What to eat at the Big E Fair, West Springfield, MA
It's almost fall time and it is fair season here in the Northeast. I haven't been to the Big E in over 5 years. I think it was time to make a trip and show off all the good food I ate!
It’s September. Almost fall time. Everything is pumpkin flavored. And, that means lots fairs and festivals. And, it just so happens the Big E is close to me. I initially wrote this guide a few years back but since the Big E is ever changing, I will update this every time I visit. There were be some oldies and but goodies. And, then some updates of new food I recommend from 2022.
Here are some of my past crowd pleasers I would recommend.
Waffle Chicken Bites at The Deep South Food Company.
Tots-a-Lot, inside gate 9A. They had various gourmet tater tots choices from loaded to buffalo to chicken pot pie. The group wanted to try the chicken pot pie tater tots. Feedback was a big thumbs up.
Perusing through the state houses, I heard the stuffed clams were pretty good from the Rhode Island house. I would definitely agree with that.
The Turducken Sandwich from New England Craft Beer Pub on the Avenue of the States. It was more a meatloaf sandwich consisting of ground turkey, chicken, and duck with cornbread stuffing and cranberry mayo. Overall, really tasty.
We stopped at Moo-Licious, which turned out to be the best decision. Located on Springfield Road. My wife wanted to try the Blueberry Pierogi Sundae. They also have a smash a pie option where they give you a big piece of pie with scoops of ice cream. They have a build your own ice cream doughnut sandwich called a Moo-Nut. And, that is exactly what I got. It was amazing! It was a perfect glazed donut with chocolate soft serve ice cream in the middle topped with peanut butter sauce and Reese's cups.
2022 Updates
Most Big E trips consist of stops at the Sam Adams Beer Garden for Octoberfest beer but this year they had an intriguing new food option. General Tso’s Pizza. I have to say I was impressed how close the flavors were and all the elements of the chicken, mozzarella, scallions, and sesame seed just worked. And, the general tso’s sauce was used as the actual sauce under the cheese.
Not new to me but my wife’s favorite she has to have each time is the Dilly Dog. A giant corn dog but the hot dog is shoved inside a pickle and then battered and fried. This is found on West Road/East Road in the back corner.
Next up, the Chompers Food Truck on New England Ave. I have to go each year and try their special. All of their offerings are great. This year’s special was Chicken Pot Pie with a side of chicken gravy.
My favorite item right now, it is so underrated. The BBQ sundae at Porky’s Palace on Commonwealth Ave. I have had the brisket and this year the pulled pork layered with coleslaw, baked beans, and cornbread. It is so, so good and such a great play on the ingredients.
As my wife said, people order mozzarella stick and don’t blink. So, ordering massive chunks of fried cheddar is the same thing. And, that is what we did for the first time at the Wisconsin Cheese truck on Springfield Road. As you can guess, delicious.
Lastly, I scoured the fair to find one of the newest offerings this year, the Arancini Rice Balls truck. This was off of Springfield Road by Midway. They had a few interesting flavors to choose from aside from the classic and I had to try the Big Mac arancini. It did indeed taste like a Big Mac trenched in the special sauce.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Hiking the Rockies: Hallett Peak
If you want to try a challenging hike in Colorado, this post is for you. Check out my Hallett Peak hike and advice not getting lost like me!
In the summer of 2013, I decided to take my first trip to Colorado. I was looking for a new destination to explore and adventure. As far as in the U.S., Colorado was at the top of my list. My buddy Corey devised a plan as per usual, which was all it took for me to say yes. We had never been there and the Rocky Mountains were calling our names.
Three months later we landed in Denver and got right on the hiking trails. At the time, we were younger and in better shape so the altitude didn’t affect us too much. With that said, my conditioning was tested on a challenging, mammoth hike, which at the time was highest elevation I had ever been. And, that trail was Hallett Peak.
Hallett Peak lies along the Continental Divide, the point at which water on the western slope flows towards the Pacific Ocean, and water on the eastern slope flows towards the Atlantic Ocean. Hallet Peak stands at 12,713 feet tall. The highest mountain I have hiked up to this point was Mount Washburn in Yellowstone a few months earlier at over 7,000 feet.
The hike begins at the Bear Lake Trailhead, and then follows the signs toward Flattop Peak. Most of the hike is above tree line as it switchbacks up the side of Flattop Mountain. The trail had some steep uphill moments. The altitude was starting to get to me as we got higher. I had to stop every so often and catch my breathe. This gave us a chance to see wildlife, mostly little critters, and the abundant wildflowers along the way. Once you arrive at the summit you must identify the unnamed trail leading south toward Hallet Peak. Be careful, as we got lost and added an additional two miles by missing the trail. Although, the views were amazing so adding more to the hike was a bonus. Around the top of the of Tyndall Glacier, the last half mile of the hike involves ascending up the slippery, rocky slopes toward the summit by connecting short trails marked by cairns. We reached the top as storm clouds began to appear.
Love me some cairns.
Before we headed back to beat any possible storms, we ate lunch and drank some well-deserved beers. The total round trip for this trail is 10.3 miles. With our detour, we trekked just over 12 miles. This trail was absolutely awesome with remarkable views. The trail was really, really tough but I would do it all over again. I definitely felt like I was on top of the Rockies. John Denver was not full of……
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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How to spend a weekend in Burlington, VT: Food & Breweries
Burlington, VT is a great long weekend destination. Lots of food and breweries in walking distance. Check out my blog post on the best food and drink spots in Burlington, VT.
My first trip to Burlington, VT was a few years ago. I couldn't believe I hadn't made a trip to this great city. There are lots of breweries, food, and outdoor activities. You could walk pretty much everywhere. In the summer, there are farmers markets and food trucks. I really enjoyed my stay but it was short. My girlfriend, Nichole, had never been and I thought it was a great weekend trip idea. Also, I have been wanting to stay at Hotel Vermont and they have a sweet black friday deal. And, it is a perfect location to walk around and Lake Champlain is across the street. Hotel Vermont was only a mile or two from everywhere we went, it was a great central location to stay. If you read the blog, you know we really get after it when we travel to new cities. And, Burlington was no different. We went to as many breweries as possible and ate our faces off. I did all the work for you! Here is a list of the best places to eat and drink in Burlington. If I missed any, please comment. I will be back.
The Food
Farmhouse Tap & Grill was the first meal we had in Burlington. This was the typical fancier local restaurant. It is always super busy. We had to wait over an hour for a table, given it was a Friday night. They have a great beer menu. The food is actually pretty good, especially the burgers. However, it is a bit pricey to me. There is a big farm to table presence in Burlington and that drives the price up.
The Swingin' Pinwheel Café Bakery was the surprise of the weekend. Do not pass up this breakfast when you walk by. The hostess was hilarious and friendly. The menu has so many good options. It is a smaller spot so be mindful. The decor definitely had that western and cowboy feel. They are known for their Wafflini, which is a waffle made with pastry dough and pressed like a panini, and they have multiple types. We had to get one and it was phenomenal. We started with a popover and ate it so fast, I didn't even get a picture!
Red Onion was recommended to me by someone from the area. They told me, the sandwiches sound weird but go with it. It was quite an interesting little spot on Church Street (main area for shops/restaurants). I ordered the Red Onion sandwich, which consisted of turkey, vt cheddar, red onion, granny smith apple slices, and sun-dried tomato mayo on honey oat bread. The bread was like an inch thick! Nichole got the spinach melt. This consisted of a TON of fresh baby spinach, mushrooms, red onions, sharp cheddar, and garlic mayo on honey oat. They were both delicious. If you need a quick bite, I definitely would suggest the Red Onion.
There is surprisingly a fair amount of Mexican dishes and restaurants in Burlington. For that reason we were craving Mexican and chose El Cortijo Taqueria Y Cantina as it was the closest with the best ratings. And, they were a sister company of the Farmhouse Tap & Grill. This is a very small location. Luckily, we got seated right away but the dinner crowd hit and the front of the restaurant was overly crowded and flowed near the tables. It was a bit uncomfortable eating with people on top of you waiting to be called. And, the food was just ok. Nichole enjoyed her margarita but the rest was less memorable.
And you know we hit up Ben & Jerry's for dessert.
Monarch and the Milkweed was another great breakfast find. This was a quaint, trendy shop in the town center that fits maybe 15-20 people. One of the reasons I chose there was because they make donuts, mini but I don't discriminate. The donuts were ehh but the breakfast was awesome. I had the fried chicken sandwich with gruyère cheese, red onions, and some aoli that reminded me of Big Mac sauce. Nichole had the pancake stack and they were really good and cooked perfectly.
Fortunately, on the way home, we made a surprising delicious stop, only 20 minutes outside of Burlington. We mentioned to some people we met along the way, we were going to Fiddlehead Brewing. Every person said you have to go to the pizza place next door, and that was Folino's Wood Fire Pizza. No one has to twist my arm to have some pizza. This place gets really packed from the Fiddlehead crowd. You will be seated by someone but you have to do everything else, get your own plates, order at the cashier, etc. Aside from that tidbit, the pizza was awesome. Maybe the best buffalo chicken pizza I have ever had. Everything just worked. Make this part of your to-do list.
