state - Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-29T08:40:16Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/stateTop 10 Historic & Culinary Delights in New York's Dutchess Countyhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/new-york-state-dutchess-county-hudson-valley-attractions-dining2020-03-20T20:51:04.000Z2020-03-20T20:51:04.000ZSteve Mirskyhttps://tripatini.com/members/SteveMirsky964<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> <em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009445498,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009445498,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="750" alt="9009445498?profile=original" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/atardecer-en-el-poeta-de-caminata-park-red-hook-nueva-york-gm521293809-50217546" target="_blank">ctraixaxu</a></span></em><br /> <br /> <br /> Planning a weekend trip to any destination can feel overwhelming especially when must-see historic and culinary attractions combined with ample time for relaxation are on the agenda. If you're visiting Dutchess County in New York's mid-Hudson River Valley, look no further than this Top 10 List, which includes a locally run bed and breakfast in which to spend your evenings.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMontesHistoricFamily.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMontesHistoricFamily.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1000" alt="HudsonValleyMontesHistoricFamily.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Monte’s Local Kitchen & Tap Room</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> With roots in the restaurant business extending back to 1906 first with Angelo's Tavern in Brooklyn and then starting in 1956 at Gurney's Inn in Montauk NY, the Monte family over the generations is no stranger to providing gracious hospitality and authentic Italian dishes.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMontesCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMontesCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyMontesCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Today, the Montes have reinvented themselves in the town of Amenia with <a href="https://www.monteskitchen.com/">Monte’s Local Kitchen & Tap Room</a>. Ann Marie (daughter of Angelo Jr) along with her four siblings and all their spouses joined forces with Chopped Champion Dafna Mizrahi. Angelo “Chip” Monte (former executive chef at Gurney’s Inn) still keeps a watchful eye over the kitchen serving up family inspired cuisine made from locally and sustainably sourced ingredients whenever possible.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMontesFoodCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMontesFoodCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyMontesFoodCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Chef Mizrahi, a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in nearby Hyde Park, is the ideal ambassador for Hudson Valley farm-to-table Italian dishes as they're served in Italy, with only the freshest ingredients from local purveyors like feta from the owners of Four Brothers pizza parlor a block away; “toussaint," a cow’s milk pecorino, from Sprout Creek in Poughkeepsie; chicken from North Wind Farm in Tivoli; and strip steak from Sugar Hill in Pine Plains. You can taste the difference in menu stalwarts like Angelo's meatballs, a specialty blend of beef and ricotta, and their Caprese salad.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMileaCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMileaCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyMileaCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Milea Estate Vineyard</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> Dating back to 1677, the Hudson Valley is one of the oldest wine growing regions in the country. At the heart of this heritage is Staatsburg's 98-acre <a href="https://www.mileaestatevineyard.com/">Milea Estate Vineyard</a> with its brand new tasting room perched on a knoll overlooking the vineyard's 5.7 acres of Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay surrounded by rolling hills, horse pastures, and orchards in the distance. The interior has a farmhouse feel with a French bistro twist of tiled floors and copious paintings displayed on the walls. Right now, wine and cider tastings accompanied by cheese and charcuterie are served on the patio but eventually a broader menu will at times be prepared in a outdoor kitchen hosting cooking classes and wine dinners prepared by celebrity chefs.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMileaExteriorCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMileaExteriorCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyMileaExteriorCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's not often that award-winning wines come from a first crush, but that's exactly what happened at Milea in 2015. A member of the Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc Coalition, Milea is best known for single varietal and Cab Franc rosé but also grows small lots of Pinot Noir, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, as well as more extraneous varietals like Blaufränkisch, Noiret, and Traminette. While not certified organic, they grow fruit as sustainably as possible with most vineyard work done by hand, reducing the impact of machinery and need for pesticides.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMileaCiderLineup.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyMileaCiderLineup.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1000" alt="HudsonValleyMileaCiderLineup.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Just as much as grapes, apples have figured prominently at this family owned estate as far back as 1984. The trees produced apples so plentiful that cider making became a worthy pursuit early on especially when combined with local cider apples sourced within 20 miles of the estate. Their current lineup includes The Jumper Traditional (extra dry), The Jumper Orchard Select, and a Wild Goose Bourbon Barrel-aged cider aged for three months in barrels from Hillrock Distillery in Ancram, NY. Look out for their rosé cider set to be released this summer.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyFDRMuseumExterior.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyFDRMuseumExterior.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1128" alt="HudsonValleyFDRMuseumExterior.