Japan Travel Guide: Niseko Loft

When Mike and I started dating (the second time around), we went snowboarding, a lot. We were in our early twenties and I had just started hanging out with Mike again after a couple of years of us randomly seeing each other around town, but not really chatting. When we reconnected, Mike was an avid snowboarder. He even went so far as to get a part time job on a local mountain so that he could get an employee discount AND go snowboarding on breaks. He was pretty hardcore and I kind of sort of fell in love with the fact that he was so passionate about something.

I, on the other hand, unlike every other 20 year old in Vancouver, had never been snowboarding in my life. I don't know if it was that hurling down a snowy mountain, strapped on to a long waxed board sounded fun, or the fact that there is a lot of cute snowboarding gear that you can shop for, but when Mike asked me if I wanted to learn how to board, from him, I jumped at the chance. In truth, I just wanted to spend more time with Mike and was thrilled that he wanted to teach me how to board.

He took me up the mountain at night, when the lifts were closed, to see if I could even stand on a board (not as intuitive as you might think). We were in that in between stage, where we both kind of knew the other was interested, but neither of us had said it out loud or made a move. It was a night full of possibility: the orange lift chair lights cast a glow, there was unexpected magic sprinkling of snow and, of course, there was that little bit of pleasant tension between teacher and student, intensified by the fact that I really wanted to be a good learner. That night started a love affair for me, and not just for Mike, but for snowboarding too.

Countless dates on the mountain, with me falling down incessantly and Mike carving effortlessly means that we have a soft spot in our hearts for mountains. Especially mountains we can snowboard on. There's a lot of good boarding on the West Coast, but there's something alluring about snowboarding on a continent that isn't the one you call home. And so, during out three month trip to Japan, we carved out just a wee bit of time to hit up some Japanese slopes.

When we decided, kind of on a whim, that we were going to try and snowboard while in Japan, we had no idea where to go. Mike has always wanted to hit up Japanese snow, but in more of a bucket list, dreamy, no details sort of way. So we went into our snowboarding adventure with zero expectations. There are countless places to snowboard in Japan, some of them even only just an hour and change on the shinkansen from Tokyo.

But we didn't want to snowboard anywhere. We we already planning on going to the Sapporo snow festival on Japan's most Northern island, Hokkaido, so snowboarding in Hokkaido seemed like fate. A quick google search showed us that Niseko was the place to be.

Mount Niseko-Annupuri is next door neighbors to the dormant volcano, Mount Yotei, or Yotei-san, as I like to call him. Yotei is supposed to look a little bit like a sheep's hoof and he might not be as famous as Fuji-san, but he is sure as heck just as gorgeous, especially when you're looking at him right after you get off a Niseko lift, poised to make your way down the mountain. I love the sheer symmetrical conicalness of Yotei, as well as his distinctive snow cap. He's a beautiful backdrop for a day (or five) of boarding.

Having decided to hit up Niseko, we then had to decide on a place to stay. I took a backseat on this one, since I had already picked out where we stayed at Mt. Fuji. Mike found an awesome flat by the name of Loft Niseko.

The flat was absolutely beautiful, with floor to ceiling windows and a commanding, unobstructed view of Yotei. There was a deep blue velvet couch, perfect for curling up on, while watching the sun peek over the peak. We planned for one day of boarding on Niseko, and one full day of staying in enjoying Loft because it came with a full kitchen and I was excited to get my hands on Hokkaido produce and cook!

Hokkaido is known for seafood, of course, but they're also Japan's top producer for wheat, soybeans, potatoes, sugar beets, onions, corn, milk, and beef. Japan has a concept of kyodo ryori, or local/regional specialties and I'm obsessed with the concept. Basically, wherever we go in Japan, I ask Mike, "are they known for it?" because different places are known for different things. Tokyo's famous for monjayaki, Osaka for takoyaki, Hiroshima for okonomiyaki, Kobe for beef, and on and on and on. The Japanese put huge emphasis on both local and specializing in one thing, so it's not uncommon to find an entire town filled with restaurants for just one dish. I love it because of the focus – you end up getting the best of the best when everyone is focusing on one thing.