The Breweries
On the way up from CT, our first beer stop was at Burlington Beer Company. This was only 20 minutes or so outside of Burlington. This was in a cool industrial location. The inside was cool and trendy. They had old school video game systems. They offer a lengthy list of beers, including IPAs, Porters, and Stouts. The beer was good. A little hoppier for my taste but I see why they are popular. They fit into the craft beer scene perfectly.
Switchback Brewery was first on the list of our brewery crawl and the furthest, 2 mile walk but it actually wasn't bad. I have been before and really like their beers. Their Connector IPA is my favorite. The inside is pretty nice and feels inviting. And, the world's largest filing cabinet is on the way! Seriously, it exists.
Queen City Brewery was our favorite brewery. I don't recall seeing it last time I was here. It was tucked away behind a local printing business. It is close to Zero Gravity. They had a big wall of beers and there was an old truck on the the very top of the bar once inside. They had 13 beers to choose from and I liked most of them. My favorite was a tripel Belgian named Monk of Underhill. This isn't a place if you want hoppy beers. They had mostly porters, stouts, and lagers. I am not even a porter guy and I enjoyed their version of that. The bartender was really nice and it was just a good atmosphere.
This isn't a brewery but a cidery counts. Citizen Cider is one of my favorite ciders. Last time I came here, I had a blast. They had quite a bit of options as usual to try out. I really like what they do with their ciders. They aren' t just sweet and one taste. Definitely a staple to visit when in Burlington.
Ah, the new popular guy. Foam Brewery wasn't opened last time I was here. Since then, I have heard a lot about this brewery from friends. We made our way there as the last stop and the location is great. It is right off the water. In warmer weather, it must be even more busy than it was. However, they do not have flights of beers as an option and the beer was pricier than other breweries. And, the beer was super hoppy...almost too much. Again, that is not for me. I preferred other breweries.
The weekend of breweries was not quite over yet. The last stop on the ride home was Fiddlehead Brewery. I had their beers before and really enjoyed them. I had to stop in and check it out. At this location in Shelburne, VT, you can only buy beer that is canned, sample what they have available that day and get growlers. It is very small and can get crowded quick. We went as it opened and the lot quickly filled up and cars were coming and going. I liked what they had on tap and I ended up getting a growler and buying cans. We did make a few other stops for beverages.
Vermont Pub & Brewery was pretty average. It is really big and they have basic food options to please the generic eater. Seems like the place all tourists go when other places are busy. And, the beer wasn't great. They are a bit behind the other breweries in the beer department. The other bar we did go to was Archives. This was a bar filled with arcade games and a pretty good beer, cocktails, and wine menu. If you are into old video games like pacman, street fighter, pin ball, and other oldies, this is the spot for you.
Bonus: A Winery?
Not only did Fiddlehead Brewery have an awesome pizza spot next door but there was also a Winery across the street! By far, the happiest Nichole was all weekend as she likes wine way more than beer. Of course, we kept the ball rollin' at Shelburne Winery and did a tasting. This consisted of 10 wines and they were not shy with the pours. I also liked they gave a list of the wine with a marker so you could keep track of what you liked and they had a funny comment & description about each wine. I do not like wine that much but I did like a few of the white wines and a red that had chocolate in it. Nichole ended up buying two bottles. This was a great way to the end the trip. Beer, wine, & pizza. We accomplished a lot and I think we did a good job finding some good go to spots. I hope you enjoyed reading and will try out some of my suggestions. Cheers to beers & delicious food!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Hiking in Iceland: Thórsmörk
In 2010, a Volcano erupted in Southern Iceland. This eruption occurred near a popular hiking path from Skógar to Thórsmörk. Luckily, during my trip, the hiking route was opened. The terrain was difficult and cut the hike short but the views along the way were mesmerizing.
On my eight hour flight to Iceland, there was a lot of time to spare. The movie selection wasn’t great. And, then I saw the film, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” Ben Stiller was in it and I figured it had to be decent. I started watching and realized, hey this is in Iceland. I turned to Corey and was like did you know this? And, he responded, yes I told you 10 times about this movie…..I’m not a good listener. As I watched, I would pause the movie every 20 minutes and say is this where we are going?!?!?! There was one scene where a volcano erupted and had Ben Stiller’s character running for cover. Pause again, I turn to Corey, are we going to see this? And he said, uh, we are hiking this. Oh snap. It’s about to go down. Eyjafjallajökull, you read that right, is a small ice cap located in Southern Iceland. In March, 2010, thousands of earthquakes were detected and caused an eruption in Fimmvörðuháls, the area of a popular hiking route from Skógar to Thórsmörk, which was then proceeded by a much more violent eruption at the top of the volcano, beneath the glacier. This second eruption caused massive floodwater to pour down the side of the volcano. Over 800 people were evacuated and Iceland’s Glacial Lagoons were destroyed. This even caused a stir with air traffic in Europe, which was paused for numerous days. Four years later, the devastation was still visible and lava was still smoking on the side of the volcano. As luck would have it, the hiking trails were opened and hikers can travel the route and take in these new views. And, that is what we planned to do if the weather permitted. We booked a night at the Volcano Huts in Thórsmörk, which was an awesome experience even if we didn’t attempt a hike. We had to take an hour long bus ride into Thórsmörk, crossing streams and passing glacier tongues.
The initial plan was to hike the entire trail close to 16 miles, see some lava. As we got closer, we realized there was no way we could safely make it to the Fimmvörðuháls pass. However, we like exploration and adventure. We decided to continue with our bold plan until we just couldn’t go on. Try to see as much as we can. You never know if you will be back.
After speaking with the guide at the hut, we started our trek onto the beginning of the Fimmvörðuháls pass. The trail began with small brooks through a woodsy path. And, just like that we were exposed to a large field and a visual of glacial capped mountains. The next section of the hike was an enormous, rocky flood plain that we had to cross. There was a mobile bridge positioned at the end of the rocky terrain where the river was currently running through. We made our way across the bridge to the base of the snowy mountain on the opposite end of the valley where we started. We began our accent up the mountain and the terrain quickly transformed as snow began to appear. We crossed paths with our first hiker of the day heading the opposite direction. We made sure we were going in the right direction and were informed that the terrain was going to get dicey. And, there were currently blizzard conditions farther up the trail. We had packed for the worst, tents, extra clothing and food, so we continued on. Goals of lava steaming were still in sight.
As we made our way up the side of the mountain, patches of snow turned into thick layers of snow. And, this is where things got interesting. There weren’t any prior footprints to just step in as no one had dared to travel this far. We had to carefully, side step along the along the ridge line. Or else we were going sledding down the side of the mountain and……goodbye. We passed multiple sections of pure snow/ice drifts on this very steep mountain slope. Definitely one of the times I had some actual fear and wanting to maybe just turn around. But, persistence always prevails. Eventually we reached the top of the ridge trail and proceeded onto flat land covered in volcanic ash, mud, and rocks. We continued to trek across the this plain until we reached the cliff on the opposite side of the mountain.
At this point, the remainder of the trail looked too risky. As we would need to descend down between the mountains and ascend back up. After what we just did along the ridge line, we called it at this point. We regrouped and chomped on treats to refuel. Then, Corey noticed smoke on the side of the mountain and realized that it was cooling lava. We have attained our goal of seeking lava! The scene was remarkable. The experience was epic. This is what HikingforDonuts is all about. Push yourself, go beyond your comfort zone, and discover what’s out there. .....Then eat a donut ☺.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Exploring Iceland, Part 1
Iceland is one of the more popular destinations for travel right now. Back in 2014, my college friends and I explored 10 days and 1400 miles. It was the most adventurous trip I have ever been on. Here are some of the sights and destinations of that trip.
Iceland is one of my favorite travel destinations. My trip consisted of 10 days of nonstop adventure. This was before it was the "cool thing to do". Iceland travel is everywhere on social media right now. I come across one person a month who has gone or is going. And, rightly so. Iceland is a great country and there is so much exploring. Back in 2014, my friend, Corey, brought up the idea of Iceland. I thought he was a bit whacky and told him to give me more details. As per usual, Corey was able to persuade myself and our other traveling friend, Nancy. This would be the first big exploration in another country. Corey spent over 3 months vehemently planning and creating the ultimate itinerary. And, he succeeded. I just sat back and looked at pictures for months. As the time came close, I was really excited. We had plans of driving all over the country, lots of hiking, hot spring swimming, eating different food, and taking in the culture. This post will focus on some areas of the trip. I will post the hikes separately because they were so awesome. I want to provide a small peek of what Iceland can offer. A new country can be daunting but the risk is worth the reward.
