses closest to the front drive are for their security officers.  Their boat is also docked near the lobster boat tour!

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For some beach time, Old Orchard Beach offers 7 miles of sandy shores, calm ocean waters to swim in and a wooden pier w/ souvenir shops.  There are only a few months in the year, though, when the water is warm enough to get more than ankle-deep in.

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Portland and Kennebunkport offer great coastal activities and views with summertime being the perfect season to visit!

Dates Visited: 6/27-7/1, 2016

Laid Back Vibe of Burlington, VT

Situated on the East coast shoreline of Lake Champlain, lies Burlington, a city that encompasses a blend of New England charm, nature and arts.  Spring and Summer are prime times to visit with many outdoor activities to partake in.

The most beautiful view is Lake Champlain and the layers of mountains across the water in the background.  The lake offers sandy beaches and during the few months it’s warm enough, a mid-afternoon swim helps beat the heat!

Along the lake shore is a scenic walk/bike trail that we used each day! A 43 1/2 foot wide earth clock is situated along this path in Oakledge Park.  The clock consists of 14 large granite stones that also create a compass and calendar! You can determine the time of day by standing on the date line in the center of the dial and see which number your shadow lines up with.IMG_7975

Burlington

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About a mile and a half north of the Earth Clock is a lake front restaurant called Breakwaters, which offers live music almost every night in the summer and gorgeous sunset views over the lake.  Our Airbnb host’s friend was in a band that was performing one of the nights we were there so we decided to check them out! The atmosphere was fun and lively.  Budweiser was also in attendance keeping the crowd energized and handing out prizes!

Burlington

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Burlington

For beer lovers, Burlington offers just under a dozen breweries, which can all be visited on a brew tour.  If you’d prefer to go on your own, they are all relatively close to each other, some just across the street!

Just inland is Church Street Marketplace, the focal point of downtown Burlington.  This is a great area to watch live entertainment, enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many restaurants, shop around the boutiques and even treat yourself to some delicious chocolate!

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For an even tastier treat, the original Ben & Jerry’s factory is only about a half hour outside the city! They offer a 30 minute tour concluding with a very generous sample of their daily flavor.  We enjoyed milk ‘n cookies that had cookie dough and Oreo cookie crumbles – yum! They also sell flavors only available from the factory, so get your bucket loads!

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Burlington was such a pretty city with amazing views over Lake Champlain and great outdoor activities to keep you busy.

Dates Visited: 6/22-6/24, 2016

Quebec City – The Crown Jewel of Canada

During our stay in Montreal, JC’s cousin, Chava, took us up to Quebec City with his family for a weekend trip.  Quebec City is located on the St. Lawrence River and the ramparts surrounding the town are the only remaining fortified city walls in North America north of Mexico.  These walls can be climbed and walked along for as long as you please and offer magnificent views of the city and river.

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Quebec

Just outside the walls of Quebec is the Parliament on Parliament Hill, composed of the Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly.  Its facade displays a pantheon representing significant people and events throughout Quebec history.

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The Château Frontenac, a castle-like hotel towering high consisting of over 600 rooms, is Quebec’s main focal point.  This grand beauty was built in the late 19th century to attract luxury tourism to wealthy travelers, which seems to still be the case today!

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Just underneath the Dufferin Terrace in front of the hotel lies remnants of the former Chateau St. Louis that were recently discovered in 2005! These archeological finds date back to the 1620s and are on display through a short tour underground near their original surroundings.

A short but steep walk down below will take you to the heart of Old Town where narrow cobblestone streets weave you through shops, galleries and restaurants.  You can spend hours here getting lost in all the eclectic frills of each shop, large murals covering the sides of the buildings, afternoon beaver tail treats and gazing at all the European-architecture styles.

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Just outside of downtown are the Montmorency Falls with water gushing from 275 feet high into the St. Lawrence River below – that’s 98 feet higher than Niagara Falls!  You can start from the very bottom and hike your way up 487 stairs along the bluff or you can take the easy way and park up at the top.  Hanging over the crest of the falls is a suspension bridge where you can take in the unnerving high view w/ crashing water below.

