Wine and Spirits Travel

My trip to Memphis with my friends was a very full one, and we were enjoying it all. On day three, we were up bright and early to pack up and check out of the Madison Hotel . We had enjoyed our stay, but we’d be checking into Big Cypress Lodge in the afternoon for a completely different atmosphere. My breakfast stop with Brittany, Angela, and Kylie had a very familiar name, Frost Bake Shop . Ironically, it was not a relative and not anyone’s name (it’s owned by the Kloos family), it was a play on words for “frosting.” Although the bakery was a bit out of the city, I had received a tip that it was well worth the trip and it certainly was. Frost Bake Shop provides cheesecakes to William Sonoma and also makes cupcakes, pies, and other baked goods that are loved all over Memphis . We were able to sample all types of goodies, including their top sellers – Gooey Butter Cookies and the Memphis Cream Cupcake. I didn’t leave without also tasting the delicious

It was the last day of the Missouri road trip for my friend Jaimee and me. We were determined to make the most of it and Big Cedar Lodge provided us with plenty of opportunities. I woke up to sunshine and started my day with a bit of yoga as I enjoyed the scenery. The first order of the day was breakfast at Truman Coffee and Café near the main lodge. The café was filled with people trying to decide what to get among the scrumptious offerings. I made the right choice in the Cinnamon Muffin with scrambled eggs on the side for some protein. Jaimee went for the breakfast bagel with egg, ham, and cheese, and we both got our caffeine jolts with lattes.We ate out on the deck while we admired the views.  After breakfast we headed up to the Top of the Rock Welcome Center. We were both excited to pick up our golf carts there to take the Lost Canyon Cave Nature Trail. I have to say, I had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be an incredible journey that I’ll defi

My friend Jaimee and I were back in the car to continue our Missouri road trip. Our next stop was at Big Cedar Lodge , just past Branson in Ridgedale. The drive was just over two hours and quite scenic, but not quite as amazing as the property Big Cedar Lodge was on.  We were amazed by the scenes of hills and lakes, wildlife and forestry. Our cabin wasn’t ready yet so we first went to the Devil’s Pool Restaurant for lunch. It too had a view to remember. The meal was also memorable as I had soup and a pizza with Italian sausage and roasted grape tomatoes and Jamie head a turkey club sandwich. We had our leftovers with us as we crossed the covered bridge and headed to our cabin. We were put up in the Tony Stewart log cabin at Big Cedar Lodge . It was quite spacious, with two bedrooms, a large living room with a big stone fireplace, and a fully stocked kitchen. The lodge provided us with a nice basket of snacks and some wine. The only thing about the