RICHMOND, VIRGINIA- PART 1

07.28.2018 by Passports and Provisions //

Richmond! My favorite city in the Commonwealth. I spend a considerable amount of time here for work, so I know the hotels and food scene pretty well by now. Since I have so many places to tell you about, I will break it into 2 posts. I’ll start with the logistics- where you should stay!

WHERE TO STAY:

Airbnb: Budget-friendly options, try staying in The Fan neighborhood.

The Graduate: Budget-friendly hotel with a collegiate theme, pretty rooftop pool and bar, on-site restaurant and gym, plus it is within walking distance to good food.

Quirk Hotel: Mid-range priced with rooftop bar, coffee shop, and restaurant. There is a small gym on-site, and a YMCA around the corner. Pink everything! Cat artwork! Cathedral ceilings in all the rooms! On my first visit, I got upgraded to a suite that wasn’t booked. Sadly, that hasn’t happened again. Either way, it is still my favorite. The cutest hotel ever. They also allow dogs up to 70lbs.

Hampton Inn Downtown: Mid-range priced with rooftop bar Kabana and on-site restaurant Belle. It is relatively new and boasts a rooftop pool and gym for a scenic workout. Free breakfast!

The Jefferson Hotel: If you are feeling fancy, stay here! I have only been to the restaurant for work, but it has the most beautiful lobby.

WHAT TO DO:

Disclaimer: I rarely have time for fun while in Richmond, so these are based on my limited personal experiences, and input from the locals I have worked with over the years (and love so much!).

Scott’s Addition: Richmond’s fastest growing neighborhood. Explore the breweries, restaurants, bowling alley, etc.

Monument Ave: Check out all the historic statues lining the center of Monument Avenue.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: General admission is free! I have been meaning to sneak some time in there during my work trips, but haven’t made it yet.

Richmond Street Art: Wander the streets and find hidden murals throughout the city.

Edgar Allen Poe Museum: Didn’t know this existed until now, but I must go to meet the museum’s black cats. Sounds like a perfect Halloween-time activity.

James River: Hike, bike, run, kayak, paddleboard, swim, tube, rock climb, picnic, fish. Basically, all the outdoorsy things in one area. Check out Belle Isle while you are there.

TRANSPORTATION:

Washingtonians can breathe easy driving around Richmond. I have never encountered problematic traffic, and really appreciate all the free parking. Of course, you have Uber/Lyft, bikeshare, and walking as options, too.

Stay tuned for part 2, all the food and drink!

CHARLESTON- PART 2

06.24.2018 by Passports and Provisions //

Now that we have covered all the food and drink in Charleston, let’s cover the rest.

WHERE TO SHOP:

All the big names are found on King Street, with little boutiques sprinkled in. Here are a few favorites.

E. Blackhurst: This boutique carries a small selection of clothing and gifts. I stopped in for a greeting card and found the perfect one with my sense of humor. Amazon Prime has spoiled us all.

Candlefish: So many good smells!

Impeccable Pig: Affordable dresses and accessories.

Cannonborough Collective: We almost walked by this corner gem. They have balloons and wares from local artisans, and we happened to drop in when the owner AND one of the sellers was there- so friendly and welcoming! I got a postcard illustration of Charleston to add to my growing (and constantly crooked) gallery wall. Also, these photos were taken before I discovered the settings on my camera to adjust for outdoor vs. indoor lighting…baby steps!

Mac and Murphy: Another pocket-sized store staffed by the owners. They have a ton of stationary and colorful office accessories.

WHAT TO DO:

Unitarian Church Cemetery: Go down the little hidden alleyway off King Street and you’ll find yourself in a lush, green cemetery garden. It is considered the oldest Unitarian Church in the South, built in the 1770’s.

Rainbow Row: While strolling through the historic neighborhoods, you can’t miss the pastel homes known as Rainbow Row. While you are down there, Bedon’s, Longitude, Philadelphia, Price’s, St. Michael’s, and Stoll’s Alley were recommended to us. Hidden treasures around each corner!

Waterfront Park: Home to the pineapple fountain and a lovely cool breeze off the harbor!

Battery Park: This sliver of green space at the Southern end of the peninsula is surrounded by water and enormous houses. We wandered down the alley ways and admired the architecture and lush greenery surrounding these over-the-top homes. My favorite stretch, which I discovered by chance while going for a run, was Legare Street. I found myself imagining life behind the wrought iron gates, sipping sweet tea in a rocking chair, overlooking the perfectly manicured topiaries and fountain. I saw a party rental unloading tables for a backyard soiree that looked wedding-worthy. Wonder if they’d notice an extra guest?

Marion Square Farmer’s Market: This is the biggest farmer’s market I have ever seen! You’ve got the typical produce stands, arts and crafts, live music, and street performers. All the things we didn’t do:

Old Slave Mart Museum: I really wanted to see this, but unfortunately, it is not open on Sundays.

Aiken Rhett House , Nathaniel Russell House: These beautiful old homes are available to tour with ticketed admission.

Walking tours: There are many to choose from, but we did not allow enough time and chose to wander and discover on our own!

Fort Sumter: History buffs may enjoy visiting this national monument in Charleston Harbor.

Gibbes Museum: This art museum was high on my list, especially considering the forecast of rain all weekend. Since we made it through without rain during the day, we did not make it to the museum, opting for outdoor activities instead.

Charleston City Market, not to be confused with the farmer’s market, was not as impressive. It felt more like a tourist trap, so I wouldn’t waste your time…unless you want a good, old fashioned biscuit. We were told Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit in the market is top notch.

Magnolia Plantation, Boone Hall Plantations: While these are pretty close to the city, we opted out since we did not rent a car.

