Travel

Abilene, Kansas: The Boyhood Home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower

July 25, 2017 by Vanessa 8 Comments

“The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” – President Dwight D. Eisenhower

The 34th president of the United States and 5-Star General was raised in Abilene, Kansas. Founded in 1857, the town grew when the railroad and the Chisholm Trail intersected causing it to become the first cowtown in America. Today, the small but bustling town draws history enthusiasts and day-trippers looking for an afternoon of entertaining tourist stops.

Just east of Salina on Highway 70, the town that raised a president includes sites for the young and old. Full of tourist stops and antique shops, you’ll be hard-pressed to see everything the town offers visitors in one day.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, 200 SE 4th Street.

Tourists can explore all three sites on 22 acres of land that include five buildings housing artifacts and documents that trace his life from his childhood to his final days. In fact, Eisenhower and his immediate family were laid to rest on the property, a memorial that visitors can also visit. Across from his library, the museum houses far more than nostalgic “I Like Ike” buttons. The museum curators painstakingly collected nearly everything bearing his name to the clothing he wore while at war.

After slowly making your way through his museum passing by artifacts documenting his achievements and his family life, you can step outdoors and see his small boyhood home in the distance. Visitors are able to tour the interior of the home led by a tour guide about every thirty minutes. Sightseers awaiting the next tour should sit outside on one of the shaded benches until the next free tour begins.

The three-bedroom 19th-century home is situated on its original site and the bottom level is open to visitors. The house and its contents look exactly as his mother left them before she passed on. It feels surreal to stand in a president’s boyhood home. You will feel a real connection to Eisenhower by the end of your tour.

A man liked by nearly everyone who met him or admired his career, you’ll find yourself looking up to the man in more ways than one while standing near his statue.

You will be enamored by this house from it’s size (it housed his whole family!) to the family’s rich traditions recorded inside.

See the blue ceiling on the porch? It’s supposed to mimic the sky. A famous photograph of the family taken on this porch is on display in the museum.

This stained glass window is part of the Eisenhower Memorial where his wife and children are buried.

Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau, 201 NW 2nd Street

This quaint visitor’s center employs one super helpful tour guide! Ask her anything. She is a proud resident prepared to give you historical facts and free maps too. The building is actually a historical Union Pacific Depot that is open seven days a week. If you stop here first before beginning your tour of the town, you can watch an introductory video or gather materials for your journey. Don’t forget to take your photo inside an original bright red phone booth located just outside of the center. A farmer’s market selling produce and homemade wares take place on the grounds on Saturday mornings.

The original Union Pacific Railroad Depot, Abilene’s Visitor Center is small in size but big on personality.

Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Excursion/Dinner Train, 888-426-6687, 200 SE 5th Street

You can also ride the historic rails in Abilene from the 1887 Rock Island Depot and Gift Shoppe. After buying your ticket for the next scheduled dinner train tour, you can tour the depot’s artifact museum. The walls of the depot show the writings of railroad workers of the past. Have a question about the historic rails? Ask the depot’s employee, a kind woman behind the counter who knows quite a bit about the town’s history. The dinner train departs at 6:30 pm four times each summer and at 6:00 pm four times each fall.

Diesel, steam locomotives, a caboose, and gondola care are also on display for viewing or riding. Fares for kids three and under are free, children up to age 11 $7.50-$15, and adults $15-$30.

Be sure to head over across the depot to see the recreated Old West downtown watch the gunfighter show starting at noon each day. The volunteer impersonators interact with the crowd and shoot blanks at one another to tell the story of the wild west.

Located outside the front doors of the Old West saloon, the “bartender” took our photo and served us cold root beer and freshly made popcorn for the gunfighter show.

Heritage Center, 412 S. Campbell Street

This national historic landmark was voted one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas and includes over 100 years of telephone history on site. It is a short walk from the Eisenhower complex. You’ll see early models of telephones to modern-day advances in technology. It’s mind-blowing.

Behind the museum visitors can take themselves on a self-guided tour of log cabins, the 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel (rides available!), a one-room schoolhouse, and much more! The operator of the carousel has worked as a volunteer there for years and smiles ear-to-ear while sharing the history of this stunning restored piece of local history. Don’t forget to have him take your photo!

We were the only people riding, but that just made it more special.

This print shop interior exhibits the original letterpress used to print the town’s newspaper.

You can go inside this one-room school house, a work of art restored by volunteers. Ring the bell too!

I worked in secondary education for over a decade, seven of those years as a high school teacher. This one-room schoolhouse speaks to me. I love every inch of it.