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>FDR Presidential Library and Museum</h1><p xml:lang="en" lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> The <a href="https://www.fdrlibrary.org/">USA's first presidential library</a> is located on the grounds of Springwood, the Roosevelt family estate in Hyde Park. Unique from other presidential libraries, it was built under the president's personal direction while he was still alive. Roosevelt was also the first POTUS to make his papers available to the public by donating them to the United States government. When it first opened in 1941, the library housed a vast collection resulting from all his years in public service and quickly became overcrowded because he didn't expect to serve more than two terms.</span></p><p xml:lang="en" lang="en"></p><p xml:lang="en" lang="en"><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyFDRMuseumInteriorCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyFDRMuseumInteriorCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyFDRMuseumInteriorCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span xml:lang="en" lang="en">Built of Hudson Valley fieldstone in a style reminiscent of Dutch colonial architecture, the library and museum's displays dig deep into FDR's political impact and personal life, including the study where he delivered several of his signature "fireside chats" via radio.</span> In 2009 the library and museum received a $17.5 million renovation and features three floors of state-of-the-art exhibits, including the car that accommodated his disabilities resulting from polio.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyFDRHomeCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyFDRHomeCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyFDRHomeCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Also on the grounds of the estate entering FDR's family manse gives you the feeling that Franklin and his wife Eleanor just stepped out and will be back shortly to greet you. The rooms with attendant decor, particularly Franklin's library, are preserved just as they were upon his death. Informative placards put things into context like where the king and queen of England as well as Winston Churchill stayed when visiting (the former visit portrayed in the 2012 film <em>Hyde Park on Hudson</em>), in addition to the elevator that Roosevelt had personally installed as a young man.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJourneyInnCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJourneyInnCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyJourneyInnCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Journey Inn Bed & Breakfast</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> Also located in Hyde Park, <a href="https://www.journeyinn.com/">Journey Inn B&B</a> is run by Valerie Valente and Eric Miller, who bought it after residing for many years in Brooklyn Heights while enjoying weekend trips to the decidedly more breathable and rural Hudson Valley. They soon became local experts, sharing advice on all there is to do in the region. The inn has plenty of places to linger with a book or board game as well as meeting other guests in the two downstairs sitting rooms. Their scratch-made family style breakfast served each morning is sure to accompany their shih tzu named Buddy, who will invariably be making the rounds and winning hearts. A large window overlooks an extensive backyard and bird feeders that attract a wide variety of songbirds.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJourneyInnCollage2.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJourneyInnCollage2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyJourneyInnCollage2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The inn itself has loads of windows and the interior decor of their seven guestrooms and suites reflect local history and inspirational destinations ranging from local legends like the Roosevelts and Vanderbilts to the English countryside and New York City. Best of all, you're within sidewalk walking distance to Hyde Park Village and directly across the street from the Vanderbilt Estate. By car, you are happily 15 minutes equidistant between downtown Poughkeepsie and the Village of Rhinebeck.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJosephsItalianSteakhouseExteriorCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJosephsItalianSteakhouseExteriorCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyJosephsItalianSteakhouseExteriorCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Joseph’s Italian Steakhouse</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><br /> Also in Hyde Park just across the street from Eleanor's house on the FDR estate, Val-Kill</span>, <a href="https://www.josephs-steakhouse.com/">Joseph's Italian Steakhouse</a> is actually located in a building that once</span> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">belonged to the famous First Lady where in 1933 she began using it as a tearoom and in 1939 entertained Queen Elizabeth during the royal couple’s visit.<br /> <br /></span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJosephsItalianSteakhouseCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyJosephsItalianSteakhouseCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyJosephsItalianSteakhouseCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Now completely rebuilt after a fire heavily damaged it several years ago, the formal dining room is divided into an American steakhouse and a reopened tearoom where</span> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">guests can take afternoon tea as Eleanor and her visitors once did, with a three-course spread complete with finger sandwiches, homemade scones with strawberry butter, petit fours, and truffles. The steakhouse dining area dubbed the “Sinatra Room,” usually has the legendary crooner playing in the background along with photos from his Rat Pack days adorning the walls making it the perfect setting for experiencing their 12 certified Angus cuts, dry-aged in-house for 30 days.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyWalkwayCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyWalkwayCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyWalkwayCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Walkway Over the Hudson</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> What was once the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge (and the longest bridge in the world when it was built in 1889) now welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually from across the globe. The 1.28-mile long walkway, suspended 212 feet above the Hudson River connects the Empire State Trail and Hudson Valley Rail Trail networks.