The nation’s capital is full of amazing restaurants and tons of international food for travelers to enjoy. Here we give you our five favorite foods to enjoy when we visit Washington, DC.
1. Ethiopian Food:DC has an enormous range of great international restaurants, but one that stands out as quite unique is the abundance of Ethiopian restaurants in The District. If you get a chance check one out and make sure you wash your hands before you eat, because you don’t use a fork and knife, you use your hands and your bread to enjoy the stews, meats and veggies on offer.
2. Maryland Crab: whether it is amazing Maryland Crab Cakes or just plain old tasty crab in anything DC has a lot of crab options for you. So if you see some one selling some crab cakes on the street or on the menu you will get a fresh and local tasty treat.
3. Oysters: the oysters from Chesapeake Bay are worth their weight in tastiness. And what is great oysters are a popular happy hour treat at a number of restuarants around town. So enjoy some oysters and a local beer.
4. Half-Smoked Sausage: whether you are wandering around the national mall looking at museums or you head up to Ben’s Chili Bowl there are plenty of options of eating this local sausage.
5. Other Local Treats:Chicken wings with Mumbo sauce is popular when you can find it. The Mumbo sauce is a combination of sweet and sour sauce and BBQ sauce in my opinion. You can always grab a cupcake in Georgetown (they are famous there), or you can head out to Mount Vernon and grab some peanut soup and some bread pudding.
Filmed in Washington, DC Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
Food in Memphis Will Leave You Happy, that is the first thing that needs to be said about Memphis’ culinary treats. From the amazing BBQ to Gibson’s Donuts that famous foodies like Alton Brown rave about there are a number of tasty treats to have in Memphis. Here is our list of the top 5 of Memphis food scene. Filmed in Memphis, TN Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
#1. BBQ:
Dry rub ribs, pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw on top, pulled chicken, whatever your BBQ desires Memphis can make it happen. Whether you visit Central BBQ or The Rendezvous or one of the 117 BBQ joints in Memphis you will be happy. Grab a sausage and cheese plate as an appetizer to get you started… and your appetite.
#2. BBQ Fusion:
Don’t think it is just ribs, from BBQ Nachos, to BBQ tacos, to BBQ Spaghetti Memphis has taken their barbecue fascination to a whole new level. So regardless if you are heading to Central BBQ or the Rendezvous you will have multiple options on some BBQ Fusion.
#3. Gus’s Fried Chicken:
The fried chicken place in Memphis is Gus’s Fried Chicken. Grab a few pieces and have some of their amazing potato salad and Mac & cheese for a great meal. You can takeaway or eat in, either way you will have greasy hands and a happy full tummy. And for dessert you can grab some donuts at our next suggestions.
#4. Gibson’s Donuts:
There is just one Gibson’s donuts and you need to stop by for their Maple Bacon Donut… You are welcome 🙂 They have multiple locations for you to purchase your donut deliciousness. The staff are friendly and if you want to get a dozen ask them what their favorites are and add that to you dozen of donut deliciousness.
#5. Elvis’s Favorite:Â Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich
The King was famous for his food choices, and they were not always the most healthy food choices at that. But a Fried Peanut Butter & Banana sandwich is probably his most famous and most tasty food. You can grab one at the cafeteria at Graceland or at a few establishments around Memphis
#6. The Local Beer:
pure local water has led to a number of great local breweries and even a distillery for you to enjoy. The options are quite varied whether you are an IPA kind of beer drinker or a pilsner. There is basically a local craft beer trail that you can enjoy in Memphis.
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Thank you to Milton from Memphis Tourism for giving us a first hand local perspective on what to see and do in Memphis, TN.
Find information on visiting Memphis at http://www.memphistourism.com
Trekking through the Himilaryas or the Andes can be an exhilarating experience. Whether there is a Sherpa guiding you or you are trekking on your own it is a truly breathtaking experience, from the views and the physical strength needed. Today, Crystal Le from www.thepetiteadventurer.com joins us to discuss the first three tips she has for people looking to Trek for the very first time.
Photo Credit Crystal Le of The Petite Adventurer
Trekking Tip #1. Take Extra Cash: when trekking there are not ATMs around for you to grab cash to buy a snack, a beer, a local artist artwork, therefore it is extremely important to have cash (and a little extra cash for that) when you do go trekking.
Trekking Tip #2. Bring at Least 2 Liters of Water: One thing many people forget about when going trekking is bringing enough water with them. Crystal recommends bringing at least 2 liters of water with you. If you typically drink more water than your friends you should bring even more water than 2 liters. Also, you should get a water bladder (like a Camelback) to help spread the weight of the water evenly along your back to avoid a sore back.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA – Photo Credit Crystal Le of The Petite Adventurer
Trekking Tip #3. Focus on the Journey’s Experience Over the Destination: Trekking is an incredible experience and for many it is the goal of the destination that drives them on their trek. The important thing is to remember to get the most out of the journey. So take your time exploring while you hike. Whether it is taking in the view longer while chatting with a friend you met on the trek, or enjoying a longer stay at a lodge on the hike, or it is simply taking a nap and enjoying a relaxing afternoon on the trail remember to enjoy your journey as well as the destination.
Additional Thanks to The Memphis CVB & #BloghouseMemphis for introducing Crystal and Mark. www.memphistravel.com
More About Crystal Le “The Petite Adventurer”
Crystal is the type of person that is ready at a moment’s notice to try anything new. When she is not trekking internationally, she enjoys camping and watching Japanese anime with a hot bowl of ramen. Her ideal journey starts with food but ultimately revolves around people, culture, and their stories. She writes all about her learnings on her adventure travel blog, The Petite Adventurer.
9 Things You HAVE TO DO The Night Before You Travel (Besides Pack)
Packing? Dog Sitter? What Do You Need Get Done the Night Before You Travel So You Can Have the Smoothest Travel Day Possible? Here we go through 9 things (besides packing) that travelers should do the night before they leave so that the day they leave and the day they come back from their vacations are not stress inducing times. These are things that Jocelyn and Mark do before they travel to make things easier.Â
What To Do the Night Before
1. Stop the Mail and the Newspaper
(if you are still getting the newspaper) and have someone cut your grass while you are gone. Those are give aways that no one is home. It is simple little things like this that can really give away that you are gone.
2. Let a Trusted AND Liked Neighbor Know You Are Leaving:
They can check on the house and deal with any issues while you are away. Maybe give them a key as well in case any incidents occur. We have certain neighbors we always let know when we travel so they keep an extra eye open and sometimes pick up the mail when the mailman eventually forgets we are having our mail held.
3. Get a Manicure and Especially a Pedicure:
with all the walking you do while you travel or even if you are just sitting on the beach having your feet cleaned up before you go can make traveling so much better. This helps to keep your feet healthy and to keep you from ingrown toenails and other funky feet problems.
4. Set Your Light Timers:
timers can help make it appear that someone is at your home even though you are gone in Cancun. However, trying to figure out how they work the morning you are traveling is a lost cause, so try to get that done the night before. It is best to have them set on a slight variation of on and off times to make it seem more “natural.”
5. Get The Garbage Out & Ask Your Friend to Take It Out:
Do you really want to have to air out your house from the smell of rotten food when you get home? You may want to make sure you run the dishwasher as well as there is nothing quite like coming home to a mold covered mess in your dishwasher, on your counter, or in your sink.
6. Clean Your House or at Least Pick It Up:
this will make returning from your trip much more relaxing. Coming home with two weeks of laundry and then having to put it with the other two weeks of laundry that are still sitting there really is not a way to start your day back home. We aren’t perfect so we don’t always get all the laundry folded and away, but at least we have a laundry room full of clean clothes piled up 🙂
7. Clean Sheet Day:
Wash your sheets so when you come home from your trip and all those hotel beds you can come home to your bed with clean sheets, I mean who doesn’t LOVE clean sheet day? That is probably the best part of coming home. Back in my own bed and with new or recently laundered sheets. The best night sleep is when you get back home.
8. Call Your Bank, Credit Card Companies and Mobile Phone Provider:
let them know you will be gone and get a data package for your phone, also so your credit cards and debit cards will work while you travel. Some credit card companies track your travel based on if you bought your tickets with their card. This is not always the case though so make sure you let your credit card company and debit card company know where and when you will be traveling as those foreign ATMs may just eat your card if you don’t advize your bank.
9. Have Your Clothes, Passport, Wallet, Purse & Tickets Ready to Go:
the day you travel things get even crazier, so having those clothes out and other important things make it less hair raising of a travel morning. We have clothes out for ourselves and our kids in the hallway all ready to go that way when we get up it is one less thing to think about or worry about. It is just pull on the pants and hit the road.
We have all heard screaming kids on the plane, mothers trying to calm them down, melt downs of huge proportions. This video has five tips to help out in situations like this to help those parents who have those melting down kids on airplanes. Whether it is a transatlantic flight or a puddle jumper these are little things you can do to help.
1. Try to entertain the child:
playing peekaboo or talking to the child or making silly faces can help a child calm down. Having that unknown face engage with them can make them happy or at least snap them out of it as it is a face they don’t know.
2. Carry Earplugs:
Screaming children, screaming baby or babies, heck even snoring businessmen…. Simple cheap earplugs from your local pharmacy can be a life saver. Some kids there is nothing you can do to calm them down. So the best thing you can do is cut out the sound by getting earplugs or noise canceling headphones. And if you have those earplugs they help with the snoring business man next to you, the overly chatting flyer the row in front of you, or the drunk college student who won’t stop talking about Cancun.
3. Pass Them a Piece of Candy:
best to give the candy to the parent so they can decide, but the candy can take the kids mind off of having a fit or the parent can have it for themselves to help them calm their nerves.
4. Offer to Help with the Child:
sometimes the parent just needs an extra set of hands for a minute. Whether that is to open up a packet of formula or to get a diaper ready or just to get out a toy for the child. Offer to help and that gesture of kindness can really help those parents out.
5. Smile at the parent:
they are having a rough time and having people stare at you and give you the evil eye just ramps up the tension and frustration of the parent trying to calm the child. A simple smile reassures the parents that you understand and helps them calm themselves down, which helps calm the child down.
Filmed in Cuenca, Ecuador Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
France is famous for its duck (confit de canard), it’s entrecote, it’s wine and its cheese, but you may not know that each region of France has its own specialties. Here we discuss the food and drinks you should enjoy when you visit Normandy, The D-Day Beaches and Mont Sant-Michel. From the cider and apple and pear centric desserts to the seafood and oysters to so much more. What to eat in Normandy will get your ready for your next visit to France. Filmed in Normandy, France Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
Everything is Bigger in Texas… Especially the Portion Sizes of Food! What should you eat when you visit Texas? There are more than 5 great treats to eat for foodies when they visit Texas. Our 5 Most Popular Dishes to eat when you visit Texas are…
1. Texas BBQ:
Eat the Beef Brisket! The Beef Ribs are great too, but just know Texas BBQ is beef based, not as much pork based. And be prepared to wait a long time in line at some of the better BBQ joints around Texas.
2. Tex-Mex:
From breakfast tacos throughout the state, to puffy tacos in San Antonio, to insane queso throughout the state you will eat well in Texas.
3. Texas Chili:
Meat chili with no beans, and especially tasty if you have it on a Frito Pie (corn chips covered with chili and cheese). But if you get a chance grab a bowl to enjoy some Texas fun.
4. Chicken Fried Steak:
Flattened, beaten, steak, battered and fried up. A plate of pleasure for foodies in Texas. Have it with some mashed potatoes and gravy and you have CFS heaven!
5. Texas Beer & Margaritas:
Local beer is great in Texas and the Margaritas will help you get through your travels in Texas. Whether it is a frozen margarita or a few bottles of Lone Star Beer you will have a good time enjoying the liquid refreshment in Texas.
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Hey there, fellow
travelers! Today, we visit the Netherlands! As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to
prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel
destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things
you’ll hate about Netherlands travel.
Hate
#1: Drug Tourism of Amsterdam
My least favorite thing about visiting the
Netherlands is the drunk and drug tourism of Amsterdam. It’s a fantastic city,
but so many tourists come to the Netherlands just to visit Amsterdam’s
red-light district. If prostitution and drugs are your ideas of a fun vacation,
we’re not judging you, but it frustrates me because there are so many cool
places to visit in the Netherlands. What I mostly hate are the drunken tourists
who can’t handle themselves and leave trash and vomit in the streets.
Many of the hotels in the Netherlands are in
narrow buildings and they have very narrow steep stairs. They’re more like a
ladder than a set of stairs. We’ve had a few incidents with the narrow stairs
in the Netherlands hotels, so you have to be really careful. If you’re
traveling with anyone with mobility issues, be sure to call ahead to your hotel
to see if there’s an elevator or a lower floor you can stay on.
Riding through the Tulips is a must in the Netherlands in the spring
Hate#3:
Service in the Netherlands
Service in the Netherlands is professional,
but not prompt or friendly. Plan some extra time when eating out in the
Netherlands because you can expect to sit for a long time. Even though tips are
expected, the servers in the Netherlands make a good wage, so they’re not going
to hustle for a tip as you might see in the United States. When you’re ready
for the bill, you have to ask for it or they will leave you sitting there all
day.
Hate
#4: Bike Lanes in the Netherlands
Bicycles are a huge part of the culture in the
Netherlands, so you can expect to be dodging bikes throughout your Netherlands
vacation. Walking in the bike lanes can be a hair-raising experience. The bike
lanes are usually painted red at pedestrian crossings, so if you think to
yourself “red = dead” you just might remember not to step into the bike lanes!
Hate#5:
Weather of the Netherlands
The weather in the Netherlands can be
unpredictable and inconsistent. Don’t rely on a forecast too much when you’re
out and about because the weather changes quickly. Always have a few layers you
can add or subtract to your wardrobe for the day, and be prepared for rain.
Love
#1: Architecture and Culture of the Netherlands
Whether you are going to see the Old Dutch
Masters or the museums, the Netherlands has some of the best culture in Europe.
Some of the architecture is simply amazing, and they take such pride in the
history and culture of the country. I always take a ton of photos in the
Netherlands because there are so many cool places to visit in the Netherlands.
Love
#2: Tourism Infrastructure in the Netherlands
Transportation and tourism in the Netherlands
are great. Pretty much everyone speaks English, so you don’t have to worry
about language difficulties too much. Transportation throughout the country is
really well-established. It’s a relatively small country, so you can easily see
a lot of the country on day trips from Amsterdam, using the train system.
Biking is another great way to get around the country. There are bike trails
all over and it’s relatively flat, so it’s easy to bike. There are bike trails
all over, too, including at most train stations, so you can take the train to a
new town, rent a bike and start exploring.
Love
#3: Getting out of Amsterdam
Don’t get me wrong, Amsterdam is really great,
but I love getting out of Amsterdam and exploring the smaller towns of the
Netherlands. There are so many cute little towns and larger cities to visit in
the Netherlands. These smaller towns have far fewer tourists as well, so you
can take the train for an hour and be off the tourist trail for a while.
I couldn’t call myself a travel blogger if I didn’t have a windmill in a post about The Netherlands
Love
#4: Dutch People
While the service in the Netherlands isn’t
great, outside of that, the Dutch people are great. They speak fantastic
English, and will readily explain some of their cultures and customs to you.
They love to share their national pride and history. I often recommend the
Netherlands to newer travelers who want to experience a country that speaks
another language because it’s really easy to get by in the Netherlands. For
most Dutch people, their English is so good, they will even understand sarcasm!
Love
#5: Eating in the Netherlands
I really enjoy traveling around and sampling
all of the unique food stalls in the Netherlands. They have so many tasty
little treats and finger foods that are perfect snack-size. The restaurants in
the Netherlands are ok, but the food stalls and even some of the vending
machines are really good. The beer in the Netherlands is pretty good, too. My
friend from Dutchified
really turned me on to the tasty snacks of the Netherlands.
The
Netherlands is a fantastic country and a great place for newer travelers to
branch out into International Travel. The “hates” are really just mild
annoyances rather than a reason not to visit the Netherlands. Want more tips
for planning a European vacation? Check out these other blog posts:
The Best & The Worst Parts of Visiting The Netherlands – Original blog
Visiting the Netherlands is more than just visiting Amsterdam. There are so many wonderful things to see and do, from the architecture and amazing museums to the biking opportunities to all the windmills and flowers, to the bad parts of visiting The Netherlands, the stigma that the Netherlands are just a drunken party for tourists in the red light district of Amsterdam and did we mention the service? Here are five things you will love and hate about visiting the Netherlands.
The Hates of The Netherlands
Hate #1. The Drunk/High Tourists in the Red Light District in Amsterdam: and how they have become a defacto image of The Netherlands, when The Netherlands has so much to offer travelers. So do pay attention when visiting the red light district in Amsterdam and if you are going to be going to The Netherlands for drug tourism please be safe. We do not advocate doing drugs in The Netherlands, but if you have questions please ask your coffee shop staff as they are trained in helping people. Hate #2. The Stairs: look the stairwells in the Netherlands are more like Ladders so be careful on them. Don’t bring heavy bags as you may lose your balance and fall. This is more of an issue with old homes that have been turned into hotels in major city centers. Hate #3. The Service: as much as we love the Dutch people, the service is not something you will write home about. It’s professional, but not overly friendly. So expect direct, quick service, and you will need to ask for your bill. Hate #4. The Bike Lanes: Remember, Red is Dead… you will understand the first time you walk into a bike lane in The Netherlands. In case you aren’t sure, bikes are a very big thing in The Netherlands and the bike lanes are a world unto their own. If you are pedestrian and wander into the bike lane you can be hit and will be yelled at so listen for those bike bells and make sure you stay out of the bike lanes. Hate #5. The Unpredictable nature of Dutch weather: One minute it is raining, the next it is sunny, the next the temperature changes by 10 degrees it seems like.