Greyhound Hall of Fame, 407 S. Buckeye

Missing your family pet while on the road? Stop by a building dedicated to the history of the greyhound breed and its racing history. Two greyhounds on-site serve as the welcoming committee. If you don’t have time to visit, cruise through the parking lot. You might just find one of the dogs in its kennel outside the building waiting for you to pet him!

Ike’s Place Bar and Grill, 100 NW 14th Street

Dark and cool inside, this expansive sports bar’s walls are covered with black and white framed photos of Eisenhower’s life. The menu features typical sports bar grub but also includes homestyle entrees such as homemade soups and their famous meat chili. The waitress recommended several sandwiches and the chili as the most popular eats. This restaurant’s customer service was friendly but a little slow, but the reasonable prices and tasty lunch made up for it. You’ll enjoy the added Eisenhower history lesson from the wall artifacts and menu trivia included in your visit.

Having just scratched the surface of Abilene, I look forward to returning to check out the infamous Brookville Hotel (hot fried chicken and family-style side dishes) and the enormous Seelye Mansion.

Do you know of a fun day trip excursion in Kansas? Comment below with your favorite detour stop! A proud Kansan, I’m ready to visit another great destination in the Sunflower State.

How to Enjoy Vegas Luxury at The Bellagio on a Budget

October 12, 2016 by Vanessa 13 Comments

A week prior to my fortieth birthday in Las Vegas, my first trip there, I heard Elvis singing in my head.

So, you have no idea how pumped I was to hear the flight crew cue up “Vive Las Vegas” as we waited to exit the plane. Not a gambler, I was unsure if I would place my bet on Vegas. I did and I can tell you with confidence that Vegas is a must-have life experience you simply can’t miss out on. It’s that fun.

I want to share with you the many ways you can get the most out of a few days in Vegas using my super, awesome insider tips when staying at The Bellagio. Yes, you can enjoy Sin City without completely blowing your budget. Let’s do this!

The Flight

We booked our trip two months in advance with Allegiant. It’s not easy departing so late at night (9pm) and the airline’s many cost restrictions didn’t help. But when you’re as hyped for The Strip as we were, it was worth the booking it direct with them.

You need to realize when flying Allegiant that they charge you for EVERYTHING. Want to check a bag? It’s a fee. Want to bring a carry-on? It’s a fee. Drink water? Say it with me…it’s a fee. Oh, and don’t have the agent print your boarding pass. That’s a fee! And don’t expect reclining seats or free snacks either. The reason your flight is so cheap is because they charge you for every detail of your experience to maintain their discount airline status. You may wonder why so many people fly Allegiant. Because it’s a direct, inexpensive flight.

But, I know how to help you survive flying Allegiant!

Roll your clothes in order to get three days worth of clothes into your carry-on. I packed for my boyfriend and myself in one carry-on bag. Yes, three nights in one carry-on for two people and that included three pairs of shoes too. It’s possible to pack efficiently if you roll your clothes and carry a backpack per person on the plane. (I did not carry a separate purse but stashed a clutch bag and an empty cross body bag inside my backpack.) Pay for your bags online in advance and be sure to download the Allegiant app to receive notifications.

Pro Tip: Pack light snacks and an empty water bottle. Fill the bottle at the drinking fountains after you pass through security. Don’t forget to also pack a neck pillow and eye mask. When you sit super close to neighboring passengers on a discount airline, falling asleep on a dark plane is awkward when you doze in their direction. Your neck pillow keeps you comfortable and upright when sitting in the middle seat. Ladies: The cabin is very cool on the flight there, so I recommend wearing socks and sneakers to keep your feet warm rather than some bedazzled sandal and to pack a light sweater.

Transportation from the Airport:

Now you’re ready to head to the hotel and start the Vegas fun! You have several transportation options from the airport to your hotel. Taxis and shuttles are always lined up outside of baggage claim exits. However, be prepared to wait awhile for one. If you don’t mind stopping a numerous hotels in route to your own, take a shuttle with strangers. Prefer a private taxi? Get in line…a l-o-n-g line that winds for a mile inside of a sectioned off area near the street. Share a cab (up to 5 people) and you’ll spend probably spend about $25 to your hotel on The Strip not including tip. When the cabbie asks you, “Do you want to take the route of The Strip or the highway?” opt for The Strip. It will cost much less and you can see the city scenery. Vegas cabbies are typically not friendly and drive incredibly fast.