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyWalkwayTrail.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyWalkwayTrail.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1000" alt="HudsonValleyWalkwayTrail.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After a fire ignited by a spark from a train’s brakes in 1974 destroyed the tracks and a large portion of the bridge’s wood decking, the structure languished until non-profit group <a href="https://walkway.org/">Walkway Over the Hudson</a> assumed ownership and began reconstructing the bridge surface into a linear walkway in 1998.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyWalkwayElevator.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyWalkwayElevator.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1024" alt="HudsonValleyWalkwayElevator.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Officially re-opened in October 2009, Walkway Over the Hudson is now a State Historic Park, open year round and featuring views of the Catskills to the north, Hudson Highlands to the south, and can be seasonally accessed via an ADA-compliant, 21-story glass elevator just a short walk from a Metro North train station near Poughkeepsie's waterfront at Upper Landing Park.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveExterior.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveExterior.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1000" alt="HudsonValleyLocustGroveExterior.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Locust Grove Estate</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> Also in Poughkeepsie and open for tours year round, a historic Italianate mansion sits on a bluff on <a href="https://www.lgny.org/">Locust Grove Estate</a> overlooking the Hudson River surrounded by 200 acres of landscaped grounds with five miles of hiking trails awaiting exploration.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveDiningRoom.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveDiningRoom.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1000" alt="HudsonValleyLocustGroveDiningRoom.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Built as a summer home in 1852 for artist and inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph and Morse Code, the mansion's design was inspired by the detailed sketches Morse made on scraps of paper, which he eventually handed over to his architect depicting the elegant villas he visited in the Italian countryside during his early years.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveGarden2.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveGarden2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyLocustGroveGarden2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Morse was also strongly influenced by romantic 19th-century landscape garden design. When the next owners William and Martha Young purchased the property, they expanded the formal gardens and added a kitchen garden which today is restored as a place for visitors to learn about the wide variety of vegetables and fruits grown on the estate over the course of its history.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyLocustGroveCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyLocustGroveCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Touring the mansion's 25 rooms, it feels as though everything was left untouched since the times when a large housekeeping staff tended the kitchens, dining areas, and laundered the countless linens and bedding still on display. At the turn of the 20th century, the layout was expanded and modernized adding a new, larger dining room wing, guest bedrooms, and practical conveniences like central heat, running water, and electric lighting. The estate opened to the public in 1979 showcasing its 15,000 piece collection of furniture, paintings, and decorative arts.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="display:inline;float:none;background-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;"><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyShadowsCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyShadowsCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyShadowsCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></span></p><h1>Shadows on the Hudson</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> Perched on a cliff just 50 feet from the edge and 40 feet above the Hudson River, the dining room at Poughkeepsie's <a href="https://www.shadowsonthehudson.com/">Shadows on the Hudson</a> feels like you're on a cruise ship looking out over the open water. Even as you walk through the restaurant's front doors, you are immediately connected to the river with two large murals of the Mid-Hudson Bridge and Walkway over the Hudson. More historic images flank the walls leading to the front desk with a custom made temperature controlled wine cellar in the background.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyShadowsDiningRoomFireplace.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyShadowsDiningRoomFireplace.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1000" alt="HudsonValleyShadowsDiningRoomFireplace.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">A four-sided, floor-to-ceiling fireplace of blue stone and glass at the center of the restaurant separates the lounge from the main dining area. The bar currently features 16 draft beers including a number of local craft favorites along with a state-of-the-art wine dispensing system offering eight reserve list wines by the glass.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyShadowsFoodCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyShadowsFoodCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyShadowsFoodCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">In addition to Shadows' outside terrace during warmer months, the restaurant's panoramic glass wall can be removed for a one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor dining experience. Their menu showcases fresh inventive seafood and steak dishes ranging from fettuccine fra diavolo to burgundy-braised beef short rib. Directly below is Shadows Marina where you can take the Shadows One water taxi to the Newburgh Waterfront and back.