The Wonders of Travel: How to plan, without planning too much.

By: Monica

Often times life can be an agenda...our daily schedules are consumed with work, family, appointments, friends, commitments, activities, community service, and so on. Do we want a full itinerary during our travel adventures?

The upcoming weeks will be filled with new journeys for BVF. Di and I are meeting in Chichester, England, a quaint cathedral town in West Sussex. Her two sweet boys Alfie and Ollie, (yes, travelling with a toddler and infant is doable!!) will be joining us. Holiday time is always a good reminder of the importance of taking a step back to truly savour and enjoy the beauty of unexplored and familiar wonders.

Finding the happy medium between a minute by minute pre-planned schedule and no plans at all can be easier than you think.  If you're traveling to Paris and the Eiffel Tower is on your wish list, don't be disappointed because of sold out lines. Some must sees and points of interests require planning. Want to see the Picasso museum in Barcelona? Only to show up and it's closed!

Now, here are 5 basic guidelines.

1. Can't see it all; prioritize: If traveling by yourself or with a group, determine ahead of time your must sees. This will not only give you and/or a group an idea of what the interests are but you can coordinate activities.

2. Operating hours: Check to see day closures, renovations, etc. Most official websites for popular attractions are great about keeping info up to date.

3. Plan it first, buy it next: If you know you're going to do something, purchase tickets ahead of time. This ensures a spot for you and saves time avoiding longer lines. Use caution and be weary of purchasing entry or tour tickets from 3rd party websites. Unless the site is officially endorsed or licensed by the destined venue it may be fraudulent or extremely overpriced.

4. The World at a Glance, Check it Out: Visit your local library and check out a book for your destination. This is an absolute favourite of BVF!!! Books are free and easy to access. Pick up the book and venture out! Be sure to check online renewable options in case the due date precedes your return home. And be careful not to lose the book so others can enjoy the same benefit!

5. Spontaneity is Discovery: Don't plan everything, you never know what adventures will stumble along the way. Leave open blocks of time to ask locals for hot spots, embrace new sites, and enjoy experiencing the awe and wonders of traveling.

Bon Voyage! 

Yahoo Travel's 10 Places to See Fourth of July Fireworks

With the Fourth of July bank holiday just a few days away and cities gearing up for celebrations around the United States, this great write up below by Brittany Jones Cooper, Editor of Yahoo Travel, highlights 10 places to see fireworks. Happy 4th of July!!! 

10 Places to See Fourth of July Fireworks

Brittany Jones Cooper 

Editor, Yahoo Travel

Brittany Jones-Cooper is a reporter, producer, and writer who has contributed to CBS News, The Daily Beast, Nike, and Today. She also spent an exciting two years as an associate producer for Katie Couric’s daytime talk show. Brittany hails from Nebraska (Go Huskers!) and loves blogging, jaywalking, yoga, and binge watching mediocre television.

On the Fourth of July, Americans celebrate their independence from England. They also celebrate fireworks — and the bigger, the better. On this day, there’s nothing better than sitting back with loved ones on warm summer night and gazing up at the sky to see a spectacular pyrotechnics show. 

If you’re looking for a spot to watch fireworks, we’ve done the hard work for you. Here are the most searched cities on Yahoo for Fourth of July fireworks and where you can catch the action!

10. San Diego

Fireworks over San Diego. (Photo: Port of San Diego)

There are several fireworks shows to catch in San Diego, but The Big Bay Boom is the one locals and visitors are waiting for. It’s the largest in the county, with fireworks discharged simultaneously from barges placed strategically around the Bay off Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Embarcadero North, Seaport Village, Embarcadero South Marina Park, and Coronado Ferry Landing. 

Details: Show begins on July 4 at 9 p.m.

9. New Orleans

Grab a beignet and watch the fireworks in New Orleans. (Photo: NOLA.com)

Mardi Gras is clearly NOLA’s main attraction, but the Fourth of July is also an amazing party. The show takes place on the Mississippi River, showcasing fireworks from two dueling barges. On the French Quarter side of the river, the best views are from Woldenberg Park between the Governor Nicholls Street Wharf and Spanish Plaza.