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Our weekend wasn’t solely spent in Quebec City.  Chava took us to Baie Saint Paul, which is a cute little town about 45 minutes north with more breathtaking panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River.  You might even be able to catch a glimpse of a whale if the season and timing are just right! Cirque du Soleil started here but it is actually known for a far less physical performance of art.  Paintings and sculptures can be found among 30+ galleries.  Historic homes converted into galleries, shops and restaurants line the streets of downtown.  It’s known to be quite the attraction during the holidays!

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Quebec City took our breath away with every architectural detail and its old town charm.  It gave us a sense of European lifestyle especially being among French speaking civilians.  We can certainly agree that Quebec City is a must visit while in Montreal!

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Dates Visited: 6/18-6/19, 2016

 

 

 

A Wonderful French Experience in Montreal

Montreal was a top destination for us mainly to see JC’s cousin, Chava, but also to explore the beautiful, historic, french influenced city.  We were told to expect some slight lash-back if we spoke to anyone in English, meaning, even if they knew the language, they would still respond in French.  However, this was not the case at all; in fact, it was completely opposite!

We were greeted cheerfully everywhere we went (non-touristy areas included), spoken to in English (when French was clearly their primary language) and were approached at a train station offering guidance and help (we clearly looked lost and desperate).  Our overall encounters were the friendliest yet!

To say the least, it was quite the relief when we’d ask in the most broken form of French w/ desperation in our eyes if they spoke English and they’d happily respond “Yes, I do.  How can I help?”.  We tried our best saying as much as we could in French such as: “bonjour/bonsoir” (hello/good evening), “oui” (please), “merci” (thank you) and “eau” (water).  With just these little phrases, I believe we earned respect for our efforts.

We feel it is crucial to teach yourself common words and a few basic sentences to help you get by in a foreign country.  Just a simple “hello” and “thank you” in their language goes a long way and they are more inclined to help, naturally.

Ok, aside from the language barrier, or really lack thereof since most speak English as a second language, Old Montreal was on the top of our list to scope out.  Chava was pretty much our personal tour guide and took us everywhere we needed to go.  1st stop, Old Port, located on the St. Lawrence River with a view of all the fancy yachts that fill the docks, perfect area for an afternoon stroll.

We made our way along the cobblestone roads alongside horse-drawn carriages and ventured through the town, feeling as if we were actually in Europe.

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The Notre-Dame Basilica is one of the main focal points in Place d’Armes Square with its dramatic Gothic Revival architecture and colorful interior consisting of mainly blues and golds.  Most will say they think it’s much more breath taking than the original in Paris.  We’ll keep this in our memory bank and do our own comparison when there in the Fall but this will surely be hard to beat!

Notre Dame, Montreal

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As we weaved our way up and down the streets, we were able to capture projected videos on the side of large buildings, offering a brief history lesson at each location.  These videos are displayed during the summer and audio is provided through an app you can download on your phone.  Each video takes you back in time, giving you a sense of reality as the city grew, construction flourished, foreigners migrated and even the struggles during the war and the depression.

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There were also interactive projections, one of which we found in an alleyway with visuals of rushing water, a more structural and differently designed alley, fish swimming and color changes based on where you moved.  Chava’s 2 kids, Emiliano and Analia, loved this!

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On top of all there is to do and see in downtown Montreal, we decided to take our explorations a tiny bit farther and visit Mount Royal (what the city is originally named after).  Once at the top you can enjoy the panoramic views of the downtown scenery and relax in one of Canada’s largest greenspaces in the Mount Royal Park.

Just outside the park is Canada’s largest church, St. Joseph’s Oratory, with a seating capacity of 1,000.  This Roman-Catholic basilica is designed in Italian Renaissance style and is topped with a green dome that is the third-largest of its kind.IMG_7908

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Onward w/ our explorations, we drove out to the lower-class side of Montreal to find the Olympic Stadium, built in the 1970s for the 1976 Summer Olympics. It’s design was futuristic for its time but has found its fit in today’s architectural styles and features the world’s largest inclined tower. It is still used today for large events like concerts and trade shows.

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Chava’s birthday happened to be on one of the days we were in town so a celebration was in order! They had some friends with their kids come over for a BBQ.  Spanish is their primary language but luckily they all spoke English as well! It’s so amazing meeting people who are trilingual, very admirable!

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Also while in town, I noticed an old friend from high school, Aly, was going to be in Montreal over the same dates as us so we made it a point to get together! We hadn’t seen each other in six years.  She was with her friend Alyson and suggested a landmark pub, McLean’s, off the historic square where they had many varieties of poutine to choose from!