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyValKilCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyValKilCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyValKilCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> FDR purchased a parcel of land that would become <a href="https://www.nps.gov/elro/index.htm">Val-Kill</a> in 1911 and Eleanor quickly became fond of the property in the early 1920's picnicking on the east bank of a stream running through the property called Fall-Kill. Known for their love of outdoor activity and informal gatherings, the Roosevelts adopted the picnic spot as a favorite place away from the main house to relax in a secluded natural setting. Later, Eleanor used the site to establish Val-Kill Industries, building a cottage and workshop where women revived handcraft traditions like furniture-making, metalwork, and weaving providing a skills training program that later served as a model for New Deal WPA recovery programs.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyCIAKitchen.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyCIAKitchen.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1000" alt="HudsonValleyCIAKitchen.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><h1>Culinary Institute of America Tours & Dining at American Bounty</h1><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><br /> Led by CIA students, reservation-only public tours are available every weekday. You get an inside look into the school's kitchens and witness chefs grading students' handiwork firsthand. Student chefs prepare dishes for all onsite restaurants including</span> <a href="https://www.americanbountyrestaurant.com/">American Bounty Restaurant</a>, which focuses on contemporary and traditional dishes made with regional and seasonal ingredients.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyCIAAmericanBountyCollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HudsonValleyCIAAmericanBountyCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="1200" alt="HudsonValleyCIAAmericanBountyCollage.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Back in 1973 when American Bounty opened under the direction of a former alum, the menu was defined by the belief that American food could be as fresh, inventive, and locally based as its much-touted French counterpart. This was way before the Hudson Valley's farming renaissance made it into the regional breadbasket it is today. Since then, the restaurant has evolved but remains dedicated to celebrating the joys of the table and using exquisitely fresh ingredients in dishes like venison loin and seafood pie.</span></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Photos: Dutchess County Tourism, Steve Mirsky, and the specific attractions covered herein. Coverage made possible by participating in a partially sponsored visit.</em></span></blockquote></div>Rivers Casino and Resort Revitalizing Schenectady New Yorkhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rivers-casino-resort-schenectady-new-york2018-06-04T12:11:06.000Z2018-06-04T12:11:06.000ZSteve Mirskyhttps://tripatini.com/members/SteveMirsky964<div><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/stockadecollage.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1200" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/stockadecollage.jpg?width=1538" alt="stockadecollage.jpg?width=1538" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">In upstate New York, right near the state capital Albany, Schenectady has a long heritage of commerce and industry dating back to Dutch traders, and later when the Erie Canal and the city's strategic location at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers made it a thriving trade port. Evidence of this early prosperity abounds in the <a href="http://historicstockade.com/">Stockade Historic District</a>, the oldest residential neighborhood in the United States. Walking the streets is like stepping back in time with whole blocks of original Dutch and English building of the 17th and 18th centuries fully intact and lovingly preserved. Sidewalks take you past historical placards identifying key highlights of the neighborhood's significance.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/downtowncollage-1024x634.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/downtowncollage-1024x634.jpg?width=1024" alt="downtowncollage-1024x634.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">A few blocks farther east in downtown on State and Jay Streets, evidence of a bustling center of commerce fueled by industrial prominence extending from the late 19th into the early 20th century is evident in the <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Beaux-Arts</span> store fronts and office buildings along with the majestic circa 1925 <a href="http://www.proctors.org/">Proctors</a> theater. Major corporations like American Locomotive Company and General Electric, which still have a presence here, catapulted Schenectady's status to one of the country's wealthiest communities. But like all across the United States, the late 20th century brought change, closing factories and draining vitality from urban centers.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Landing-Good-Morning-1024x768.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Landing-Good-Morning-1024x768.jpg?width=1024" alt="The-Landing-Good-Morning-1024x768.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Former industrial sites, some of which were contaminated brown fields, decayed and were abandoned like the 60-acre former American Locomotive Company plant overlooking the Mohawk River. After much lobbying and community support, the derelict property was selected as 1 of 4 locations by New York State as an ideal site for a commercial casino to generate revenue. A $480 million partnership of private & public funds remediated and repurposed this prime location into several projects including <a href="https://riverscasinoandresort.com/">Rivers Casino and Resort</a>.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Landing-Hotel-Lobby-1220847.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1000" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Landing-Hotel-Lobby-1220847.jpg?width=1000" alt="The-Landing-Hotel-Lobby-1220847.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Staying at <a href="https://thelandinghotelny.com/">The Landing Hotel</a> is an undeniably unique experience, allowing you to luxuriate at a boutique-style hotel where not only can you walk downstairs through the lobby right onto the casino floor but straight onto a sidewalk quickly connecting you to Stockade district and downtown attractions.