Author: Laura Irwin

Washington, D.C. 2018: Day 1

Laura Irwin
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Lavender Hot Chocolate at Open City D.C.

Lavender hot chocolate, anyone? Yep, that’s how I started my first morning in D.C. Of course, the weather forecast earlier this week was calling for mid-50s today; the reality was 35 degrees and plenty of wind. I hate the cold. I gamely made it through my weekend in NYC in November because it was the first really brutal cold of the season. It’s now 2 months later, and I’ve had my share of cold for the winter. First stop of the day: Open City D.C. for the aforementioned lavender hot chocolate and a stuffed French toast breakfast. Open City is kind of a loft-style diner that manages to be both open and cozy and was only a few blocks from my destination: the National Zoo. A great way to start the day!

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Washington, D.C. 2018: Day 0

Laura Irwin

Continuing (or “officially beginning”) the “Year of Travel”, this weekend I’m hitting up our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. I’ve been to D.C. several times, so there’s no pressure to see and do everything in three short days. D.C. is close enough for an easy long weekend trip, yet far enough away to feel like a mini-vacation.

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New York City 2017: Day 3

Laura Irwin

First, the two highlights of the day…

Clinton Street Baking Company: So I gave in and actually waited until 9AM for breakfast this morning, and stood outside in the cold for 30 minutes, all to have what have been called the “best pancakes in New York City”. Since they are also the only pancakes I’ve had here, they lived up to their reputation. They were also some of the best pancakes I’ve had anywhere. With my sweet tooth for breakfast, that’s saying a lot. They were perfectly crispy on the outside and perfectly fluffy inside. And they were served with… wait for it… maple butter syrup. I had mine with blueberries, which not only had blueberries baked in but also had a hearty ladleful of blueberry compote on top. Scrumptious!

Clinton Street
Clinton Street Baking Co.

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New York City 2017: Day 2

Laura Irwin

I’m just going to stick to the highlights today:

The Met Cloisters: The Cloisters has been on my NYC bucket list since I first saw pictures of it a few years ago. The reconstructed cloisters were originally from French monasteries and abbeys. The museum contains hundreds of decorative arts and sculptures from medieval Europe. It was one of those places where a picture can never do it justice. I stopped several times to just sit and enjoy the surroundings. If you want to feel like you’re in Europe right in New York City, this is the place. It was definitely a highlight of not just the day, but the whole trip, and well worth the 30 minute subway ride and walk across Fort Tyron Park to get to.

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The Met Cloisters

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New York City 2017: Day 1

Laura Irwin

First things first… it’s COLD in New York City this weekend! After weeks and weeks of abnormally warm temperatures in the northeast this fall, the weathermen have been warning of the oncoming arctic blast for days. And of course, today was the day I planned all of my outdoor activities. But the cold didn’t prevent me from enjoying the sites.

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Manhattan at Dusk

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New York City 2017: Day 0

Laura Irwin

If you know me at all, it’s safe to say you’re probably wondering what exactly the person who hates cities is doing spending a weekend in the busiest of them all: New York City. Well, let me enlighten you. I’ve officially dubbed this my “Year of Travel”, and intend to go somewhere every month from now until August. But why New York? Growing up in Connecticut, I’ve visited NYC several times on day trips. My stepmother and I used to come here every December for a day of checking out the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. I’ve seen Central Park and Times Square. But I’ve never actually done the full tourist thing in the Big Apple. I’ve contemplated a day trip the last couple of summers, but for some reason never actually made it happen. So now I’m making it happen.

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My ride to the Big Apple

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Lake District 2017: Day 6

Laura Irwin

It happened. I started thinking about home today, and now I want to… yep, go home. Maybe it’s because today was another cloudy, overcast, dreary day in the Lake District. I didn’t sleep well last night (I blame it on a slight overindulgence in cider last night), but was still up before 5:00 AM. I spent the morning doing very little before having breakfast and setting off on the 9:50 AM boat from Waterhead Pier to Bowness-on-Windermere. I could just as easily driven the 5 miles, but finding parking (or more accurately, paying for parking… most lots have pay machines which only take coins and you need about £4 or £5 worth) is proving to be a bit of a challenge.

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Lake District 2017: Day 5

Laura Irwin

I popped out of bed at 5:00AM as usual, and managed to put another 8 miles on my hiking shoes today. After a sunrise walk by the lake and breakfast, I started off the morning in the direction of Glenridding and Ullswater, going over the Kirkstone Pass from Ambleside via “The Struggle”. The road is twisty and narrow (and up to a 25% gradient!) as it rises up to the highest pass in the Lake District. Once over the pass, the road winds its way down to the village of Patterdale and then Glenridding.

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Ullswater Steamer

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Lake District 2017: Day 4

Laura Irwin

Well, I didn’t run a marathon today, but it certainly felt a bit like it. Instead I hiked/walked about 12 miles over a fell, through a village, and along a coffin road. I didn’t set out to do quite so much walking, it just sort of happened. I tend to have trouble with decision making (ask anyone who knows how many things I buy and then end up returning to the store…), so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I only had a general sense that I wanted to visit Rydal and Grasmere today and do some kind of walk.

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Overlooking Grasmere Lake from Loughrigg Fell

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