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Our night didn’t end there.  We ventured to another nearby bar to keep the drinks rolling, which is where we discovered our all-time favorite beer, Kronenbourg 1664 – Blanc, an absolutely delicious citrus Belgian-style ale. We ended up staying out into the late hours but it went by quickly, laughing and catching up!

Canada has many delicacies but poutine (french fries, gravy and melted cheese curds) is the most popular.  We had our fair share of this heart-attack special but also were able to try a few others such as:

  • Ketchup Chips – These can only be store bought and actually can be found in the states too! They are very addicting, especially if you like that vinegar taste!

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  • BeaverTail – A fried pastry about 8-10″ long with your choice of topping such as: Nutella and Bananas (most popular), Nutella/Reese’s Pieces/Peanut Butter Drizzle, Apple Cinnamon, Maple drizzle and Icing, etc..  We split the Nutella and Bananas and WOW! I wanted the whole thing to myself it was that good!

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  • Maple Leaf Cream Cookies – A Canadian sandwich cookie filled with maple cream and oh so delicious! JC’s cousin bought us a whole box!

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Our full week stay in Montreal was more than we expected and owe much of it to Chava and his family.  They took amazing care of us, were incredibly generous and over and beyond hospitable.  The city itself is filled with charm, culture and history and a perfect place to visit in Canada!

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Toronto – The NY of Canada

Toronto is a bustling multicultural city packed with soaring skyscrapers and the CN Tower dwarfing them all. We would have absolutely done the adrenaline rushing edge walk on the CN Tower but for $160pp we decided to pass.

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The apartment we stayed at was walking distance to the shore of Lake Ontario, which was perfect for some afternoon runs!  Except for this dang Red-Winged Blackbird who kept diving at me from the treetops, nabbing at my pony tail! Turns out it was mating season and apparently I was invading his territory and messing w/ his game…

There are insane amounts of small stores and tiny mom and pop restaurants everywhere you turn.  Among the claustrophobic feel of all the packed-in shops and places to eat, there are many great bars to drop into from hipster vibes to french chic styles.

One of the most beautiful Gothic-Revival mansions designed to look like a castle is Casa Loma, located in midtown Toronto.  It was originally owned by a financier who went under during the depression and had to give up everything he owned.  The city took it over and turned it into a hotel, then a museum, as it is now.  Once built in 1913, it was the largest in all of Canada with 98 rooms covering 64,700 square feet! It cost 3.5 million and took 300 builders to complete!

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Toronto

We made our way into Old Toronto where the Distillery District stands.  Forty-seven 19th Century buildings were restored and brought back to life, repurposing original materials while adding modern touches to create this lovely district.  The Victorian Industrial architecture blending with 21st century design is now a beautiful area filled with boutiques, restaurants, cafes, galleries and theaters.

In the Distillery District is where we tried bierschnaps for the first time at Mill St. Brew Pub.  Supposedly you can’t find bierschnaps anywhere else in Canada so we just had to try this foreign form of beer! The bierschnapps is accompanied with a pint of beer and is served chilled in a shot glass.  The process of creating this dry spirit is by distilling beer into a clear, colorless spirit then adding cane sugar.  The 45% ABV result brings out the boldest and strongest flavors of the beer.  Whew, talk about some serious adrenaline rush on your taste buds all the way down your throat and to your stomach! This stuff is no joke.  A definite must try, but for rookies like us, it’s a doozie!

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Just up the way from the Distillery District is Yonge-Dundas Square, the Times Square of Toronto.  With all of the oversized electronic advertisement screens, busy pedestrian intersections and sidewalk entertainment you’ll certainly experience the “big city feel”.

Toronto

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Close by is a restaurant called Signs that a friend recommended trying.  All of the staff (waiters, bus boys, kitchen crew, etc.) are deaf and communicate through sign language. In the beginning, our waitress welcomed us and taught us how to sign some basic words to get started (“yes”, “water”, “thank you”, etc.).  The cheat sheet on the table also helped with other requests.  The entire dining experience was remarkable and provided such a fun twist on an ordinary night out.  We loved the concept and how friendly the staff was!

Toronto is a big city with plenty to do and see no matter the time of year! This is definitely the New York of Canada.

