Category: Destinations

I recently had the delightful opportunity to visit one of the northeast’s most treasured cities, Boston. When you think of dining in Boston, you can’t not think of seafood, particularly lobster. Yet in the recent years I have made brief trips to the city, I have grown tired of the same style of old Bostonian lobster rolls and milky clam chowder.

Recently opened by Kathy Sidell (President and Culinarian of the MET Restaurant Group) with the help of Chef Kyle McClelland, Saltie Girl brings traditional seafood to 2016, while still preserving the freshness of it’s flavor.

The restaurant focuses on globally sustainable iterations of fresh fish & seafood, be it fried, sautéed, raw, house-potted, smoked or in tins. Dishes include fried lobster and waffles with sweet corn butter and spicy maple syrup and French burgundy snails with black garlic butter to name a few. Chowder, bisque, an amazing raw bar, fried whole belly Ipswich clams by the ounce are all on the menu.

The decor is intimate, calming with nautical touches; reminiscent of a mermaid’s chamber. Sit in a wooden, ship like booth and order up a glass of vino, or their infamous copper “Pineapple” of elyx, lemongrass and citrus soda, and you’re ready to set sail! Some of my favorite dishes included the Tuna Poke with soy, sesame, ginger, togarashi, and the Tinned Tuna with jalepeno. And, despite my earlier comment, their Gloucester Lobster Roll, served in a brioche bun, is a must.

On you’r next visit to the area, be sure to make a stop in, not only for a mouth watering seafood experience, but also for some of the friendliest, knowledgable and attentive service I have experienced in a while.

Oh and I hear they also do a fantastic brunch….

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There are many great ways to save time and money when booking your upcoming spring and summer vacation. Using modern technological tools like travel apps and services can have a great impact on your savings, both time and money.

Save $ on Flights

Track your flights using time and money saving apps like Hopper. Hopper will notify you when your ideal flights go up and down in price and when the best time to book them is. They recently added a feature on their app called Fair Bear, which figures out your true cost of flying. Fair Bear will give you a heads up about all the fees and restrictions that are hidden in your fare rules so you’ll know exactly how much to expect to pay for things like flight cancellations or changes, carry-on baggage, checked baggage, and seat selection.

Keep Track of Points and Miles

Sign up for a travel rewards tracking service like Award Wallet, which tracks your miles and points from 700 different loyalty programs. It keeps you up to date on the status of your points and miles, tells you what your balances are and when they expire, so that you use them and not lose them, potentially saving you money on your next trip. If you’re not sure how to best use those points and miles, AwardWallet has experts on staff that can help you redeem your miles, just like a travel agent would help you book your dream vacation, so you maximize potential savings on your next trip.

 

Save Time on Transport

Uber, the popular ride hailing app has great time and money saving features. A pro tip for budget-friendly travelers who are splitting an Uber ride with a friend or family member is using the “Split your Fare” feature, which only take a few taps of your smartphone. Once you’ve requested a ride, tap the arrow icon next to your driver’s info, select “Split Fare,” choose your friends, and tap. Uber also offers the option to schedule a ride in advance, which means that travelers can schedule a pickup anywhere between 30 days to 30 minutes in advance. This comes in handy especially before an early morning flight. Scheduled Rides are available in more than 300 cities across the world.

Pick Smart Destinations

Look at destinations that have something for everyone and are easily accessible from the USA (you can fly directly into Cancun from most major cities.) The Mahekal Beach Resort in Playa Del Carmen mexico provides a unique beach front experience for the family, with 4 pools, 2 restaurants and gorgeous palapa style tropical bungalows. Despite being located in the Playa Del Carmen with many dining options, the resort offers a half board option that includes breakfast and either lunch of dinner daily at one of their authentic, farm to table style on site restaurants. Highlights include the ‘catch of the day’ where guests can experience fresh caught local fish directly from the ocean out front. Right now use promo code ‘play’ to get in on their ‘play your way’ package, where starting at $319 per night you get customizable activities and components (like cooking lessons for the family) included in your stay!

The MahekalThe MahekalThe Mahekal

Assuredly enough, my travels this summer have brought me back to Nantucket to welcome in the fall. This time my visit to the island revealed even more hidden gems!

To Get There:

Tradewind Aviation

I found the quickest way to go is flying an air shuttle with Tradewind Aviation, which gets you there from Manhattan in less than 50 minutes. You also get a 5* private jet experience with a commercial price tag.

To Stay:

The Cottages, Nantucket Boat Basin

These gorgeous little waterfront cottages are full of Nantucket charm, overlooking the famous harbor, on Swain’s Wharf and Old South Wharf. Simple, quaint and ‘beachy’ inside, the cottages  provide the perfect home away from home feel with modern coastal-style furnishings and a fully working kitchen. They are also extremely pet friendly, with cottages featuring doggie beds and bowls, a welcome bag of treats and even a pet turndown! Bikes are provided on location, to make admiring the street of Nantucket easier, however, the cottages are a stone’s throw away from all the nautical charm the town has to offer.

To Dinner:

Nautilus

One of the most popular spots right now in Nantucket is this restaurant, and rightly so. If the craft cocktails aren’t for you, there is no way the food wouldn’t be! Start of with a ‘teach me how to dougie,’ made with mezcal, grapefruit and ginger and be sure to order some of their sensational appetizers like their ‘hawaiian tuna poke’ with dynamite & yuzu or their ‘day boat sea scallop sashimi’ with spicy thai chile jaew sauce. For mains, not to miss are the ‘blue crab fried rice’ and ‘green curry lobster.’ However, seafood specials are frequent here so be sure to make the most of the nearby catch on your visit. Overall, a 10/10 in deliciousness!

To Brunch:

Galley Beach

While typically known for its lunches and waterfront dinners, Galley Beach does an extremely delicious and elegant brunch. Here you can sit right on the beach, mimosa in hand and dine overlooking the blue waters of the ocean. Brunch items run from classic eggs benedict to lobster salads, however my choice of ‘toasted country bread with avocado spread, chopped egg and watercress’ was deliciously divine.

 

 

 

Located directly above the Sanctuary Hotel, one can find The Haven Rooftop. An elevator will escort you to the penthouse floor, where you doors will open to a hidden gem of the city.

A popular spot for the happy hour crowd, this relaxed yet chic retreat features a large array of cocktails such as the Sanctuary Sangria, as well as cuisine such as “Haven’s Signature Chicken” (cajun spices and roasted chicken breast, served with a beurre blanc sauce, or “Tuna Tartare” (sesame dressed tuna tartare with crispy wontons). Sip or dine, lounged in the beauty of this terrace, overlooking an exquisite view of the city.

Each season, the Haven Rooftop offers a unique theme for it’s guests, and is uncovered/covered and heated depending on weather. This past month, they have welcomed “A Taste of Morocco” complete with belly dancers, henna artists and Moroccan inspired appetizers to the rooftop. The result is an evening of cultural ambiance and colorful entertainment. This summer a “Yacht” theme is hinted to be appearing on the rooftop…we eagerly wait to see.

In any season, however, the Haven Rooftop provides a wonderful spot to visit with family, friends, and co-workers to escape the bustle of the city and travel abroad in only one elevator ride. Well worth a visit.