Ok, fine. I admit it...I watch The Bachelor. Basically, one summer, sweating in 100+ degree heat without an air conditioner, I accepted a friend's invitation to spend the evening at her air conditioned apartment. When I got there, I discovered a Bachelor viewing party. Then, I had to keep watching to see if the runner-up from that season found love, and then see what happened to my favorite contestant from the next season. And, so on. I do love seeing the exciting destinations that the groups visit around the world. During the most recent week of Season 14, I was excited to see that Ben and the ladies on the group date went swimming with pigs in The Bahamas. This was so exciting to me because I had done the exact same thing four years earlier! The episode showed aggressive pigs and awkward silences, but what was it really like to swim with pigs in The Bahamas? Getting ThereThe Exumas are a chain of islands in The Bahamas. We were staying on Staniel Cay, one island in The Exumas, while the pigs live on Big Major Cay, an uninhabited island in The Exumas. To get to Big Major, we had to island-hop by boat, and there is a little bay where boats can pull in to see the pigs. We were staying at someone's private house, so we had a motor boat at our disposal. However, many accommodations, such as Staniel Cay Yacht Club, offer use of boats and kayaks to guests that purchase vacation packages. The ExperienceFirst of all, these pigs FOR SURE know what's up. When they see boats pull into the bay, they immediately swim over. The pigs have learned that boats mean food for them. Luckily, we had a pig veteran with us, so she knew to bring snacks for feeding the pigs. We had veggies and some lunchmeat (Don't worry! Nothing pig-based) . We initially fed them from the boat, but eventually we ventured into the water and made our way to the beach. The water around us was a clear, turquoise blue, perfect for swimming and wading. On the island, there were piglets running around, which was adorable!
Were the pigs really as aggressive as shown on TV? Actually, yes! Swimming with the pigs is not dangerous by any means, but the pigs are determined to get whatever food they can. They continually approach and bump people to ask for more snacks. One of my friends actually got bit in the butt by one of the pigs on the island! We spent part of the day on Big Major Island, feeding the pigs, swimming in the water, having some drinks, and walking the beach. Then, we motored to a sandbar and to another island to eat. Having a boat in The Exumas is amazing because it gives travelers the freedom to explore the whole region. You can sail to another resort or yacht club, park your boat at the dock, and enjoy a meal. You can go snorkeling at Thunderball Grotto, site of filming for the James Bond film Thunderball. You can explore other beaches or try new water sports. I was glad we included swimming with the pigs on our Bahamas vacation because it was unlike any other experience I have had. Without having seen it on TV or hearing about it from a friend, I never would have imagined that there was an island with swimming pigs somewhere in the world!
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While Brett and I were living in Vermont this summer, my mom flew out to visit us. She and I escaped for a girls' road trip to some of Vermont's small towns. My mom and dad had done two BikeVermont tours a number of years ago, and they had passed through Woodstock, so she suggested we return for a visit. We were able to immerse ourselves in all of Vermont's small-town charm, including covered bridges, country stores, beautiful scenery, and Maple cree-mees (aka soft serve ice cream). The Quechee Inn at Marshland FarmAfter perusing the various B&B options in and around Woodstock, my mom and I settled on The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm. It is a historic home from 1793, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been converted into an inn, restaurant, and wedding venue. I have to say, this would be a pretty picturesque place for a wedding. If you stay here, take a walk around the grounds to admire the big red barn, or head across the street to walk by Deweys Pond or the Ottauquechee River. The room we stayed in was comfortable enough, with a modern bathroom. I have read reviews of the inn that complained of their rooms being noisy, but we didn't get woken up by noise. Our room was on the second floor, on the opposite end of the inn from the restaurant. We very much enjoyed the included breakfast, which was complete with eggs, bacon, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee, and more. There is a cozy sitting area with a fireplace on the first floor, and, on the second floor, a big covered balcony with rocking chairs overlooking the garden and parking lot. Driving to Woodstock from the inn took us about 15 minutes, while Quechee Gorge and Simon Pearce Glass-Blowing were each less than 5 minutes by