Dates Visited: 6/11-6/15, 2016

 

Niagara Falls and All Its Fury!

Being one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Niagara Falls was absolutely on our bucket list.  We arrived on the Canada side to experience the Falls on a Friday night, specifically picking this day of the week knowing additional entertainment would be provided.

It was still daylight when we made it to the Falls and….WOW! Unbelievably incredible to see the raging water, the roaring waterfalls and the huge cloud of mist fill the air.  Hundreds of tourists lined the railings to see all the action and embrace this natural wonder!

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A live band was playing in the park and at 9pm they illuminated the waterfalls all sorts of fun colors! They would change them out so you were seeing something new every 5 minutes or so.

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An hour later, once it was completely dark, they had a big firework show over the Falls.  It was so pretty watching each firework go off in the sky and hearing the echoing boom of the explosion from the Falls. Sounded like cannons!

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We came back again early the next morning to do all the excursions and first on the list was the Hornblower, the boat that takes you right in the middle of all the action! Those who have been years before may remember the Maid of the Mist (boat).  It is still there but an American company bought it out so it only runs from the American side.

We slipped on our ponchos and slowly made our way into the mist of the waterfalls! First we passed by the Bridal Veil Falls, the smallest of the 3 waterfalls that makes up Niagara Falls, yet was still fairly wide.  It wasn’t long until we were completely submerged in the huge cloud of mist and getting completely soaked.  Thank goodness I was wearing water shoes! So much water is spraying up and around you that you can barely see; it’s the getting wet part that is the most fun, especially on a hot day!

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

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Niagara Falls

Our next adventure was a Journey Behind the Falls where we were able to go in a tunnel with two sections leading off to get right under the waterfall.  Walking through the tunnel you hear the thunder of the water crashing below.  Once in the side-tunnels that led us directly behind the water, you felt like you were in a hurricane with all the wind, water violently pouring down and the loud roar.  Such an incredible experience!

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Next on the agenda was “Niagara and All It’s Fury”, which was an animated film with the history of the Falls then a 4-D “ride” going down the river into the falls, while getting sprayed w/ water! This could be so much better on so many levels but oh well, it was part of the package.  We wouldn’t recommend doing this if buying excursions a la carte.

Lastly we walked the quarter-mile boardwalk along the Class 6 (highest class) White Water Rapids. There are no rocks that cause the rapids, only the raging water and the swells it creates.  At one point adrenaline junkies were able to kayak and white water raft this vicious river but after a few incidents and a few deaths, they banned such activities.

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Many attempts were made to go down the waterfall by daredevils by barrel (the most common and famous), on a jet ski and one w/ just the clothes on his back! Some survived and some did not.

We spent a long 5 hours exploring the falls and probably could have done more but 5 hours was plenty.  Lunch was in order and we stopped at a pub before making our way Toronto.  But of course we had to stop at one of the wineries on the way to try ice wine!

Jackson Triggs was recommended by a friend and we ended up getting free samples then enjoyed a glass of moscato on their porch overlooking the vineyard.  Here is where we had ice wine for the first time and it was so sweet and delicious! This dessert wine is produced from frozen grapes still on the vine.

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Detroit – America’s Greatest Comeback City!

The city of Detroit has seen its fair share of rough days and we chose to visit not only to see its condition but to find the life that still remains.

Driving in we had the unfortunate view of old abandoned homes either completely boarded up, partially burned down or vandalized.  It honestly felt like the apocalypse occurred here.  We were so saddened to imagine that families once lived in these homes, with jobs, children and a life but had to leave it all in desperation to survive.

Detroit

Detroit is on the strive to revive.  The hosts of our Airbnb work to renovate old homes using revenue from their Airbnb bookings.  They are determined to restore this city and bring it back to life.  We loved this concept and hope to see them along with others succeed.  There is hope!

Not all of Detroit is down in the slumps like the media portrays.  Although Detroit is one of the highest crime cities in America, there is plenty of life and love occupying many homes.  And wealthier neighborhoods still stand strong.  Downtown is bustling and up to speed w/ the modern day offering food trucks, hip bars w/ patio seating, a sanded beer garden w/ lawn chairs, outdoor cinema, outdoor mini-amphitheater w/ a stage and dance floor and much more.

