Free Music, Historic setting & a Memorable Experience (my 2nd time to DC!)

Sometimes the best vacation memories are the ones that aren’t planned – in this case, it was an once in a lifetime opportunity!  I was out visiting one of my closest friends (Steph) in Washington D.C. during Memorial Day weekend 2010.  It was the Sunday before Memorial Day, so we decided to stay away from the Museums and venture off to the U.S. Capitol for a photo op.  We figured that with the heat index of 105 degrees, the tourists would stay inside where it’s cool.  After arriving at Union Station, we walked through a beautiful shaded park; and as we were approaching the Capitol I heard one of my favorite songs, “Water,” by one of my favorite country artists, Brad Paisley.  It turns out that the grounds around the Capitol were preparing for the National Memorial Day Concert that evening, and the music I heard was his sound check! 

After striking up a friendly conversation with the security guard, we learned that the televised concert was free and admission was on a first come, first serve basis.  After hearing about the lineup, Blythe Danner, Lionel Ritchie, Joe Mantegna, and Brad Paisley, it was a given that we wanted a guaranteed spot.  Despite the temperatures – we waited it out for over three hours (thank goodness for the umbrella we carried for the shade).  

Talk about a great memory to start off the summer: heartfelt military stories, pride in my country, great music, a great friend, and not to mention, shaking Brad Paisley’s hand as he passed by! 

Travel Tweets

As my obsession with travel magazines and website has just started, I have started to follow many magazines and travel sites on Twitter. Some of the ones I follow are: @TravlandLeisure, @FrommersTravel, @TravelMagazine.

Each give you the in's and out's of new and old travel tips, hotels, top ten lists and travel ideas and spots you have never even considered before.

Of course you should follow your favorite destinations and airline's for deals and specials. I follow @WaltDisneyWorld, @Delta, @CarnivalCruise.

I am an avid cruise junkie with my favorite fun cruiseline, Carnival. They keep up-to-date news from ships, new embarkation locations and new itineraries. Plus you can sometimes find recipes to those delicious desserts :)

Another tip is to follow @Expedia and @Orbitz. They will provide deals with hotels and travel packages.

Have you joined Twitter yet? If not, you should! It is a great way to keep connected for all things travel and entertainment. Follow me at @epetraglia!

Delicious Details!

While in DC I knew I had to taste something scrumptious. Months ago I heard about this bakery in Georgetown that specializes in cupcakes, I knew I had to check it out. Georgetown Cupcakes is located on the corner of M Street and 33rd in Georgetown. There is also a location in Bethesda.

Georgetown Cupcakes was founded by sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne. In February 2008, Georgetown Cupcakes opened, the first and only cupcakery in DC.

The daily cupcake is full of delicious choices for the eyes and tummy. I standed in line for a half-hour, but it was totally worth it. After drooling from the streets, you walk into a shop which holds about 20 patrons max. I bought three cupcakes: key lime, vanilla birthday and my personal fav, salted caramel.


There is a choice of their 9 everyday cupcakes and 6 special cupcakes, which day daily. The flavors are just as you imagine, perfect and all are decorated with their own little detail that enhances the cupcake.

How was I to decide? Go with your instinct. Go for a classic. Here are the descriptions from their website:

Key Lime: Fresh key lime cupcake with a key lime frosting topped with a candied lime.

Vanilla Birthday: Classic Madagascar bourbon vanilla cupcake topped with a traditional sweet vanilla buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

Salted Caramel: Caramel cupcake with a salted caramel-infused buttercream frosting topped with a caramel drizzle.

I’ve heard through the grapevine that their red velvet is one of the best! But trust me when I say, it is worth every minute you wait in line!

If you want to try Georgetown Cupcakes, they ship throughout the US!

A few weeks after I came home from DC, I was watching TLC- and to my surprise there is a new show starting July 16: DC Cupcakes! Featuring Georgetown Cupcake!

I am going to watch every episode in hopes of going back and eating more delicious, delicate cupcakes.

Key West Cuisine

Looking for a place where not only the tourist can find great food, but the locals dine as well?

The Hog’s Breath Saloon is exactly that atmosphere. It is constantly busy and has some really great picks. Choose one of their signature cocktails, only $8, and you get to keep the cup as a souvenir. I have two favorites: The Hog Snort (for those coconut and pineapple lovers) & the Hogarita (their version of a margarita)! If you have never tried conch try their conch fritters. With a little bit of heat it’s a great introduction to conch. You can’t go wrong either with their Fish Sandwich, which features dolphin, and their Prime Rib Sandwich (so juicy!).

Live music starts around 1pm and goes until close. The Hog’s Breath Saloon is located at 400 Front Street. Don’t forget to grab a funny tee-shirt on your way out!