Speaking of best of the best, our experience on Mount Niseko was definitely up there! We rented all of our gear, including outerwear, because we brought absolutely nothing with us. The rental was seamless – we went to Rhythm the day before we were going to head up and got ourselves outfitted. I picked a board that matched my hair, of course. Just kidding! I got to try out a 2017 Burton Custom, which is a board I've had my eyes on so renting was doubly fortuitous.

The next day, after a breakfast of eggs, toast, and coffee, we headed up bright and early, in hopes of getting some of those elusive first tracks. It was a bluebird of a day, the sun in the sky sparkling off the snow. It didn't snow the night before, but there was plenty of untouched powder in between the trees.

To be honest, I like riding both lightly groomed runs (if there's a fluffy base) AND fresh powder. As a not-so-great boarder, groomed runs means easy riding – it's a little more grippy. Riding powder, on the other hand, is a little more…unpredictable. Which means that Mike and I did a bunch of tree runs which ended up in me gently "bumping" into trees. Eventually I got tired of my tree encounters and begged Mike to do a wide open run. Of course I ended up wiping out big time on a huge patch of ice. Usually we avoid the beginner runs because of ice – ironically, those runs end up being icier (and more dangerous because of unpredictable learners) because so many people are riding them.

After that, I was all for the trails less traveled. For our last run of the day, we went down, through the trees through some glorious, pristine powder. And, because it was more of a back country kind of thing, I got stuck on some of the flat parts, due to lack of speed. But, on the bright side, we got some awesome photos and did a little bit of snow hiking :)

All in all, Niseko was just the kind of winter getaway you dream about: a gorgeous house with a roaring fire, a massively snowy mountain with tones of powder, Hokkaido potatoes, and lots of laughs with my favorite snowboarding instructor. And bonus, Mike and I ended up cooking! We'll be posting more about that soon.

snow and potatoes,xoxo steph

Growing up in the pacific northwest meant that there were three mountains less than half an hour away and Whistler within a two hour drive. I've been lucky enough to have spent so much of my life on mountains that snowboarding is second nature to me. Once I even managed to use my ability to teach snowboarding as a pretext to hook up with a girl (yes, that girl is Steph).

In the last few years we haven't gotten on the mountains much, and I've been missing it. So, I convinced Steph that Niseko was famous for its powder (it is) and that we should stop by on our way to the snow festival. I'm glad I did, because honestly, the snow festival is not worth its hype.

Being more my trip than hers, I did all the groundwork for us. Usually we just kind of jump into towns and figure it out from there, but this time, I did some research beforehand, and it turned out to be a great idea.

Niseko is a tiny resort town that doesn't have its own train station, so we almost went to the wrong place. There is a station named Niseko and its not too far off from Niseko the town (officially called Hirafu), but it's a tiny place where you are unlikely to find taxi (or anything). Kutchan Station is where you want to get off the train. Coming back to Tokyo on that line, we saw even smaller stations that were nothing more than a storage container.

Partially because I wanted to get Steph a cool place as a thanks for indulging my weird Japan ski trip ideas, and partially because it was very last minute and most of the town was sold out, we ended up with an awesome, amazing beyond words, ultra incredible flat with its own private elevator.

Now that I know the joy of private elevators, I'm not sure how we can ever stay in peasant places again. I'm only half kidding. The flat was a major, mega, massive splurge, but in the end I was super happy we had it, because of what has come to be known between us as The Knee Incident.

On the mountain, I try to keep us in the trees or blacks, because the other runs are full of crazy people. Steph doesn't know it, but because of all the tree runs I've dragged her through, she's basically an expert level boarder who is just scared of going too fast. That's her in the bottom right corner of the lead image, by the way. She has great form, look at that board aiming the right way down the mountain.

Understandably however, tree runs are a lot of effort for long-unused snowboarding muscles. In the end, she got lazy and paid for it. Going up the gondola, Steph marvelled at these wide deserted runs and imagined how soft and luxurious they must be. So, around the middle of the day when she was getting tired of hitting trees, she asked if we could take it easy and go on one of those wide runs. I agreed and we headed on over to the greens and blues. I stayed in the trees and hills on the side while keeping an eye on her, and next thing I heard, thunk.