Raufarholshellir Lava Tube Cave
We flew into Reykjavík, picked up our tiny rental car and packed it to the brim. Seriously, the smallest rental I have had and it needed to fit 3 people plus 6 bags. Side note, the best decision we made was renting a car. We drove over 1400 miles and it was amazing. As I digress….we arrived 1am their time and went right to bed. Our trip was in June and it is light 24 hours a day during that time frame. Needless to say, we didn’t sleep much. In addition, we were welcomed with wind and rain that morning but that didn’t stop us from our exploration of Iceland. The objective of this day was to find a lava tube cave, explore, and save $200 not using a guide. Lava tubes are formed by flowing lava which moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. Some are active and will drain lava from a volcano. Some are extinct where the lava flow has stopped, cooled the rock, and left behind a long cave. We were definitely looking for an extinct one. Corey did quite a bit of research to even find information on where to locate one. This info is kept under wraps as most tour guides will not give this out in order to charge for the services. However, we are bad asses. We brought our own helmets and lighting. After driving up and down roads, we eventually found the Raufarholshellir lava cave, which ranks as the third largest in the country at 1360 meters long. Parking was located in a big, rocky lava field. Ironically, the only other vehicle in the lot was an Extreme Iceland tour van.
The beginning of the cave was pretty open with large spotlights where the roof had collapsed. As we descended down, it became more cave like. The ceiling was dripping water as the rain was able to get through. We eventually cross paths with the tour group and the tour guide reassured us of our path. As we went further, it got darker and darker. At one point, we all decided to turn our lights off. It was the darkest setting I have ever been in. It was surreal.
The terrain got more difficult as we reached the end of the tunnel. There was supposed to be a waterfall at the end but it was more of a fossilized cliff of the lava rock near the hole of the ceiling. We made our way back but not without a little scare. There were two tunnels to go down. We only went down one?!?!? I am horrible with directions. Nancy…is Nancy. That left Corey to make the decision. Even though we were concerned as some features seemed different, he made the right decision and we survived. Close call. Always be mindful of your surroundings, especially in a cave.
United States Navy plane crash
Our next adventure was a real surprise. Corey planned everything for the trip. I just handed over money and got on a plane. He took us to the middle of nowhere looking at map coordinates only. We parked the car on the side of the road, packed up our bags, and he said just walk this way. I had no idea where were going. After an hour had passed, we continued to walk through the black sand and I could barely see our car. I saw 4x4 tire tracks so I knew we were close to our destination. I saw the ocean. Then out of nowhere, there was an empty wrecked plane that had crashed resting in the black sand. There were other tourists groups there taking photos and touring the plane.
This was the remains of United States Navy plane. The Douglas Super DC-3 made a crash landing on November 24, 1973. The crew survived and left the wreckage behind and was abandoned. I know this tidbit now. Of course, I ran toward the scene with excitement and accidentally ruined the tourist’s pictures. We ended up taking pictures and exploring the inside for about an hour before we made our trek back to the car. This was an awesome experience and never did I anticipate it would happen in Iceland.
Seljalandsfoss
We did our best hitting every attraction and destination we could fit in our schedule through 10 days from Höfn to Grundarfjördur. I felt like I was in a different country each day. We went from gray volcano ash scenery to beautiful bright green landscape to clear blue water and beaches to mountains and glaciers.What an amazing country. And, if you like waterfalls, Iceland is the place for you. I imagine I seen more in 10 days than my entire life. The first one we came across was Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall was awesome from the road and even more amazing up close. This was the biggest waterfall I have seen. And, you can walk under the waterfall into a small cave.
Skógafoss
The next waterfall we came across was Skógafoss, one of the biggest waterfalls in the country. This waterfall is notorious for the visibility of rainbows on sunny days.
Reynisdrangar
The first black sand beach we visited was Reynisdrangar. I couldn't believe this existed in Iceland. I continued to be awestruck over the landscape of the country. And, this is barely 1/4 of the trip. More to come soon....#Icelandisawesome.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Grand Prismatic Springs & Geysers, Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the U.S. There is so much to explore. This post will focus on some of the sights such as Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Springs. A must visit.
In the summer of 2013, my best friends from college, Nancy and Corey, and myself decided to take our adventures out West and visit Yellowstone National Park. This was one of 3 national park we visited on this particular trip. We gave ourselves 3 days to explore Yellowstone. Once we arrived, we knew were going to see lots of wildlife. Buffaloes are everywhere! But don’t be that person who stops every 5 minutes to take a picture. You will have many chances, don’t start traffic. Before we got more familiar with the park and tested our luck with the animals, we got the more touristy stops out of the way. Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Springs, and the Geyser basins are pretty cool and must visits. Mammoth Hot Springs was another great spot if you want to see more hot springs.
Old Faithful
If you want to see geysers, go to the Old Faithful Visitor Center. You can tour the Geyser basins and watch Old Faithful geyser erupt. Once you get there is a schedule when Old Faithful will erupt, which is between every 60-90 minutes. It’s one of those things you have to see but it was mostly anti climatic. This was by far the most crowded area of the park.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Geysers and hot springs can get old quick, but Grand Prismatic Springs is absolutely beautiful. This is the largest hot spring in the U.S located at Midway Geyser Basin. The colors are fascinating. It is one of those visuals you see online or on TV and once you get there, it actually lives up to your expectations and more.
Mammoth Hot Springs
As if we couldn’t see anymore hot springs, the last stop was Mammoth Hot Springs. These hot springs were different than all the rest. You walk up a few flights of stairs that bring you to boardwalks above the steaming hydrothermal springs. The views were very different as the hot springs were located on a hill of a travertine.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS
Canada is underrated
My first real hiking trip took place in Canada of all places. Me and my buddy jumped in a car and drove up to very unique areas of Canada. We some saw great sights and hiked unfamiliar terrain. Take a read and you will learn some of what Canada has to offer. And.....it's awesome.
Back in 2011, I have never really been anywhere. I was in my mid 20s and I haven’t experienced much outside of the Northeast. I went on a cruise in college but cruises aren’t that adventurous. My best friend, Corey, would try his best talking me into hikes and trips. Generally, my response was “hell no”. He knew he could eventually wear me down and had to say just enough to intrigue me, which will continue to be a theme the next few years of my life. The idea presented to me was a road to trip to Canada but nowhere near Montreal, the only area I knew of back then. This also included camping and hiking. The camping part did not interest me but the idea of going to a unique part of Canada and driving peaked my interest. I really had no idea what I was in for but I have never been to Canada and trusted Corey’s planning and outdoorsy knowledge. The main destinations of the trip involved the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Yeah, completely random. Leaving from Massachusetts we made our way up through the tippy top Northwest of Maine to the boarder. I have never been this far up. It was wild. Once we got close, towns in Maine no longer had names, they were just route numbers. I remember clear as day, for like 100 miles, I saw 2 blueberry stands, a gun shop, and a truck bed shop. Where the heck was I??? 8 ½ hours later, we crossed the border. A simple car ride took us to another country. I couldn’t believe it. Everything looked so different. I was in for a life altering experience.
Our first stop was Saint John, New Brunswick. We started and ended the trip there. We were greeted with very rainy, foggy weather the entire trip. We checked into our hotel and walked around the city the first night. We were right off the water and we could see the cruise ship lines taking off. There was quite a bit to do here for food and drinks. There were lots of Americanized spots and unfortunately we ate at one. It wasn’t good. It is almost better to be more adventurous eating in other countries. The language barrier wasn’t an issue as this was a very tourist area of Canada. We were noob travelers and paid with our credit cards. And, we didn’t have time to exchange at the banks. I would suggest to handle that prior to your trip. With that said, this was a beautiful city. At the time, I wasn’t a big photographer but Corey was. Here is a cool photo he took.
The next few days consisted of exploring the Bay of Fundy. This bay has the highest tidal range in the world, meaning the low tide and high tide difference are dramatic. When we were there, the tide was in. It was crazy how far out it was and where I was standing. Just to think that when high tide comes, you would be in over your head. We visited Fundy National Park and camped in Alma, New Brunswick. One of the more popular attractions in the Bay of Fundy is the Hopewell Rocks. Here is where I realized what a tourist environment looked like. Sooo many people. Too many. We didn’t see many others until this point. I truly like taking in my environment and enjoy what I am seeing. It was tough because people were almost on top of each other. Could have been the fact we went during the busy season. There is an entry fee and there is a trail leading you down to the rocks, which is about a mile. With that said, Hopewell Rocks is pretty awesome. The rocks stand 40-70 feet tall. At that time, definitely something I had seen in my life.