car. The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm was a great place to stay for a visit to the area if you want to capture some of Vermont's small town charm, since the building is over 200 years old and surrounded by Vermont's beautiful countryside. Woodstock, VTThe first day that we arrived, Mom and I went to the adorable town of Woodstock, Vermont. We wandered through the various shops in the town, including a charming bookshop, a vintage store, and a general store. The village is quaint, filled with old buildings and local shops. The town is a pleasant place to spend half a day, go shopping, and get a feel for small-town Vermont. When you take into account the surrounding towns and natural areas, there is plenty to keep you occupied for a weekend. My personal favorite stop in Woodstock was the general store, which, like general stores from long ago, carried a little bit of everything. Quechee GorgeThe Quechee Gorge, located in Quechee State Park, is a great half-day trip for nature lovers. It's the deepest gorge in Vermont and is billed as "Vermont's Grand Canyon." I can't lie: Mom and I thought that the Grand Canyon analogy was a bit of a stretch. That's a hefty comparison for any gorge to live up to. However, the Quechee Gorge was beautiful! We spent the morning hiking from the Visitor's Center along the length of the gorge. On one end, we balanced on rocks in the river, looking back at the bridge and gorge from below. At the other end, we watched water cascade from the Ottauquechee Dam before hiking back up to the Visitor's Center and out onto the bridge overlooking the gorge. Vermont is filled with natural beauty, so no trip to the state would be complete without experiencing Vermont's scenery. Sugarbush FarmSince we were in Vermont, we wanted to see a maple syrup farm, so Mom and I headed to Sugarbush Farm. It is a family owned, working farm that produces maple syrup and cheeses. We dove right in by sampling a variety of cheeses and all four grades of maple syrup, from light to dark, before purchasing some goodies from the farm store. The maple syrup is so good that it's hard to avoid making a purchase at the store. From there, we wandered down to the barn, where we could see the maple sugaring equipment, a short video, and simple displays about making maple syrup. Unfortunately, since we visited out of season, we couldn't see the equipment working. Finally, we headed up to the forest, where we could see how they tap the maple trees to gather the sap. In the forest, we also explored the little farm chapel, pictured above. Simon Pearce GlassblowingVisiting the Simon Pearce Glassblowing Studio was one of my favorite activities in the Woodstock/Quechee area. The studio produces beautiful hand-blown glass pieces, and visitors can watch the glassblowers at work. I was entirely unprepared for how fascinating it would be to watch the glassblowers heat up the glass, blow it, shape it, and add on pieces to make wine glasses, vases, goblets, and more. While they're working, the craftsmen invite visitors to ask questions. I was amazed to see how each piece of a wine glass is shaped and pieced together to make a whole. Additionally, right next to the glassblowing studio is one of Vermont's famous covered bridges, overlooking the falls of the Ottauquechee River. Country StoresIt seems that every small town in Vermont has its own country store, and many of them have been around for a long time. The Tunbridge Store, pictured above, was originally established in 1830. We stopped in at least three general stores/country stores on our girls' weekend. They are great places to grab a snack or pick up a souvenir. I purchased some postcards of Vermont to send to family and friends. Driving Country RoadsSimply driving from town to town in Vermont is a magical experience. The roads wind through the hills and mountains, past colorful farm houses and through forests of dark green trees. You'll drive by simple churches and old cemeteries, maybe stopping in one of the country stores for a quick break. A road trip in Vermont is truly something special. On our road trip, my mom and I stopped in the town of Tunbridge, by this cemetery and church, because our family had ancestors that lived in Vermont and are supposedly buried in Tunbridge. We never found their graves, but we did admire the view from the cemetery, stumble across a town meeting house, and learn that Tunbridge is home to the "Tunbridge World's Fair". MontpelierMontpelier is the smallest capital city in the United States, with a population around 8,000 people. On our way back to Burlington, we stopped in Montpelier for lunch, and I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the town. I guess I figured that a capital city with such a small population wouldn't have much going on. The city was small and easily-walkable. We ate lunch at The Skinny Pancake, a restaurant that I love from Burlington. We also walked around Bear Pond Books, an independent bookstore, and took a