Get Outta Town With The MTA!

Fall in love with Autumn in Duchess County 

The season is upon us and I want to share with you a little known secret that I have known for years. 

The MTA has getaway packages for day and weekend trips for sale! Right now!

Traditionally, they were set for just the fall season.  However, they have expanded and added museum, attraction and festival visits for all year round.

This is, in fact, how I became enamored with the state of New York's country side.  All you must do is purchase a ticket, get on the train and a tour bus will be waiting when you arrive an hour later in upstate New York (in some cases an hour in a half)

The MTA has been in cahoots with Duchess County tourism board for over ten years.  They offer a multitude of day trips starting at the end of August.

A typical trip will have 3 stops in day.  They will include a visit to small historical towns like Millerton, Rhinebeck, or Beacon. 

This will be followed by an encounter at a farm with piggy’s, cows and chicks waiting for hands for petting ( ex. McEnroe Farms).

Then, will be topped off with a tour of a vineyard (ex. Millbrook), maple syrup farm (ex. Madava), a distillery (ex. Duchess Spirit’s) or of course apple picking (ex. Meade Orchards).

Yes, you will do all this via tour bus and will be back on a train headed to the city by 6pm.  It doesn’t seem possible because the scheduling seems a little crammed but it is a quite lovely relaxing day.

Don’t forget the amazing views of the mountain ranges and valleys right off the country lane as you are driven from each location.

For a few years I have made my own itinerary and now travel via car.  I also book on AirBnB so I can take my wine, cheese, chocolates from local vender's of the day back to a quaint room to relax so I may possibly take in more sights the next day. 

Eventually, as you become more acclimated to different sites you will feel more comfortable to do the same.  As New Yorkers, it can be stressful to just want to get out of your head for the day or the weekend.  Instead, you find your face in a map or glued to the GPS on your dashboard nervous you've missed a turn to a place out in the middle of nowhere you have never been before.

Calgon… I mean MTA, take me away!

Note: If anyone takes my advice and uses this opportunity to travel outside the city, I will gladly post your trip as a guest blogger in the fall. Looking forward to hearing from you and enjoy!

Picnic for the Cheap and Bougie

How to pack for a bougie (ˈbo͞oZHē/) picnic on the cheap

First of all, let’s just give an Amen to the Almighty Trader Joe’s for art thou this great feast would never be upon us!

It is the little things that make a great day in the park, minus the bologna and mustard on stale white bread, that make all things better.

Can I just add before we begin that having the basic accoutrements before packing will make things go a lot easier? Before buying for the date in question, please think about keeping a few things for use during the year in your cabinet; picnic basket, insulated lunch bag and condiments stored accordingly. I always keep olives, grainy mustard, honey, fresh herbs, and jams on hand.  I usually buy seasonal for snacks for home light bites.  You cannot go wrong with soft cheese and jams instead of excess sugar for a midnight snack.

First you need a picnic basket and insulated lunch bag.

A basket that comes with glassware, silverware and plates will add a little bit of style when outdoors. You need to remember that anything refrigerator worthy needs to be packed responsibility.  No salmonella cases please.

Insulated lunch bag will set you back about 3 dollars at most drug stores. This filled with ice packs will determine if your salami stays fresh.  Who doesn’t want their salami to be fresh? You might not eat right away when spending time outside. Remember, ice is nice!

Now, getting back to Trader Joe’s.

If you are on a budget and when I say budget about twenty bucks comes to mind. You need to stretch those dollars but still look like a fancy pants when dining alfresco.  At Trader Joe's, cheeses are below market value and from time to time sold in combinations. This can run you about a whole five bucks.  There are combo crackers that run two dollars. They sell four variations of crackers in one box. 

Salami with infused truffle oil, anyone?  Between that and the three buck chuck cabernet, you will still have enough left over to buy flowers at the front of the store. A brick of chocolate and maybe some fruit for a few dollars more.

Now for the ambiance!