Folly Beach: So close to the city, but alas, not enough time.

This is the only modern house we saw in Charleston. So unique!

HOW TO GET AROUND:

Many people were biking around the city. Considering Charleston is very flat, this is an easy place to cruise around. By foot and via Uber worked well. The Uber drivers were all so friendly and willing to give their honest opinions on what to do and eat (and NOT do and NOT eat).

WHERE TO STAY:

Well, we picked a busy weekend to visit. Everything close to the action would cost an arm and a leg, so we chose to stay further north. Our Airbnb was really cute and cozy, and a short Uber ride (or slightly long walk) to most locations. The forecast was for rain all weekend, but thankfully it waited to dump down on Sunday evening. In the middle of the night, we woke up to a horrible sound, like an unbalanced washing machine about to explode. Anyone else know that sound? Or are we the only ones who haven’t properly balanced our washer at home? We cased the house, looking for something amiss. Finally, we followed the sound to below our bedroom. I didn’t see a basement, but there must have been one. At this point, I’m starting to worry the place will just combust, so there’s no way I can sleep again. Do we call the owner? She’s not local… Then, we realize that the buckets of rain probably triggered the sump pump. Long story short, we survived. But, the sounds of an unfamiliar home can be quite unsettling!

charleston airbnb — lusting for this rose gold and hunter green combo

If you missed the food and drink post, you can catch it here.

All the food and attractions listed in these posts, plus more, are on my handy dandy map!

CHARLESTON FOOD AND DRINK

06.04.2018 by Passports and Provisions //

Are you an eat to live, or live to eat type? i am 100% in it for the food. So much so, that I spend the majority of travel planning mapping out our meals and coffee breaks. So, here is part one of our Charleston trip, AKA all the restaurants. Part 2 of everything we did between meals to come.

To note: This was my first adventure with a real camera. I am still not sure how to use it, but my first “homework” assignment from my wonderful professional photographer friend (and teacher) was to shoot only in manual during the trip. There are a mix of iPhone and un-edited real camera pics here. You be the judge of what’s what!

THE FOOD:

Lewis BBQ: Our first meal was a big old plate of meat. According to the Uber drivers of Charleston, the best bqq is a hot topic! Lewis is apparently Texas style, and Rodney Scott’s is more authentic to Charleston, where they smoke ‘whole hog’. Home Team BBQ was NOT recommended.

Huriyali: Acai bowls, smoothies, healthy eats, plus a picture-perfect patio. Great, healthy start to balance out the meats.

huriyali charleston

Five Loaves Juice Bar and Cafe: As with most trips, I make us walk everywhere. We were starting to get a little warm (aka dripping with sweat by 10:30am), so we made a pit stop at this juice/smoothie bar. Hit.the.spot.

Queen Street Grocery: Gluten-free savory crepes for lunch! And more canine friends. I mean, look at that smile!

Xiao Bao Biscuit: “Authentically inspired Asian comfort food and classic Southern cuisine” inside what looks like a former auto shop. Spicy and really delicious!

xiao bao biscuit charleston Sugar Bakeshop: I heard great things about this tiny little bakery, but sadly it was closed for the holiday weekend.

Husk: The #1 spot everyone talks about in Charleston. Maybe it is overrated for dinner (considering the months-long wait to get reservations), but we walked right in to their bar and enjoyed wine on the patio. I appreciate outdoor seating that has fans. It made 80 degrees and heavy humidity seem bearable.

Harold’s Cabin: Our AirBnB host suggested this spot, and I am so glad she did! I didn’t read about it anywhere else. The location is off the beaten path, but was pretty close to where we were staying. I imagine it is a really cozy spot for brunch or reading with a hot cup of coffee, too.

Inside has a log cabin, rustic feel. The food was spectacular, especially the vegan “charcuterie” board. The chef makes up a selection of the veggies in season from their rooftop garden. I’d easily trade in a meat and cheese board for this selection any day!

Pancito and Lefty: The forecast called for rain the entire time we were in town, but we lucked out and it didn’t pour until our last night. We decided to walk to dinner, which was ambitious considering the deluge of rain. We arrived to dinner sopping wet and ready to eat. Corn tortilla tacos, yess! The guacamole was really good, too.

Other spots that were highly recommended:

Butcher and Bee, Park Cafe, Hominy Grill, Poogan’s Porch, The Daily, Workshop, Le Farfalle, Stella’s, FIG, Raw 167, Chez Nous, Leon’s Oyster Shop, Little Jack’s Tavern, Cannon Green, Zero George, Basic Kitchen, Taco Boy, Mercantile and Mash. Even more ideas on the map at the bottom!

THE COFFEE:

Second State Coffee: This bright, little coffee shop is a short walk off King Street. After a toasty day pounding the pavement, an iced peppermint rooibos tea did the trick.

Rise Coffee: Tucked into the Restoration Hotel, this tiny spot packs a lot of punch. Rosemary Rise below– iced coffee with almond milk and rosemary simple syrup. Simply divine! There are a few seats in the coffee shop, comfy couches just inside the hotel entrance, and ample seating outside.

Miller’s All Day: After spending hours walking around (sense a theme here?), we needed a little rest and strong a/c. Miller’s All Day has a mean cold brew, comfy couch, and insta-worthy decor.

Harbinger Cafe: By far, my favorite coffee shop of the weekend. Gluten-free bread that actually tastes good, hooray! I grabbed a ‘Jam Sesh’ to go. As their website says, it is tahini, chocolate chunks, and house-made jam “like a coffee cake with the virtue of a granola bar” both vegan and gluten-free. Sounds healthy-ish, I will take it!