Detroit

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The house we stayed in was built in 1923, only about 15 minutes from downtown, in a decent neighborhood and only feet away from a park and the river.  The morning after our first night there, we experienced something quite unusual…

JC left the bedroom to get ready for the day and I stayed in bed.  About 15 minutes later I felt a huge jolt in the bed startling me!  It felt like someone pushed the foot board hard and quickly, slightly moving the legs along the wooden floor and hitting the head board against the wall.  It was so sudden I thought maybe there was a shift in the house or an earthquake or something.  Then it happened less than a minute later but not as hard.

I didn’t tell JC about it until later that evening.  He said it was so crazy I mentioned that because while he was in the bathroom, around the same time as my experience, he heard something rolling down the wooden hallway towards our bedroom.  He said it sounded like some type of rolling/creaking pressure and it wasn’t footsteps but definitely something he’s never heard before.  He could follow the sound with his eyes, it was that real.  He got goosebumps when telling me because of how unnerving the sound was.  We were the only ones in the house…

I had JC try to debunk the whole bed experience when we got home from dinner by pushing the foot board w/ his knees and legs while I was laying down.  The bed didn’t even budge on his first try.  After a few attempts he finally was able to copy the exact motion I felt and he said it took a great deal of effort to barely move the bed.

The current owners informed us that legend has it this house was used as a speakeasy (secret bar) where people would gather for a drink.  Other than that, they didn’t have any other information on previous owners.  Who knows if what we experienced was ghosts but it certainly was unsettling!

While in Detroit, we stopped by the Heidelberg Project where artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather began painting abandoned houses on his streets in bright colored dots and attaching salvaged items.  What was once a neighborhood many strayed away from, became a welcoming neighborhood to locals and tourists.  Some of the houses were demolished by the city on the basis of the barriers to urban planning it represented.  In places where some of the homes were torn down, you’ll find structured piles of salvaged items as “art work”.  It humbles you a bit knowing these were possessions of families that once lived here.

Heidelberg, Detroit

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We were told to eat at Coney Island while in town so we made a stop for dinner one night.  Let’s just say this is more of a place that you just go to go and say you did it.  The hot dogs are drenched in chili and they could at least grill the onions for a better taste.  And where’s the cheese?? We went. We tried.  We needed Pepto.

Coney Island, Detroit

Coney Island, Detroit

My favorite place we ate at was Green Dot Stables.  Talk about a cool twist on sliders! They had a huge variety to choose from and only $2-$3 each! JC got the BBQ Bacon, Wild Boar and PBJ.  I had the ground beef, black been patty and peanut butter puff (peanut butter and marshmallow puff toasted on the slider – OMG! BEST THING EVER!!).  We both also had the fried chicken slider that comes w/ maple syrup (to die for).  They also have sides (i.e., mac & cheese, hummus, fries, etc.).  And of course some refreshing beers to go w/ your meal! The restaurant is off the beaten path a bit but very popular among locals!

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^**PB Fluff Not Shown – Ate It Too Fast**^

The rapper Eminem is from Detroit (who I was totally obsessed w/ as a teenager, like omg) and we drove by his old neighborhood off Eight Mile to check it out.  The actual trailer he lived in is no longer there but the trailer park itself is so, we snapped a few pics! This used to be one of the worst areas of Detroit!

Detroit

I’m so glad we took the time to visit Detroit and see it’s true worth.  Yes, there are some super slummy areas but if you look deep enough, you’ll find that the heart of Detroit is still there, just needing some love.

Dates Visited: 6/8-6/10, 2016

 

Sarnia, ON, CA – Largest City on Lake Huron

While outlining our North East itinerary, we specifically put certain cities on our route so we could see family and friends.  Sarnia is located just across the lake from Detroit and it is here where my sister’s in-laws now live, family we made sure to stop and see!

They had been living in Austin (technically Dripping Springs) for as long as I’ve known them but John, her father-in-law, had retired and as planned, moved back to their home country of Canada afterward.  Luckily they were still in town for our wedding last April, phew!

John, his wife Brenda and their son Andrew, who is about my age, live with Brenda’s mother, Joan, in a cozy split level home a block away from the lake.  Joan had lived in this home since 1952! They had the perfect set up for us down in the basement w/ a bedroom, bathroom and living area!