She had caught her edge on a patch of ice and her entire body weight came smashing down onto one knee. We limped our way to the next lodge so she could look at it, and I suggested she take a break. I left her with some beer and chicken nuggets and went off to find my little slice of heaven.

It turned out to be pretty easy to find, just on back side of the mountain. It was one of the greatest runs I've ever been on; pristine powder between widely spaced paper birch, just steep enough to keep you going but slow enough to enjoy that magical floating sensation. It was so good I came back to get Steph so she wouldn't miss out, as I had a feeling we weren't coming back up the mountain the next day.

I was right, her knee swelled up to the size of an $80 Japanese melon and we never made it up the second day. She texted her mom about it and her mom, like all mothers do, suggested a weird home remedy involving eggs. I was highly skeptical of it, and I don't think it did much, but in the end we got to experience living it up in Niseko. That night we ordered pizza with fries on top and had it with some limited edition instant noodles we brought up from Tokyo. It was glorious. The pizza was so good we ordered it again the next night.

Driving in from the train station, our concierge told us that the Niseko region was famous for its potatoes, and she wasn't kidding. We stepped into a random eatery and ordered fries, and I think Steph and I separately had potato epiphanies. The potatoes were so good that the day after snowboarding, I went out on my own to go shopping so I could make my injured wife some get-better-soon soup curry, and felt compelled to buy two different kinds of potatoes. I would have bought three if there were three. We still talk about those fries two months later.

It's spring now, but after writing this, I think I'll be booking another stay for us this winter right now, as the town seemed to fill up pretty fast, and this was one of our best trips in recent memory.

The Guide:

Vacation Niseko: We loved this rental company. The loft we got had a fantastic view of Mt Yotei, which not all places will, and our experience was perfect – everything was arranged for us: lift tickets, rentals, and we even were picked up from the train station. All the staff were, quizzically, British kids on a gap year, so there was zero language barrier, which was a welcome treat after months in Japan.

Rhythm Rentals: Our rentals were arranged by the staff of Niseko Loft. They asked us our sizes in advance and got everything set up, so all we had to do was come in and try it. The concierge of our loft arranged for our gear to be picked up and dropped off, so we didn't need to carry it through town. Bonus, they have great hours and will let you pick up your gear the night before for no extra charge, saving tons of time in the morning. Open 8am-10pm

Niseko Taproom: The best fries in the world. They probably are just average fries for Niseko and nothing special, but the potato-eyness of them is undeniable. The beer was good. 3rd floor of the Odin building, Open 1pm-12am

Niseko Pizza: Niseko Pizza was started by a Tokyoite who trained in Italy and it shows. Legit crust, creative toppings, and you can even get fries on top. Delivery. Awesome. Open and delivers 5pm-11pm.

Seicomart: The larger of the two grocery stores in town and lots of prepared food, great alcohol selection. The ATM doesn't work for international cards however. On the main strip, impossible to miss. Open 6am-11pm

Niseko Supermarket & Deli: Smaller store, seems a bit more expensive but their product is a lot nicer, international ATM at the back. On the ground floor of the Shiki Niseko building. Open 7am-11pm

Source: Japan Travel Guide: Niseko Loft

Matchday Guide: Bars, Food Offers & Travel Info

Ahead of Saturday's match against Burnley, kick-off 5.30pm, we bring you details of the pre-match early bird offer, bar opening times and a round up of travel information as you head to the stadium. 

Please arrive early to allow for easier access through the turnstiles due to enhanced security checks upon entry.

Food & Drink

Don't forget to arrive at Selhurst early and take advantage of the early bird offer. The stadium turnstiles open at 4.00pm and there is an offer in all food outlets giving a great choice for a pre-match meal. 

For the first 45 minutes from when the turnstiles open the early bird offer will be available which includes soft and hot drinks on sale for just £1. The offer gives options of the following and will be available in all stands throughout the stadium in the stadium concourses. 

The burger / chicken burger or falafel burger +  beer/cider / soft drink/water / hot drink = £5.00 

Get in to the stadium early to take advantage of this great offer which will be available until 4.45pm.

The following meal deal will be available through until kick-off. 

The burger/ chicken burger / falafel burger + soft drink/hot drink + fries/sweet potato fries/seasonal wedges = £7.50 

There are some great additions to the menus this year and they can be found in all stands around the stadium. 