After spending some time outdoors, we made our way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Now, I really felt in another country. Most people here spoke French. The city was a really good experience. There were tourists here but not as many as the other areas. This felt true to the country. I remember having a phenomenal meal at this pub and we sat outdoors just taking in our surroundings. The best part of Nova Scotia was taking a ride to Peggy’s Cove. This was a small community on the eastern shore of St. Margaret’s Bay. This is also a massive tourist attraction to the popular lighthouse and the scenic area of the village. This was brutal with the amount of people but it was just too beautiful not to enjoy. There were many old fishing huts and houses. Definitely a fisherman village. However, all buses and tourist stuff like ice cream shops took away from the old fishermen village vibe. And, yeah I totally had ice cream. We explored around the lighthouse for a little bit, which is the biggest attraction. I was in awe of the ocean views. We decided to take a hike off a beaten path two minutes down the road recommended by a guide at the visitor center. Parked on the side of the road and prayed for the best following the trail toward the bay. The terrain was different than anything I seen. We hiked with boulder to climb over and cliffs to scale along the coast. I got stuck in bushes. I was crapping my pants dangling over rocks above the ocean. I had sneakers on and a crappy book bag. I pretty angry with Corey how far we kept going. We were not prepared nor a clue where we were going but this ended up being a pivotal moment for me. We just kept exploring. This would be one of my first real hikes and first taste of exploration. I was glad to have this experience. If you have the chance, visit Peggy’s Cove.
In conclusion, Canada is friggin awesome. Go to Canada. There are so many cool things to do including hikes, sights, food, and beers. Road tripping through Canada and seeing all the different landscape. Experiencing a completely different culture. I would do it all over again and probably 10x better. This was first big time trip involving outdoors & nature. I was completely hooked! As will you see, as you hopefully continue reading the blog, this has been just the beginning.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Day Trip to New York City
NYC has so much to do. And, sooo much more to eat. Here is what a day in NYC looks like for me. I was able to get around quite a bit and stuff my face the entire way! Do you agree with my foodie picks?
I haven’t visited New York City much in my life until recently. New York City can be so crowded and overwhelming. However, there are so many great places to visit, see, and eat. I went this past May and I became more intrigued to go back. Nichole and myself wanted to go during the holiday season but time did not permit until after Christmas. We hoped it would be less crowded and would still be able to enjoy the holiday décor. Even with the temperatures in the teens, we made our way to the train station and hopped on to Grand Central. We had a lot of sights in mind, but let’s be honest this trip was more for the food.
Once we got off the train, we went to Rockerfeller Center first and went to look at the Christmas tree. Most people go to the city just for that purpose. I took one obligatory picture and I was set. I was more into all the buildings and other décor around that area. Since we were close by, we walked over to Times Square to get some more sightseeing in and checked out the Hershey's store. It’s cool to see the massive candy bars but that place is way overpriced.
From there, we went to the Bryant Park Winter Village which includes 176 vendors, an ice skating rink and merry-go-round. Many popular restaurants and food trucks set up shop for the holiday season, bring lots of deliciousness to one spot! The scenery is surreal with the feel of a small village in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world. This was my type of spot to say the least,
First up, Wafels & Dinges. Their specialty was Belgian waffles with various toppings and flavors to choose from. So many decisions but we went with the S’mores waffle which consisted of marshmallows, speculoos spread and Belgian chocolate fudge. This was a splendid first treat/breakfast.
Once we got breakfast in our bellies, we walked around Bryant Park a bit more and Nichole found our next must have...mini donuts! I can’t pass up on some mini donuts. Doughtnuttery was on my donut list for NYC. They have pretty intriguing flavors. Each donut was tossed in sugary goodness. While the flavors didn’t really taste like what they said, they were still pretty good. The flavors we got consisted of vanilla, lavender, & pistachio and rosemary, roasted cornmeal, & fig.
The Flatiron District was our main destination for the afternoon. After ubering around, I was ready for more donuts. Number one on my donut research was Dough. Fortunately, they did have a location in the Flatiron District. Needless to say, Dough was phenomenal. Some of the best donuts I have had. Definitely blog worthy. If you want see more, check out my previous blog post, here.
The buildings and skyscrapers in NYC are breathtaking. The Flatiron Building is a triangular 22 story steel-framed building in Manhattan. My hands were frozen, my phone kept shutting off, I couldn’t stop taking pictures. You don’t see buildings like that every day. If you get a chance, go see it!
A late lunch was in store as the donuts wore off. Eataly was our food destination of choice. This large marketplace consisted of a variety of restaurants, bakeries, retail shops to buy fresh pasta & cheese, Nutella cafe, and even a cooking school. Everything Italian. You name it, they had it. You could get yourself a fresh cannoli, a lean cut of meat, or a drink at the bar.
Prior to the trip, we noticed there was a pop up restaurant on the 14th floor of Eataly, called Baita. This was an Italian Alps themed restaurant. I was sold on that. Once we were seated, I noticed the retractable roof and the intricate heaters throughout to keep that cozy vibe. There was a view of the city skyline depending where you sat. A lot of the décor resembled what you would find in a ski lodge. I liked the idea behind it. However, the menu wasn’t the best. And, the food was really pricey. I saw the portion sizes people were eating and they were pretty small. Ordering just appetizers was our best bet. Polenta was a popular item on the menu so we tried their “Zucca” which consisted of polenta, squash, thyme & parmesan reggiano. The other intriguing items we ordered were wagyu beef skewers seasoned in olive oil and the beer battered fried piave cheese. The beef skewers were awesome. The Polenta was just okay and the fried cheese was pretty greasy so I stopped eating them not to get sick. In hindsight, we should have just had a drink at the bar. The atmosphere wasn’t worth the disappointing meal. We were still hungry!
The great part about NYC is that food is literally everywhere. The bad meal didn’t hold us down. I had to find a can’t miss bite. Who doesn’t like grilled cheese!?!?! There was a Melt Shop nearby and this hit the spot. Me and Nichole shared a pepper jack buffalo chicken grilled cheese and a wonderful milkshake. We couldn’t decide what flavor so the server just combined both for us, Nutella and Oreo. Absolute heaven.
For the cherry on top, you can’t leave New York City without a slice of pizza. Before we hopped back on the train at Grand Central, we stopped at Previti’s Pizza. The reviews were not lying. Great slice of pizza. That was a nice way to end our adventurous and gluttonous day in the city. And, our last trip of 2017. I can’t wait for more adventures and exploration in 2018.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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How you Doughin'?
First blog post of 2018. And, this one is about my donut adventures in NYC. There are so many options. Which donut shop did I choose?!?
(say title in heavy new york accent) Starting the blog in 2018 where I left off in 2017, #donutsforlife. After Christmas, Nichole and I decided to take a trip into New York City for the day. We had a lot of plans for the day. One of those was trying out a new donut shop. I did my usual research to find the best donuts in the city. The one shop that stood out to me that would be relatively close to where we would be was Dough. There are multiple locations and seems like Brooklyn is their home base. We spent most of our time in the Flatiron District and there was a location on West 19th street. The shop was trendy and what I expected to see in NYC. The shop was small and cozy with seating by the window and one long table for seating that could fit potentially 10 people. The donut making area in the back seemed pretty large. Good donut eating vibe.
As for the donuts, they were pretty damn good. Nichole is not as big of a donut fan as I am and she said, “whoa, these are like the best donuts we tried.” And, I agree with that. If you didn’t read my final post of 2017, why?? You should! Click here, it’s donutiliciously good. I felt this was one of the better donuts I have tried. They are yeast based and offered a brioche type dough. They were large donuts, above average than what you see most places. The consistency was good and they were kind of chewy to me. The donut itself tasted great. They had the basic stuff like cinnamon sugar, plain glazed, chocolate sprinkles etc. There were quite the flavor offerings and combinations as you would expect from this artisanal style donut shop. They had flavors such as hibiscus to blood orange to dulce de leche to horchata. I didn’t get that crazy. I only limited myself to trying four.....
The Donut Lineup:
1)Café Au Lait - roasted coffee glaze and crunchy pecan topping
2)Toasted Coconut - Coconut glaze topped with toasted coconut flakes
3)Mocha Almond Crunch - Rich glaze made with bittersweet Vintage Plantation chocolate and roasted coffee, topped with a crunchy almond streusel
4)Cinnamon Sugar – self-explanatory, had to try a simple flavor.
My favorite was the Mocha Almond Crunch and Cinnamon sugar. The toasted coconut was lacking flavor but the donut itself is so good I didn’t care. I ate all four, leftover donuts for breakfast. Not ashamed at all. I would definitely go back and try more flavors. They had a Nutella filled one I have donut regrets about. They were sort of pricey, but one donut is very filling. I don’t mind paying for it. All in all, this one of the better donut shops I have been to. Check it out if you are in NYC and looking for a sweet treat.
Bonus Coverage:
Now, you know I sneaked in a second donut tasting. We were in Bryant Park and noticed there was a Doughnuttery truck serving mini donuts. I wasn’t passing that up. They had a lot intriguing flavors. They fried the mini donuts then tossed them in a sugary goodness. However, both flavors we got tasted nothing like the flavors we ordered. They were still pretty tasty but I didn’t Rosemary, Cornmeal & Fig or Vanilla, Lavender & Pistacho.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Winter is here...in the Basin
Fun weekend back in New Hampshire. This time I made a trip back to Franconia Notch State Park and hiked to the Basin. A pretty, cool spot that is very accessible.
