If I could spend a day going all over the US, with instant transport from one place to another and an unlimited budget, here is where I’d go and what I’d do in 2012….some of these places I discovered in 2011, others I’ve known for a long time and one I’ve never visited….
Morning
Wake up at:
- The Down East perfection of the Pentagöet Inn, Castine, Maine or
- The homey Library Suite at the Prairie Moon Bed & Breakfast, Hutchinson, Kansas (update: now closed) or
- A Southern grande dame, the King Edward Hotel, Jackson, Mississippi or
- A giant of literary history at the Algonquin Hotel, New York City
Breakfast at:
- MarKel’s Bakehouse (formerly Bah’s) (muffins! scones!) near the Castine waterfront or
- Billy’s Downtown Diner (omelettes!) in downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania or
- The Homemade Cafe (pecan waffles! home fries!) in Berkeley, California
Spend the morning:
- Thinking and learning at the National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri or
- Bodysurfing on the Na Pali Coast, Kauai or
- Marveling at musical craftsmanship at the American Banjo Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma or
- Stepping back into the Revolution at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Lunch
Feeling seafood-ish for my midday meal at:
- Paia Fish Market, Maui (or these other places to eat in Paia) or
- Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington
Afternoon
Afternoon spent:
- Shopping in gracious Savannah, Georgia or
- Heating up in a mud bath at either Dr. Wilkinson’s in Calistoga, California or the Bath House in Jemez Springs, New Mexico or
- Taking a Chicago Architecture Foundation docent-led river cruise past incredible buildings in Chicago, Illinois or
- Going for a swim in Wekiwa Springs, Florida or Barton Springs in Austin, Texas or the spring-fed pool at Balmorhea State Park in western Texas (I’ve always wanted to see Balmorhea.)
Mid-afternoon snack:
- Garrett Popcorn in Chicago (The Chicago Mix flavor, of course) or
- A Ted Drewes frozen custard at the original stand on Route 66, St. Louis, Missouri
Evening
Sunset:
- Key West, Florida or
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
Dinner at:
- The Tavern, Tulsa, Oklahoma or
- The Old Lahaina Luau, Maui or
- Really, any BBQ joint in Memphis, Tennessee
Wrap it up with:
- WaterFire in Providence, Rhode Island or
- YOUR recommendation down in the comments! Give us some ideas, from anywhere in the US, for an evening activity.
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Yes! Yes! I would love to have lunch with you again at the Paia Fish Market and then go to Old Lahaina Luau at night (we’ll insert laying down on the beach in between 🙂
What a fun post! I still have to check out the other links but I wanted yo leave this comment first because I get called by my family to log off my computer 😉
Aloha and Happy New Year to you and your ohana,
Liza
I’m thinking a sunset cruise, either aboard a schooner into Lake Michigan out of Traverse City, Michigan, or a lighthouse sunset cruise on Lake Superior out of Bayfield, Wisconsin, in the Apostle Island National Lakeshore area.
Hi Liza, would love to return to Maui; thanks for stopping by!
Hi Dominique, both of those sound wonderful, and hope we can do them together some day soon. 🙂
Sheila, sounds like a fun day out. When do we go?
Loved the post idea and will be posting a similar one on Monday for New Zealand.
Any time of the day on Sanibel/Captiva Islands, Florida, but especially late afternoon/dusk when the spoonbills fly in to roost for the night.
Oooh, Kay, that’s perfect, especially if we also get in a little of that fine shelling on the islands.