How to Take a Self-Care Vacation on a Budget
Hello Foodie Friends,
Today’s post is from our guest contributor, Jesse Clark from Soulful-travel.com
Image credit: Pixabay
Are you part of a small or midsize group looking for a unique way to have fun and sample foods from different restaurants within a city of your choice? Then let Savor Our City cater to you with exciting 2-3 hour culinary adventures that include lots of local and historical information, team building activities, and networking paired with hand-picked regional delicacies and gourmet specialty foods along the way. Book your next adventure today! (954) 410-3177
One of the simplest ways to reduce stress and attend to your self-care needs is to take a vacation, notes Travtasy.com. You work hard and have earned these days off. Rather than let them accumulate, take a break and refresh your mind and body. The emotional reset that a vacation offers can improve your quality of life and make you more effective when you return.
Savor Our City understands the ways in which stress, anxiety and depression can influence how you experience life, and how simply getting away and having new experiences can help. Sometimes people turn to substances to reduce emotional discomfort when self-care and finding ways to disconnect is a better option. Vacation self-care may mean flying to a distant land or, if you are on a budget, staying put for a local adventure. Fort Lauderdale, for example, offers a range of attractions that you can access without spending excessive amounts of money or time.
The Staycation Option, Lauderdale-Style
Taking a vacation in your own city offers you an opportunity to check out areas that you may have never experienced. Opt for a rental in another part of the city and check out local attractions, such as the signature rows of palm tree- and mansion-lined Isles along 300 miles of inland waterways, as well as the many festivals and activities that make “Venice of America” so special. The possibilities are endless — sometimes self-care is closer and simpler than you would think.
For the ultimate staycation experience, consider a rental near Fort Lauderdale attractions you wish to visit. Clean, comfortable amenities let you enjoy the area while decreasing your stress levels. Choose a rental service that lets you filter search options and offers 24/7 support. Self-care is all about stress reduction, after all, and your vacation should reflect that from booking your rental to resting up after a day of sightseeing.
Budget-Friendly Vacation Self-Care
Even with limited funds, you can do self-care on vacation in many ways. Author and researcher Dr. Deborah Cracknell points out that a mindful walk on the beach or simply spending time letting your mind wander while you enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the area can go a long way toward promoting relaxation. If you want to heighten your senses, it may be fun to check out the Las Olas Wine & Food Festival for unique, local cuisine.
If you’re a foodie of any level, Savor Our City recommends going on a South Florida food tour, with available options like progressive or multi-course meals. For a change of pace, they also suggest booking “the History & Culture tour that combines stops at landmarks and museums with meals and snacks at local restaurants and gourmet food shops.”
Vacations With a Self-Care Focus
Making self-care the focus and the purpose of a getaway may require you to reconsider your needs, especially if your focus is usually on family or work. Are you the type that gets antsy when you finally have downtime and you’re not sure what to do? Sometimes getting away gives you the opportunity to re-learn things about yourself, such as discovering new interests and passions.
Perhaps you can reconnect with your love of nature while on vacation by checking out the Everglades, home not just to a wide range of wildlife and fauna, but to the Seminole Indians, who invite visitors to learn about their culture. For creative inspiration, check out the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project, with more than 20 curated outdoor contemporary art murals by internationally recognized artists.
Regardless of the activities you choose or where you decide to take your vacation, keep in mind that self-care is a priority. Unplugging from work and home stressors can improve your quality of life. You may be surprised at how much better you feel, even when you stay put for vacation.
Taste Atlantic Avenue
Savor Our City covered some great Delray mainstays on its Taste of Atlantic Avenue tour on Nov. 26.
City Oyster
You would think that a restaurant with “Oyster” in its name would only have a decent seafood selection, but the breakfast panini we sampled proved that brunch is also one of this eatery’s prime games. The pesto and mozzarella beautifully complemented the egg and pieces of bacon.
The Bloody Mary was scary good – the kind of good that happens when you can barely taste the alcohol in the drink. City Oyster knows how to blend great drinks with delectable entrées.
The Office
At The Office, we tried the Prime CEO Burger with parmesan truffle fries. The bacon and arugula on the burger brought out the tenderness of the patty, and the fries had all the greasy, truffle-y goodness you could want.
