Archive for March 29, 2013

Five Fabulous Food Tours

March 29, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Within walking distance of Seattle’s Pike Place Market—and its dizzying array of fresh produce, sensational seafood and unique eateries—the Hyatt at Olive 8 inspired us to find the best ways to get a taste of a city. And food tours became our answer.

Photos courtesy of Chicago Food Planet Tours, Savor Seattle, Michelle Topor’s Boston Food Tours and Foods of New York Tours

Here are a few of our favorite guided gourmet walking tours:

Savor Seattle Pike Place Market Food and Cultural Tour: Sample more than 16 bites and sips—including crab cakes, chowder and cheese—during a 2-hour tour of this 105-year-old landmark.

Chinatown San Francisco Tours: Try Dim Sum, fortune cookies, teas and more on a 3-hour tour of this popular neighborhood.

Chicago Food Planet Bucktown/Wicker Park Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: Visit 6 authentic mom-and-pop establishments and ethnic eateries in this local artists’ community.

Michele Topor’s Boston North End Market Tour: Experience life in “Little Italy” as a local, with stops at a green grocer, salumeria, pasticcerias and an enoteca.

Foods of New York Tours Chelsea Market/Meatpacking District: Explore this 112-year-old-landmark building (the birthplace of the Oreo!) and became an insider on gourmet foods and flavors.

 

Category: Around Town, Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spring for a Classic New England Clambake!

March 27, 2013 / / Comments Off

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As New Englanders, we’re big on clambakes. Steamed clams and mussels with hot drawn butter. Fresh lobsters. Sweet corn on the cob. We could go on. If you’re looking to experience a traditional clambake (consisting of seafood cooked on a beach using seaweed and hot stones), hotels like the Chatham Bars Inn in Cape Cod offer events throughout the summer.

And if you can’t make it to an on-beach bake, many seafood restaurants make entertaining easy by bringing the bounty of the ocean to you! (Of course, you’ll have to sacrifice the seaweed and stones.) Below are a few supplies that will class up any at-home clambake.

Photos courtesy of Zappos, Orange and Pear, Magnificent Milestones, Williams-Sonoma, Etsy and West Elm

{Clockwise from top left}

Whale Flip Flops (Vineyard Vines, $39.50)

Sea Life Dinner Plates (Thomas Paul, $44)

Sofia Mini Champagne Cans (Francis Ford Coppola Winery, $5/can)

Enamel Crab Cracker (Williams-Sonoma, $17.90)

100-Piece Crab Confetti Package (Etsy, $2.25)

Tassled Picnic Blanket (West Elm, $49)

Category: Great Outdoors, Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

It Ain’t Easy Being Tweed

March 26, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Guests at the Old Swan and Minster’s Mill, a charming old inn located in the rolling green hills of the Cotswolds, have all sorts of activities available to them, from fishing to tennis to long strolls through the hotel grounds and surrounding countryside.

So. Much. Drama. And Tweed.
Photo courtesy of thriftindenver.com

But when we first got our eyes on this scenic spot, one word went through our heads: Tweed. Between the English weather, English charm, and English gastropub fare, the only thing missing is classic English fashion, which means tweed.

The go-to source for tweed fashion and fabrics is Harris Tweed, which is woven on the wind-whipped Outer Hebrides islands off the western shores of Scotland.

Holland Cooper updates traditional tweed pieces with fresh colors and design touches.

Looking to accessorize? Try TOMS tweeded-out slip-ons for a refined look.

Category: Style Files / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Suspend Disbelief with Scenic Gondolas

March 25, 2013 / / Comments Off

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With ski season wrapping up and the hopes of Spring weather just around the corner, we’re feeling a bit outdoorsy here at SniqueAway. Well, the “inside a comfortable, scenic gondola” kind of outdoorsy. Having featured a number of ski-area resorts, scenic gondolas always catch our eye (including the Stratton Gondola near the Stoweflake in Stowe, VT). So, naturally we’d like to point out some of our favorite non-hiking ways to traverse mountains and take in panoramic vistas nationwide.

Scenic Gondolas

Photos courtesy of Silver Moutain Resort, Mammoth Mountain, Telluride, CO and the Mountain Washington Cog Railway

Clockwise from top left:

Silver Mountain (Kellogg, ID): Measuring in at more than 3 miles, the Silver Mountain Gondola earns its title as the longest gondola in North America, and travelers find 30 miles of renowned, downhill bike trails on either end. You just can’t beat a scenic, tram-ride break punctuating a day of wilderness cycling.

Mammoth Mountain (Mammoth Lakes, CA): Located in eastern California, the Mammoth Mountain gondola hoists visitors more than 11,000 to Mammoth’s peak for 400 miles of 360-degree views and a summit restaurant.

Telluride Gondola (Telluride, CO): As the main connection between the alpine enclaves of Telluride and Mountain Village, the Telluride Gondola doubles as a convenient public transit machine. Although we bet you’ve never enjoyed 10,500-foot-altitude views from a subway.

Mt. Washington Cog Railway (Bretton Woods, NH): Okay okay, it isn’t exactly a gondola. But as the only uphill train in the eastern U.S., the Mt. Washington Cog Railway is a summer staple for New England travelers. And with a 150-year history, this 3-mile ride boasts a storied past as well.

Category: Great Outdoors / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Get in an Aloha State of Mind

March 21, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Aloha. It’s amazing how one simple word can transport you from the dreary Boston weather to a warm and tropical beach, where even cocktails need umbrellas to find shade from the sun. We have the Coconut Waikiki Hotel to thank for this lovely daydream, and we’re just not ready to return to the reality of an impending snowstorm.

Since we can’t hop a flight to the Aloha State anytime soon, we’re going to pretend we’re there by watching Hawaii-centric movies and drinking a piña colada (or two).  Care to join us?

Photos courtesy of Amazon.com

The Descendants: Hawaii simply steals the spotlight from George Clooney in this dramatic film. It’s true. Even George can’t hold a candle to its beauty.

50 First Dates: This is what happens when a romantic comedy meets gorgeous scenery. It’s unforgettable.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Heartbreak doesn’t stand a chance against the magnificence of Hawaii in this quirky tale of lost love.

Blue Hawaii: Elvis. Singing. Hawaii. Need we say more?

Category: The Big Screen / Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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