JC and I spent our days working but were able to enjoy sit-down lunches and dinner with the family.  We all shared stories of life and travels, caught up and enjoyed some laughs.  They don’t go out to eat often but made an exception while we were in town and took us to a nearby restaurant located on the marina called Alternate Grounds Dockside.  We sat above the water with a front row view of all the big fancy yachts and the chemical plants just down the way.

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The Galloway’s then took us to the only brewery in town, the Refined Fool Brewing Co.  Here we tried some of their local brews w/ quirky names such as: “Illiterate Librarians” (milk stout), “My Cousin Knows the Drummer” (Hef – very good!) and “Antique Peepshow” (IPA).  They had card and board games to play, of which we quickly snatched up the Uno game! JC won of course…

Sarnia

One afternoon, JC and I took a drive around the city where we of course stumbled upon our first Tim Horton’s! My sister raves about this place and it’s pretty much her primary breakfast spot when they come to visit.  We ordered up some afternoon snacks of donuts and “Timbits” (aka donut holes) and they truly were amazing!! Even in the afternoon!

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Along our drive, we passed through Canatara Park where you can access Lake Huron through their sandy beach shore.  The water was way too cold for us to even attempt going in and may only be warm enough for a good month out of the year. It’s still lovely to look at and relax on the shore while reading a book. So calm and relaxing!image

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We also rode our bikes another day along the lake on Brights Grove trail.  You get carried away riding while gazing out into the lake – makes for a much more enjoyable bike ride!

With beaches, parks, walking/biking trails, fishing and the lake, there is a good amount of activities to do while in town! Of course, winter time may be a little different.

Dates Visited: 6/5-6/8, 2016

South Bend, Indiana!

This stop was really just to see JC’s buddy, Blair, whom he met while working at Dell.  Blair moved back to his hometown, South Bend, to go to grad school and be close to family.

South Bend is a small city just South of the University of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish! Blair and his girlfriend, Kristin, took us to go tour the campus, which is ranked among the most beautiful campuses in the country! And it truly was.  With it’s golden dome, 2 lakes, pavilion, grotto, cemeteries, stadium and “touch down Jesus”, this campus most certainly covers all aspects of beauty.

South Bend

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Another site to see was Lake Michigan, only about 45 minutes away, where Blair’s parents keep their yacht.  His dad was gracious enough to take us out for a little while! It’s incredible how massive the lake is where you can’t even see land, it’s almost like looking into the ocean.  The day we went out, the water was calm but the lake has been known to cast some serious waves.

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The next day, we ventured into Michigan again but this time to check out wineries and breweries.  Our first stop was Gravity where they load up a wooden board with 4 generous wine samples of your choice, cheese and crackers and you can take it all with you to sit on the patio overlooking the vineyard.  Now this was my style of sampling! We never remember all that fancy-shmancy stuff they tell you about each wine you try, we just want to taste and drink!

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Next stop was Round Barn, a winery, distillery AND a brewery! They had an outdoor setup w/ corn-hole, live music and very dog friendly (almost everyone had their dog with them).  We switched over to beer at this venue and it was delicious! The weather that day was perfect to be outdoors too!

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We stayed there for a bit then ended up at Green Bush Brewing Co., to keep on going w/ the brewskies.  They also had food and at this point; we definitely needed to fill our bellies after all the alcohol we had been consuming! The venue was busy but had a waiting area across the street (same owners) where you could drink on the patio – perfect!

We had an awesome time staying w/ Blair and seeing what the small town of South Bend had to offer along w/ the fun activities in nearby Michigan!

Dates Visited: 6/2-6/2, 2016

 

The Windy City, Chicago, IL!

Ah, the windy city, Chicago! This place never seems to let me down and after already visiting about 4 times prior (as my sister lived there for 10 years), it never gets old! There are always new things to do and see and even old things to repeat!

JC’s cousin, Susana, lives outside of Chicago in Aurora and graciously opened her home for us to stay in while in the area.  Her daughter, Susy, happened to be graduating high school the same weekend we were there! Her high school, Metea Valley, was actually one of 13 schools to win the “GRAMMY Signature School of 2016”, which recognizes their outstanding commitment to music education. How cool!

