Wine and Spirits Travel

My friend Angela and I were on a short getaway to Indianapolis . We were staying downtown at the Courtyard Marriott , directly across the street from White River State Park. Our first scheduled stop of the day was a Segway tour at the park, but it was a bit windy so we decided to put it off for a few hours and head to brunch first. I usually don’t repeat places when I travel because I like to try something new. Café Patachou is the exception. Owner Martha Hoover (a fellow former New Yorker) opened one healthy brunch spot 25 years ago and it has turned into a chain of tasty cafes. Hoover also gives back to local children in need of food through the Patachou Foundation. The place was packed and we decided to take our food to go and sit outside instead of waiting for a table inside. Although I usually spend some time skimming the menu filled with delectable dishes, I almost always get the same: the California Omelet (filled with lots of avocado) and a

I’ve had the pleasure of making a lot of trips to Indianapolis as it is less than two hours from here. Every time I go there are different things to see and do. That was especially true for this trip. My friend Angela and I checked into the Courtyard Marriott Downtown .  It’s in a perfect location, directly across the street from Whitewater State Park and the Indiana State Museum. The Courtyard has a nice coffee shop and lounge area, and it’s connected to the Fairfield Inn and the massive JW Marriott Indianapolis for more options. First on our schedule was our first trip to the Indiana State Museum . We really enjoyed learning about the Hoosier State and it’s place in America’s history. Among the exhibits and hands-on experiences are a 50 th Anniversary exhibit on the Indiana Pacers and a looks into the gems and minerals in the state, as well as its start through the Ice Age.  We also were able to see plenty on famous Indiana natives, including Jam

I woke up for my third day in Washington, DC, well-rested. My room at the Embassy Suites Washington D.C. Chevy Chase Pavilion was large and comfortable. I had come into Washington, DC to spend some time with my niece, Alea, and check out the activities and food in the area. There certainly is an abundance of both in our nation’s capital. While Alea caught up on some school work in the morning I caught up on some writing, after another delicious breakfast. This Embassy Suite has one of the best complimentary breakfasts I’ve ever seen. We met up at the Metro station just downstairs from the hotel in the afternoon and headed to downtown, not far from the White House. Lunch was arranged at the Alfa Pie House , an authentic Greek casual restaurant with more options than I’d ever seen at similar restaurants. Tina, the manager, greeted us and told us about the Greek pies, salads, and other dishes they had at Alfa. Everything looked delicious. It was so h

I was able to sleep in a bit at the Embassy Suites Washington D.C. Chevy Chase Pavillion since I wasn’t meeting anyone until the afternoon, but I didn’t want to eat a lot because I knew I had some great restaurants coming up. The hotel’s breakfast buffet of hot and cold food is fantastic. I took advantage of the Yogurt Bar – nuts, fruit, granola, and a few chocolate chips – for a healthy breakfast. Washington, DC Tourism left me attraction tickets and tickets to the circulator bus. From the locations we were going to, we found it easier to stick to the metro and walking, with a few Ubers in between. The Circulator is one of the great options for getting around the Washington DC attractions My first outing of the day was lunch with an old friend. Leonard, aka “Derk” (as I would call him when we were teens) picked me up at the hotel and drove to Cuba Libre. Parking was a bit of a problem, but it was well worth it when we opened the door. Cuba Libre