Get Your Kicks on Route 66

November 16, 2015 by Amy Johns in Travel, USA, American Southwest

Established in 1926, Route 66 is the original American highway aka the Mother Road. In Arizona, the highway runs from California to New Mexico and, just outside of Peach Springs, Arizona, 66 enters the Hualapai Indian Reservation, where we started our hike to Havasupai. On the way, we experienced several different areas of Route 66 including Seligman, Peach Springs and Flagstaff. There is a lot to love about Route 66, just as long as you know what to expect. Here are a few do's and don't's for the road....

The North End, Boston, Massachusetts <media:content>

Boston's North End

August 17, 2015 by Amy Johns in Travel, USA, New England

I drove in to Boston from my trip to Maine (hold tight for a forthcoming Vacationland blog post), arriving around lunch time. I had an afternoon to kill while I waited for Kyle's flight to arrive and for my friend Matt to get off work.

I decided to wander around the North End and find some lunch, and I had it on good authority that I needed to make a stop at Bova Bakery. Yes, Mike's is the most famous, but according to my local source, Bova was better so clearly I had to try it! I bought enough cannoli's and pastries to share over the weekend, a calzone for lunch and headed to the harbor for my own personal picnic by the water. I spent the afternoon strolling through the neighborhood, checking out the coffee shops and the Old North Church, and later, walking along the water.

Boston is an awesome city with so much character. I would highly recommend spending much more time than one afternoon here and the summer or fall seem like great times to go!

*Tip: I didn't get to go this time, but if you like museums, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is my favorite museum of all time! Its also where the largest theft in U.S. history occurred when upwards of $500 million in art was stolen, including Rembrandt's only known seascape. The empty frames from which the thieves cut the canvases still hang in the museum (I wrote an entire term paper on this in my college museum studies class, so I could go on, but I'll stop there).

A Day in Plymouth

July 28, 2015 by Amy Johns in Travel, USA, New England

This past week I attended a conference in New Hampshire and since I love to make the most of a trip, after the conference Kyle flew up and met me in Boston so that we could spend the weekend with some good friends.

On Saturday we spent the afternoon in Plymouth, Massachusetts enjoying lobster rolls and sangria at East Bay for lunch, wandering along the water, being underwhelmed by Plymouth Rock, eating ice cream and taking pictures with our friends' really cute baby!

I love New England and finding small towns to explore. Plymouth did not disappoint! I could not stop snapping pictures of the boats, the water, the sky, the clouds, the food and the lobster buoys. And I could not wait to share...enjoy!

Lobster Roll, Plymouth Massachusetts, New England