quick tour of the Vermont State House, the gold-domed capital building. I discovered that the New England Culinary Institute has a campus in Montpelier, as well as a bakery that they operate. With more time, we might have visited Three Penny Taproom, which is an award-winning craft beer bar that my husband had been wanting to try. Though I came in with few expectations, I left Montpelier wanting to come back in the future for another visit. Where is Quechee?Ah, the Big Apple. I just love New York City. Yes, it's kind of dirty and gritty. But, it it absolutely amazing that so many distinct neighborhoods, cultures, and people can be packed into such a small area. I love the energy of the city. Everyone is always on the move. It makes me want to do big things and be more than I am right now. My friend, Heidi, and I planned a Girls Weekend in New York, which ended up being kind of a "five year reunion" trip, since we traveled to Ireland together almost exactly five years ago. When I go visit Wisconsin, it's hard to divide time between family and friends, especially on short visits, so we thought, "Why don't we meet somewhere cool for a girls weekend and some quality time?" New York was the immediate answer, since we both love theater and had talked about a NYC trip in the past. First Night in New York CityThe first night I arrived, Heidi met me at Penn Station when my Amtrak train arrived, and we walked the 14 or so blocks to our hotel, Hotel Edison NYC. It has a beautiful art deco entry and lobby. The rooms were not spacious but fine, since we weren't planning on spending too much time in our hotel anyway. The best thing about Hotel Edison? We had registered for a "Grab-n-Go" breakfast with our room and felt a little nervous the next morning when there was no restaurant or breakfast room to be found. However, at the front desk, we received vouchers to pick up our breakfast next door at Danny's Gourmet, a deli with prepared food and made to order items. With our "Grab-n-Go" breakfast, we were entitled to a coffee/tea, pastry, piece of fruit, and yogurt. It was so easy to stop by and pick out our items, hand them the voucher, and take our food to go as we set off to explore the city for the day. The worst thing about Hotel Edison? It was really close to Times Square (which I'm sure is a plus in a lot of people's minds), which meant being practically assaulted by tour bus operators at every turn. Yes, the location was convenient for some activities, like waiting for Broadway tickets, but we spent much more time downtown and the aggressive tour guides were not pleasant. On our first night, we ate at John's of Times Square, a pizzeria in an old church. As you eat, you can look up and admire the old domed ceiling. We actually did not have pizza, as there was no gluten-free crust, but they did offer gluten-free pasta! Statue of LibertyThe one touristy plan that we had was to visit Ellis Island. I booked the ferry ahead of time online with Statue Cruises, the only official boat that stops at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You couldn't get a ticket for one without the other, so we sailed to the Statue of Liberty first. The skyline views were great as we headed out onto the Hudson. I had a similar experience previously in New York when taking the Staten Island Ferry, which is free and also offers great skyline views. Seeing the Statue of Liberty is one of those things that you should probably do once in your life. There is the option for a free audio tour, but we just walked around the statue and took some pictures looking up at her, reading a few signs about the history. In about 15 minutes, we had exhausted the Statue of Liberty. I'm not trying to say that it's not cool to see this symbol of America, but that's all there is to do - see it. To be fair, you can reserve a ticket to go up into the pedestal or the crown. I was going to reserve a pedestal ticket, as it did not cost extra, but the online store was sold out, and the crown tickets cost more. I was totally ok with this, since going up in the Statue of Liberty fits into my "views from tall things" opinion category. Namely, these tall landmarks (e.g. Statue of Liberty, Space Needle in Seattle, St. Louis Arch) are the things that make a city's skyline unique. When you look at and take pictures of the city from up in these landmarks, they are not in the picture, so the city looks pretty much like every other city without it's defining landmark in the shot. Given this opinion, I was happy to look at the Statue from the ground, with New York CIty in the background. Ellis IslandAfter circumnavigating the Statue of Liberty in 15-20 minutes, we boarded the ferry for Ellis Island. This was the thing that Heidi and I were eagerly anticipating. I enjoy learning about history, and Heidi actually had ancestors arrive in America through Ellis Island. Sailing up to Ellis Island, I imagined what new immigrants to America had thought when they were docking there, probably