</span></p><p></p><p><img width="1024" height="683" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-6972" alt="The Landing Hotel - Bay Suite - 1220853" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Landing-Hotel-Bay-Suite-1220853-1024x683.jpg" /></p><h3><br /> Rooms</h3><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Modernist in design both inside and out, The Landing stands out in Schenectady as the only brand new non-chain hotel. All six floors and 165 rooms are LEED certified & appointed with designer furnishings, original art work, and king & <span style="color:#000000;">bay suites</span> <span style="color:#222222;">up to 650 square feet</span> <span style="color:#000000;">with wrap-around balconies affording either Mohawk River or city views</span>. Should you decide to cocoon rather than partaking in all the action outside your door, in-room treatments can be booked at onsite <a href="https://thelandinghotelny.com/spa/">Splash Spa</a> and 24-hour room service puts the menus of all five onsite dining venues at your fingertips.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Dukes-Cocktails.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1000" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Dukes-Cocktails.jpg?width=1000" alt="Dukes-Cocktails.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><h3><br /> Dining</h3><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:12pt;">When hunger strikes, your choices range from fast casual <a href="https://thelandinghotelny.com/dining/">Johnny's and Flipt to the venerable Duke's Chophouse</a>. Tapping into authentic local dining, Chef Justin Endineri teamed up with the Mallozzi Group, legends in their own right running <a href="http://www.villaitaliabakery.com/home">Villa Italia</a> since 1965 and more recently opening their main Johnny's location several years ago on the corner of Jay and State Streets right across from Proctors.</span></p><p align="justify"></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Center-cut-beef-filet-1024x364.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Center-cut-beef-filet-1024x364.jpg?width=1024" alt="Center-cut-beef-filet-1024x364.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Winner of Open Table Diners’ Choice Award in its first year, Duke's Chophouse clientele have steadily expanded beyond hotel guests to repeat local customers and outside tourists. Inspired by <a href="https://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/" target="_blank">Chicago's Gibson Steakhouse</a>, Duke's menu features prime steaks and freshly prepared seafood appetizers. Weekend brunch includes indulgent six-egg omelets and either classic style or smoked salmon eggs benedict, Duke's Colossal Cinnamon Bun, a massive, pull-apart bun meant to be shared; lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes, and their opulent bloody mary bar. During warmer months, doors open up onto the patio with sweeping views of the Mohawk River.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/dukescollage-1024x310.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/dukescollage-1024x310.jpg?width=1024" alt="dukescollage-1024x310.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:12pt;">A cozy piano bar just off the casino floor was recently added to Duke's lounge complete with its own tapas and martini menu including handcrafted Tempura Battered Buffalo Style Cauliflower Bites served with buffalo sauce; Crumbled Smoked Bleu Cheese and Gorgonzola Crème that pairs nicely with stand out martinis like the Sicilian Manhattan made with Bullet bourbon, and Tuaca & Blood Orange liqueurs. Don't miss their local brews on tap including Rivers Rye made by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MadJackNY/">Mad Jack Brewing Company</a> specifically for the casino and resort.</span></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><blockquote><p align="justify" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Photos: Rivers Casino & Resort & Steve Mirsky. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.</em></span></p><p align="justify" style="text-align:center;"></p></blockquote></div>High Peaks Resort Offers 3 Distinctive Lodging Options in Lake Placid Villagehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/high-peaks-resort-offers-3-distinctive-lodging-options-in-lake2018-04-03T20:07:28.000Z2018-04-03T20:07:28.000ZSteve Mirskyhttps://tripatini.com/members/SteveMirsky964<div><p><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksaerial-1024x614.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksaerial-1024x614.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeaksaerial-1024x614.jpg?width=1024" /></a></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">T<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">ucked above Main Street overlooking the</span> shores of Mirror Lake</span><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">, <a href="https://www.highpeaksresort.com/resort">The Resort at High Peaks</a> was originally built as the Lake Placid Hilton in 1980 to accommodate Winter Olympics crowds. Much later in 2008 it experienced a rebirth with a complete overhaul redeveloping every aspect of the property except its original footprint.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HighPeaksExterior-1024x384.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HighPeaksExterior-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" alt="HighPeaksExterior-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Resort at High Peaks exudes a lake front retreat vibe rather than in-town hotel until you descend a stairway to the street below putting you in the thick of all the action within walking distance including coffeehouses, ice cream shops, restaurants, sports bars, <a href="http://www.lpom.org/">The Olympic Museum</a>, and a 2.7-mile path encircling Mirror Lake while also leading past the town boat dock along the south shore of Lake Placid itself.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakssuperiorking-1024x384.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakssuperiorking-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeakssuperiorking-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Although rooms very much reflect their original Hilton footprint, the interiors are now completely modernized with Adirondack meets Modernist furnishings. Walk-in rainfall showers tiled in natural stone, private balconies, writing desks and tawny leather seating accented with autumnal colors with wood & granite finishes are standard while suites come with</span> jetted tubs, <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">fireplaces, and of course more room to stretch out.