Paradise for CHEAP!!!

Several years ago I went to Greece with the family for UK Traveller. We were on their dime, and staying at some really gorgeous properties. One day, we found ourselves in the smallest little town called Porto Kagio, on the water, in the Peloponnese, specifically, in the Mani area. We had one of the most perfect simple lunches of the whole trip, and afterwards, took a swim, just in front of the taverna. The taverna, called Akrotiri, advertised itself as having rooms above the restaurant, but we weren't looking at the time, so I kind of forgot about it. It always stayed with me as a place I'd go back to, on my own budget, but until just now, I never looked it up. We all know that websites don't do places justice, either for the good or the bad...so, take this all with a chunk of salt. But for the price (a room for four in the highest season is 80 euros and includes breakfast), and the location (you're 15 feet from the most idyllic water--so clean, so warm). It's a tiny little town--it's the only place to stay--so you have to want to be in the middle of nowhere! But you can book boat rides to take you to other magical beaches, and of course you should have a rental car, so you can do nice day trips. It's a perfect spot for at least a couple of days, and it's definitely the right price.

That's the little town of Porto Kagio shot from the road above...and the shots below are from around the area...

Maine Week: Chebeague

Last summer we spent a couple of days on Chebeague Island, staying at the super charming Chebeague Island Inn. It's an island that, on the surface, seems like you could figure it out in a couple of hours, on a bike. On the first day, we actually wondered why we had committed to spending two whole days there, when there was, in my husband's words even "nothing to do". But somehow, like the Magic Mountain, Chebeague spoke to us, and by day two, we were committing to renting a house there later in the summer, for a whole week. Yes, it's an island in Maine, which means that you have to have a huge tolerance to cold to go swimming. But there is a town pool. No, there aren't loads of restaurants to check out. But that means that you get to know the people in town, because there are so few places to be. If you rent a house, you can call for lobster delivery, or clams...and it's cheap. Or you can get a permit and go clamming yourself. It's sleepy, it's slow, it's magical.

On the boat (water taxi) that we took from Portland to Chebeague. It's a 20 minute water taxi, and a much longer (and cheaper) ferry.

Talbot County, Maryland

Last fall we took a weekend trip to Talbot County, which is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It's a fantastic, easy, long weekend getaway from NYC since it's just a four hour drive (provided you time it correctly and don't hit traffic on I-95). We spent the most time in the towns of Oxford, Easton, and St. Michaels (all in close proximity to each other). Here are our discoveries, and let me add, Clara says she can't wait to go back, a huge endorsement, considering the hotel didn't have a pool, and there was no amusement park.

Inn at Perry Cabin: It’s a hotel you’d want to go to, even if it was in the middle of nowhere—great restaurant, inspired gardens, and lovely water views. And the décor is great—cozy, comfy, elegant. Fresh flowers everywhere (cut from their gardens)—in the rooms, public spaces…cozy public spaces with lovely furniture. Kayaks available for checking out the river out front, and bikes to go into town. Cookies made and put in the room every night, cooked by Mrs. Gussy, who has been making them for 24 years. Even if you don't stay here (it gets pricey) it's worth coming to just to check out their garden "rooms", (gardens that were designed to feel like rooms), and the secret passageway door in one of their public living room spaces. Dinner at the Sherwood Landing restaurant is fancy, and perhaps not worth going unless you have a sitter, not that they wouldn't be welcoming of families--it's just that it's expensive, and there are other people there for special occasions (so maybe going early would be an option)...They have a menu that lists each purveyor (mostly local) and a great wine list. We loved the crab cakes, and the Smith Island cake.

The Crab Claw is a family-run local favorite in St. Michaels, where you have to order the blue crab extravaganza. They bring them out, dump them on the table, and you get messy for an hour. They leave a brown bag for you to fill up. We loved it. Order the appetizer of pickles and cheese...sounds weird, but it is great. While you're waiting, you can walk around outside buy some duck treats from a candy machine to feed the ducks.

Andy Warhol Museum

I'm going to do a whole post about Pittsburgh—where to stay, eat, what to do—but sometimes I think you just need one reason to go to a place, before you need to figure out all the details. So here's the one reason to make it to Pittsburgh: the Andy Warhol Museum. Let me first start out by saying that it wasn't the reason we came to Pittsburgh, and it wasn't something I was just dying to go to. It was epic--something like 5 or 6 floors which take you through his entire life, and wow, so well done. On the kid side of things, there's probably one of the best kid activity rooms I've ever seen in a museum. They call it The Factory, and you get to choose between several projects (see sign below to get a sense of the range). There's also a really cute cafe. One thing to be aware of if you're there with your kids is that there are some exhibits that are a little adult in nature--but you could just ask at the front desk what to steer clear of...Note: No one is allowed to take pictures within the main part of the museum, so I could only show here the cafe, the public entrance area, and The Factory. You'll have to trust me that the exhibition areas are epic.