things like "We made it", not realizing that they had a long process ahead of them. At Ellis Island, we did take the free audio tours and headphones and spent hours exploring the exhibits, taking in the information about people arriving in America. Unfortunately, as a result of Hurricane Sandy, the climate control displays had failed and had not yet been fixed, so most of the original artifacts had been moved to another location for safekeeping. So, when we looked at a display that said "Medical instruments", there were blank spaces under the glass. I wish we had gotten to see the original instruments and documents! However, we were able to get a sense of the process when immigrants arrived, the medical examinations they underwent, and the conditions at Ellis Island. There was a beautiful display of photographs of immigrants in their traditional garb. Despite spending a few hours walking through the exhibits, we still didn't have time to see everything! World Trade CenterReturning from Ellis Island, the ferry dropped us at Battery Park, located at the very tip of Manhattan. From there, we walked to the World Trade Center site to see the memorials and 1 World Trade Center building. Looking over the pools was an interesting experience. The last time I had been in New York (January 2008), the site had been a dirt pit, filled with scraps of debris and construction equipment and surrounded by a chain link fence. Now, the World Trade Center memorial was so clean and pleasant that it was hard to reconcile the tranquil pools with the scene I remembered from seven years earlier, harder still to reconcile it with news footage September 11, 2001. Somehow, the pools looked vast and small at the same time. I had trouble imagining them being the footprint of building. There were names carved around the edge in tribute, and I felt incredibly sad to see one that said a woman's name "and her unborn child". ButterHeidi and I planned to meet up with a friend from high school who now lives in New York. He suggested that we grab drinks and food at Butter. I have to admit that the first thing that came into my mind was Gossip Girl: Blair: "I have a table at Butter, reservation's under Waldorf in case there's an after-party." Gossip Girl: "As any good general knows, you never let your soldiers see you sweat. Looks like this battle's ending at Butter, and the win goes to B." Jenny: "But Blair, um, we're all going to Butter and I was wondering if you wanted to join us?" I can't lie, I was excited to pretend I was Blair Waldorf for an hour or so. Although, I believe it has moved locations since the Gossip Girl days. We sat in The Garden at Butter, surrounded by brick buildings and fire escapes rising while string lights and greenery set the mood. The executive chef at Butter Midtown is Alex Guarnaschelli, an Iron Chef and Food Network TV personality. Heidi and I only shared appetizers, but the food was delicious! ChinatownAfter Butter, we planned to meet up with another high school friend, Kabir, who lives in Chinatown, where we ate a full dinner. Aux-Epices, the restaurant that Kabir found for us, featured French-Malaysian food and an exuberant owner. I can't be sure if it was in Chinatown or Little Italy, but Aux-Epices was delicious and fresh-tasting. Kabir and I had Malaysian-inspired dishes (Laksa and Curry Squid, respectively), while Heidi went the French route with mussels. The space was a cozy little restaurant, wide enough for one row of tables, with a wrought-iron gate framing the tiny porch and a brick wall behind the tables. I fell in love with the space immediately. One thing that I always hear about New York is that it's "so expensive". Yes, it is easy to spend a lot of money in New York City. However, at Aux-Epices, we were treated to wonderful food, friendly service, and great ambiance, and each of us paid $14 or less for our plates, comparable to a dinner out in Austin. After our meal, we considered getting ice cream, but we were all pretty full. Thus, Kabir decided to take us on a walking tour of Lower Manhattan. We wandered past an Asian movie playing in a Chinatown park, strolled through the streets of Little Italy, gazed up at City Hall, and walked halfway across the Brooklyn Bridge. The view of the skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge was incomparable at night. It was the perfect ending to our New York day to look back on the city lights with friends. P.S. 1 World Trade Center's spire was lit up in a rainbow to celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling on marriage equality! It also happened to correspond with NYC Pride Week, which occurred while we were in the city.
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AuthorMy name is Alyssa Good and I have a passion for travel, adventure, culture, and new experiences! I focus on budget friendly travel, trip planning resources, and seeking out new experiences. Archives
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