</span> Signature rooms <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">occupy lower floors overlooking the courtyard & main outdoor pool while Superior View rooms occupy the upper floors featuring</span> Mirror Lake and <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Adirondack Mountain views.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksmainlobby-1-1024x772.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksmainlobby-1-1024x772.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeaksmainlobby-1-1024x772.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">extensive main lobby features a stone mantled wood-burning</span> fireplace and <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">sumptuous seating that encourages you to curl up with that novel you've been attempting to finish, play a game of chess, or enjoy a craft cocktail from the</span> lobby bar<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">.</span></span></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksdancingbearsinterior-1024x384.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksdancingbearsinterior-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeaksdancingbearsinterior-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://www.highpeaksresort.com/dining/dancing-bears">Dancing Bears</a><span lang="en" xml:lang="en">, High Peaks' main restaurant, offers a full breakfast menu including fresh baked pastries and locally roasted coffee. Lunch and dinner offers scratch made pub fare like <em>Chicken Pot Pie</em> as well as locally farmed T-bone steaks, seared pork loin, and chicken wings. A seasonal outdoor patio with a fire pit and stand-up heaters are perfect for hanging out during the warmer months while in the depths of their Olympic worthy winters,</span> <a href="https://www.highpeaksresort.com/dining/den">The Den</a> is <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">perfect for camping in with a regional beer on tap like a <em>Saranac Pale Ale</em> or a craft <em>Dark & Stormy</em> cocktail.</span></span></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"></p><p lang="en" xml:lang="en"><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/lakehouselobby-1024x716.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/lakehouselobby-1024x716.jpg?width=1024" alt="lakehouselobby-1024x716.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><h3 lang="en" xml:lang="en">Lake House</h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en">High Peaks Resort acquired and converted a motel across the street in 2010 into what is now known as</span> <a href="https://www.highpeaksresort.com/lake-house">Lake House</a> with</span> <span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">an Adirondack-style Great Room centered around a fireplace and <a href="https://www.highpeaksresort.com/dining/lake-house-lounge">The Bar at Lake House</a> with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Mirror Lake.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakslakehouseroom-1024x498.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakslakehouseroom-1024x498.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeakslakehouseroom-1024x498.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">E<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">ssentially a retro motor lodge with red doors and carpet in the narrow hallways, the 44 rooms here sport wood floors with either balconies or back doors opening onto the communal lawn overlooking the water. Rousing games of croquet and badminton are common, a rotating lineup of craft beers await on tap, and an onsite expedition planner give Lake House a more rustic down-to-earth base camp feel.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakswaterfrontcollectionroom2-1024x683.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakswaterfrontcollectionroom2-1024x683.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeakswaterfrontcollectionroom2-1024x683.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><h3>Waterfront Collection</h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en">The more luxurious 28</span> <a href="https://www.highpeaksresort.com/waterfront">Waterfront Collection</a> rooms directly below Lake House perched above the water's edge <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">of Mirror Lake include King and Queen Suites with</span> fireplaces, balconies, and plenty of privacy</span><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">. Your room feels like the cabin of a cruise ship with a horizon filled with <span style="text-align:left;color:#333333;text-transform:none;line-height:24px;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;word-spacing:0px;display:inline;white-space:normal;float:none;background-color:transparent;">paddlers, and</span> small sailing & fishing boats.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakswaterfrontcollectionroom-1024x384.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakswaterfrontcollectionroom-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeakswaterfrontcollectionroom-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span style="font-size:12pt;">You can literally step outside and cast a line for trout in the morning, dive into the onsite pool, and explore town during the day while at night you could simply retreat to your porch for a serene sunset reveling in the moment of being away from it all or head to one of the many local hangouts like <a href="http://www.topofthepark.bar/">Top of the Park</a> or <a href="http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/dining/roomers-nightclub">Roomer's Night Club</a> for some spirited relaxation.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakskicksled-1024x384.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeakskicksled-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeakskicksled-1024x384.