Pro Tip: If taking a cab from the airport to your hotel, ask them to stop at a liquor store on the way. Stock up on canned beer and wine enclosed in plastic (to take to the pool later). Our cabbie turned off his meter for us so we hurried to make our purchases. The final cost, including the stop, to The Bellagio from the airport was $21 plus tip.

See the bridges over the streets? Pack your walking shoes because to cross the 2.5 miles of The Strip means you're going to have to walk over bridges and take escalators often. — See the bridges over the streets? Pack your walking shoes because to cross the 2.5 miles of The Strip means you’re going to have to walk over bridges and take escalators often.

The Hotel:

You have dozens of choices for hotel accommodations in Vegas. While you could save some money by staying off The Strip or at an older hotel, I want to give you the information you need to stay at a luxury hotel for less cost. We booked The Bellagio as part of a package deal with flight on Allegiant’s site at $800 per person for 3 nights and four days. While that sounds like a lot, consider that the same hotel charged $700 a night only a week later on their site. If there are conventions in town (and when isn’t there in Vegas?), the hotels jack up the prices. Our booking also included a buffet meal allowance of each day. Once we arrived, we used The Twenty Dollar Trick and mentioned that it was my birthday (true) to try to score upgraded accommodations. It worked! Not sure what The Twenty Dollar Trick is? Read about it here.

Conservatory gardens are surrounded by tiny shops and a cafe.

Main entrance to the conservatory gardens. Bellagio staff works on the flowers during early morning hours.

The lobby ceiling is feet of breathtaking hand blown glass.

The desk agent upgraded our room to the floor directly below the penthouse suites that included a nice view of the pool. He called his manager to try to give us a room with the view of the famous fountains, but it was a no-go. We were given a VIP business card that allowed us to the cut the l-o-n-g line at the hotel’s buffet. Our package deal included $80 per room per day in buffet credit, which was deducted from our itemized bill at the end of our stay. Don’t underestimate the buffet! The food options are endless and include more than the usual omelette or prime rib station. You can enjoy endless mounds of crab legs and shellfish or sushi. They serve king crab legs cold, but will heat them up for you by request. Prefer a culinary delight from another country? The Bellagio serves that as well from pastas to unique salads. If you want to eat like a high roller, dine on caviar or eggs benedict at brunch at no extra cost.

Caviar for brunch anyone? The Bellagio buffet options are definitely not basic.

We highly recommend opting for a bar seat when dining at the buffet. The bartenders are hospitable, hilarious, and they work hard to make sure your dining experience is top-notch. One of our bartenders had worked there for 18 years! Each one took an interest in where guests traveled from, how they preferred their drink, and even answered concierge-worthy questions. You can pay at the bar so by-pass the cashier station when you arrive.

Pro Tip: Get a table for the buffet at 2:45pm and enjoy a cocktail while you wait for the kitchen staff to switch lunch to dinner. You’ll get to enjoy savory dinner entree options or the price of a lunch ticket. Sit at the bar to avoid a wait. Sometimes the bartenders will come out and recruit guests to sit at the bar instead of regular seating. Go! It reduces your wait by 30 minutes or more.

The Room:

From the tile bathroom floors to the pillow top mattresses, the room is luxurious. Guests can hang their clothes on wooden hangers in a well-lit amoire that also contains an ironing board and iron, a must-have item when you roll your clothes to pack everything in a carry-on bag. Sit in velvety soft chairs to view the oversized flat screen television or use the provided barware to pre-game before hitting the strip. The only drawback to the room is that it does not include a coffeemaker. After a night of drinking, you need your own bottled water and coffee in the room.

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Each bathroom comes with a large glass enclosed shower and deep bathtub.

If you prefer your room temperature on another setting, you can change them using this life hack to override the thermostat. It worked for us!

Pro Tip: Do not drink or eat from the provided snacks in your room. In fact, don’t move an item at all to make room for your liquor store booze. The hotel charges $50 if they have to replace items. Call the front desk and tell them you need a courtesy refrigerator brought to your room. The same size refrigerator is wheeled to your room at no cost.

Four elevators whisk hotel guests up and down each section of the hotel. You never wait more than a minute for an elevator.

The Pool:

Swimming or lounging at The Bellagio pool is amazing. The weather, the people watching, the water, the view…oh my! Vegas weather in October was a perfect 75-80 degrees the day we visited so we dipped our toes in the water. It’s not so warm that you can’t enjoy one of their many hot tubs and it’s warm enough you can swim at your leisure in their temperature-controlled pool.