It was time for another trek up to New Hampshire. After a few brewery stops, we finally made it up to my friend’s house. And, there was snow on the ground! Even though weather was in 20s, we still wanted to enjoy the outdoors New Hampshire has to offer. My friend decided The Basin in Franconia Notch State Park would be a good “jaunt” for the 5 of us and our friend’s puppy. The trail and parking lot is right off the highway off I-93. We parked at the visitor center and just hopped on the trail towards the Basin. This trail was mostly flat but due to the snow and ice, it was more tricky. In nicer weather, this is a very easy walk, paved most of the way and offers handicapped accessible viewing as well. We walked over a few bridges and eventually came across some cool waterfalls. We then made our way to The Basin, which offers rushing waters that has eroded the rock into a smooth, circular cave-like formation. After seeing that we walked a little further before the Pemi Trail and started our way back to the cars. Our hike was roughly 3.5 miles. Even though it was quite cold, it was a beautiful day to be outside. We enjoyed our mascot keeping us on our toes. Always fun to see a pup’s first time in the snow. Another reminder to get out there and enjoy time with friends!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Sunset Rock State Park, Crescent Lake, Southington, CT
Check out the Crescent Lake trail in Southington, CT. This was a confusing trail but well worth the views. Enjoy!
Trail Description: Sunset Rock State Park offers a scenic hike around Crescent Lake that connects to the Metacomet Trail.
Trail Info:
Where: Southington, CT Distance 3.2 miles (2-2.5 hrs) Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Lake, Water
How to get there:
Address to GPS: 357 Shuttle Meadow Rd, Plainville, CT 06062. Parking lot is easy to find.
Hiking Tips
Three trails to choose from. The Blue to Orange trail takes you above the lake and is rockier and steeper. Much better views.
Be mindful if you lose the trail markings or end up on a different trail. There is a lack of trail markings. And, some confusing areas where trail markers change colors.
The Hike
On this brisk fall weekend, we decided to hike the Crescent Lake Trail in Southington, CT. This is one of those trails that there isn’t the best information online and it is poorly marked. I will do my best explaining but my advice is always have the map handy and make sure someone is good at directions!
The parking lot is easy to get to, it is off Shuttle Meadow Road. Once you park you will see the lake right in front of you and potentially some people fishing. There are 3 trails. The Red trail is the lower level trail which is mostly flat. This is to your far left from the lot. This is roughly 2m. The blue -orange trails takes you the upper levels to get good views above the lake and this is rockier and steeper. This trail is to your right from the lot. This is about 3.2m and this connects to the Red at the end once you descend down. There is also a green trail, but not sure where that takes you. It appeared to be just a woodsy hike.
We got lost a few times but Nichole is really good with reading trail maps. The issue is lack of markings/incorrect markings. And, the Metacomet Trail connects so you have to be very careful when the colors change. We took the upper trail followed blue-orange markers until we saw just orange then to red. There we were some tough sections where you could choose 3 directions but there are big orange arrows on trees along the way so be mindful of those. There is also an intersection where you see trail arrows for the Metacomet at the top, keep going toward the blue orange and you will pass a camp fire pit. Minus the confusion, it was a cool hike and the view was awesome from the top. I could of took pictures for an hour….luckily, Nichole stopped me. The upper trail I would suggest hiking boots. It was a moderate hike for beginner to intermediate. Some of the inclines got our hearts beating and needing some water. I think this would be a good spot to snowshoe. I hope to keep the fall hikes going. Another local spot in the books, glad we decided to try it even though the reviews were suspect.
Review:
Cresent Lake Trail, 3.2m (Southington, CT): 4 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Mine Hill Preserve Trail, Roxbury, CT
More fun fall hikes in CT! The fall colors are really showing now. I decided to hike a new trail this time. I chose Mine Hill Reserve Trail in Roxbury, CT. The trail was unique and offered cool historic features. Check it out for great leaf peeper pics.
Trail Description: The Mine Hill Preserve trail is part of the Roxbury Land Trust as a national historical landmark. Venturing on this trail will take you through scenic woodlands, rocky terrain, mine tunnels, bat caves, and old furnace structures from the 19th century.
Trail Info:
Where: Roxbury, CT
Distance 3.6 miles (2 hrs)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trail Type: Loop
Features: Water, Bat Caves, Quarry, Bridge, Mine Tunnels, Old Furnaces
How to get there:
6 Mine Hill Road, Roxbury, CT 06783
The GPS lost signal as I got on Mine Hill Road, but just follow the signs on the gravel road to the parking lot.
Hiking Tips
Download a map of the trail, http://www.roxburylandtrust.org/MapMineHill.pdf.
Veer left to start with the more difficult section toward the Donkey Trail. The latter part of the trail is more like a brisk nature walk on flat ground.
The Hike
This past weekend’s hike was recommended by a friend. Nichole and I took a ride out to Roxbury, CT to the Mine Hill Preserve Trail. This trail offers some unique features where you will see various mines and old furnace stoves from the 19th century. This is definitely off the beaten path. There is a very small parking lot where the trail heads start. There are only two trails here. There is a 3.6m loop (blue trail- Mine Hill Preserve) and an additional 2m loop can be added (red trail – Carter Reserve). Due to time constraints, we just did the blue trail loop. The maps online for this area are very helpful too. I would suggest downloading here prior to the hike. The trails are a short walk from the parking lot. If you really wanted to just see the old furnace structures, this is only a 10 minute walk from the start if you veer right. Prior to hiking, I read the veering to the left would get the difficult portion of the hike done and that is what we chose.
In this direction, you pass a small pond to your right.
The main loop ascends up the Donkey Trail and here you will pass two mine tunnels.
The terrain was pretty interesting and varied. This side of the loop was by far the most challenging. It was very rocky and had some steep uphill areas. As you keep hiking , you will cross paths with multiple bat cages that serve as entry ways for the caves inside them.
The trails begins to descend and you will meet at the Old Quarry bridge which joins a dirt road that will lead you to the other side of the loop. The other side of the loop was more of a nature path. It was flat the whole way, roughly 1.5m. This was less interesting until the end where you will find the old forge site. The fall colors kept me attentive along the way.
Overall, the historic points of the trail offered a different features you don’t get on hikes generally. The trail was very maintained and marked well. The hike would be good for anyone beginner to advanced. I would recommend hiking boots since the terrain can be rocky. The loop didn’t take us too long, about 1 hr 45 min. Next time, I would leave more time and add the additional 2m loop. Pretty good recommendation!
Review:
Mine Hill Reserve Trail, 3.6m (Roxbury, CT): 3.5 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Chauncey Peak Trail, Giuffrida Park, Meriden, CT
It is leaf peeper season here in the Northeast. There is no better time to go hiking than in the fall. I am going to attempt as many hikes as I can get in. Here's the first of many! And, one of my favorites.
Trail Description: Located in Guiffrida Park, the Chauncey Peak Trail offers a scenic hike with beautiful ridge line views of Bradley Hubbard Reservoir.
Trail Info:
Where: Guiffrida Park, Meriden, CT Distance: 2.8 miles (2-2.5 hrs) Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Reservoir, Lake, Peak
How to get there:
This is fairly easy. Just GPS Guiffrida Park and the address should be 800 Westfield Rd, Meriden, CT 06450. Once you pull in, you will see the parking lot.
Hiking Tips
Start the hike to the right of the parking lot into the forest. Much easier route going up and down.
The trail has been updated and re-routed. Be sure to follow the blue trail around Chauncey Peak and past the landfill. Look for the Blue markings.
There are many great views from the ridge line, be sure to take them all in.
The Hike
It is officially fall. It is chilly in the morning, the leaves are changing, and it is getting darker out earlier. Time to get out there and be a leaf peeper. Sounds kind of sketchy…..But seriously, fall hikes are the best. I slacked a little bit this summer with hiking, but I intend to take advantage of the fall weather.
For my first fall hike, I chose the Chauncey Peak Trail at Giuffrida Park in Meriden, CT. This is my favorite hike in the Hartford area, hands down. I have hiked this trail multiple times and I enjoy it just as much each time. This is a very fun hike with great scenic views and a variety of terrains overlooking Bradley Hubbard Reservoir. Unfortunately, due to the fog on this day, it was tough to get that view in. I like to start the hike veering to the right under the trees into the woods on the Blue trail. You will get the strenuous part of the hike done in the beginning. You will immediately be on the incline ascent up the peak, this will be steep and rocky stretch. This won’t last too long. Once you get to the top, you will keep following the blue trail and this will bring you to the ridge line for great panoramic views. Once you are done taking hundreds of pictures, you will descend down until you meet a footbridge that takes you to the bottom of the reservoir. You will follow out the blue trail to the white trail along the water’s edge to the parking lot. This part will be flat and serves as a nice cool down.
The trail is well marked. They are taking great care of it. When I hiked this originally I got lost but since then the markings have greatly improved.I would consider this a moderate hike. You need hiking boots. Depending on the weather, it can be very slippery. I was slipping on the leaves and loose rocks myself due to some wetness. I finished hiking under 2 hrs. If you want a nice short day hiking with challenge and rewarding views, I highly recommend this trail.