Â
The Loves of The Netherlands
Love #1. The Architecture and Culture throughout The Netherlands. The guild houses that will fill up gigs of data on your camera to amazing churches to museums stocked full of amazing art there is so much to enjoy and see in The Netherlands. There is a reason major museums around the world have a “Dutch Masters” section. So enjoy the architecture, museums and culture. Love #2. The Transportation and Tourism Infrastructure: The Netherlands is super easy to get around. With a small country and a very well developed train network it is fast, easy, and efficient to visit any part of The Netherlands on your next visit. Love #3. That there is so much more to The Netherlands than just Amsterdam: go explore the country, from Haarlem to Groningen to so many more great towns around the country. Even if Amsterdam is your main destinations day trips to nice cities can be as short as 15 minutes on a train away. Love #3b. The People of the Netherlands: from their amazing English to their great sense of humor to their directness the Dutch can make for a great time. So expect to chat with the locals and be ready for their sense of humor and direct nature. Love #4. The biking opportunities and easiness of renting bikes and exploring The Netherlands on two wheels: with bike rentals at many train stations, bike tours all over the country, biking infrastructure with bike lanes all over the country and the fact that The Netherlands is flat makes the country amazing for biking. So go rent one and explore! Love #5. The drinking and snacking opportunities all over the country: Dutch food can be quite tasty so go explore the countryside and enjoy lots of small tasty treats like bitter ballen (fried meatballs) or kroketten, maybe try herring from a stall or visit one of the market halls or food halls around the country to grab a quick snack.
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Filmed in Haarlem and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
Heading to The Netherlands & Not Sure What to Expect? Well here we go through the top things that tourists should know when they visit The Netherlands.
1. It is The Netherlands, Not Holland. Holland is the name of two counties in The Netherlands.
2. The language of The Netherlands is Dutch, but as a tourist you really do not need to know any Dutch as the Dutch speak English extremely well throughout the country.
3. The Euro is the currency in The Netherlands and you can find ATMs all over the country. Credit cards are widely accepted as well.
4. The Netherlands is a small country with a very well developed transportation network. Therefore you can easily take trains all over the country in a fast and efficient way. Make sure you tap in and out with your tickets as you enter your platforms.
5. Biking is a very popular pastime and way to get around Dutch cities. There are a number of bike rental agencies throughout The Netherlands. Look for one near a train station and rent a bike for the day to explore, or sign up for one of the numerous bike tours around the country.
6. The Netherlands is rather safe for tourists. Do take care with pickpockets and extremely aggressive beggars in Amsterdam’s more popular areas. The bike line is for bikes only so watch out unless you want to get hit by a bike and yelled at by a local.
7. Drugs bring a lot of tourists to Amsterdam and the Dutch/German border. If you are going to The Netherlands to experiment with soft drugs make sure you go to a “Coffee House” they have menus and trained personnel that can help travelers. We do not recommend you do drugs and highly discourage travelers from doing this. However, we do know a number of tourists do go there for that. So please be safe, and speak with the coffee shop attendant about your previous experiences so they can help you.
9. The best things about the Netherlands are the quaint cities and towns like Haarlem, Leiden, Groningen, as well as the larger cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The architecture and museums throughout the country really are outstanding. And yes you will see quite a few windmills as you explore The Netherlands.
10. The food is hearty in The Netherlands, make sure you try a bitter ballen or a traditional pancake or herring from one of the stalls. The market and food halls have tons of great treats for travelers. There are numerous international restaurants all over The Netherlands as well.
11. The Netherlands is not a cheap place to visit, however the prices are on par with the US & other major European destinations. Amsterdam accomodation will be your biggest expense. Therefore you may want to stay outside of Amsterdam to have a cheaper and more Dutch experience.
Filmed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
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