The best way to make vegetables delicious is, of course, by adding meat, and the Brussel’s sprouts with bacon turned out to be a great side.
Delray Beach GreenMarket
Gratitude Garden Farm, located in Loxahatchee, showed our group the benefits of eating microgreens such as sunflower seed sprouts and pea sprouts. These delicious plants would go well in a salad or just as a snack.
The siblings behind Frik & Frak Artisanal Sauces offered delicious batches of their homemade tomato sauces, including Holla Vodka and Cognac. The GreenMarket truly showcases the best of what Palm Beach County local cuisine has to offer. Check it out every Saturday through May 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Old School Square Park.
The Old Arcade
Known as The Arcade Tap Room in 1908, The Old Arcade started out as a secret watering hole for patrons during the Prohibition era. Hidden in and only accessible through Caffe Martier, The Old Arcade offers an exceptional selection of craft cocktails as well as small eats, including goat cheese flatbread. This refurbished speakeasy is a great addition to Delray Beach.
Original Popcorn House
At this sweet spot just off Atlantic Avenue, all popcorn is cooked in coconut oil and covered in such ingredients as real cheddar cheese and gourmet Belgian chocolate. The Chocolate Peanut Butter popcorn had the perfect blend of sweet and salty, while the Buffalo Blue Cheese tasted as if I had actually eaten a hot wing.
Full of Crepe
We ended our tour at this crepe eatery based in Pittsburgh. Roast beef and caramelized onions made for a savory and delicious starter crepe, while the CBPB crepe did not disappoint with peanut butter, banana, and milk chocolate chips.
If you’re looking to eat some great food in a wonderful small city, the Taste of Atlantic Avenue tour is perfect for both couples and groups.
Story contributed by guest blogger: Olivia Feldman
Olivia Feldman is a contributor for Savor Our City. Her favorite foods are anything that involves pasta and her mom’s cooking. When she’s not eating and drinking her way through South Florida, you can find her going to concerts, planning her next travel destination, and hosting her biweekly music show, “Back in Our Minds,” on Jolt Radio. You also can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @oliviafelds All images appearing in this post photographed by Olivia.
Historical Walking Tour: Why Ancient Egypt was Ahead of its Time
Hello Foodie Friends,
Ancient Egypt contributed so much to aid the way we live today. Thanks to their innovations, we now go by 365 day-per-year calendar, work to mathematical numbers, as well as adopt basic construction concepts that the world still relies on today, such as utilizing levers and ramps.
However, aside from the well-publicized inventions that Ancient Egypt contributed to the world, they also made significant findings in culinary arts. They didn’t just cook their food using an open fire. Ancient Egyptians baked and made liquor way ahead of any other cultures.
Egyptian bakers made bread from wheat and barley. Unlike other societies that cooked bread using pots and stone, Ancient Egyptians used closed ovens to let the bread rise and cook. In addition, they used honey, fruits such as dates, as well as butter in order to give their bread texture and better flavor. They also used sesame seeds to garnish to their bread. With their ways with bread, perhaps it’s safe to say that the Ancient Egyptians were the first bakers who made artisanal pastries.
In addition to good baking, Egyptians also grew grain for the purpose of producing beer. When they drank, they didn’t just pour them into cups. They made beer jars that were for strictly made for drinking. The existence of these beer jars is evident on the graves of the departed. Ancient Egyptians placed beer beside graves for their loved ones to take to the after life.
Ancient Egyptians are still honored today because they have made so many contributions to modern society. No one really knew how they were able to start conceptualizing something as forward thinking as the pyramids using archaic and basic tools.
In addition, who told Cleopatra, the most iconic Egyptian pharaoh of all time that food had medicinal benefits that would improve skin and general wellbeing? No one studied nutrition during those times, and no one could’ve confirmed to her the vitamins and minerals that every fruit possessed.
Cleopatra’s knowledge about the medicinal benefits of food is another reason why historians are still baffled by the findings of Ancient Egyptians. Perhaps the reason why Cleopatra is still so revered in the modern world, either through books or video games that depict her beauty and style, is because of her contributions to the advancements of natural beauty products. She knew how to use honey, cucumbers, and milk to her advantage.