Review:
Chauncey Peak Trail, 2.8m (Meriden, CT): 4.5 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Best places to eat in Nashville, TN
Nashville is a really fun and vibrant city. Full of music and history. Aside from that, I was excited to try some Nashville food. I tried to find really good local spots. Enjoy my reviews!
Aside from the bar hopping downtown and exploring a new state, I looked forward to eating in Nashville. It was an interesting trip food wise.. I have never been to a heavy, southern food area. I am not the best with spicy food but I was open to trying what Nashville had to offer. It was Labor Day weekend so it was packed everywhere. Also, we had a group of 8 so waiting in lines less than 30 minutes just wasn’t happening.
Like everyone else in Nashville, we wanted to try Biscuit Love. This was by far the most popular brunch spot in the area. Unfortunately, the line was insane.
However, when one door closes, another opens. Browsing to see what brunch places were nearby and calling to see who would accommodate 8 of us, we came across Party Fowl. Yes, you read that correctly. And, it was a great find. The group was really about the boozy brunch and this spot was it. They had various drink specials including spicy Bloody Mary’s. I am not a fan but everyone else was on board with it. As for the food, this was the best place to have Nashville hot chicken and biscuits. The biscuits were so good and they served them as appetizers with this awesome apple butter. Everyone at the table ordered the “Loaded Chicken Biscuit”, which consisted of an open-faced buttermilk biscuit topped with hot chicken (southern fried, mild, medium, Nashville Hot, or Poultrygeist), sawmill gravy, two eggs prepared your way, and lyonnaise potatoes. I didn’t mess around and I went southern fried. And, that was spicy to me. Nichole had to be the only one get something different but it was damn good! She got the smoked chicken frittata. This consisted pulled smoked chicken & caramelized onion frittata topped with melted gruyere cheese.
The trip wouldn’t have been complete without a Waffle House late night feeding. We don’t have them in the Northeast and I have never been to one. It took us two different locations to find one open (not 24 hours...lies). The meal was as expected. It wasn’t bad but it was sketchy….and the roach I noticed crawling around on the floor tied my experience with a bow. Check that off the list.
The Loveless Cafe is a pretty popular location. It is about 30 minutes outside of downtown Nashville on Highway 100. This was a motel converted into shops, markets, and a restaurant. It is like it’s own little mini mall. It is definitely cool. However, it is really crowded. The wait was almost 2 hours! Luckily, Nichole found out we can just get take out and eat on the benches and picnic tables. The food was so good. We got a little of everything. We got the pulled pork, fried green tomato with pimento cheese, and fried chicken biscuit sliders along with a side of mac & cheese and hashbrown casserole. And, a slice of coconut pie. The fried green tomato and pimento cheese combo was by the far the best. The biscuits were on point too. This was worth the price of the rental car.
The other noteworthy place we ate was in the Indigo Hotel called The District Bar & Kitchen. The menu looked good and we were spot on with our choice. For starters, we had a buffalo chicken egg roll and fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and five pepper jelly. This combo blew my mind the whole trip. Would've never expected fried green tomatoes plus pimento cheese to be absolute heaven...lesson learned. For the entree, I had the Indigo wrap which consisted of pulled pork, country ham, swiss cheese, dijon, bread & butter pickles. Nichole got a good eye. She went with a dish called the Four Way. This was a bed of rigatoni with cheddar cheese covered with tortilla chips and chili. Another good find in downtown Nashville.
Lastly, I can't forget about the ice cream. On the last night, we went to Mike's Ice Cream in the downtown area. They had many ice cream options and a variety of cone options. I got a scoop of red velvet and a scoop of butter pecan in a chocolate chip cookie cone. Oh yea...pure gluttonous.
We got to eat in popular locations and some unknown locations. All in all, another successful trip of eating. There is a lot more food in Nashville to try. Until next time!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Cronuts gone country!
More donut travels! This time I hunted down the most popular donut in Nashville. Check out the blog for my review.
As I do in most my travels, I seek for THEE donut spot in the area. When researching on Nashville, there will was only one spot that continually popped up. That would be Five Daughters Bakery. I was definitely intrigued as their specialty was a croissant donut, or cronuts. And, some of the donuts had filling throughout the inside. They called this type of donut the “100 Layer Donut”. This particular donut is 100 layers rolled in sugar, filled with cream, and topped with a glaze. When we were inside the shop, we overheard the workers explaining to a customer that it takes up to three days to make this creation. In addition to this, they also have paleo style donuts free of sugars/gluten/grains and vegan donuts that avoid animal products. They don’t stop at donuts. They have other pastry options and cupcakes. However, this is about them donuts.
Based on my research, this seemed like a very popular donut shop. Luckily, they have 3 locations in Nashville in the 12 South, Franklin, and East Nashville areas. I figured they would be busy and have line since it was Labor Day weekend. I didn’t think they would run of out donuts! This happened. Two times. I can’t blame them. What I did find out is they have a main location that bakes all the donuts and ships them to the other two locations that morning. Thus, they aren’t 100% fresh and what they get is what they get. They stay open until they run out of donuts. There was no way I was leaving without trying these. We were for 0 for 2 in the 12 South location. Unfortunately for Nichole, I re-arranged our last day so we try one more time at the East Nashville location before our flight. Third time was the charm. The shop was cool and trendy as expected. Located in a small plaza. All the décor fit the personality of the shop. The employees were nice as I stood dumbfounded in my decision.
They were pretty big donuts and I wanted to get a feel for what they had to offer. I had to be selective and four was the max I think I could eat minus Nichole’s occasional nibble. I wanted to try a glaze, one with a fun topping, and a filled version.
The first one I chomped onto was the Maple Glaze. The glaze wasn’t overly sweet. It was just good. The donut was moist and flaky due to the croissant batter. Next up was the cookie dough. Oh boy, this was gluttonous. The cookie dough filling was awesome. This was my favorite for sure. The last donut was the coconut crème. The coconut was toasted, and to me, it had a funny taste. It was interesting to see how the crème was inside through the layers of the donut. This wasn’t too sweet either. This was first true cronut experience and I am not sure what I think. I am a basic yeast dough kinda guy. Against my better judgement, there were paleo donuts that looked editable but probably not worth trying. However, one sounded good enough to try so we did. It was the blueberry cake. This wasn’t for us. We can only blame ourselves…for trying something healthier.
As mentioned, we did try the 12 South Location but they ran out both days. This was in a very popular area and was a cool location. I could see why they ran out. The 12 South area in general is awesome. I thought the shop there was super cool. Here are some pics.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Honky Tonk Hiking in Nashville, TN!
Spent the long labor day weekend hiking in Nashville, TN! Aside from bars, music & food, I was able to enjoy some great outdoor activities. Got a hike in and explored a lake. Nashville hikes.
It has been a busy month….and a very busy summer. The last trip on my agenda for the summer was Nashville, TN. I have never been there before and I hear lots of great things. My girlfriend, Nichole, has been there 4 times now. She was tasked with showing me the ropes. Aside from the food and the bars, we made time for some outdoors activities and adventuring. I did some research found some cool parks nearby such as The Warner Parks. We decided to rent a car for the day and made our trek ready to sweat off the beers, biscuits, and hot chicken.
We stayed in downtown Nashville and made the 20 minute drive to Edwin Warner Park first. Here is where we started with a nice refreshing hike. The weather held up for us and was perfect. The park was easy to get to and there is ample parking. There is a nature center for water and bathrooms also.
We decided to take the Harpeth Woods Trail, which was roughly a 2.5 mile loop. There are three trailheads in Edwin Warner Park which access the trail: Owl Hollow, Natchez Trace Trailhead, or the Nature Center Trailhead. We walked further down from the Nature Center and started at the Natchez Trace Trailhead. The Harpeth Woods Trail is the blue trail. The trail is very well marked, all we needed to do is follow the blue arrows. Please note, this is a very popular park. We were there on Labor Day but there isn’t a lot of options in the metro Nashville area.
This particular hike was a typical woodsy trail. No scenic views but a good hike. There were some cool rocks formations and bridges to cross. There was a small part of the hike that was a nice incline but that was maybe 1/10 of a mile. In my opinion, this was an easy hike based on my abilities. I wore Nike training shoes and have a bum ankle still. However, I can see this being moderate for others. I did my best to take unique pics.
After the hike, we decided to venture to Percy Warner Park as well since it was only a mile away. At this location, there is a cool landmark known as the Percy Warner Park Stairs. This gives you a nice burn going up and a view from the top from where the trail heads start.
The last stop was Radnor Lake. This location was only 20 minutes from the Warner Parks. Since we had the rental car, we figured we would try to get in as much as possible. This area was very, very busy and parking was an issue. There are two parking entrances. One lot was completely full. However, it is was a really nice ride to both entrances. We got to see pretty nice houses and scenic views. Nichole even questioned some houses, "I wonder if someone famous lives here." Once we got a parking space, we just quickly perused the lake and went on the bridge to see some views. It’s cool for the area and I understand the traffic. This sums up our labor day in Nashville. I didn’t anticipate getting this much outdoors in so close to the city.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Mount Lafayette, New Hampshire
The White Mountains in New Hampshire is one of my favorites areas to hike. On this day, I conquered Mount Lafayette. What a hike!
