New YorkWe started by flying into Long Island and rented a car for our adventure. We headed straight to our hotel in Brooklyn. After a quick freshening up we hit the town. Walked across the Manhattan Bridge and explored downtown.
Stopped for a beer at Loreley then ending up strolling through Little Italy and stopped for another drink at La Nonna.
We ventured back to Brooklyn for dinner near our hotel at Forno Rossa Pizzeria with a dessert shake from Shake Shack.
New Jersey
The next morning we slept in and packed up to head to New Jersey. This was going to be a quick stop so we grabbed an early lunch from Fiore Deli of Hoboken. It was amazing! An old school deli that makes their own mozzarella. Delicious. We took our sandwiches to Frank Sinatra Park and strolled around on a perfect day.
Connecticut
After we were full on sandwiches we headed to New Haven. We explored Yale's campus and stopped in Anna Liffey's Irish Bar per the recommendation of a friend then another Irish Bar because there wasn't much else open on a Monday afternoon.
Honestly, I found New Haven to be a bit boring but we did have a delicious dinner of pizza (again!) at Frank Pepe Pizza Napoletana. Afterwards we picked up some beers and desserts (cannoli for him, cookie for me) to take back to our hotel to watch Olympics.
Rhode Island
Next up was Rhode Island. A friend of ours went to Brown and she gave us the best recommendations! We immediately went for lunch at East Side Pockets where I had the most excellent Falafel and Greek salad. We walked around Brown's campus a bit then I went to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. There was a great exhibit on Todd Oldham Fashion and overall a really great collection. Loved it!
After a few beers in our hotel room we went out for dinner at Red Fez.
We shared the pickle plate, kale salad, poutine and mussels. Everything was very good and it was a hot little spot. Of course we had to get dessert at Pastiche. We split a cheesecake brownie and then called it a night.
Vermont
This was a big driving day for us. About 4 hours to Vermont where we went straight to the Ben and Jerry's factory. We took the tour and sampled their Strawberry Cheesecake ice-cream. It was worth the drive.
We stopped in the little town of Waterbury Vermont for lunch at the Stowe Street Cafe. I had a really great corn and broccoli chowder with a rainbow salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette. Then it was another 4 hours to our next destination but the drive was absolutely gorgeous and totally flew by.
Maine
We stayed in an adorable Airbnb in Portland and it was perfect. We checked in, dropped our stuff and then hit the town. We walked to the downtown area near the port. We stopped for drinks at Liquid Riot Bottling Company then put our name down for dinner at Eventide Oyster Co. While we waited we had some cheap drinks at a dive around the corner - Tomaso's Canteen.
Dinner was great! We split a clambake some oysters and hamachi. Definitely worth the wait!
And of course more dessert... we walked to Gelato Fiasco for our nightcap.
The next morning we went to The Bayou Kitchen for brunch which was just okay and then drove out to Fort Williams Park to walk around and check out the Portland Head Light (light house).
I loved Portland and definitely want to go back!
New Hampshire
We left Maine and drove a short hour to Portsmouth New Hampshire.
We parked and walked through the downtown area stopping in some shops and for beers at The Portsmouth Brewery. The highlight was lunch at Sanders Fish Market! We shared a lobster roll and clam chowder. LOVED!
Massachusetts
After all of our adventuring it was time to settle in Boston for a few nights as Mr. Louisville had a work ditty. When we got settled into our hotel and M returned our rental car we walked to the Barking Crab for dinner. Kind of an awkward seating situation but nothing a few beers and seafood platter couldn't fix.
The next day we went for a run in the park so I went out for an early-ish lunch at Gourmet Dumpling House via a recommendation I read on a Design Sponge city guide. It was a good thing I got there early because by noon there was a line out the door! I enjoyed some steamed veggie dumplings, veggie soup with tofu and some fried pork and leek dumplings. I felt like I stuffed myself so afterwards I walked a little over 3 miles to Harvard Square. I popped in some shops and checked out campus before I decided to Uber back to town. I used Uber Pool for the first time, cheap and easy!
For dinner that night we went back to Harvard Square to the Russel House Tavern. Another seafood platter and then a prix fixe with a wine pairing for restaurant week. I had some tuna hamachi and some kind of mushroom pasta situation. It was good but with the cocktails before dinner, rose during and then a pairing with my meal it was too much! We stopped by Mike's Pastry for dessert but I hardly touched my Boston cream puff. I was done!
The next morning was feeling a little rough so I walked a few blocks to Mike & Patty's for a breakfast sandwich. Much needed! After the week of travelling and eating I was feeling run down so I went to the movies. I saw a matinee of Suicide Squad and I really enjoyed it. Afterwards I walked around some more, shopped a bit and treated myself to a milkshake at JP Licks. Fun Fact: they call milkshakes Frappe's there.
For dinner that night we walked to JJ Foley's Cafe (another Irish bar!) for drinks before dinner at Boston Chops. Really the only picture I took in Boston was of the Halibut I ordered and devoured! A great last meal.
New England, you are charming! I'll be back!
