local

A Cheap Thrill at the Hilo Farmer's Market

by kelly on 03/21/2011

Imagine a place where you could bask in the colors, the tastes, and smells of tropical summer, all the time. A place where you can enjoy exotic, juicy, fruits for very little money. This place is the Hilo Farmer's Market. The farmer's market can be deceptively unassuming place on a rainy, gray Saturday morning. Clusters of white tents flank the road and keep you from seeing exactly what's going on inside. As I made my way through the entrance, I kept a watchful eye on the ground and the overflowing pile of coconuts at my feet.

fresh coconut, anyone?

For a few bucks, they'll split one open and drop in a straw, but my hand's weren't willing to give up that real estate, just yet, so instead, I look up and beyond.

4 for a $1

My line of sight becomes full of papayas and mangos, pineapples and other fruits I don't recognize. Where to begin? I've got $10 in my pocket and a challenge to see how far it might go. I set out to wander and to find a bargain.

which musubi do I choose?

When in New York, Stay in a Neighborhood

by kelly on 07/19/2010

Image: kelly.

I wish I had some lovely photos to share with you from my New York visit, but this single cell phone shot of a cannoli will have to suffice. What can I say, it was hot.

So, you're heading to New York and you've made the difficult decision of what airport to fly into and you're starting to get excited about all the eating, shopping, and sightseeing to be had. The only detail left to figure out is deciding where to stay. I know you're tempted to stay in Midtown, it's just so convenient, you say. Don't get me wrong, Midtown makes sense for a lot of people. At least if you plan on spending your entire trip on Broadway, gawking in Times Square, taking a carriage ride through Central Park or on top of the Empire State Building. But, that's just not New York to me, that's the rest of the world's vision of New York.

Austin and I have talked about this before, we LOVE staying in neighborhoods. (See here or here.) Places where people want to live, eat, and exist. Our usual New York haunt is somewhere between the East Village and Gramercy. We have our favorite breakfast spot, streets to window shop on, and even a favorite late night deli. However, on my latest trip to NYC, I got to try out living in the West Village for a few days while attending the Travel Blog Exchange (or TBEX) and stayed in a sponsored apartment rental from HomeAway.

Apartments are my favorite option when traveling and having the comforts of home always makes for a more pleasant stay. I love having a full kitchen, a communal space to relax in and a closet; those are ALL wonderful things to have when traveling. Our rental from HomeAway was an absolutely lovely apartment, huge by New York standards with two bedrooms, TWO bathrooms and we even had a garden patio, where my roommates and I spent countless hours people watching, relaxing and swapping stories about the day over a glass of wine or a cheese plate from Murray's Cheese. This kind of luxury can come with a high price tag, our West Village digs ran around $600 per night. However, the West Village isn't exactly known for being cheap, and if that's out of your price range, you could easily find an equally vibrant neighborhood to fit any budget. Another point to be made is that said apartment slept up to six people and if you've got a crowd, it's not so far offbase from New York hotel price standards. (Although, pick a crowd you like, cause this apartment was New York City big, but not THAT big.) But, perhaps what I liked best about staying in the apartment was not the apartment and the amenities it offered, but, the ability to stay in an awesome neighborhood and not a Midtown hotel. Getting a taste of living in New York made me fall in love with New York all over again.

Forget the Guidebook: Seattle

by kelly on 03/15/2010

We think the web is full of great "travel guides." Before you shell out a dime on a mass-produced book, check out these great websites before your next trip.

Image: lopolis.

We often preach that the guidebook is a dying genre, one targeted for mass appeal, that always points out what you expect to see, and rarely uncovers the unexpected. There are far better resources out there, one's made by locals who love the place they live enough to share it with the world. Guidebook writers are often qualified writers and qualified travelers, but they're not always qualified experts on the place that they're writing about. Travel bloggers aren't excluded from this scrutiny, myself included. Reading my take on what it was like to spend four days in Spoleto might inspire you to go there, but you're only getting one perspective, and one that I liken to staring out the window of the car on a cross country trip. Flying by, catching bits of information on your windshield and going home to process what it is you saw. What about those people who wake up every morning loving (or hating) the town they call home? That perspective is invaluable to a traveler who wants to see a place like a local.

So, we're setting out to change this. We're searching out local talent and pointing you to the best local resources. This week, we're starting close to our home and sharing our Seattle favorites. Local papers, local bloggers and photographers are all you need to get inspired and ready to travel to the Emerald City.

(Have a city you'd like to see featured or have a suggestion for this series? Drop us a note.)

Know Your Food: Calabria

by kelly on 06/10/2009

Image: mafe.

We've been snacking on Calabrian food we bought home with us from our friends that run SaporeVero. (By the way, get your store online please, we need a lifetime supply of sundried tomatoes. Seriously, these are life changing and I hate tomatoes.) We meant to post this food roundup while we were in Italy, but we were too busy eating. Check out some Calabrian specialities below.

Uncommon Guidebooks: Roma nel Piatto

by kelly on 04/14/2009

Title:
Roma nel Piatto

Editors:
Simone Cargiani and Fernanda D'Arienzo

Price:
12€

Where to Buy:
At bookstores and newsstands in Rome or online.

Don't you wish you had a friend in Rome? One who could give you the scoop on where the locals go for an outstanding meal or where to grab the best pizza? Well look no further, Roma nel Piatto will break you off the path of the guidebook drones and get you into where the locals are eating.

Hotel Tip: Stay Where You'd Eat

by kelly on 03/23/2009

Image: Francisco-PortoNortePor tugal.

I've been looking at lots of hotels, apartments and B&Bs lately. And, I've started to think about the process I use to choose where it is I want to stay. When booking accommodation, it's so easy to become overwhelmed with the endless array of options, not the least of which is cost. Unlike choosing where you want to live, a hotel stay can be over and done with before you know it. Some may say that it doesn't make much of a difference then, but I'd argue the contrary. If you've only got a few days to spend in a place, you want it to be perfect for YOU. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by details like amenities, cost, or exact location, even. Get off those booking sites and take a step back and start researching neighborhoods. Just like choosing your first apartment, you want to make sure you choose the right 'hood for your needs.

local
sleep

Travel Like A Human Being: See A Neighborhood Through Its Eyes

by kelly on 01/06/2009

Image: CDrewing.

Think about how you visit cities for a moment. You might find yourself drawn towards the big attractions: the monuments, the museums, what you're "supposed to see." Rinse, wash, repeat. The world becomes a homogeneous place filled with McDonalds, Starbucks, and the Gap. But what about the parts that aren't in the guidebooks, that doesn't get the attention it deserves? On your next trip, take a moment, or heck, take a whole day, and get to know the heart and soul of a neighborhood through its own eyes.

Virtual Tourguide: Dan Traveling

by austin on 01/06/2009

Real life travel advice from around the web. Have you written about a travel experience and want to share? Send us a link and we'll feature it here.

Have you ever tried to picture the ideal guide? I've always preferred someone friendly, down to earth, well-spoken, and knowledgeable. Dan McCoig of Dan Traveling, is all that, plus he tops it off by throwing in a soft, familiar (for me at least) southern accent. Every week, Dan shows you around Appalachia through his videos and photos of his trips around Virginia, North & South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Ask An Italian: Where's the Line?

by Francesco on 12/15/2008

Francesco Serra, our good friend and resident expert on all things Italian, provides us with valuable insights on Italian culture. Residing in the northern city of Padova, but being a fiercely proud native Calabrian, he brings a unique perspective on all things Italian.

Image: sshingler.

Our question today for Francesco....why is it that Italians never seem to get in an orderly line, say like the British or Americans do? When I'm in Italy I never know what to do, and feel intimidated to tell someone, hey, I was here first. Can you give me some insight and some advice on how to survive waiting my turn around a bunch of Italians?

Have a question about Italy? Send us an e-mail and we'll have him answer your question here.

Casing the Country: When To Go

by kelly on 09/04/2008

Casing the Country focuses on the critical, but often overlooked aspects of planning a trip.

tidal basin with cherry blossoms in Washington DC

Image: Rich Renomeron.

There are certain times of the year when you just don't want to be somewhere. Take Washington, DC, for instance, where most tourists visit in the summer when it's hot, sticky and downright miserable. But, a smart tourist knows to go in the shoulder seasons when the temperatures are more pleasant and you can see such natural beauties, such as the annual Cherry Blossom Festival on the Tidal Basin in April.

Timing is everything when it comes to travel, and knowing what to expect and when to expect it is a crucial step in planning a successful trip. Click below to see my tips on planning when to go somewhere.