Trail Description: Mount Lafayette is the highest peak in the Franconia Ridge at 5,260 feet. The summit offers amazing 360 views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness Area.
Trail Info:
Where: Lincoln, NH Distance: 8.0 miles (7-8 hrs) Difficulty: Difficult Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Views, Peaks, Mountains, Greenleaf Hut
How to get there:
The parking lot for this hike is located in Franconia Notch on I-93. You can park on either side of the Interstate. Traveling north, you can park in the trailhead lot for the Falling Waters and Old Bridle Path trails. Traveling south, take exit 34b at Lafayette Place Campground. Follow the foot tunnel that goes under I-93 to the parking lot the opposite side of the highway to start the trail.
Hiking Tips
Bring lots of water, wear your best boots, hiking poles, and pack snacks.
Suggest doing the loop version of this hike along the Franconia Ridge trail to see Mount Lincoln and Little Haystack for more views.
Due to the popularity, the trail can be very crowded.
The White Mountains in New Hampshire are one of my favorite areas to visit and go hiking. It is one of the coolest areas in the Northeast and makes me feel like I’m in a different part of Unites States. It has a pacific coast mountainous look. I try to do a few hikes a year in New Hampshire. A large group of my friends rent houses in the area a few times a year to hang out. Even better, my best friend recently purchased a vacation home close to this area, about 15 minutes from Franconia. I bought new hiking boots and figured I wanted to do a fun, difficult hike in the White Mountains. More specifically, a hike I have not done. The one hike I really wanted to do was the Mount Lafayette summit. My friend said it was “easier” than Mount Washington but still hard. Lies. It was really freakin’ difficult. And, a terrible decision to wear new boots.
By the time we got there, it was near 11am and my friend suggested shaving a mile off the hike by skipping the trails where you would see Mt Lincoln and Little Haystack. I was against this decision but I was overruled. Disclaimer: This is a very popular hike. One of the best New England has to offer. There were cars lined up the side of the roads and the lots were full. This created a very tight hiking path. There was a lot of stopping and waiting for other hikers as the paths can be very narrow. For a summer hike, the weather was perfect, mid-70s and the skies were sunny and clear. We made our way to the trail which begins to the right of the information sign (there are bathrooms as well). Most hikers choose to go up the Falling Waters Trail as it is recommended by the trail guides. Another reason we chose to go up the Old Bridle Path as this was less crowded. After a good 1.5 miles into the trail you will seeing some great scenic views.
This path is 2.9 miles that will lead you to the AMC Greenleaf Hut. The hut is where hikers can use the restroom, eat, and enjoy the views. The hut also has some lodging options for those hikers who choose to do so.
From here, you will begin the rocky assent for another 1.1 miles to the top of Mount Lafayette, about 5,260 feet above elevation. We came down the same way we went up. The total hike was 8 miles.
Unfortunately for myself, the trail down wasn’t too fun as I sprained my ankle pretty bad. This hike is no joke and I would recommend using caution. For the inexperienced, I would prepare for a 8-9 hour hike. With my ankle issue, the hike took us over 8 hours. I would suggest using hiking poles, good boots and bring lots of H2O. I saw a couple wearing sandals. I can’t tell you how bad an idea that is. You will keep asking yourself, this isn’t a mile, 2, 3, 4? Given the incline, the hike will feel a lot longer. It was well worth it. The views are awesome. It leaves a very good sense of accomplishment. I will definitely go back another year to complete the Franconia Ridge Trail.
Review:
Bridle Path to Mount Lafayette Summit Trail (Franconia, NH, 8 miles): 5 out of 5!!!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors, foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live In Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are trying to find posts about a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Best places to eat in Philadelphia, PA
Philly has some unbelievable food options.Here's my guide to eating awesome food in Philly....
Philadelphia is loaded with food options. From brunch to bagels to cheesesteaks galore to ice cream to donuts to burgers to pretzels, the choices are endless. I would need a good month to get it all in. Unfortunately, I had only had the weekend to get in as much as possible. After a significant amount of research, I succeeded. Here are some options to guide you on how to eat a weekend in Philly.
Breakfast & Brunch
Bagels were a priority on this trip. My girlfriend is from New York and, therefore, she is a bagel snob. Philly has about over 20 bagel shops to choose from. Most of them have unique types of bagel flavors, unconventional cream cheese spreads, and delicious sandwich options. We chose Chestnut Street Bagels on the way to Rittenhouse Square. The options for type of bagel and spreads were extensive. In addition, there are a good amount of intriguing options for sandwiches. The only downside would be that you have to order and leave. The shop is small and they have an inside bench that can seat at most 4 people. Luckily, we got there before it got too busy and were able to snag a spot. I selected the french toast bagel with a honey pecan cream cheese and my girlfriend went with the everything bagel and cheddar horseradish spread. The bagels were fresh and hit the spot!
I need to breathe a second before I write about the Brunch we had….. I’m ready. I came here the last time I was in Philly and I felt the same way. If there is one place in Philly you have to go, it is Green Eggs Cafe. Everything on the menu sounds dynamite. And, the specials each time sound even better. Both my meals here, I have to put in my top 5 all time breakfasts. We started with some boozy drinks, my girlfriend had a peach bellini and mine was an orange 'creamsicle' mimosa. The specials included breakfast egg rolls stuffed with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese served with a chili thai sauce. No brainer selection. I had the “Mexican Benedict” that consisted of 2 poached eggs & chipotle braised chicken with tortilla chips served on a cheese quesadilla with chipotle hollandaise sauce. My girlfriend went on the sweeter side, there was a special for a stack of blueberry pie pancakes. Note, there is always a line but it goes fast. Later you go in the morning, the longer the wait. And, they are cash only.
Lunch & Dinner
Decisions...decisions...decisions. Two of the most popular cheesesteak shops sit directly across from each other. A 15 minute uber ride from downtown will take you to the location of Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks. Both shops have lines in the streets at all times. They are both open 24 hours. We went with Pat’s. Boy, do they have this down to a science. There is no waiting once you are at the ordering windows. Customers quickly put in their order, pay, and cheesesteaks in hand. I went with provolone on mine and my girlfriend got the cheese whiz. Cheese whiz won. They both were good cheesesteaks. Also, they had pizza fries which were french fries with a red sauce and cheese on them. As simple as it may sound, they were amazing.
As in most of my travels, I try to venture to local food spots as seen on Diners,Drive-Ins, & Dives. Guy Fieri knows exactly where Flavortown is! On this trip, there were many on this list and we went with the Good Dog Bar. This cool little spot was very welcoming. To my surprise, there were pictures of dogs all along the walls of the bar. We were very hungry and started with the cheesesteak empanada and fried pickles. THe fried pickles were average but the goat cheese ranch sauce was phenomenal. I could use jars of that weekly. I even saved what we had left for fries later on. The cheesesteak empanadas were really good. However, the sauce that came with that was a watery, gravy taste. We used the ranch dip instead. For the main course, I ordered the brisket grilled cheese on sourdough bread with cheddar cheese. My girlfriend had the shrimp po’ boy tossed in buffalo sauce with blue cheese sauce on a baguette. Both were good and the cool thing I liked here is that they mix their fries between regular and sweet potato. They had good beer & drink options. The service was also fantastic here.
Reading Terminal Market
If you want to spend a whole day eating somewhere, the Reading Terminal Market is the place to be. There is a plethora of food options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Many different ethnic cuisines are represented at this market. Be sure to check the hours as most days it is closed by 5-6pm. And, if you have your heart set on something by Dutch related vendors, they tend to close earlier and they take Sundays off. I made that mistake on Sunday. No donuts or pretzels for us. However, we still got our fair share in.
The first stop was at Franks A Lot. The go to here was their classic Polish pierogies.
Beck’s Cajun Cafe was next. There were a lot of tasty items on the menu. We ordered the fried mac and cheese balls. They weren’t too greasy and not overly cheesy, which was a good thing. I could of ate 20.
The last meal we could fit in was at Sang Kee Peking Duck. I ordered the Duck Lo Mein. The duck was a little fatty as expected, but flavorful and tender. The noodles tasted very fresh.
At this point, it was time for some desserts. I had my eyes on some cookies. The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company had plenty of options. I couldn’t pass up a black and white cookie. The last stop was Bassetts Ice Cream. A good trip always ends with some ice cream.
IMG_4562
The Reviews:
Green Eggs Cafe: 5 out of 5
Chestnut Street Bagels: 3.5 out of 5
Good Dog Bar: 3.5 out of 5
Pat's King of Steaks: 3.5 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the foodie outdoor enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live In Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Weekend in Philadelphia: Top Activities and Must-Visit Spots
The summer is a great time to visit Philadelphia. Check out my travels for the best places to go in Philadelphia. Hiking For Donuts style - places to eat, visit, drink, and donuts of course.