The Bar – Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks

The Coffee Shop – Hot drinks, confectionery

The Grill – Burgers, fries, hot dogs…etc

The Wok – Our below 400Kcal oriental cuisine

The Fan Zone is closed for the rest of the season due to refurbishment.

The bar opening times before the game are as follows in the lounge areas:

Crystals will be open three hours before kick-off.

Glaziers, Wright & Bright, Red & Blue and Stanley Stephenson lounges open at 3.00pm.

Tickets

This match is now sold out, please arrive early at the stadium due to there being a capacity crowd.

Club Store & Box Office 

Both are open between 9am and kick-off followed by half an hour after the match. 

The matchday store in the Directors Car Park is open from 2.00pm.

Train 

Network Rail is carrying out engineering work between London Bridge and Tulse Hill / New Cross Gate closing some lines.

Southern services will not run to or from London Bridge.

Buses will run between London Bridge and Tulse Hill via Peckham Rye. 

A half hourly service will run between Tulse Hill and Tattenham Corner via Crystal Palace.

Trains that usually run between London Bridge and Horsham will be amended to run between London Victoria and Three Bridges only

Customers travelling to / from London Bridge via Sydenham are advised to use London Underground between London Bridge and Canada Water and London Overground between Canada Water and Crystal Palace / West Croydon.

A half hourly service will run between Tulse Hill and West Croydon via Streatham Common.

Trains that usually run between London Victoria and London Bridge will be amended to run between London Victoria and Beckenham Junction.

Services between London Bridge and Uckfield will be amended to run between East Croydon and Uckfield.

Please check the journey planner HERE before you travel for the latest information.

Road 

CLICK HERE for details of temporary traffic signals or roadworks local to the stadium this matchday. 

Please arrive early at the stadium to allow for easier access through the turnstiles due to enhanced security checks upon entry.

 

Source: Matchday Guide: Bars, Food Offers & Travel Info

Travel Weekend Featuring BBQ, Beer & a Carnival

Like most full-time RVers we try to keep our travel days short. We don't have any hard and fast rules, but anything over four hours is usually too long. Since this is our life and not a road trip or vacation it doesn't make sense to push ourselves by driving any farther. Of course, it doesn't always work out that way. Like a few weeks ago when we drove from Hillsborough River SP to Florida Caverns SP. It was 330 miles of interstate travel (our least favorite kind) and after the necessary stops for gas, lunch and bathroom breaks it took us most of the day. It was also incredibly boring. So last weekend when we made a multi-day trek from Northern Florida to Hot Springs, AR we decided to have some fun with it.

Sometime mid-afternoon on Friday we left Florida Caverns SP and drove up into Alabama and then diagonally across the bottom corner of the state. This time we stuck to smaller roads which meant we got to pass through small towns and enjoy the country scenery.

Our planned stop for the night was at a Walmart in a town whose name I have since forgotten. We pulled in briefly, noted that it was still 85 degrees out and kept going. There is nothing worse than roasting inside a metal tube surrounded by pavement. It was also still on the early side and even if the weather had been cooler, how long do we really want to spend in a parking lot? An hour and a half later we arrived in Monroeville, AL where another Walmart and temperatures below 80 greeted us.

And guess what? As we pulled in we spotted a carnival across the street! There was no way were going to miss this. After a quick dinner, we risked life and limb to cross the four-lane highway and walked in the direction of the bright lights and sound of screaming kids.

A surprise carnival in Alabama

As far as we could figure the carnival was being put on by the local high school (it was set up on the school grounds.) There was no entry fee to get in so we just wandered around a bit watching the action. We didn't go on any rides, indulge in any fair food, or play any games, but we had a blast walking around watching the full on fair frenzy.

Fishing for prizes

The next day we continued west into Mississippi. Tim pulled over so I could take this photo and in an effort to capture some of those small red flowers in the shot I stepped a bit to the side and my foot was instantly covered in red ants! Of course, I was wearing flip flops. Now I have four red ants bites on the top of my foot to remember our one day in Mississippi. And I didn't even get a good shot of the flowers.