If you are looking for something along the Italian side try La Trattoria Restaurant. Located right in the center of Duval Street, La Trattoria features European treats & was voted one of Key West’s favorite Italian restaurants. They have just about everything. Try their Antipasti dish Involtini di Melanzana con Ricotta. It’s eggplant filled with ricotta cheese, roasted red peppers and backed in a tomato sauce…to die for! The Ravioli Trattoria is the perfect combination of lobster, lump crabmeat and vegetables centered on a delicious seafood tomato cream sauce. If you are looking for a meat dish their Marsala, available with chicken or veal, will make you want more. I recommend the veal!

If you want something sweet and on the go try their famous Chocolate Covered Key Lime Pie on a stick. No joke! You’ll have to eat it quick, because it will melt instantly in the heat! The Conch Tour Train Gift Shop, next to Mallory Square, is just one of the places you can find this delicious treat!

U.S. Tropical Oasis

Think tropical. Think history. Think the United States. Where are we?? Key West, Florida. Key West is filled with a lavish setting, but is filled with fascinating history and culture. The area is one of my favorite places to go. This entry will be about the history and fascinating facts about Key West. The next entry will included things to do, places to see, where to shop and where to eat.

Key West is located within the Florida Keys area consisting of about 1700 islands in southeast. They begin about 15 miles south of Miami and end at Key West. The westernmost Keys are inhabited islands and the Dry Tortugas. The islands lie along the Florida Straits, dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Keys consist of primarily of 5 major areas: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West.

In the Pre-Columbian times Key West was occupied by the Calusa people. Juan Ponce de Leon was the first European to visit in 1521. As Florida became a Spanish colony, a fishing and salvage village was establish on the land. Now many Key West residents are immigrants from the Bahamas, known as Conchs (‘conks’). In the 20^thKey West. century residents of the area started to refer to themselves as “conchs,” now the term is generally applied to all residents in If a person was born and raised in Key West they would be a “Conch.” If a resident resides in Key West but was not born there, they would be “Freshwater Conch.”

Key West is also the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. Because of that, it is in fact closer to Cuba than it is to Miami. Because Cuba is only 90 miles away, there is a strong Cuban influence around the area. One of the biggest attractions is the concrete replica of a buoy.

Fact: Many writers and artists have lived in Key West, including Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. Hemingway’s house has now become a very popular tourist attraction.

Fact: Multiple U.S. presidents have called Key West their vacation spot. Harry Truman visited for 175 days during his presidency. The Harry S. Truman Little White House was his winter White House for the President.

Fact: Key West has also been an important military post. The Navy added a small base in Key West, where the Navy trains its pilots.

Fact: Sponging was also part of the Key West economy because many of the surrounding waters help sponge beds.

Fact: Key West is one of the most popular cruise ports. Many cruise lines make Key West part of their itinerary for the history, sun, and experience. I have been one two cruises, both of which stopped in Key West!

For more information regarding Key West’s history, please visit: http://www.floridakeys.com/keywest/key-west-history.htm or http://www.keyshistory.org/keywest.html .

a quaint little town...

While visiting my dear friend Ashleigh in Chicago, she decided to take me on a mini-road trip. We ended up in the northwestern most part of Illinois to a small, quaint town, Galena, Illinois. Only about a twenty-five minute drive from Dubuque, Iowa.

Galena is a popular tourist destination for its history, landscape, architecture, outdoor activities, and the home of former President Ulysses S. Grant. The town was originally inhabited by Native Americans, but by the late 17th century, French people began to settle in the area, followed by American settlers in the 19th century. About 85% of the original structures are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The main hub of downtown Galena is Main Street.

Main Street is home to specialty shops, antiques, restaurants, and history. Main Street embraces a simpler time, before technology and careers got in the way. One of the unique features of Main Street is that the original cobblestone roads are blocked off to preserve the historic feeling.



While on Main Street check out Poopsies. The store carries great gifts for all ages, humorous and practical! The Galena Garlic and Spice store stocks gourmet spice blends, sea salts, olive oils and garlic. It is worth a smell. When you are hungry for a bite to eat check out One Eleven Main.



At One Eleven Main, they use locally grown produce and even locally raised meat. I definitely recommend getting a lunch entrée. Smaller portions, but you still get the perfect size salad (with a homemade herb citrus balsamic vinaigrette) so you don’t spoil the rest of your lunch. The Ravioli is to die for! Homemade asparagus and asiago filled lemon spinach ravioli with a light creamy parmesan broth. The Linguini with Roasted Vegetables is light and refreshing. You could not go wrong with either choice!

If you still have room after lunch, grab an ice cream treat from the old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor!

Some other things you could do while in Galena is to take a walk across the footbridge to a park with statues that pay homage to President Grant. Take a trip to anyone of the following wineries. Ashleigh has also told me Christmas time is beautiful. Decorations galore with a fresh dusting of snow will put you right in the Christmas spirit!


*For more information about Galena, visit www.visitgalena.org or www.galena.org

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! It will be filled my own personal experiences through my past and present travels throughout the Continental US and beyond. I will offer insider tips, unique perspectives, stories, and much more! This blog is your own personal gateway into travel and adventure! Stay tuned for more to come...

Emily