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We spent the first couple of days in Aurora hanging out with JC’s family.  His Aunt Cristina and her husband, Ricardo, were also in town all the way from Mexico City and were staying w/ Susana as well.  Susana and her husband, Marco, have a total of 3 kids but their home fit everyone comfortably.  We enjoyed catching up, playing some basketball, feeding the ducks in their backyard pond and feasting on big family meals!13322028_10154326620884758_2244100173463960408_n

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On Memorial Day, we ventured into the heart of Chicago and knocked out a lot! I think we each got in about 20,000 steps that day!

Field Museum – We could have literally toured this museum from open to close there was that much to see! We only allocated a few hours and still didn’t see half of it all!

The coolest part about this museum when I visited the first time at 14, and still is the coolest, is Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex fossil measuring at 42 feet long!

Sue T Rex in Chicago

Their featured exhibit was the Terracotta Warriors.  We were hoping there would be rows and rows of the statues but they only picked unique pieces to display. These statues were built and buried with the First Emperor of China as a purpose to protect the emperor in his afterlife. More than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses were buried in 3 pits and discovered in 1974 by local farmers.IMG_7131

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Field Museum, Chicago

Lake & Parks – After leaving the Field Museum and stopping for a Chicago Style Hot Dog (FYI don’t ask for ketchup, it’s like a disgrace or something – no worries, I didn’t ask), we walked up Lake Shore Dr. where you’ll see many locals walking, running, biking or rollerblading.  Out on Lake Michigan you’ll see gorgeous yachts & crisp white sail boats sailing across the vast blue water.

Chicago Style Hot Dog

Chicago

We strolled through Grant Park and Millenium Park and made our way to the giant steel “bean”, formally known as “Cloud Gate“.  This is one of the most popular art structures in Chicago attracting selfie lovers from all over.  The reflection from the bent steel will mirror your image but in a fun distorted way.  A perfect photo opp.

Chicago

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Navy PierChicagoWe walked over from Millenium Park to the Willis Tower only to find out there was an hour and a half wait so we decided to come back another day.  We ended up taking a water taxi from Willis Tower to the Navy Pier, which is a great way to see the city, take a break from all the walking, and enjoy a nice little boat ride on the Chicago River! The Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s landmarks and here you can ride the ferris wheel, see an IMAX movie, do a little shopping, eat a rainbow stacked ice cream cone, hop on one of the boat adventures (Pirate Ship or Speed Boat) and/or enjoy a beer and live music in the beer garden.

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After the pier we walked a mile and a half to eat dinner at the Chop House only to find out it was closed for the holiday so, we went next door to Portillo’s, known for their Italian beef, Chicago-style hot dogs and ribs.  JC went for the ribs and was pretty satisfied.  He said they were the best he had out of all the other places we stopped for ribs.  Still Texas has the best, of course.

We seriously did all of the above in one day.  Talk about being exhausted! But it was so worth it!

We had one other day dedicated to touring around Chicago, and here we visited:

Willis Tower – Formerly known as “Sears Tower”, Willis Tower is an iconic sky scraper reaching 1,451 feet high and 108 stories.  It is the 2nd tallest building in the U.S.! Here you can take the elevator up to the 103rd floor to visit the sky deck, overlooking Chicago’s packed city of buildings upon buildings.  There are a few glass ledges that extend out over the building where you can walk on to get that unnerving slight stomach drop feeling, that is, if you’re not afraid of heights!

Willis Tower, Chicago

Garret’s Gourmet Popcorn – Mmmmm! Delish! This place was recommend by many and luckily we passed by one of their stores on our way to the train station.  We grabbed a snack pack mix of cheddar and caramel and it was UH-mazing! You can even bring it into the ball game at Wrigley Field!

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Cubs Game – How could we not attend a Cubs baseball game?! Wrigley Field is the oldest National League Ballpark (opened in 1914) and still has an original hand-turned scoreboard! It’s such a charming stadium that takes you back in time a bit.  Our seats were behind home base but after the 5th inning we made our way even closer down to the front sections to get an even better view.  The Cubs won 2-1 against the Dodgers and after a quick celebration, it was a mad dash to the train station.  Luckily we got on the second train but it was certainly packed!

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During our time in Chicago, we of course ate deep-dish pizza at Giordarno’s and realized it’s not really our favorite style pizza but was definitely filling!

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I absolutely love Chicago and JC really enjoyed his first time there as well.  The best time to visit is obviously in the Summer where many events take place, the weather is perfect and you can catch a baseball game!

 

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