Pro Tip: Don’t order poolside drinks, including water, from the waitresses. A Bloody Mary ($17) in a plastic cup with lid will set you back quite a few bucks and the bar charges a “service fee” on top of your cash tip. If you order a filtered water, you’ll pay $10. If you bring an empty bottle, you can fill it at a water station near the bar service area. Thankfully, we (and other guests we witnessed) were able to bring in liquor store booze in cans and plastic containers without issue.

The pool staff never searched our bags or asked us about it while we openly drank. Also, if your friends are staying at another hotel, have them meet one of you in the lobby and slip them one of your room cards. Couples only need one room card to enter the pool area. Each person is issued a towel upon entry.

Head down to the pool before 10am to claim your chairs.

The Casino:

You can wear casual to business attire on the casino floor and fit in just fine. You will see people dressed sequins and birthday sashes to jeans and t-shirts. You’ll be hard-pressed to get a spot to play a table game on a busy night during a holiday weekend. If you’re not willing to wait, take Uber ($11) to Old Vegas and walk right up to one of Binion’s tables. (Note: Uber is the safest, cheapest, and easiest way to get around Las Vegas. Just remember that Uber drivers are not allowed to pick you up in hotel valet or limousine pick-up areas. Sometimes signs indicate where Uber picks up, but if not, follow the small crowd around the corner to the side of the casino. Ask the valet where Uber pick up is located. When in doubt, call your Uber driver and ask where they will pick you up.

Pro Tip: Like many hotel casinos in Vegas, as long as you’re gambling, you’re drinking for free. Well, nearly free. Don’t forget to tip your waitress. A good rule-of-thumb is to tip them $2-5 the first time they stop by your gaming table or slot machine and then a $1 per drink after that. The more you tip, the more likely they are to visit you. The casino floor is busy on a Saturday so don’t expect to see them often. However, the early morning shift of waitresses is depending on your tips since it’s not as busy so tip big and take advantage of speedy service. The drinks are not weak! You can sip on anything you desire from champagne to craft beer.

Head to Old Vegas (Freemont Street) to enjoy cheaper bar drinks and easy access to gambling tables. This LED sign seems to sum up Vegas pretty well, don't ya think? — Head to Old Vegas (Fremont Street) to enjoy cheaper bar drinks and easy access to gambling tables. This LED sign seems to sum up Vegas pretty well, don’t ya think?

The mega LED screen over Fremont street plays a music video show every hour on the hour.

The Grounds:

Many of Las Vegas’ best venues are on the grounds of the hotel. It has impressive restaurants and bars, a Cirque du Soleil show “O”, high-end shopping, and botanical gardens. If you want to watch your budget, window-shop. While it may be tempting to buy a designer purse or watch in one of the many fancy stores, don’t.

The Bellagio has a grab and go convenience shop that is a bit hidden. At one point, I was hungry for a snack while other guests slept in until the brunch hour. I was able to buy whole fruit ($2) in a store across from the convention rooms. Did I mention how important it is to pack your own snacks for Vegas?

Pro Tip: Buy show tickets on the day of the show from the hotel ticket counter, but do it early in the day. If you’re staying at The Bellagio, you save 20%. You can also buy discounted tickets on the strip the day of the show from Tix4Tonight. We opted to see Penn and Teller’s show at The Rio instead, which set us back about $100 per person including taxes and fees for lower level seating close to the stage. Some Vegas show tickets start at $100 or higher, so consider any show under that price a good deal.

This show sold out after we bought our tickets the same day or the show. Buy your tickets during early morning hours.

Not interested in a show? Put on comfortable walking shoes and cruise the hotel. The Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Garden changes with the seasons and is a whimsical wonder of flowers and outdoor features. It’s free and makes a nice backdrop for selfies or family photos.

Just around the corner from the gardens you will spy a floor to ceiling chocolate fountain behind glass. It’s nestled inside a grab-and-go cafe that sells gift items. It’s a must-see stop for dessert lovers!

Sometimes it's fun to leave the Bellagio and check out other hotels and features on The Strip. This photo was taken inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel restaurant, a stop on the Bellagio free tram. — Sometimes it’s fun to leave the Bellagio and check out other hotels and features on The Strip. This photo was taken inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel restaurant, a stop on the Bellagio free tram.

The Fountains:

A breathtaking water show, the Bellagio fountains run on a frequent schedule and are best witnessed at night. The most surprising element about viewing the fountains is how powerful the water canons are to spray water to the height of the hotel’s top floor windows. Amazing! A crowd forms around the fountains and cheap beer and water can be purchased off of local vendors with coolers for $5.

View the Fountains of Bellagio schedule here.

Check Out:

One look at the checkout line on Sunday and we knew we were not going to wait in it. We called the front desk and asked for a late check out, an accommodation they provided at no cost. Usual check out was 11:00am but they gave us until noon. Does that mean the cleaning crew is knocking on your door at noon? Probably not. While guests in our party on another floor were asked if the cleaning crew could get in their room at noon, we were not. The hotel key card will work one hour after your check out time.

Pro Tip: Use your room’s TV remote to go to the channel “Check Out” and simply check out with a few clicks of a button. As long as you agree with the charges on the screen, the hotel will automatically charge the card on file. Don’t agree with the itemized invoice? Call the front desk. Bypassing the long lines in the lobby affords you the time to relax before catching your flight home or try one last attempt to win at video poker.

If you’re one of those travelers that has put off a trip to Vegas because you think it’s just a mecca of 21-year-old partiers and high rollers, you’re wrong. Vegas has something for every kind of traveler. Book a trip this year!

Let me know what you think of Vegas in the comments below. What questions do you have? Ask me!

(Links within this post are not affiliates.)

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10 EAA AirVenture Fly-In and Convention Pro Tips: Save Money, Save Your Energy

July 31, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Getting ready for the adventure of your aviation career at EAA AirVenture Fly-in and Convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin should be worry-free and fun-filled and if you follow these ten pro tips (courtesy of my pilot boyfriend who recently traveled there), you will save money and your energy after arriving.

oshkosh

Once you’ve landed at Oshkosh and set up camp, you’re going to be pleased but overwhelmed by the number of planes and crowds at the events. It’s all worth it! This annual event celebrates all things aviation and as a pilot you’re going to feel like you went to heaven. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you arrive to keep you from breaking your bank and help you reserve energy.

Get the official downloadable map and use the trams and buses. Pro Tip: EAA volunteers ride around in golf carts and for a one dollar tip they will take you anywhere you want to go within reason. Proceeds go to the EAA Young Eagles Program. To take a load off, locate where vendors are selling massage chairs and sit in one for a rejuvenating massage for a up to fifteen minutes.
Air shows are four hours long so bring a chair or blanket to sit on. Some people even bring a little wagon to tote their belongings, an ideal choice for families. Also, bring an umbrella to block the sun and a lot of water to stay hydrated during the show. Sit center stage in front of the Boeing Plaza for the best viewpoint. Arrive early in the week to EAA to cash in on free schwag from t-shirts to toy airplanes. Pro Tip: On the EAA app you can listen to the air show so bring a portable speaker in case you’re in an area to watch the show that lacks speakers. Download the live ATC app and you’ll be able to listen to the air show performers and air traffic control.
Don’t miss the night air show that includes fireworks and something called The Wall of Fire. Pro Tip: There are long lines at tram stops before an air show. Get to a tram stop at least an hour in advance of its departure.
Ask a tram operator when they are giving the next educational tour because you can learn about the ongoing events and festival history while onboard to your destination. Pro tip: You will still do a considerable amount of walking while at Oshkosh. Pack comfortable walking shoes and clothes for various weather temperatures. You’ll be glad you packed a lightweight jacket for outdoor evenings in Wisconsin.
There are multiple grocery tents, specifically set up for campers, where you can pick up any supplies you need from camping tools to snacks. Pro Tip: Bring a water bottle from home for each person. You can fill them up at water trucks on the grounds. School buses will take you to a nearby Target store in case you need to pick up supplies.
Showers always have hot water and you don’t have to wait. Pro Tip: Wear shower shoes and bring your own toiletries including a towel.
Fuel is a reasonable price. Pro Tip: If you need to fuel up the plane, just flag down a passing fuel truck.
Famous aviation personalities will be on site. All the famous YouTube aviators you would hope to see and the occasional celebrity/pilot are also there to take in the action of EAA. You’ll definitely want to get in line early for meet-and-greets, autograph signings, and book signings. Pro Tip: Take business cards with you because you’re going to meet many pilots and want to connect with them later. You never know, you just might meet someone from NASA or a pilot who flies for celebrities.
Download the festival schedule so you can plan your day. If you just “wing” it, you won’t efficiently use your time and miss out on learning opportunities. You can sit in on classes on topics such as building an experimental plane or using aviation cell phone apps. Take advantage of the free practice time in one of the many simulators on site. Pro Tip: Follow your favorite aviator on social media and take note of their schedule and booth number so you can stop by and visit them.
Earplugs are a necessity at Oshkosh. If you hope to catch shut-eye after a long night of fun, you’re going to need them. Pro Tip: Because campers are located so close to one another, buy wax earplugs to drown out the noise from snorers and airplanes. The nearby runway becomes busy at 6 am each morning.

Not many planes left during the final hours of Oshkosh 2016, but this image gives an idea of where you can set up your tent(s) after arrival.

We hope you appreciate the pro tips for your trip to next year’s EAA AirVenture Fly-In and Convention at Oshkosh. You’re going to have an amazing experience, one a pilot never forgets.

Share any tips you may have in the comments section below.

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Upstate New York Breweries

July 3, 2016 by Vanessa 17 Comments

If you look at an Upstate New York map of breweries, as compared to one just printed only a few years ago, you’ll quickly notice a surge in the number of craft beer stops. I’ve put together a collection of breweries visited on our semi-annual brewery pub crawl and tips just for you.

Iron Flamingo Brewery (196 Baker St. Corning, NY)

The Blonde Ale has an after-taste that was crisp but a bit bitter. I wish I had ordered the Belgian Wit Ale, an unfiltered beer flavored with orange peel and coriander similar to a Blue Moon. Other guests in our party ordered the IPA but said it wasn’t their favorite during the beer tour. Six brews on tap. Check the chalkboard to try seasonal sips.

Note: They are open every day of the week. Seating is limited. The unisex bathroom is located right off the bar area.

Corning Market Street Brewing Co. and Restaurant (63 W. Market St. Corning, NY)

This super popular watering hole is more than a bar, it’s a restaurant with an extensive menu of pub grub and craft beers. They also have a full bar. We visit CMSB twice a year and I consistently order their Blackberry Lager, a year-round favorite. It’s a smooth, refreshing beer that is easy to drink and finishes with a fruity note.

Several members of our group ordered the Beer B Q Burger with homemade sweet potato fries to go along the hoppy Wheelhouse IPA.

Note: The brewery is closed Mondays. I recommend requesting a rooftop patio table for your dining experience. The views of downtown Corning are the perfect compliment to an ice-cold brew.

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Homemade sweet potato fries and barbecue sauce come with the Beer B Q burger.

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Ithaca Beer Co. (122 Ithaca Beer Dr. Ithaca, NY)

Near Cayuga Lake, this brewery is popular because it was one of the first craft breweries to open the east coast in the 80s. Famous for the uber hoppy Flower Power IPA, they are also known for their hop garden on the property. Grab an Apricot Wheat and head outside to enjoy the expansive view of the treelined landscape. Adirondack chairs and tables make for community seating and opportunities to meet other patrons.

Note: Plan your travel plans accordingly because this brewery is off Route 13 off the southern end of Ithaca. Expect the bar to be busy. Bartenders work quickly to help you.

Binghamton Brewing Company (15 Avenue B. Johnson City, NY)

Try the Citra Pale Ale that promises a well-balanced finish with a few citrus notes on your tongue, the perfect drink for a warm summer day. I loved the Purple Rain, a Concord grape beer, that was reminiscent of a grape Sweet Tarts candy thanks to its tart finish. A unique brew, the Smoked Hefeweizen, is a wheat beer that the owners claim stretches the boundaries of its category.

The BCC’s building is historical as it was once a firehouse. The owners, engineers who are fixing up a 34′ sailboat in their backlot, are celebrating their second year of business and the one-hundredth year of the building this summer.

Note: They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. You must walk through the backroom brewing area. You feel like you’re not supposed to be in this space as you search to find the bathroom entrance because you have to walk past the brew kettles.

binghamton-brewing-co3 — BBC’s Purple Rain and Citra Pale Ale.

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Galaxy Brewing Company (41 Court St. Binghamton, NY)

Known for their Belgian brews and decent food menu, the large bar, and restaurant has plenty of seating. This is a smart location for a lunchtime work meeting as it is nestled in downtown Binghamton. A lighter brew option, St. Stusan Ale, is a wise choice. It was a Silver Medal winner at the 2014 World Beer Cup. Thirsty patrons seeking a stronger Belgian beer should opt for the Summer Solstice. It is so popular that it was sold out on our last visit.

Tip: Call to confirm their hours. Great place to go on a first date. It is a darker venue in the bar area as compared to the dining room.

Water Street Brewing Co. (168 Water St. Binghamton, NY)

Summer Wheat Ale, a seasonal local favorite, didn’t stand up against their more flavorful Hefeweizen. It is an excellent balance of banana flavor with wheat due to the specialty yeast they use in the fermentation process.

One drawback to the experience is that is self-serve and I don’t mean the taps. You have to pick up your food and pay for it at the counter, but the waitstaff with clean up your table. Expect to seat yourself when you walk in.

Tip: The pub is open every day of the week, but the kitchen is not opening on Sundays. Sit near the fermentation tanks to get a better view of the brewing process.

Horseheads Brewing Company (250 Old Ithaca Rd. Horseheads, NY)

Opening its doors in 2007, the brewery is the town’s namesake and has an extensive selection of flagship beers that are consistent in taste. Due to standing room only over the years, they expanded their tasting room and production. You can find their selections on tap across the state in restaurants.

The Pumpkin Ale and the Hot-Jala-Heim are stand-out beers. The fall pumpkin brew has won numerous awards, which adorn the walls of the tasting room. A chili beer, the Hot-Jala-Heim brings a bite due to the jalapenos and anaheims and includes a high alcohol content. It won Best Beer at the Hamburg, New York beer festival. Whenever I drink a pint of it, I crave buttered popcorn for some reason.

Note: They are open every day of the week, but on Mondays they only provide takeout. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and courteous. The owners play a collection of their music while you sip on suds that includes hard rock hits.

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Puerto Vallarta – Barcelo Premium All-Inclusive Resort

June 22, 2016 by Vanessa 16 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for information.

Welcome to paradise at Barcelo Puerto Vallarta. You have arrived. Well, not yet. But you will want to visit after reading this post!

It feels like I just got home from Mexico, but we visited last January. I highly recommend making the trip to PV. Stay at an all-inclusive resort miles outside of the bustling, loud center of the city. Honestly, I’m glad we didn’t hang out in the city. It was crowded and hot. Driving in town was a chore and it takes your full attention especially at confusing intersections with people randomly crossing the road. Once you cut through town from the airport to the resort, your vacation awaits. It’s worth it.

To help you book your all-inclusive trip to BPV, I’ve broken down the resort and the city into categories. I hope my insider tips will provide you with the best experience possible while at BPV.

Barcelo Premium Puerto Vallarta all-inclusive resort is located on Mismaloya Beach with views of the Bay of Banderas, south of Puerto Vallarta. It also faces the Pacific Ocean.

ROOMS

We’ve stayed at more than one all-inclusive resort in Mexico and each one has its own unique qualities from the amenities to the color of the ocean water. One trait these resorts have in common-total relaxation! Barcelo Puerto Vallarta is no exception.

You definitely want to reserve a view of the ocean or overlooking the courtyard. When booking your room, ask about this option. Otherwise, you may be facing the employee parking lot or a massive grove of shady trees.

View from room's patio facing the center courtyard. — View from room’s patio facing the center courtyard.

We booked the Family Suite, which was 732 square feet of ample space. The rooms are quite spacious and you’ll be happy to find that some of them come with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Oh, and the showers! They’re HUGE glass encased spa-like showers with strong water pressure.

We were in agreement that the beds were some of the most comfortable ones we’ve ever slept on in a hotel.

Tip: The rooms stay cool thanks to a tile floor and black out curtains, but you may want to bring flip-flops or slippers. The bathrooms include basic toiletries, a hairdryer, plush white towels, and a robe in each bathroom. There is no need to order room service (an extra cost) unless you’re too hungover from the night before to get up for the breakfast spread downstairs. Also, the Wi-Fi does NOT work in your room unless you pay an extra fee for it at the front desk. The front desk manager claimed that Wi-Fi worked everywhere else within the resort without a charge. Not true!

DINING

If you stay several nights, you are gifted two to three passes to dine at the higher end restaurants at the resort: Don Quijote, Capri, or Los Arcos. Stay an additional night or longer and the resort gifts you an additional restaurant pass so you can enjoy all three eateries. Take advantage of these opportunities to dine at the resort but bring money to tip your waiter. It’s customary. Be prepared to have to book your reservation as soon as the concierge desk opens the day that you want to dine for dinner. A strict dress code applies and men must dress business casual in dress pants. Women usually wear a dress to dinner. If you don’t follow the dress code, they will graciously ask you to return to your room to change into something more formal.

What can you expect from the menus? It depends on the style of restaurant as some serve Spanish cuisine while another caters in seafood entrees. Plating of one’s food is exquisitely done and camera worthy. It was my boyfriend’s birthday during our stay. The concierge and waitstaff presented him with not one, but two birthday dessert surprises throughout the day as we dined. The server at Los Arcos also presented him with a bottle of champagne and rounded up his co-workers to sing “Happy Birthday” to him. The staff at Barcelo resorts always exceeds your expectations by anticipating your every need.