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><h3>Amenities</h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en">During summer, High Peak's lakefront area features a dock where kayaks, canoes, row boats, stand-up paddle boards, and</span> paddle boats <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">are available while during winter when the lake freezes over, Norwegian kick sleds and ice skating are popular. Nearby, the <a href="http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/activities/lake-placid-toboggan-chute">Lake Placid Toboggan Chute</a> attracts more ardent winter enthusiasts along with throngs of children onto a platform high above the frozen waters of Mirror Lake from which they plummet into the great wide open when snow and ice conditions permit.</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksmainpool-1024x847.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="1024" class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highpeaksmainpool-1024x847.jpg?width=1024" alt="highpeaksmainpool-1024x847.jpg?width=1024" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en">The main indoor pool & spa tub located on the fourth floor of the main resort offers year round swimming & soaking</span><span lang="en" xml:lang="en">. For those accompanied by dogs, <a href="https://www.highpeaksresort.com/amenities/pet-friendly">a special room package</a> is available which includes</span> keepsake bandanas, dog bowls, place mats, dog beds, treats, and maps of dog-walking routes.</span></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Photos courtesy of High Peaks Resort. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.</em></span></blockquote><p> </p></div>The Laid-Back Charms of Daylesford, Australiahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/daylesford-australia2016-03-30T16:24:57.000Z2016-03-30T16:24:57.000ZAmelia Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/AmeliaBrown<div><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009047077,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009047077,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009047077?profile=original" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><br /> The <strong>New South Wales</strong> onetime goldrush, no spa town of <strong>Daylesford</strong> (pop. 2,600) is a quaint area about 115 km (71 miles) north of Melbourne, and it accounts for more than 80 percent of <strong>Australia</strong>'s mineral water springs. I love wine and I love relaxing, and Daylesford offers plenty of lovely opportunities to enjoy both.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><font size="4"><b>Wine Tour</b></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><br /> My own favorite thing here was the wine tour. The tour has three stops for tastings at local wineries, as well as some small snacks. The winemakers were all very hospitable, eager to share their stories of how they came into the winemaking business and offer recommendations of their personal favorites for tasting. I was staying at a local rental home I found on <a href="http://www.stayz.com.au/accommodation/vic/macedon-spa-country/daylesford">Stayz</a> (and I’d recommend you to the same, since hotels in the area can be pricey), and since I was in the area, the wine tour company even picked me up from my accommodation to take me on the tour.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><font size="4"><b><br /> Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens</b></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><br /> This is a beautiful place to relax and observe the beauty of nature. The grounds are very clean. They’re kept up so well, you wouldn’t know that people stumble in and out of there as often as they do. The botanical gardens are shaded by large trees, many of which must be over a hundred years old. If you want the best view, I’d recommend the lookout tower just a short ways away from the carpark. You’ll get an excellent view from above.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><font size="4"><b><br /> Convent Gallery</b></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><a href="http://conventgallery.com.au/"><br /> The Convent Gallery</a> is located just off Main Street, on the side of Wombat Hill. It’s near the shopping district, where you’ll find a variety of specialty shops and artisan snacks. The gallery itself has special space on the top floor for visiting artists, where you’ll be able to view their works in the beautiful light of the cathedral. The on-site eatery - funnily named the Bad Habits Café as a pun about the nuns who used to live there - offered up some pretty decent food. I really enjoyed myself.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><font size="4"><b><br /> Wombat State Forest</b></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><br /> The <a href="http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conservation/protecting-special-places/wombat-state-forest">forest</a> itself measures in at about 70,000 hectares, so you won’t be able to explore the whole thing unless you’re up for quite a hike. The forest is rich with wildlife and unique native plants. I saw several koalas in the trees enjoying a nice nap. You’ll be able to see the place that a lot of endangered species of birds find refuge. You won’t find many opportunities to see these creatures that are so rare in the wild, so you may as well take this opportunity to visit them in their home.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><font size="4"><b><br /> Unique Shopping Experiences</b></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><br /> There are plenty of places to shop in Daylesford, some of which I enjoyed more than others. I’m very passionate about antiques, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the wares at Triggers Antiques. I found they were affordably enough priced that I could safely take several home with me. I also visited the quaint and charming Avant Garden Bookshop on Vincent Street and browsed through their collection of hard-to-find literary masterpieces.<br /> <br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;">Truly, Daylesford is a great place to take it easy. I’d recommend the town to anyone who’s looking for a change of scenery without the stress of tourists plowing each other over in the streets. If you want a low adrenaline, peaceful getaway with charming bed-and-breakfasts, you’ll learn to love Daylesford quickly.