Ancient Egypt is full of educational materials about food that perhaps a historical walk centering on their culinary contributions would be great idea moving forward. Understanding their ways would be beneficial in understanding the food we enjoy today and would act as a great history lesson for everyone.
Boston – The Park May Be Common, But The City’s Unique! (Part 1)
Hello Foodie Friends,
Some of you who are following me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram know that I have just returned from a trip to Boston; an exploratory trip, that is. I went there to accomplish two things: 1. Get to know Boston, a city that we will soon be operating a series of private group culinary tours and then 2. To share my wonderful FoodFinds with you.
My trip began with a great deal flying Spirit Air thanks to a friend of mine who works for the line who was able to extend a friends/family rate to me. I am thankful that the stand-by status paid off as I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t since I had my hotel room booked and meetings & interviews and even a food tour lined up. But thankfully, it was seamless. So I arrived at Boston Logan Airport and exited through the bag claim area and proceeded outside to the center area marked ‘Shared Van Service’. I was staying at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, thanks to the Greater Boston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau who helped to make the connection. The hotel did not have a pick up service at the airport, so after reviewing my options of getting from the airport to the hotel (I was only staying in town a couple nights and everything I needed to do was close enough to walk or Uber, so I did not rent a car), I opted to reserve a seat on Go Boston, a shuttle I ended up sharing with just one other gal. When I got to the hotel, I realized I didn’t have any singles on me. When the driver said he didn’t have any change, I asked him to wait for a moment so I could run in and get some. Little did I know that we arrived in the back entrance and after running inside what might have been about 3o feet, I frantically turned my head to the left and to the right and assessed there was no lobby or front desk in sight. Before I had a moment to despair though, I ran into three knights in dapper business suits (Tony, Jonathan & Rob were their names; turns out they were 3 top Execs of the Hotel, lucky me). They asked me what seemed to be the problem and I explained and without an ounce of hesitation, two of them were reaching in their pockets to offer me the tip money. Of course I was super appreciative of these gentlemen being there to not only help out by fronting me the money to tip my driver and watching my bags which I just dropped at their feet, but when I asked the gentleman who laid the money out how I could find him again to repay him, he absolutely refused. Nice, right?!? I really appreciated the gesture and hospitality, which didn’t end there. I made my way to the front desk to check in, and as I was waiting for my room assignment, Rob, one of my new friends (who turned out to be the Hotel Manager), suddenly appeared at the desk and made a point to ensure I was given a nice room, which I had.
The hotel recently underwent a major transformation, with some final renovations taking place on some floors; I was on the top floor and my room’s renovations were already complete. Click here to watch the transformation video in time lapse. For fun trivia facts about the hotel and some of its notorious guests throughout the years, click here.
Off the Common Restaurant in the main lobby. Guests can keep their phones, iPads and laptops charged with several convenient charging stations tastefully placed down the center of the dining room and throughout the hotel.
Pictured above: Fritz the Bartender
The plan was for me to contact Vanessa, Boston Park Plaza’s Marketing Manager upon my arrival to have her give me a tour of the hotel. Vanessa and I had been corresponding closely prior to my arrival and I already felt like I was meeting a new friend. While I was waiting for Vanessa to take me on my tour, I had a seat at the bar and started chatting with Fritz the bartender. Fritz has been working at the Park Plaza Hotel for 17 years, ever since he was in college. I think that says a lot about the hotel, which incidentally just celebrated its 89th birthday. They must be treating their guests (and employees) right!
We began our tour of the hotel at the library. It was a nice cozy library with plenty of good light for reading. One cool feature they have thought to add here is a “call pod”, a call for service button available from 5pm – midnight, where guests can have food and/or beverages delivered right to them from the comfort of their chair. How convenient is that?!
Pictured above: The Cozy Corner
This gorgeous ballroom is 13,000 square feet and can hold up to 2,200 guests. There are several other options available for various other meeting spaces as well.
Pictured above: The David Barton gym, an ultra sheek, ultra modern 19k sq ft space found one level below the lobby. Here one can get a great work out in the gym, take one of their group classes and even spin. The gym is open to the public and memberships are also available.