The Mississippi-Alabama border

We had a long driving day planned with the intention of making it within a few hours of Hot Springs before nightfall. In an effort to add some fun into our weekend we added a mid-day stop for some barbecue. The last time we visited Mississippi we had some really memorable barbecue and hoped to repeat that experience. After all, isn't that what Mississippi is known for? Our route took us through Jackson, MS where Google told us the best BBQ in town was found at the Pig & Pint. Airstream parking in that part of town was sparse, but luckily we found a closed bank with a big parking lot only a few blocks away.

Getting our BBQ on at the Pig & Pint

This place stood up to our Mississippi BBQ memories. I had the taco trio with one chicken, one pork and one fried green tomato taco. It's impossible to pick a favorite as they were all fantastic. And I could have eaten a whole plate of that sweet, spicy mango slaw slathered on top. Tim had the brisket sandwich and reported that it was some of the best he'd ever had. They also had a small bar inside serving local craft beer. Overall it was a very cool place with delicious food. Out only regret was that we didn't get take out to eat for dinner.

Sooo good!

After lunch, neither of us felt like getting back on the road yet so we headed a few blocks over to the Lucky Town Brewery. This place is not much to look at from the outside.

Lucky Town Brewing – a little rough around the edges

The inside isn't any more polished looking, but it had a friendly welcoming vibe with tables filled with board games that said, "come on in and stay awhile"

They've got the warehouse hipster style down here

They do things a bit differently at breweries in Mississippi. It's currently against the law to sell beer at breweries — although that law is changing on July 1st. To get around the silly rule they sell you a "tour" that includes free beer. For $10 we got a 30-second tour which consisted of the bartender pointing at the tanks and tubes while giving a super condensed spiel about how beer is made. We then got to pick six beers to taste. And by taste, I mean a 6-ouncee glass of the beer of your choosing. That's six 6 ounce beers for $10. What a deal!

The "tasting room" at Lucky Town

Since I was taking the afternoon driving shift I didn't get my own tour/tasting but I couldn't resist a few sips of the Gose Gamblin'. This sour wheat beer was both spicy and sour making it very refreshing in the sweltering Mississippi humidity. I'm a big fan of sour beers and this one was downright delicious. We spent at least an hour at Lucky Town while Tim sipped his beers and we made our way through some of the old school board games.

Anyone remember this game? I think it's called Guess Who?

Eventually, we had to get back on the road, but not before I spotted a man in the parking lot wearing a pair of giant black wings. What the… Turns out he was one of the amateur wrestlers there for the show that was happing at the brewery that evening. I was both intrigued and a little frightened. We really did have to get going, but a tiny part of me regrets not staying for the show. After all, when will we ever get the chance to see amateur wrestling at a brewery in the middle of Mississippi again?

Brewery mural

Despite having to pull over for a brief heavy rain storm, the 2.5-hour afternoon drive went smoothly and before we knew it we were crossing the Mississippi into Arkansas.

Crossing the Mississippi

An unremarkable night spent at a tiny Walmart not far from the Mississippi/Arkansas border passed and the next morning we only had a 1.5-hour drive to Hot Springs. Neither of us has been to Arkansas before and my first observation is that it's very green. We started off the morning driving through miles of farmland in the fertile land along the river.

Driving through Arkansas

Eventually, we left the river behind and started to see rolling hills covered with dense forest. Yay! It feels good to leave all that flat land behind. We've been in Hot Springs since Sunday and have been busy exploring the town and enjoying the lovely national park campground with family and friends. More on that next time…

The greenery is intense here in Arkansas!

Source: Travel Weekend Featuring BBQ, Beer & a Carnival

PODCAST: Aly Bain on his passion for food, travel and music

He's known for his fiddling prowess – but there are more strings to Aly Bain's bow.

Thor Holt speaks to Aly about the good things in life: food, travel and music.

From sharing a dressing room with former miners' leader Arthur Scargill to where to get the best steak in the USA, Aly shares some of his memories.

Find yourself a spare half hour, sit back and enjoy this conversation with one of Shetland's best musicians.