Invest in a good picnic clothe.  The answer is yes.  Yes, you should spend (ahead of time) a few dollars on cloth napkins.  Whether it’s wine or mustard that dribbles, the product Shout Out will remove any stain applied within 48 hours.

A sprig of rosemary or basil placed on your hors d’oeuvres tray and a canister with slices of cucumber, mint and lime poured into portal plastic wine glasses will create elegant snacking. Flowers can be stored along with dry goods and wine in basket.

Wind Chimes! Yes, you can.  If you plan on being near trees, nothing will say I need to adopt a cat and try more online dating than bringing chimes to hang above you and your dining companion.

Set Up:

When spreading out the blanket make sure to use jackets, shoes or any loose items to hold the ends down. This will prevent wind kicking it up.  Have a smaller round or square clothe to lay in the center of the blanket for food to be placed on.  It will help from keeping spills off the blanket and create a table optic. When setting up the basket, use the closed top to lay food on so ants won’t get ideas. Also, put the basket at the bottom of the blanket to give you some privacy for at least one side.  Nosey Nancy’s always want to bring down the party with comments on how many calories your lunch is while walking their schnauzer. Thank you but I didn’t ask.

Remember coffee mugs are always an option if in a state run park that frowns on open containers of alcohol.  Flasks are coming back in style and don’t have the hobo appeal they did a decade ago.

Look, we are all adults here.  Don’t try to pretend you have never shared a forty in a paper bag with a friend on the D train to Coney Island. Possibly trying to conceal it in your Vera Bradley overnight bag. Just be conscious and smart about your choices of whether or not you should sweep the legs of the owner of the schnauzer.  After all, this is supposed to be bougie day in the park celebrating all things that are elegant.

Now where is the music?  Cue soft music from cell phone that is cohesive with the birds chirping and Bon Appetite!

The Historic Inns: Not Just Lodging, An Experience!

It’s good to be in an Inn!

My first historical inn I experienced was the Hudson House in Cold Springs, New York.  I noticed it the many times I have traveled to Cold Springs for different holiday events; Fourth of July or Veteran’s Day. Built in 1832, this charmer has fully accommodating rooms facing the Hudson.  If you can’t stay over: no problem. I have had lunch and/or a cocktail right on the porch dining area where the breezes from the river are perfect.  It’s a really cute place.  

My next favorite inn is the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, New York.  I discovered this place when taking a trip with a tour group a few years ago through Duchess County.  It was one of our stops for local fodder.  Called the “Oldest Inn in America,” it dates back to 1766. Yes, that means you can find pictures and books for sale about George Washington’s footsteps during the American Revolution plus his visits to this very inn.  This will be right up the alley of history buffs you might know. It is a must see!

My all-time favorite inn has to be the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut. Built the same year as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the building sits comfortably on Main Street between earlier American architectural residences and local businesses right on the street (you can see horse hitches between buildings). I visited the Griswold for the first time this past winter and yes, the song “Holiday Road,” resonated in my mind and out of my mouth while driving down the street. Once I got to the front desk, I couldn’t decide what room to sit in as there are fire places in every direction you look. 

We finally made our way to the back where the hallway opened up to a larger catering type room.  You almost felt like you were in the bow of a very large ship from the 1800s.  All originally wood of course. In fact, everything about this location is original in structure both exterior and interior.

Much of the Connecticut shore were involved in the whaling business up until mid-century.  There are remnants of original pieces of ships, as well as, old maps decorating the wall for a very rustic feel. 

The food at this location was my favorite of all the Inns I have visited so far.  Also, I felt this location and building had the most romantic feel to it.  Seriously, every room feels like a different restaurant; some are very upscale mahogany and others more of a comfortable café with books and a fireplace where you can tuck into some French onion soup or mac and cheese.

So the next time you are out and about and want to nix the Holiday Inn Express, give an inn a try!  A little more than a donut and coffee for breakfast is within arm’s reach.