Category: North America

Where to Eat and Drink in Québec City Right Now

A long time ago in my college days of yore, a friend returned from winter break with tales of a strange land up north. “They speak French, but it’s not in Europe,” he waved his hands wildly. “They have this one hotel that looks like a huge castle, and there’s fries with these cheese things and gravy. And get this — they have another hotel made completely of ice!” Suffice it to say that I’ve been dreaming about Québec City ever since.

Flash forward fifteen years later: when I learned that the annual Women in Travel Summit was taking place in Québec City in 2018, I knew it was the perfect time to go. Québec City — and its hip food and drink scene — surpassed my expectations, and I can’t wait to share all these spots with you. So without further ado, here’s your ultimate guide to where to eat and drink in Québec City.

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Banff National Park: The Lake Agnes Tea House Trail Guide for Non-Hikers

Lake Agnes in Banff National Park

He said there would be tea.

That’s how my brother, Sir Campsalot, convinced us to make the trek up to Lake Agnes Tea House in Banff National Park. He’d been living in Calgary for nearly a year now, and our family had ventured up to the Great White North to see what his new life was all about: the digs, the poutine, and — of course — the mountains.

It’s no secret that my usual vibe is cocktails in a New York City bar or craft beer in Belgium instead of contemplating the wonders of the universe surrounded by trees. But in the spirit (ha!) of getting healthier this year, I hoped to change all of that in Banff this past June.

Having tea as a reward was the motivator I needed to turn this rusty pair of legs into an actual hiker. But what’s the deal with the Lake Agnes Tea House trail, and why should it be on your list of hikes to do in Banff? Here’s the scoop for all of you non-hikers out there.

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An Unconventional Day at the Museum: The Museum Hack Tour of NYC’s American Museum of Natural History

New York City has no dearth of incredible museums. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History to smaller institutions like the New York Transit Museum and the Tenement Museum, you could spend a whole week in the city just museum hopping from one place to the next and not get bored.

But museum fatigue is a bonafide problem. (You know, when your feet start to ache after standing in front of sculptures for a few hours and your brain goes, “Not another painting that a three-year-old could draw.”) And in mammoth-sized museums like the Met, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure about what’s worth seeing.

Enter Museum Hack. In an effort to get out of my cocktail bar comfort zone and into more of New York City’s cultural institutions, I signed up for their “Un-Highlights” tour of the American Museum of Natural History, not knowing what to expect.

It was wacky. it was zany. And it was the best time I’ve had in a museum in years. Here’s why.

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Why You Need to Visit Coney Island Brewery

Get a tasting flight at Coney Island Brewery to sample the great craft beers they have to offer in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
Coney Island Brewery's tap room may be smaller than some, but what it lacks in space, it more than makes up for with its tasty beers. Here's why you need to take the ride down to the southern end of Brooklyn and visit Coney Island Brewery.

When I think of summer in New York City, I inevitably dream about Coney Island. Umbrella lounge chairs dot the long stretches of sand; the smell of sizzling hot dogs wafts in the air; and high-pitched shrieks abound as people whiz by on roller coasters and other amusement park rides. But I didn’t realize until a few weeks ago that Coney Island is home to its very own brewery, named — you guessed it — Coney Island Brewery.

The brewery’s tap room may be smaller than some, but what it lacks in space, it more than makes up for with its tasty beers. Here’s why you need to take the ride down to the southern end of Brooklyn and visit Coney Island Brewery.

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5 Best Things to Do in Beacon, NY: Your Perfect Day Trip from NYC

Visiting Dia:Beacon, a world-renowned art museum, is one of the best things to do in Beacon, NY.
We're going to let you in on a little secret: Beacon is one of the coolest day trips from New York City, and after reading about all of the cool things to do in Beacon, NY, we wouldn't be surprised if you hop on the next train going upstate! Here are the 5 best things to do in Beacon, NY.

Even though it’s possible to live three lifetimes in New York City and still not get to everything the metropolis has to offer, sometimes even diehard New Yorkers need a change of scenery. We’re going to let you in on a little secret: Beacon is one of the coolest day trips from New York City, and after reading about all of the cool things to do in Beacon, NY, we wouldn’t be surprised if you hop on the next train going upstate!

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Imli: NYC’s Upper East Side Indian Restaurant You Need to Know

Spearheaded by Executive Chef Manuel Butler, Imli is a fabulous restaurant serving urban Indian food in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. With familiar classics like Chicken Tikka Masala, as well as Indian interpretations of dishes like pizza or Scotch eggs, make sure it's on your NYC to-do list!

Despite devouring the multitude of cuisines that New York City has to offer over the past six years, Indian cuisine has been conspicuously absent from my restaurant repertoire. (Nothing personal; I just eat way too much cacio e pepe and xiao long bao.) So when Mary, the blogger behind Mary in Mahattan, invited a group of us to dine at Imli, an Indian restaurant in New York’s Upper East Side neighborhood, I jumped at the chance.

What happens when a group of eight bloggers descends on one of New York’s tastiest Indian restaurants? A lot of laughs, cocktails, and completely full stomachs, that’s what. Here’s why your next meal should be at Imli.

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The Truth About Snorkeling in Bermuda’s Whalebone Bay (Or: Why I’m Eternally Terrified of Octopuses)

Whalebone Bay is an interesting snorkeling spot if you're staying on St. George's Island in Bermuda, whether it's day or night. Beware, though: you might just encounter a sneaky octopus or two!

Editor’s note: Let the record reflect that Whalebone Bay is an interesting snorkeling spot if you’re staying on St. George’s Island in Bermuda, and I highly encourage everyone to go. I’m just a complete scaredy-cat when it comes to slippery aquatic creatures of the night. Also, watch this awesome video that explains the correct plural form(s) of the word ‘octopus.’

I slowly shied away from the tank, my eyes darting back and forth.

“What’s wrong, huh?” my brother teased, though he already knew. The little rascal—well, big rascal, as he was younger but taller than me—had nonchalantly remarked that an octopus can climb from one tank to another, a fact I wished I could unlearn as quickly as I heard it.

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5 Romantic NYC Bars That Are Perfect for Valentine’s Day

Whether you're with someone, think you're with someone, or just plain don't care, February 14 is a great excuse to let New York City's bars work their magic. Here are five romantic NYC bars that are perfect for Valentine's Day.

Let’s face it: Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays you love or you loathe. It’s either a chance to celebrate your epic, undying love for one another — complete with roses, candles, and Jacques Torres chocolates, of course — or it’s like having a severe case of déjà vu as you encounter slobbery, sappy, stupid couples everywhere.

But whether you’re with someone, think you’re with someone, or just plain don’t care, February 14 is a great excuse to let New York City’s bars work their magic. Take it from us, the NYC Cocktail Bar Yentes: we’re damn good matchmakers when it comes to hooking you up with a bar you’ll love.

So open your minds, your hearts, and your wallets, folks. Here are five romantic NYC bars that are perfect for Valentine’s Day.

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“Hella” Awesome: Why Hella Cocktail Co. Is A Name You Need to Know

Founded in Brooklyn in 2011, Hella Cocktail Co. creates delicious craft cocktail mixers, syrups, and bitters. Here's why you need to know about them.

We couldn’t stop laughing. Mr. Five O’Clock and I had just ripped open our holiday gifts and discovered that we’d given each other similar bitters-related presents. He had selected spices and herbs to create bitters for me; I had purchased a bitters-making kit from Hella Cocktail Co. (formerly known as Hella Bitters) for him. This was true love at its finest, we grinned conspiratorially.

Those gifts we exchanged in December 2014 started our lifelong love affair with bitters. (I know this because I combed through my e-mails to verify the date, as fact-checking is key here. When Mr. Five O’Clock gets home, I can tell him I won our bet.)

We’ve been huge fans of Hella Cocktail Co.’s products from the moment we unwrapped those gifts three years ago. We’re practically thisclose to being the OG fans of the company, so you know our fondness for their bottles is legit.

So when we met Eddie, one of the company’s co-founders, through Honeymoon Israel last year, it was like the stars aligned. And when Eddie the cocktail Santa sent us some Hella Cocktail Co. syrups, mixers, and bitters to check out for the 2017 holiday season, it was some seriously magical Hella holiday déjà vu all over again.

So how did the Hella Great Gift Opening Session of 2017 go down? What kind of cocktails can you make with these goodies? What does “hella” even mean? And what are bitters, anyway? Don’t worry: we’ve got you covered.

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