Source: PODCAST: Aly Bain on his passion for food, travel and music

Enjoy the Tastes of Europe at Canada’s SIAL Food Fair

From May 2nd – 4th at the Enercare Center, Toronto, SIAL Canada the biggest food-innovation tradeshow in Canada and the Great Lakes Region will showcase more than 850 exhibitors from over 50 countries.  A complete range of food products can be found here for retail, catering or food processing and trade professionals simply looking for new and innovative products from around the world.

The EU. SIAL Canada's Region of Honour

This year the EU has been selected as the region of honour at the show. A delegation of 60 EU food producers will be on hand to sampl e their products. The goal is to encourage more trade of European food products in Canada.

EU food delegates from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom will be present.

Enjoy It's from Europe!

The EU has become one of Canada's largest trading partners with a consumer base of more than 500 million people, which is second to the U.S. With the implementation of CETA—Canada's most ambitious free-trade agreement since NAFTA, has been ratified, there are opportunities for trade on the horizon.

The EU food and beverage producers at SIAL will have a variety of food products on display which could find their way to Canadian grocery shelves. These include fruits and vegetables, fresh and preserved meats, milk and dairy products and wines and spirits.

Schedule of EU Events

On May 2, there are a number of scheduled events at the fair. Enjoy EU-Canadian product pairings, cooking and mixology demonstrations and information sessions on the trade agreements and co-financed EU campaigns.

This post was sponsored by The European Union Delegation to Canada. Stock Photos used with permission of the European Union Delegation to Canada.

Source: Enjoy the Tastes of Europe at Canada's SIAL Food Fair

Cruise Ship Lifeguards, Bangkok's Street Food Ban, and John Wayne's Birthday Party in Iowa: Tuesday's Travel Briefing

Travel news from all over

APRIL 25, 2017 — Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's cruise lines, small towns, and thoroughfares. 

BANGKOK'S FAMOUS STREET FOOD STALLS TARGETED FOR REMOVAL (TravelPulse)

The days appear to be numbered for Bangkok's storied street-food scene.

In an effort to clean up the city's thoroughfares, Thailand's government has begun removing the beloved food stalls where locals and tourists alike fill up on cheap but tasty rice dishes, noodles, and sweets—the best street food in the world, according to a recent CNN ranking. 

The first wave of the cleanup affected Bangkok's major roads only, but government officials say they won't rest until they've de-cluttered all 50 of the city's districts.

You might be able to find the occasional pushcart vendor, but they won't be allowed to linger—any stall obstructing the sidewalk has got to go. 

NORWEGIAN THE LATEST CRUISE LINE TO ADD LIFEGUARDS TO SHIPS (Travel Weekly)

Something that might surprise you if you're not a regular cruiser: As recently as five years ago, lifeguards were nowhere to be found at the pool areas of the major lines' ships. There were caution signs posted, but passengers swam at their own risk.

Disney Cruise Line was the first to add lifeguards in 2013. Royal Caribbean International followed suit earlier this year.

Now another big player in the industry, Norwegian Cruise Line, has announced that lifeguards will soon be on its ships, too. 

Trained and certified by the American Red Cross, Norwegian's on-staff life savers will monitor family pools during scheduled hours. They'll appear this summer on Norwegian's four biggest ships—Escape, Getaway, Breakaway, and Epic. The rest of the fleet will have lifeguards by early 2018.

The move follows several instances of children coming to harm in cruise ship pools in recent years, including the 2015 drowning death of a 10-year-old girl aboard the Norwegian Gem.

CELEBRATE JOHN WAYNE'S BIRTHDAY IN HIS IOWA HOMETOWN (Chicago Tribune)

You probably associate John Wayne with the American West. But the film legend was actually born in Iowa. His hometown, Winterset, is the site of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, which organizes an annual celebration around the Duke's birthday at the end of May (born in Winterset on May 26, 1907, he died in 1979).

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event. On May 26-27, the town will host screenings of Wayne's movies at the recently restored Iowa Theater, an all-horse parade featuring a Wells Fargo stagecoach, a barn dance, and other good old-fashioned activities you don't have to be a diehard fan of movie westerns to enjoy.

The guest of honor is Johnny Crawford, a cast member of the late '50s/early '60s TV show The Rifleman, who also appeared with Wayne in Howard Hawks's El Dorado.

In the movie, Wayne shot him dead.   