Philadelphia is quickly becoming a favorite destination of mine. I made the trip for the first time 2 winters ago and was itching to go back. My girlfriend has never been and once I saw an available weekend and some hotel deals, it was time to go back. I feel like there is so much to do and eat of course. The food alone deserves it’s own post. And, I shall provide that. With this trip, I really wanted to enjoy what Philly has to offer for the summer. And, boy did we really pack our schedule. The research really paid off.We got to downtown Philly late Friday afternoon, checked in, showered, and began the fun filled weekend. Our main attraction for the night was Spruce Street Harbor Park. I can’t even take credit for this one. My girlfriend got skills finding awesome spots I wouldn't even come across. SSHP includes a beachfront meets carnival ambiance along a boardwalk off the Delaware River. Entering the park at night you will see about 100 hammocks hanging from the trees under a thousand colorful LED lights. Not only does it provide beautiful views but there lots of popular food trucks, beer garden, outside games like boccie ball, arcade games, rides, and even a roller skating rink. There was a giant connect four game for the kids. I was pretty jealous. This is definitely a very popular spot. The uber ride was only 10-15 minutes from downtown. I would say this was our favorite part of the trip. The park is only open from May through end of September. If you are in Philly during that time, I highly recommend.
Spruce Street Harbor Park views at night.
The next day we really hit the ground running. We decided to walk to Rittenhouse Square in the morning. One of the original space parks by William Penn is a one-square-park. If you are looking for an outdoor farmers market, this would be the place for fresh flowers, produce, and Philly specialties. After this, we decided to walk through Independence Historic National Park to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. If you are a history buff, this area is for you. Also, the Liberty Bell is quite the attraction so there are long lines in tourist seasons. In the fall/winter may be best if you don’t want to wait. You can actually see it from the outside instead of going inside. We walked through a couple historic buildings and walked to the oldest bank in the US.
Side note, the weather was scorching on this weekend. All the walking got us a little parched. Bringing us to our next stop, 2nd Story Brewing Company. This was the second time I have been here. They have a large variety of beers. One that stands out is their “Better Hef”. This is a Bavarian Hefeweizen with a banana aroma with a subtle bubblegum flavor and hint of clove. You can taste the soft note of banana. Also, they had a specialty beer on this day called “Stoop Session” referencing Stoop Boy from “Hey Arnold!” tv show. The brewery is very rustic and has a cool atmosphere. I haven’t had the food but it looks promising.
Another cool little historic spot in Philly is Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest residential street in the nation. Since we were close to the Old City neighborhood, we took a walk over. There was a museum located in two of the houses and residents still live here to this day. And, to my surprise, one of the resident’s was selling baked goods right out of her living room!
I had purchased Phillies tickets prior to the trip and the weather forecast called for thunderstorms this night. However, the weather was holding up and our next stop was cheesesteaks! The next venture was all about cheesesteaks. Waiting for the uber, my girlfriend got her research on and found a garage turned bar directly across the street from Pat’s and Geno’s. There were lots of good reviews on yelp and looked like they had a very large selection of beers. Once we got there, I was pumped about the decision. This was an awesome spot. They had arts and crafts being sold when you walked in. There were skeetball games in the back. You could bring in your own food and there are 3 big coolers of specialty craft beers. They also had some beers on tap. They give you a thick binder book to choose from and they break down by brewery name and the type of beer. They did a good job of keeping up with their inventory of beers. If they were out or had new shipments of beer, they had a paper copy for that. The bartender was really nice and helpful. It took me about 15 minutes to go through the book. Another good discovery I didn’t see in my research. After some beers, it was cheesesteak time. We chose Pat’s and it was delicious.
Amid thunderstorm warnings, the weather was holding up and we arrived at Citizens Bank Park. This was directly across from Lincoln Financial field, where the Philadelphia Eagles play. In between the stadiums, there is the “Xfinity Live!” complex that had multiple bars and dining options including beer hall and an outside area for live music. Essentially, you can tailgate inside if it’s too hot or too cold. Given it was about 95 degrees, we gladly went inside and enjoyed a beer at the Victory Beer Hall. Prior to the game starting, it was meet the team night. Everyone got to walk onto the field and take pictures with all the players. I am a huge baseball fan but I haven’t really kept up with most teams recently so I couldn’t tell you who most players were. Once they made everyone clear the field, they put the tarps down and not even 20 minutes later, there was a massive down pour. I thought our night was over but the rain stopped suddenly and the game went on as planned. We watched most of the game and walked around the stadium looking for food options. There are a lot of food options for sure. I had ice cream in a helmet and the Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries. I wasn’t impressed, really salty.
On the last day of the trip, it was all about the Reading Terminal Market. It was right behind the hotel we stayed at downtown. If you don’t know already, this place is amazing. This is an indoor farmers market offering fresh produce, groceries, ice cream, baked goods, candy, crafts, books, and other specialty food options. If you are hungry, this is the place to be. The market hours are generally open 8am through 6pm. Sundays hours are different and any dutch vendors will be closed. Don’t make the same amateur mistake I did. However, it was nice to be able to walk with freedom. The last visit I came on a Saturday and it was very packed. It was hard to walk around or finding seating to eat. All in all, another successful trip in Philadelphia. The summer is a fun time to visit. For the foodies, you will have to wait another post. I will not disappoint!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live In Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city and state here.
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Feelin' Glazed: Must-Try Donuts in Beacon, NY's Hudson Valley
Indulge in the best donuts Beacon, NY has to offer with our 'Feelin' Glazed' guide. Discover the Hudson Valley's sweetest treats and pair them with a stroll through Beacon’s vibrant local scene.
Recommendation: Glazed Over Donuts
Where: Beacon, NY - Hudson Valley
Info: I would anticipate a wait as you are getting completely customized donuts. The lines go quick and it will be worth the wait!
There is an outside area to sit during the warmer months.
front of the donut shop
What to expect
As you will see throughout my blog, I am definitely TEAM DONUT….for life. I hope to find as many donut spots as possible. And, just by chance, I came across a little gem in Beacon, NY called Glazed Over Donuts. I can’t take all the credit on the find. My girlfriend’s parents live nearby and she heard about the opening of this shop. A couple months after the opening, we made our first visit. This is a very unique donut shop and a great donut experience. It is located on Main Street in a popular, trendy downtown area near many shops and restaurants. This is a great spot if you’re looking for Beacon weekend foodie spots. The shop is small but is very welcoming. Everyone who works there is really friendly. There is an outside area with tables and chairs for the warmer months. Two concepts make this donut shop really special. First, you can craft your own donut how you want it. When you walk in, you go right to the counter and pick up one of the clipboards that give you a checklist of options. You can choose from one glaze, one topping, and one drizzle for each donut. There are 8 glazes, 13 toppings, and 9 drizzles. I would suggest looking ahead at the options because once you are there, you will want everything (unless that’s just me). Additionally, they have a donut of the day that features toppings not included on their typical menu. The other cool thing about Glazed Over is your donuts are made fresh to order and you can watch the entire donut making process through a glass window. You can see the batter being dropped into oil through the machine they use. Then you can watch the employees customizing your donuts. I think this is awesome. As a donut connoisseur, I am always curious to see the donut process. With that said, I would anticipate a wait as you are getting completely customized donuts. The lines go quick and is worth the wait.
#sundaesunday
Signature Donuts You Have To Try
Now, for the donuts. They make one type of donut. The base is a cake donut. They do not have any filled donut options, i.e. jelly or boston cream. They are smaller donuts, but not minis. I am more of a gluttonous guy and lean toward the crazier, larger specialty donuts but there is a place for simpler and smaller sized donuts. I think they hit it out of the park. Especially given all the options you have. Anything from Nutella glaze to peanut butter chips to Oreos to bacon to pretzels to raspberry/strawberry drizzles. I can easily suck down three of them and try out multiples options. And, they are pretty cheap. You can leave with a half dozen for less than $9. On my last visit, I went with the donut of the day, Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donut. This consisted of vanilla glaze, chocolate chips, caramel drizzle, and of course apple cinnamon toast cereal. I ordered three. I was asked to mention on behalf of a coffee enthusiast I know, they have good coffee options here as well. And, recently they have added a Sundae on Sundays, #SundaeSunday they refer to on Instagram. This replaces the donut of the day. The idea is an ice cream sundae with a donut at the bottom, very clever. And for the social media lovers, their Instagram is straight fire. Check it out @glazed_over_donuts. They are extremely creative. Every time I am in the area, I try to make a stop in. I have enjoyed all the donuts I've had so far and that is double digits at this point…..donut judge me! Get it?
Click here to check out their website for current flavors! Glazed Over Donuts
Pair Your Sweet Tooth with Beacon Adventures
Donut + Adventure Pairings
Grab a coffee and donut before your hike to Mount Beacon for sweeping views of the Hudson Valley!
Check out my post on Denning’s Point - Long Dock Park to learn more about heading to the Beacon waterfront.
Or heading further North? Check out my post on hiking in the Adirondacks.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE
NEARBY ADVENTURES
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See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS