Hike, Hiking, US, TN Mark F Hike, Hiking, US, TN Mark F

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.

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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.

 
Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 

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.

 
Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 
 
Harpeth Woods Trail Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 

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.

 
Harpeth Woods Trail Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 
 
Harpeth Woods Trail Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 
 
Harpeth Woods Trail Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 
 
Harpeth Woods Trail Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 
 
Harpeth Woods Trail Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 
 
Harpeth Woods Trail Edwin Warner Park Nashville TN
 
 

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.

 
Percy Warner Park Stairs Nashville TN
 
 
Percy Warner Park Stairs Nashville TN
 
 
Percy Warner Park Stairs Nashville TN
 

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.

 
Radnor Lake Nashville TN
 

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.

 
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Mount Lafayette Franconia Notch State Park New Hampshire
 
 
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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.

 
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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.

 
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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.

 
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img_4698.jpg
 

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.

Explore other posts in the archive

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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!

 
Chestnut Street Bagels Philadelphia PA
 
 
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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.

 
Green Eggs Cafe Philadelphia PA
 
 
Green Eggs Cafe Philadelphia PA
 
 
Green Eggs Cafe Philadelphia PA
 
Green Eggs Cafe Philadelphia PA

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.

 
Geno's Steak Philadelphia PA
 
 
Pat's King of Steaks Philadelphia PA
 
 
Pat's King of Steaks Philadelphia PA
 
 
Pat's King of Steaks Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Good Dog Bar Philadelphia PA
 
 
Good Dog Bar Philadelphia PA
 
 
Good Dog Bar Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Reading Terminal Market Philadelphia PA
 

The first stop was at Franks A Lot.  The go to here was their classic Polish pierogies.

 
Reading Terminal Market Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Reading Terminal Market Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Reading Terminal Market Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Reading Terminal Market Philadelphia PA
 
 
IMG_4562

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 PA Spruce Street Harbor Park

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.

Spruce Street Harbor Park views at night.

 
 
Spruce Street Harbor Park Philadelphia PA
 
 
Spruce Street Harbor Park Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Philadelphia PA
 
 
Philadelphia PA

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.

 
2nd Story Brewing Philadelphia PA
 
 
2nd Story Brewing Philadelphia PA
 

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!

Philadelphia PA
 
Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Philadelphia PA
 

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.

 
Philadelphia Phillies CItizen Bank Park
 
Philadelphia Phillies CItizen Bank Park PA
Philadelphia Phillies CItizen Bank Park

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!

 
Reading Terminal Market
 
 
Reading Terminal Market
 
 
Reading Terminal Market
 

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.

EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE

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SEE WHERE I’VE BEEN RECENTLY ON INSTAGRAM. FOLLOW @HIKINGFORDONUTS

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Donuts, US, NY Mark F Donuts, US, NY Mark F

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

MOST RECENT POSTS

See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS

Tried these donuts? Tag us @hikingfordonuts to share your favorite flavor or leave a comment below!

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Hike, Hiking, US, NY Mark F Hike, Hiking, US, NY Mark F

First Trip to the Adirondacks: Hiking in Upstate New York

My first trip hiking in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York. Adirondacks Travel Guide. I was able to wake up to Paradox Lake each day, hike Mount Severance, and check out Paradox Brewery. Moderate hike, amazing views along the way!

Trail Description: Planning your first trip to the Adirondacks? Discover beginner-friendly hikes, breathtaking views, and tips for exploring New York's stunning wilderness.

Trail Info:

Where: Schroon Lake, NY Click here for directions. Distance: 2.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Trail Features: Picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness

How to get there:

The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9. However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way. Once parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87.

Hiking Tips:

  • Put your name in the Sign In chart once you arrive.

  • This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes.

Adirondacks Weekend Travel Guide Recommendation: Mount Severance Hike and Paradox Brewery

The warm weather is finally here to stay in the northeast.  Summer of 2017 looks pretty darn good.  I have been planning as many trips as my wallet can handle. My weekends are booked up through almost October.  There will be many adventures and lots of food.  The first real travel this summer was thanks to friends of mine.  They have a friend who owns a house on Paradox Lake.  It was a good opportunity to check out some hiking in upstate New York. It was my first trip to the Adirondacks. The house was legit right on the lake. We had our own little beach area and dock. The house was pretty remote so there was no internet connection. It is good sometimes to go without the need of checking your phone on social media and enjoy where you are and who you are with. However, the second I had internet it was game on! It was absolutely, awesome views to  see the sun rise and see the sun set.  I tried to get  good pictures, but I always get distracted by food. I couldn’t help it.  My friend’s family always goes all out. It was a weekend of relaxing, filet mignons and tasty ribs.

 
 

I have never ventured to this part of New York.  The Adirondacks has been on my list of areas to see for a while.   When I saw the house was nestled in the Adirondacks Park, I quickly said, “I’m in!”. The first night we hung out at the house and settled in. The next day we did some swimming and soaking in the beauty of the lake. The weather was exceptional. Sun was out with a cool breeze. In the afternoon we headed into the town of Schroon Lake, which was about a 10 minute ride. It was a nice little town area full of small businesses such as ice cream shops, restaurants, and stores.  Our mission on this afternoon was beer.  We researched a local brewery prior to our stay and it turned out pretty good. It was called Paradox Brewery. All of the seating and bar taps were located outside. There was a food truck and corn hole boards. More importantly, the beer was good.  They had a selection of 7 different beers consisting of IPAs, Pilsner, Rye Ale, Saisons, Sour and Stout options.  They had one cider from another brewery, Awestruck, which was extremely delish.  My favorite beers were the Double IPA and surprisingly the Sour. Sours aren't usually my thing but this one was so good I got a growler. The tartness I did taste was the mix of melons, limes, and citrus. It is a kettle sour aptly named "Oats and Gose". The brewery was a good find to have beers and hang out. I would give it a shot if you are in the area.

Paradox Brewery in Schrron Lake, NY.

The last day I was there, I had to get a hike in.  There were a handful of hikes within 30 minutes or so of our location.  The one that caught my eye was Mount Severance in Schroon Lake, NY.  It was only about 10 minutes from the house rental.  The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9.  However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way since the beginning of the hike starts under  I-87.  Once you were parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87.  One thing that stood out to me, there was a sign-in chart for hikers.  I have never seen that before and I thought that was a great idea if people were to get lost or injured.  For a longer or more strenuous hikes, I would like to see more of these. For this hike, it was very well marked and and a quick trip to the summit.  I can see why this is a popular hike.  It was roughly 2 .4 miles round trip and the summit offers picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness.  The terrain wasn’t bad although we got caught in a little rain storm.  There were some steep inclines and rocky areas but I would consider this a moderate hike. This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes.  I really enjoyed it.  Everything you want in a hike – good photo opportunities, optimal summit location, and fun.  I would hike this again given the chance.

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.

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