Our Travel Briefing appears regularly on the Frommers.com home page. Catch up on past installments here. For more updates, as well as vacation photos and travel tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: Cruise Ship Lifeguards, Bangkok's Street Food Ban, and John Wayne's Birthday Party in Iowa: Tuesday's Travel Briefing

Travel Tips And Inspiration On Alamo’s Scenic Route

How's your summer travel planning going? Ready for a beach getaway or a delicious escape? We've got plenty of tips and ideas below to help you get ready for the summer travel season.

Last fall we announced our partnership with Alamo's Scenic Route, and I'm excited to share the stories we've been working on that include some of my favorite travel tips — like how to stay healthy on-the-go, beautiful undiscovered beaches, and a few delicious foodie spots too.

Bookmark these stories to help you plan your summer escape!

How To Stay Healthy When You TravelI wrote this post for cold and flu season, but they're useful tips any time of year. I've included a few healthy habits that we always seem to forget to do while traveling, but we feel great when we make time for them. And there's also a list of what I pack in my travel medicine bag, which if you've ever come down with a cold while on the road, you'll know how convenient it is to have what you need already tucked away in your luggage.

5 Foodie Cities to Visit In 2017If you're looking for some delicious inspiration and want to check out a few cities that are under the radar, this is a great foodie bucket list for 2017. From spicy barbecue to a town that has the most restaurants in North America (bring your stretchy yoga pants, for sure!), and even a James Beard-Award winning restaurant that's located in an airport and ready to dazzle your tastebuds during a long layover.

Best Beach Getaways Near AtlantaIf you're flying into Atlanta for vacation this summer and want to go on a quick beach getaway, these are my favorite beaches within driving distance from the city. Each of them is unique, but one thing they all have in common is that they're a little less crowded than some of their more well-known neighbors. And who doesn't love having the beach all to yourself?

To make sure you're truly ready for summer, here are a couple of my favorites from Alamo's Scenic Route this season:

9 Easy Ways to Save For Your Next TripThis story by Keryn Means is full of practical advice and easy-to-follow tips to help you save even more money for travel. Some of these were actually a part of my New Year's resolutions, so it was a great reminder to get back on track, and travel is definitely an incentive worth saving for!

Dallas for Foodies, Art Lovers and ShoppersI've never been to Dallas, so I really enjoyed this post by Lisa Zimmermann with tips on where to find the best barbecue and Tex-Mex. Plus, her tips for art and shopping make me think this city would be a great girlfriend's getaway.

You Might Also Like ...

Planning Summer Travel With Reward Points Take The Scenic Route With Us On Alamo's Travel Hu...
Source: Travel Tips And Inspiration On Alamo's Scenic Route

Where does YOUR plane food come from? On board with Emirates from provenance to plate

This plane food is not only fresh, but resounding the highest quality, with the proud stamp of provenance on every meal

The days of mass produced, cheap import plane food are over - at least where the world's best airline is concerned. 

Emirates is a world leader in the industry and its attention to detail is testament. 

No stone is left unturned in the search for luxury and that includes the contents on your tray table. 

The UAE carrier is meticulous about every single ingredient that goes onto your plate - from quality to source. 

And though its service traverses the world, Emirates' gastronomical offering is inherently local. 

Take, for example, the mega continent of Australia. Emirates is now the largest foreign airline and the second largest cargo carrier operating in the country. 

Every single Emirates flight departing Down Under offers its passengers local cuisine on board - individually sourced from the finest food and wine providers scattered across the nation. 

Cheese boards feature premium varieties straight out of the Yarra Valley, while high quality Stockyard Beef is served straight from Queensland farms and the Australian wine list offers such complexity, it rivals the stalwarts of France. 

This plane food is not only fresh, but resounding the highest quality, with the proud stamp of provenance on every meal. 

With a brand new menu launching on May 1, stepping on board has never been such a pleasure, as old aviation tradition falls firmly from the skies. 

Express.co.uk took a tour of the local Australian regions where Emirates food and wine is sourced. These are the provedores worth flying for. 

Related articles

GETTY•C CUSKELLY

Emirates takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of its finest sources of food and wine in AustraliaThe Dairy - Yarra Valley, Victoria

If you're fortunate enough to fly business class with Emirates, you'll be whisked away to a five star restaurant all from the comfort of your ever reclining seat. 