Details: Show beings on July 4 at 9 p.m.

8. Lake Tahoe

Celebrate Independence Day on Lake Tahoe. (Photo: AP)

What could be sweeter than kicking back on a boat while watching epic fireworks reflect off of the surrounding water? Not much. Which is why thousands flock to Lake Tahoe every year to celebrate Independence day. The show takes place at South Lake Tahoe, but you don’t need a boat to partake in the festivities. On land, Regan Beach, El Dorado Beach or Nevada Beach provide particularly good views.

Details: Show begins on July 4 at 9:45 p.m.

Related: 7 Best Small Towns for the Fourth of July

7. Atlantic City

Don’t gamble with your Fourth of July plans, visit Atlantic City! (Photo: DO/AC)

Atlantic city is known for throwing a good party, and the Fourth of July celebration certainly doesn’t disappoint. More than 250,000 people watch the show, which is widely considered as one the best in the nation. In fact, it’s so big that it takes two ocean barges and one marina platform to contain the fireworks. The best part is that you can lose all of your money in the casino because the show is free!

Details: Show begins on July 3 and July 4 at 9:30 pm..

6. Chicago

Celebrate America in Chicago. (Photo: Corbis)

Chicago will be a popular destination for Independence day this year for one major reason — the Grateful Dead. That’s right, The Grateful Dead is putting on shows from July 3-July 5 at Soldier Field. After the performance, head over to the lakefront at Navy Pier to see the most spectacular fireworks show in the city. Visitors can also watch from Grant Park or aboard one of many fireworks cruises available.

Details: Show begins on July 4 at 9:30pm

5. Nashville

Music and fireworks? What a perfect combination! (Photo: Visit Music City)

If you want some country crooning with your fireworks, then pack up the family and head to Nashville. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, Nashville is home to the 2nd most popular fireworks shows in the nation. After spending the day downtown, gaze up at the sky for the amazing fireworks show that is perfectly choreographed to music performed live by Nashville’s GRAMMy-award-winning symphony. It’s guaranteed to be a night you always remember.

Details: Show begins on July 4 at 9:30pm

4. New York City

Watch the fireworks with the “Freedom Tower” in view. (Photo: AP)

It’s no secret, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show is one of the most watched celebrations of the year. If you’re in the city, you can see the the spectacle from Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens…as long as the East River is visible. The best viewing locations will be between 23rd and 34th streets in Manhattan.  

For those of you who’d rather watch the show from the comfort of your home, NBC will show the fireworks in addition to performances from singers like Kelly Clarkson and Flo Rida.

Details: Fireworks will start on July 4 at approximately 10:00 p.m.

3. Philadelphia

Fireworks explode over the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Photo: Corbis)

Rain or shine, the Fourth of July Jam in Philly is always the party of the year. Philadelphia is where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were adopted, so it’s the perfect place to celebrate everything that makes America so great. During the day, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway hosts the “largest free concert” in the world with great food and entertainment. Then at night, brace yourself for the spectacular fireworks at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Details: Fireworks start on July 4 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Related: Cheers, America! Fourth of July Cocktail Recipes for Wherever You’re Celebrating

2. Addison TX (Kaboom Town)

Fireworks light up the night sky during the Kaboom Town Fourth of July celebration. (Photo: AP)

With a nickname like “Kaboom Town,” you know the fireworks have to be good. Addison, TX is known for having one of the best fireworks shows in the nation, and for years, the city has been wow’ing crowds with its spectacular pyrotechnic performance. With over 400,000 visitors and 1,500 pounds of fireworks, it is the largest fireworks display in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Join the crowds at Addison Circle Park to watch the festivities.

Details: Event starts on July 3 at 5 p.m. The fireworks will take place at dark.

1. Washington DC

Fireworks behind the Washington Monument. (Photo: Thinkstock)

The most searched destination for the Fourth of July is Washington D.C., which makes sense seeing as its the nation’s capital! The National Mall is home to some of the America’s most recognizable monuments (ie, Washington Monument), and it’s also where you can catch one of the most spectacular fireworks shows in the United States. 

Details: The fireworks will take place on July 4 at  9:09 p.m. EST

Round the Island Race, Cowes Isle of Wight

By: Diana 

Living down in Lymington we're on the border of the new forest and the coast, so there are two major loves- horses and boats. Today is the 84th annual Round Island Race which starts off of Cowes, Isle of Wight and the boats sail anti-clockwise round the Island. It started in 1931 with only 25 entrants, this year there are almost 1600 boats of all shapes and sizes participating. Well known sailors such as the Olympian Sir Ben Ainsley take part as well as those just doing it for fun or as a day out with family and friends. Many people race for charity and over the past four years over £450,000 has been rised for various good causes. 

The race time is set early because some boats can take up to 12 hours to complete, but even with a 6.30am start the water is buzzing with activity from participants & spectators. Sailing in the Solent, the body of water located between Lymington and the Isle of Wight, is relatively calm because of the land surrounding it the waves aren't able to build up, but along the back of the Island (once you've passed the Needles) it's the English Channel and the waves are much bigger which for those with weak stomachs or new to sailing can cause seasickness! 

I borrowed this picture from the official race website. It's the view from the back of the Island watching as the boats sail around the needles- spectacular! There are loads of paparazzi style boats capturing the race and they whizz amongst the boats throughout the race. They sell the pictures to boat owners after the race, but at times it makes you feel a bit 'famous' having your picture taken from all angles! (Obviously they get more close ups of the professional and well-known sailors, but still one can pretend!) 

The official website http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk has lots of key information and recent updates about the race, along with a countdown clock, so you can get up to the second information! As technology advances more people have been able to get involved. It's known as the fourth largest participant sporting event in the UK with over 16,000 sailors out on the water! The website now has a spectator friendly viewing option when boats that have access to smartphones sign up to the GPS tracking system. This tracking enables land based spectators to follow the boats course and progress and the sailors can use it as a reflection tool to observe the boat's performance during the race. 

Again I've obtained this picture from the RIR website. To cycle round the island it's 67 miles in circumference. There are 50 nautical miles in the race course, which is not sailed directly but done in a zigzag fashion to keep wind in the sails hence the time it takes to complete the race. Last year Sir Ben Ainsley set the record completing the race in 2.52 hours. This year he was supposed to be sailing on the record winning Leopard, but due to rigging failure he's had to 'jump ship' onto a smaller boat! 

Travel Tuesday: Pausing...to Listen to the Music in Paris and Daily Life.

By: Monica

I absolutely love how the wonders of travel present unexpected and cherished moments and remind us to enjoy the present. Stepping away from our daily schedule-filled lives, gives us the opportunity to truly pause and listen to the beauty of life’s melody.

During the winter of 2013, I eagerly joined my brother and his graduate school friends during their visit to Paris. Ok…I mean I eagerly invited myself to join my brother and his friends. How could I resist a visit to my favourite city in the world, a city filled with endless wonder and enchantment? I will gladly embark on a visit to Paris during any season. 

One late evening, as we walked around the grounds of the Louvre, I marveled at the sheer beauty of my surroundings. I could not stop smiling as that moment brought back memories from previous visits. 

Suddenly, I was stopped in my tracks. Although the Lourve is a stunning place to visit, it was the beauty of a flute player performing a gorgeous rendition of O Mio Babbino Caro that caught my attention.  

Further enhancing the moment, the architecture of the Louvre and where he was standing- created perfect acoustics and the music was just breathtaking. That moment was a reminder to stop and savour moments at home and during travels, otherwise its so easy to let precious moments slip by.

With each trip I have taken, whether it be a short getaway nearby Las Vegas or a trip across the pond, I learn more about myself with each journey. A favourite quote by David Mitchell, nicely sums up how travel is a journey of self-discovery. “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” Indeed, pausing to listen to something so simple, yet so moving-was a lesson in just being in the present. I was only able to capture a brief video, but that moment made me realize how even the smallest moments in life have significant impact.  As I watch the above grainy video I was able to capture on my phone, I am taken back to that very moment when just stopping to literally enjoy the music of a street musician was an awakening of how much I love stumbling upon moments that stop me in my tracks and just embrace the present. 

Cheers to the memories of yesterday, the beauty of the present, and the adventures of tomorrow waiting to be discovered. Bon Voyage!! 

Travel Tuesday: Lymington Saturday Markets, Explore Locally

We encourage our friends around the world to explore places near and far. Sometimes one doesn't even have to leave their own city or town to discover wonderful adventures. At BVF we love visiting local markets and we always take the time to stop in whatever city we are in. 

 Stalls along the high street in Lymington, each week brings new great finds!! 

I'm so fortunate to live in Lymington, where we have an elaborate array of market stalls every Saturday. The variety and high quality of the market attracts tourists and residents from Lymington and surrounding areas. The market tradition in Lymington dates back to the year 1250, wow!! 

You can find just about anything from sweets and cards, leather goods, freshly baked breads, fresh meats cut to order, clothing, gifts, toys, and loads of unique finds. 

 

 Unique gifts can be found at this adorable booth The Tutu Tree. 

Hosting a dinner party? Reynolds has a fine selection of fresh meats. 

Popping into the shops on the high street is always fun. 

Lymington Market 

Saturdays: 8am to 5pm

www.lymingtonmarket.org.uk 

We encourage you to explore activities and attractions close to home. You never know what sweet memories or special gems you will stumble upon. 

Wanderlust Wednesday: Sweet Memories from Le Gargantua Farmhouse Cooking Holiday in Southwest France.

The wonders of travel provide us with a wide range of memories that we can relive, as we share and tell stories-the overall adventures of travelling are enhanced. Trying something new by experiencing a learning holiday in Southwest France, was one of the best travel decisions I have ever made. I absolutely loved the cooking holiday at Le Gargantua from beginning to end and have enjoyed staying in touch with the proprietors Marlène and Marc as well as Graham and John, the wonderful guests I met during my stay.

Recently, I recreated a recipe I learned at Le Gargantua for Apple and Prune Tourtière Gasconne. Immediately, I was taken back to the quaint and enchanting farmhouse nestled away in the Bordeaux region.  It doesn't feel like its been eight months since I was at Le Gargantua!!

This French dessert is a delicate filo dough based pastry filled with lightly sweetened apples and liquor infused prunes and then finished off with a light glaze made with liquor, sugar, and butter.  Did I mention butter? As it bakes, the flavours perfectly fuse together and the finished product is pleasing to the palette. 

Even the smell of the apples cooking on the stovetop, made me feel as though I was back in France, listening to Marlène enthusiastically instruct us on how to create this sweet pastry, as I eagerly learned how to create something new. Her kitchen was filled with laughter every step of the way.

I smiled and laughed while reminiscing about the precious memories made while cooking in the kitchen with fellow traveller, Graham from New Zealand and the wonderful hostess and French cuisine connoisseur Marlène.

The best part of recreating this sweet memory was seeing the joy from my family as they ate this delicious treat, it was so fun being able to share a recipe I learned at Le Gargantua.  I look forward to sharing more delights with family and friends. 

I hope you try this recipe and consider experiencing a learning holiday, for more information on Le Gargantua visit: http://www.legargantua.com. 

Bon Voyage and Bon Appetite!!

Apple and Prune Tourtière Gasconne

Note: I made half of this recipe. Tip: Be sure to use a scale to measure your ingredients. 



1,5 kg apples

85g butter

8-12 large prunes without stones, soaked in Armagnac

4-5 tbsp of Armagnac liquor (or substitute with a liquor of your choice, I used Grand Marnier. 

1 tbsp Vanilla extract

50g of caster sugar

8 to 10 sheets of Filo pastry
Touch of liquor.

Step 1: Start with crisp apples, I used a combination of two varieties: Pink Lady and Fuji. 

Step 2: Peel, core, and dice the apples. 

Step 3: Cook on low heat with 25g of sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla extract, covered at first until the heat builds up, then uncover. Cook until semi-hard (think al dente as though you are cooking pasta). Note the golden colouring of the apples as they cook. 

Step 4: Soak the prunes in liquor and set aside. 

Step 5: Prepare your baking tins by coating with butter. 

Step 6: Fold the sheets of Filo in half in the length. Arrange them in a tart tin, like the sun, overlapping each other at the center of the tin.

Brush every sheet of Filo pastry with the plain butter.

Step 7:  Place the drained apples on the pastry, scatter the prunes on top. (I forgot to take a picture, here's a photo from the one I made at Le Gargantua. 

Step 8: Fold the pastry over, twisting once, and crunching up the end of each sheet. Brush the top with butter and Armagnac mixture, insisting on the roses.

Step 9:  Bake in preheated oven (220 degrees C) for 10-12 min, then lower the temperature to 180 degrees C and bake for an additional 20 min. Since ovens vary, be sure to check to see the pastry isn't cooking too quickly. If you see the filo browning within the first 5 minutes, lower your temperature. I had to lower the temperature to 200 degrees C and then 170 degrees C. 

Step 10: Serve warm or at room temperature. 

National Donut Day in the US and Best Places for Donuts in the US!!!

It's National Donut Day in the US. To celebrate the day I visited Al's Donuts in Las Vegas and delighted the work team with an array of donuts from custard filled and glazed to a fusion croissant and donut, known as the "Kronut." 

Donuts from Al's Donuts in Las Vegas. 

Before 9am they were nearly cleared out!!! 

What the racks looked like right before I was able to get the last of the donuts and kronuts!!! 

According to The Donut Book: The Whole Story in Words, Pictures & Outrageous Tale over 10 billion donuts are sold in the US each year!! Wow! These circular treats are popular throughout the world, just last month the UK celebrated an entire week dedicated to donuts!! In honour of today being National Donut Day we want to share a great write up by Leif Petterson on the best donut shops in the US. 

Source: http://experience.usatoday.com/weekend/story/lifestyle/2015/06/04/10-best-donut-shops-usa/9721439/

National Donut Day: The tastiest donut shops in the USA

Leif Pettersen, Special for USA TODAY

Who doesn't love donuts, especially on National Donut Day? Lunatics, that's who. Debate over donut quality is a serious business, today of all days. So we're adding to the fray with this list of bakeries not to be missed.

Blue Star Donuts, Portland, Ore.

"Donuts for grown-ups" is an apt description for the smells and subsequent drool flood triggered by these gourmet donuts and accompanying Stumptown Roasters coffee. Donuts made from a classic brioche recipe from southern France include the magazine photo-ready blueberry with bourbon and basil; Valhrona chocolate crunch filled with vanilla custard, maple bacon; and a knee-weakening Valrhona dark chocolate ganache with strawberries. Donuts are made fresh all day with exacting ingredients like sustainable bread flour, cage-free eggs, whole milk and European-style butter.

Glam Doll Donuts, Minneapolis, Minn. 

Talk about charging out of the gate, mere months after they opened Glam Doll Donuts snatched the title of "Best Donuts in Minneapolis 2013" by local weekly and reliable arbiter of eating, CityPages. They've since collected name-checks in a number of other publications, including the Wall Street Journal. Their standout items include the "Chart Topper" (peanut butter and Sriracha sauce), "Daddy Dearest" (a cake donut with Surly beer, Surly Bender glaze and bacon crumb topping), "Flirty Frenchie" (with espresso cream cheese) and the almost too pretty to eat "Night Moves" (blackberry jam, blackberry Hennessy and brown sugar bits).

Donut Snob, Los Angeles, Calif. 

When you call yourself "Donut Snob," people tend to expect great things and Janeen Gudelj delivers – and then some. Made in another era, this caliber of wretched excess, artistically sumptuous donuts could've started the French Revolution. Creations like "The Oinker" (coated with maple cinnamon and orange zest glaze with caramelized maple bacon bits), the "Rise + Shine" (espresso glaze and dark chocolate ganache), and the "Campfire" (a S'mores-inspired spectacle with chocolate ganache, Graham cracker crumbs and a molten marshmallow cap) have layers and subtleties worthy of a sommelier's scrutiny. Donuts are agonizingly handcrafted with ingredients like natural citrus zest, fresh berries, pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, bittersweet Belgian chocolate and freshly squeezed fruit juice.