Tip: Don’t lose your dining reservation ticket, a slip that you must present at the restaurant’s hostess desk. Also, Los Arcos is a casual outdoor dining area during the afternoon serving handmade tortillas with taco bar. Enjoy views of Mismaloya Beach and the Bay of Banderas while munching on barbacoa mini tacos. Corona anyone?

SPA

If you’ve never had a massage near the ocean, you need to book one. This level of relaxation is unlike any hometown spa experience you’ve ever had. I should know…I worked at a well-known spa in my city for two years. You will feel your stress fade away while listening to the repetitive crash of the Pacific’s waves nearby.

Barcelo Puerto Vallarta spa packages are available and must be charged to your room. You can also just book an individual treatment. However, I recommend a full-body aromatherapy massage coupled with a deep cleansing facial. Both of my treatments were done by the same therapist, which was not something I expected.

So, imagine two hours at the spa followed by…oh, I don’t know…a day by the pool. That’s one delightful day!

Tip: If someone in your party rather not pay spa prices, you can walk about a quarter mile down the beach to a third-party “spa” and get a massage there for as little as $20 an hour. I also tried out this massage treatment and was glad I did. Yes, the dressing room is primitive. No, you shouldn’t expect infused water when greeted. But, it does include the backdrop of ocean waves, a foot bath, and a quality head to toe massage.

ENTERTAINMENT

Pool side entertainment includes a twenty-something disc jockey playing bass thumping hits from the golden oldies to 80s hair bands. The entertainment director isn’t a day older than twenty-one years old and his energy is contagious. Before you realize it, you’ve been persuaded to join in on a game of sand volleyball or happy hour shots at the swim up bar. Younger resort patrons can take advantage of a lengthy schedule of activities on the property. A life-size Jenga game never sat untouched and families with toddlers enjoyed the children’s pool.

An evening show is performed every night by a troupe of singers and dancers. I was not a fan of Night at the Circus. It probably wasn’t so much the dancers fault. A large table of incredibly drunk Canadians (they left everyone know where they were from) brought in a bottle of Patron and proceeded to drink nearly the entire bottle and celebrate. Loudly. They were not interested in the free popcorn.

BEACH

Not overly crowded the beach is relaxing and tranquil. The water is swift depending on the tide, which ebbs and flows. We were only prevented from using the beach once during our stay due to high tide.

You’ll enjoy watching the come and go activity of fishermen leaving in the morning and returning in the late afternoon as well as boys who ride the waves. The occasional salesman will ask you if you want to buy trinkets, but they only ask once and don’t bother you again.

The resort has two dining areas that provide ocean views. I highly recommend eating al fresco on the patio.

ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE RESORT

Since the resort is not close to town, you will want to rent a car or sign up for excursions that guarantee a shuttle pick up and drop off. We drove our Enterprise rental car to Vallarta Botanical Gardens, a short winding drive through the hills. Talk about a breathtaking view! The owner, an American originally from the midwest, greeted us warmly and made small talk. This elaborate garden, featuring more than one hiking trail, is his creation. His friendly dog served as a “tour guide” during the entire route of our hike through the trees. Enjoy the educational center or dine for lunch on fresh tortillas and “the world’s best guacamole” before you leave.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens charges a low-price of admission to walk the grounds and view tropical plants and flowers. — Vallarta Botanical Gardens charges a low-price for admission to walk the grounds and view tropical plants and exotic flowers.

Deep sea adventures can be booked at the scuba hut near the beach. A German speaking dive coordinator with schedule your appointment to dive with one of his instructors.

Tip: Bring bug spray with Deet to the botanical garden. Posted signs warn guests to wear it, but we didn’t think to bring any. Big mistake. “No-see-ums,” or nearly invisible type of sandfly, will serve as your “tour guide” as well. Also, wear tennis shoes or hiking booths to enjoy the trails.

WEATHER

We vacationed at BPV during mid January and the weather was pleasantly sunny with slight overcast during the late afternoon. You should expect it to rain at some point during your stay but it won’t cancel your plans and is usually so brief, it doesn’t matter. It may be quite windy causing members of your party, who like to scuba dive, to have to wait until friendlier waters return. The tide definitely changes throughout the day at this semi-private beach. Don’t leave your beach towel on the beach.

Mismaloya Beach with views of the Bay of Banderas, south of Puerto Vallarta. It also faces the Pacific Ocean.

PS. Check out my slideshow of botanicals taken while visiting Vallarta Botanical Gardens just outside of the resort.