One of the standout stars of flying sky-high is the option to order a cheese board to your tray table. 

A carefully selected assortment of fine, artisan cheeses is arranged for you on a slate, with presentation and finesse to eclipse the finest kitchens back on earth. 

One of Emirate's most exceptional cheese suppliers is a sprawling property in the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley. 

Just an hour's drive from the city of Melbourne, The Dairy is a place where cheese is cherished from start to finish. 

Authentic cheese makers pore over their labour with intricate detail. Though we got a behind-the-scenes tour, most visitors come just for the front-of-house. 

A charmingly rustic restaurant backs onto the stretching land of the property, with contrasting layers of coloured earth like patchwork on the horizon. 

Perch yourself at a table facing the heavenly country view and order the signature dish - a selection of the freshest fromage you'll ever try. 

This is a place where blue cheese reigns supreme, next to the variety that put The Dairy on the map - generous chunks of Persian Fetta. 

You don't have to travel to the Yarra Valley to soak up the farmhouse culinary experience. 

The establishment carefully refines its cows and goats milk blends before they're delivered straight to Emirates planes, from farm to plate.

Thu, February 11, 2016

Instagram

1 of 38

Singapore Airlines, First Class

C CUSKELLY

Emirates: Sunset dinner at Penfolds Magill Estate, South AustraliaBrasserie Bread - Melbourne, Victoria

Gone are the days of the stale airplane bread roll - with thanks duly owed to Brasserie Bread. 

The business has been resolutely built on the concept of artisan baking. According to Brasserie, one such baker must be "a craftsperson who is trained to the highest skill level to mix, ferment, shape and bake a hand crafted loaf of bread". 

It's part of an artisan movement that's sweeping the nation, as Australia's booming cafe culture swallows up the emerging trend faster than supply can meet it. 

Brasserie supplies the country with the best in baking: dark, springy sourdoughs and light, airy brioche, puffy pillowy croissants and scrumptious pastries; all delivered fresh every day. 

But it's what Brasserie does sky-high that may be its burgeoning achievement. The humble bread maker supplies fresh sliced bread to Emirates for its flights out of the country. 

It worked tirelessly to push the boundaries of the simple processed bread roll and customers are reaping the benefits. 

According to the bread maker, providing passengers with their selection of hand crafted breads while 30,000ft off the ground is an extremely complex feat. 

And the artisan effect isn't only felt in the laborious task of baking - by the time it reaches your plate, you can taste it.

The company has soared to popularity for its unique baking methods, its ability to deliver and of course, the quality of its final product.  

Brasserie, established in 1995, now has bakeries in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; the perfect pitstop for your holiday road trip. 

C CUSKELLY

Emirates: Australia's Yarra Valley boasts premium wineries and gourmet provedoresPenfolds - Barossa Valley, South Australia

First colonised in 1788, Australia is often heralded as the 'new world'; an infant nation by the standards of the globe where history and culture are still finding their feet. 

But deep in the heart of the country between the undulating contours of the Barossa Valley, you'll find the Old Australia.

The wine region is easily the best in the country and its premier wine maker is suitably show-stopping. 

Less than two hundred years old, Penfolds is young by European standards. But the wine brand punctuates the trajectory of Australia's history and firmly puts the nation on the world wine map. 

Penfolds was established in 1844 and today boasts a portfolio of premium wineries throughout South Australia. 

We were treated to a tour of Kalimna Vineyard, which boasts Block 42, the oldest continually producing Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in the world. 

But the real jewel in the winemaker's crown is Penfolds Grange, an unbroken line of vintages of Australia's most iconic wine. 

Shrouded by the cool confines of the Penfolds cellar at Magill Esate in the Adelaide Hills, chief winemaker Peter Gago showed us the highlight reel. 

Vintages from the 1970s right through until 2012 each proved their worth in the coveted lineup of the country's best wine. 

With bottle prices ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands of pounds, a trip to the heart of Penfolds Grange proves a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Emirates serves an ever-changing variety of Penfolds wine from its impressive range of vineyards, in economy right through to first class.

Related articles
Source: Where does YOUR plane food come from? On board with Emirates from provenance to plate