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;"><br /></p></div>Cimberland Falls highlights Kentucky State Resort Parkhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/cimberland-falls-highlights-kentucky-state-resort-park2011-09-02T17:49:39.000Z2011-09-02T17:49:39.000ZBeverly Burmeierhttps://tripatini.com/members/BeverlyBurmeier<div><a href="http://stripedpot.com/2011/09/02/cumberland-falls-highlights-kentucky-state-park/">http://stripedpot.com/2011/09/02/cumberland-falls-highlights-kentucky-state-park/</a> Stay and play at this beautiful Kentucky destination</div>Half a World Away: The Power of Connection in Travelhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/half-a-world-away-the-power-of2010-03-04T20:12:25.000Z2010-03-04T20:12:25.000ZUncle Sam's New Yorkhttps://tripatini.com/members/UncleSamsNewYork<div>by Samuel Cook<br /><br /><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://unclesamsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/world-map.jpg?w=300&h=159" alt="world-map.jpg?w=300&h=159" /></p><br /> <br />This past week, I took the opportunity to take my first real vacation since the summer of 2007. It is ironic that an executive of a travel company never gets to travel himself, but such is the reality of running a business - I have had to put my passion for traveling on the back burner as I have built a business around serving the needs of other travelers. My last vacation was a whirlwind trip around the United States to visit friends and family before I deployed on my second tour to Iraq. I was also looking for somewhere to attend graduate school, and it was on this trip that I rediscovered New York City and decided this was the place that I had to live and start a new life. It was on this trip that I discovered the power of connecting with the local population and engaging them on their terms. Instead of Times Square, I found the taverns of Greenwich Village, and strolled the streets of New York City, far and wide. And what I found is that the magic of travel is to truly interact with the local population.<br /><br />So this past week, I went on a vacation to Fiji. I was there at a conference, but the conference was focused on improving your health, life, and finances, so while I was in classes for most of the day and evening, I found it be a well needed break. It wasn’t a typical trip I would call a vacation – on those I usually attack them full on as an adventure, a call to action to see, experience, and soak in the local culture. That was not the purpose of this trip; I had intended it as a time to relax. But on this trip, I encountered some truly magic moments that reminded me of why we travel in the first place.<br /><br />Fiji is a set of Islands in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the Australian continent. It was first settled over 3,500 years ago by voyagers from the Polynesian culture of Asia. It was first discovered in 1643 by a Dutch Explorer named Abel Tasman while he was looking for the great Southern Continent. Fiji had a long history of fierce tribal warfare and cannibalism, which mainly deterred European voyagers from frequenting the Islands, and it was known for a long time as “The Cannibal Isles.” Fijians today call this period “The Time of the Devil.” With the discovery of Australia in the late 1700s by Captain Cook, Fiji fell under the influence of Britain as a key strategic way station for its new pacific holdings. Fiji received independence from Britain in 1970. Today it is a vibrant country sustained on tropical agriculture and tourism.<br /><br />I spent my time in Fiji on the Namale Resort near the small Island town of Suva Suva on the Island of Vanua Levu. The views from our resort were breathtaking, situated on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the expanse before us so vast that at sunset you had trouble telling where the waters ended and the heavens began. I took snorkeling trips in pristine coves laced with Coral and brimming with tropical fish, and also did some swimming in the ocean and hiking around the tropical forests surrounding the resorts. And all of this was spectacular, but what really made the trip worth the effort were two special interactions with the Fijian people. Now while the Fijian Islands used to be known as the Cannibal Isles, that has long since been replaced by a wonderful, carefree spirit that makes you wonder how they manage to not see how serious life should be!<br /><br />We visited a Pentecostal local church, and the Fijian people in the congregation sang in a natural harmony that we spend years teaching in our music schools. I think if I lived in paradise, I would probably also learn to sing so well. The highlight of the local interaction came on the night that the local villagers donned their ancient war outfits while singing. These traditions once sustained the Island before Western life invaded the Islands. I felt like I was on a magic carpet ride through time, watching men in ancient warrior garb with spears dance in front of men, jumping in and out of roles they played with such deadly ferocity centuries ago. And then hearing these deep baritone warrior voices blend with the sweet soprano of the ladies who form the backbone of their tribal clan – the ladies invariably far outlive their warrior husbands. It is hard to describe the sound of a proud group of people singing about their land in an enchanting beautiful and unintelligible tongue.<br /><br />This break, although too short and not the typical adventure I would embark on, reminded me the reason that I got into this business in the first place. Sometimes in the midst of owning a business, I tend to lose sight of the passion and the reason that I was inspired to create my vision in the first place. At the end of the day, I got into this to provide the unique experiences to visitors that I have had the honor of experiences during my travels all over the world. Just as there is magic in the tribal dances and singing of Fijian culture, there is also magic in the streets of New York City. Seeing the Fijian singers, I am reminded of a wonderful summer evening last year in New York City, when I was leading a pub crawl through Greenwich Village. On Bleecker street, around sunset, a group of street singers began their routine across from the hot dog stand. Everyone stoppe ; the whole street was too enchanted by their wonderful harmony to move. All we wanted to do was just stand there and let them keep singing, bringing us back to those memories in our mind of those times that we cherish.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.unclesamsnewyork.com/">http://www.unclesamsnewyork.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Uncle-Sams-New-York/182225010022?ref=ts">http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Uncle-Sams-New-York/182225010022?ref=ts</a></div>