Pictured below: My bedroom on the 15th Floor. Nicely appointed with mini fridge, flat screen tv, sitting area, King bed (with the most dreamy pillows I can remember laying my head on in a very long time) and (not pictured: bathroom). The dual head shower was a nice touch as was the hand soaps. The brand they use is Pure and I loved the fragrance of lemongrass.
Pictured below: A special surprise was awaiting me when I returned to my room later that evening. The chocolate ganache cake was to-die-for!
They have a great breakfast buffet at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Here’s a little sample of what I got.
After completing my wonderful tour with Vanessa, I headed out to explore this unique city. Check back soon for Boston – The Park May Be Common, But The City’s Unique! (Part 2) where I cover my walk from the Boston Park Plaza Hotel to the North End via Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, my food tour and other fabulous food finds..
The Boston Park Plaza Hotel is located at 50 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116 T: 617.457.2282 www.BostonParkPlaza.com
Until we eat again…
I send you delicious wishes, xo
Denise
Pat’s Wine Bar & Grill
Lisa from Garlic + Zest is back to tell us all about her delicious 5-course meal from Pat’s Wine Bar & Grill! Read it HERE.
Savor Our City – Boca Raton
Lisa from Garlic + Zest joined our latest Savor Downtown Boca, “A Taste of Royal Palm Place” and shared her experience with us!
Read her full review on her website HERE.
On this tour, we visited Boca Raton GreenMarket, Broken Dish,Biergarten Boca Raton, ROOTS Italian Gourmet Kitchen, True Boca Raton, Pat’s Wine Bar & Grill & Crepe Cafe
FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR CITY!
Erika from ESSENTIALLY ERIKA, a blog where she shares her natural remedies and homemade concoctions, recently joined our culinary tour of Delray Beach! “Overall, this tour was fun, informative, and most of all.. delicious! It’s a wonderful way to rediscover your city, and a perfect introduction for newcomers or visiting guests.” Read all about her experience and the adventure we shared on her post here.
Take A Bite Out of Boca Explores Atlantic Avenue with Savor Our City
Shaina Wizov of Take A Bite Out of Boca recaps her very first experience with Savor Our City Culinary Tours.
Delray Beach is so rich with culture and cuisine, it’s about time someone starting showing it off! My good friend Denise has introduced a new concept to the area, Savor The City Culinary Tours. Denise is famed around town for putting together great pairing events with her company “Denise’s Foodie Events,” so she is a natural choice for leading these tours. Her first tour “Taste Atlantic Ave” takes you up and down the avenue, where you get to sample food and drinks from four restaurants and visit two gourmet specialty shops. Aside from the food, you also get to hear stories and fun facts about Delray Beach and its history from Denise. She interviewed local families and historians to find out some really cool info to share with her tour guests.
A group of ten of us joined Denise this past weekend. Among our group was Shanna from Boca Locals who puts together the ABZs Networking Crawls, and Stevie, a former chef and fellow local food blogger at Fork Notes. Gotta love when foodies unite for fun food-centered events!
FOOD TOURS Eat and stroll: delicious stops at PGA Commons
Click here to read article.
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
“Savor”ing our cities: the most delicious sort of tourism
By Leslie Gray Streeter
I’ve been to PGA Commons myriad times, walking the pretty brick thoroughfare up and down PGA Boulevard West. Most of the time I’m hurrying to meet somebody, barely looking up except to check my phone and make sure I don’t trip over a tiny dog or a kid with an ice cream cone. But last Wednesday, I and a small group of other foot travelers strode the Commons with a purpose – and some fancy paper fans – for the latest installment of the Savor Our City tour.
The fun of the Savor Culinary Tours, led by PR guru and foodie Denise Righetti, is two-fold: to get the hungry and the curious to literally savor the goods at selected restaurants in a designated area, including PGA Commons and Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue and Pineapple Grove, and also to stop and see the area itself in a different way. Between the meatballs at Vic and Angelo’s, oyster shooters at Spoto’s Oyster Bar and spicy edamame at Kabuki, Righetti drops some savory knowledge about the origins of the area’s settlement, or the specifics of the art pieces that color the walk.
Righetti alternates the tours, which include samples of food and drink at each restaurant, every week. For more information, visit Savorourcity.com