Outer Banks, North Carolina

Now that summer is here we couldn't resist taking a road trip to visit the Outer Banks.  I have always heard about the beautiful beaches and all the fun things to do there it was time to take advantage.

Places to Eat

Kill Devil Grill
Great dinner spot for fresh seafood.  They are known for their daily specials and they sell out fast so get their early.  There may be a wait but if you have a small party look for seating in the bar.
2008 S Virginia Dare Trail, MP 9.75, Kill Devil Hills

Sam & Omie's
All the locals I spoke to recommended this restaurant for breakfast.  The place is very casual and the service was great.  Breakfast was very similar to a diner and maybe my expectations were too high after hearing the rave reviews.
Mile Post 16.5, Beach Rd, Nags Head

Duck Donuts
I was looking forward to checking out this made to order donut joint.  Don't let the strip mall location fool you.  You custom order your donut and they come piping hot and delicious.
710 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills

Things to Do

The Beach
There are miles of beautiful beaches.  The beaches are free, dog friendly, and allow driving some some of the beaches.  Each beach has their dog/leash/season rules so be sure to check before you go.
Pets on the Beach Policy

Wright Brothers National Memorial
If you only have time to see one thing while you are here this is it!  The Visitor's Center has reproductions of the gliders the Wright Brothers used and you can visit the National Monument on the hill where they first took flight.  The Monument is a little hike from the Visitor's Center and you can walk up to it or drive.  This area is very windy and not the day to wear a sundress if you are coming from the beach.  Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash and they can't go inside any of the buildings.   ($4/Age 16 and over)
Wright Brothers National Memorial
1000 North Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills 

Reproduction gliders at the Visitor's Center

Wright Brothers National Monument

Outdoor Activities
The Outer Banks offers fishing tours, hang gliding school, horseback riding, kayaking, and bicycle rentals. http://www.outerbanks.org/

Kid Friendly
If traveling with children there is a movie theater, mini golf, laser tag.

Places to Stay

Rentals
The majority of people visiting use vacation rentals and there are many websites where you can book.
Outer Banks Vacation Rentals

Hotels
The area is not overly developed and commercialized but you can still find some hotels.  We didn't travel with enough notice for a rental and ended up staying at The Outer Banks Inn.  It was a quick 5 minute walk to the beach.
*If wanting to stay money plan your trip with a vacation rental in advance.  The hotels are few so they tend to cost more than a rental on the beach.

A Guide to Toronto

 

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (Downtown Toronto)

At the Aquarium you will see a variety of sharks, exotic fish, jellyfish, stingrays and more.  You should plan to spend a few hours.  The Aquarium also offers different events and promotions so check their website for ticket deals.
288 Bremner Blvd
Ripley Aquarium of Canada

CN Tower (Downtown Toronto)

Visiting Toronto wasn't complete without the CN Tower.  The CN Tower is taller than the Empire State Building with 147 floors (Empire State Building has 102).  We did the basic "Tower Experience" (29.00 CAD) which included access to the Look Out Level and the Glass Floor.  How many times in your life can you stand on a glass floor that high above the ground?  The CN tower also offers dinner with 360 degree views ($$$). 

301 Front St. West ( & John St.)

CN Tower 

CN Tower Look Out Level

CN Tower Glass Floor

CN Tower Glass Floor

CN Tower Look Out Level

Air Canada Centre (Downtown Toronto)

During hockey season fans will enjoy catching a hockey game at the Air Canada Centre located downtown, home to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

Steam Whistle Brewing (Downtown Toronto)

The Canadian brewery is located in an old steam locomotive repair facility.  Take a brewery tour and try the Steam Whistle Pilsner.
The Roundhouse, 255 Bremner Blvd.

 

Hockey Hall of Fame (Downtown Toronto)

The Hockey Hall of Fame was a little smaller than I expected but great museum for hockey lovers.  If you are a hockey lover or traveling with one you may want to make this a stop. (18.00 CAD)

30 Yonge St

 

St. Lawrence Market

National Geographic ranked this the #1 food market in the world.  There are tons of food vendors as well as unique crafts and gifts.  You can find some great souvenirs.  On Sundays the food market area is closed and you can find a large flea market and antiques.  The food market is worth the stop but the flea market wasn't particularly unique.
92 - 95 Front St East St. Lawrence Market

*All of the above options are in walking distance.  The St. Lawrence Market is a little further but only a 20 minute walk from the CN Tower.

Chinatown

After hearing that Toronto's main Chinatown (they have more than one) was one of the largest in North America I thought it would be a great opportunity for great Chinese food.  Toronto's main Chinatown is located along Dundas St. West and Spadina Ave and you will find a lot of street parking.  *If looking for Canadian or Toronto souvenirs you can find great prices in Chinatown.

House of Gourmet

The amount of Chinese restaurants is overwhelming but we found a great one that was packed (a good sign when in an unfamiliar place) and they could seat us right away.  House of Gourmet had great service, a large menu selection, and was budget friendly.  Try the Papaya Milk Shake, it may change your life.
484 Dundas St W
http://houseofgourmet.blogspot.ca/

 

*If looking for hotel deals we found a great one on Groupon for the Fairmont Royal York (1/3 of the price) which was downtown and in walking distance for all the above attractions (except Chinatown). 

Fairmont Royal York Lobby

Roadtrip Bites - Norfolk, VA

Driving through Norfolk we were searching for a place to eat lunch.  After reading the great reviews on Yelp we checked out the Handsome Biscuit.  They offer a selection of sweet potato biscuit sandwiches. 

My husband had the Shorty, egg and cheese (he added bacon).  I had the Boom Chick, chicken salad with pecans and berry compote.  The biscuits were great and the sandwiches were beyond tasty.  After seeing multiple people order the Hella Fitzgerald (Fried Chicken with bacon, cheddar, and red eye sausage gravy) I want to try it the next time I'm in Norfolk.

Shorty

Boom Chick

There is limited seating but they offer both indoor and outdoor seating.  Although there may be a wait I suggest going after the lunch hour.  We were able to get a table and didn't wait in line on a Saturday around 2pm.

handsomebiscuit.com
2511 Colonial Ave
Park Place - Norfolk, VA

A Guide to Niagara Falls

1.  Deals

There are some great deals on Living Social and Groupon for 2 night stays in Niagara Falls.  We found a great deal on Groupon for the Embassy Suites (Canadian side) that included multiple meal vouchers for lunch and dinner, free breakfast, casino vouchers, wine tour and family fun center passes.

2. Stay on the Canadian side

The Canadian side has the best views and more hotels/activities than the U.S. side.  The majority of hotels on the Canadian side overlook the Falls so it's hard to have a bad view.  The Canadian side seems more developed allowing for beautiful views of the Falls and the U.S. in the background.

View from the Embassy Suites

3.  Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small town and a 20 minute drive from Niagara Falls.  The town is right where Lake Ontario and the Niagara River meet and it was my FAVORITE part of the trip. 

Wine Tours

Most of the wineries are located here so if you do a wine tour this is where you will end up.  If you haven't tried Icewine this is a great place to try it!  Peller Estates was a favorite on the tour.
*If you plan on buying wine/ice wine you can save a lot of money by buying it at Duty Free.

Shopping

Great boutiques and historic hotels can be found on Queen St.

Queen Street

Food

The landmark Prince of Wales Hotel is not only beautiful to visit but you can get great food and drinks in the Churchill Lounge.  The Hotel also offers Traditional Afternoon Tea in the Drawing Room. Prince Wales Hotel

Parks

Queens Royal Park offers great views of Lake Ontario and the U.S.

Queens Royal Park

4.  Visiting the Falls

The path along the falls offers great spots to take pictures and is pet friendly.  There are some parking lots but if you are staying close it's easier to walk.  Visit the Welcome Center for tickets to different viewpoints, attractions, and learn more about the Falls.

5.  Casinos

Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara are both located on the Canadian side.

6. Family Friendly

I was surprised to find Niagara very family friendly.  There are indoor waterparks, arcades, mini golf and wax museum.  I would pass on Marineland after reading horrible reviews online.  www.niagarafallstourism.com 

Burlington, Vermont

Things To Do in Burlington, Vermont

Burlington is the largest city in Vermont and it still feels like a small town (Population around 215,000).  We were driving up to Montreal and I wanted to cross Vermont off my bucket list since we would be so close and try some Vermont maple syrup.

Where to Eat:

Handy's Lunch
A small diner where everything is made to order.  Handy's has a large horseshoe counter, friendly staff and a great breakfast.  I read multiple reviews on the restaurant and couldn't wait to try pancakes with maple syrup.  The pancakes with syrup were delicious and the sausage packed a lot of flavor.  Breakfast for two under $25.
74 Maple St, Burlington, VT 05401

Uncommon Grounds Coffee and Tea
Located on Church Street this local coffee shop serves up a tasty maple latte.
42 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401

Things to Do:

Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is located a few blocks to the west of Burlington and separates Vermont from New York.  There is a giant waterfront and in the warmer months you can take a ferry, cruise, kayak.  There is also a well maintained bike path.

Church Street Marketplace
Church Street Marketplace is a small town main street with many shops and restaurants.  The street is closed off to cars and a great place to walk around, grab coffee, and find unique shops.  Many parking garages make parking easy and on a Saturday the garage we parking in was free.
Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401

Maple Sugar Houses
A sugar house is where sap is boiled down into maple syrup.  There are many sugar houses in Vermont and they offer tastings, tours, events and activities.  If traveling with pets, many of the sugar houses are pet friendly.
Palmer's Sugar House (20 minute drive) www.palmersugarhouse.com
Branon's West View Maples (40 minute drive) www.branonvtorganicmaple.com
Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks (45 minute drive) www.morsefarm.com

Tip 1* All locations are walkable in downtown Burlington except for the sugar houses

Tip 2* If looking to buy budget-friendly Vermont maple syrup, try the local grocery store (they sell some in cans) or the sugar houses.  I found that the shops on Church Street, while fun to browse, were over charging.