RELATED: Traveler's Table: Donuts around the world

Donut Bar, San Diego, Calif. 

They are literally messing around in the kitchen at the Donut Bar. Recent flavors have included margarita, root beer float, mud pie and Nutella. In addition to their daily changing menu, regularly featured items include "Chocolate Euphoria," the "Cro-Bar" (their version of the cro-nut), and an apple fritter called the "Brad Fritter," so named because Brad Pitt allegedly ate one. Best not to dillydally; their closing hours each day are ominously listed as when "We sell out."

Federal Donuts, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Donuts and fried chicken – together at last! This unlikely combination has been a hit for chef Michael Solomonov who, after what we assume was a powerfully inspirational fever dream, now enjoys crowds seeking his donuts like Chocolate Sea Salt, Marshmallow Marshmallow, and Indian Cinnamon standing in the same line as people jonesing for Korean-style fried chicken covered in rubs and glazes including coconut curry and cowboy coffee. Federal has blossomed into five Philadelphia locations in only three years, including the original in South Philly.

Sugar Shack Donuts, Richmond, Va. 

The lovingly designed and run Sugar Shack, opened in June 2013, has won so many fans that they opened a second location in the heart of Downtown Richmond in March 2014. On a given day, the whimsical menu may have some or all of the following: Maple Bacon, Gingerbread, Apple Fritter, Espresso Glazed, Cookie Crumble, Babe Ruth Style, and more. They're prone to running fun promotions, like the "Freebie o' the day: April showers bring May flowers. Bring in a flower to score a free house donut!"

Gourdough's Speciality Doughnuts, Austin, Texas

Gourdough's serves handmade, fried-to-order donuts from both their vintage Airstream Trailer and their brick and mortar restaurant located on South Lamar. The inspired donut concoctions from their list of 23 "favorites" include the legendary Mother Clucker (topped with fried chicken and honey butter), the Funky Monkey (grilled bananas, cream cheese icing and brown sugar) and the mind-altering Black Out (brownie batter, chocolate fudge icing, chocolate covered brownie bites and chocolate syrup). The aforementioned restaurant, Gourdoug's Public House, incorporates donuts into menu items such as burgers, po' boys and desserts.

Doughnut Vault, Chicago, Ill. 

The Daily Meal recently proclaimed the Doughnut Vault's plain glazed donut as the best donut in America, saying "simple, sugary glaze should be all you need to change your opinion of cake donuts forever." There's more where that came from; their enormous selection includes Chestnut Glazed, Brownie Softie, Pistachio Glazed, Birthday Cake and Salted Caramel Old Fashioned. Arrive as near to their opening as possible (8am weekdays, 9:30am weekends) as they've been known to totally sell out in under an hour. Cash only.

Brewnuts, Cleveland, Ohio

The inevitable melding of beer and donuts has been taken to the next level at the newly opened Brewnuts. Craft beer is infused into seasonal creations like "The Symon" (a chocolate peanut butter donut, with Peanut Butter Coffee Porter, topped with a peanut butter beer sauce and pork rind dust), "The Bumbler" (a Honey Blueberry Ale donut with whole blueberries, topped with a lemon glaze, poppy seeds and sanding sugar) and "The Dub Choc" (an Oatmeal Stout donut with a combination of 70% and 85% cocoa chocolate ganache). Due to the all-consuming attention they give to their product, they usually only have about six flavors at any given time.

World's Fair Donuts, St. Louis, Mo. 

Owners Terry and Peggy Clanton started creating their legendarily light and sweet donuts over 30 years ago, with prices seemingly about the same now as the day they opened. The tiny, unassuming shop, facing a roundabout intersection on Shaw Avenue, coaxes cake and filling perfection from items like the Buttermilk, Cream Horn, Almond Crunch, Angel Cream, Blueberry Pie and Coconut Cream Pie. This is one of those you-snooze-you-lose places; people routinely arrive at the crack of 10:30am, only to learn that much of the day's creations have sold out. Note: this is a cash-only joint. 1940 South Vandeventer Avenue, 314-776-9975