Gnoshing at the Top Five Best Breakfast Spots in the U.S.

December 9, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Breakfast is the champion of all meals; it’s got everything that you need to keep you going throughout the day. Doctors and nutritionists have agreed that breakfast is important for a healthy lifestyle, so even while traveling, you need to get a meal that is nourishing. When traveling, it can be hard to find a place that’s got exactly what you’re looking for in a delicious meal.

There are breakfast spots all over the U.S. that claim to have the best pancakes or the best omelets you’ve ever had. To help you find which restaurants are able to deliver the best meal you’ve had in the morning, follow this list and see just how these places offer you a flavorful way to kick start your morning.

1. Salud – New York City, New York

Everyone is in a hurry in New York, especially during the morning rush. Salud, an organic restaurant, offers an adorable environment to enjoy a smoothie in the morning or a hot chocolate on chillier days for people who need a quick pick me up in the morning. For people who have time to sit down and enjoy a full meal, the family-owned organic restaurant has plenty to offer. Make sure to try a macaroon with your favorite smoothie blend, as they are made perfectly.

2. Bongo Room – Chicago, Illinois

There are few breakfast spots that are worth waiting 20 minutes for, but the Bongo Room and its intimate atmosphere is one of those places. The pancakes at this breakfast and brunch restaurant are known all around the city, and every season brings new flavors for everyone to enjoy. There are vegetarian options on the menu, and every meal is large enough to share. After waking up from a great night’s sleep in your hotel, try the tomatillo salsa scramble or the banana bacon flapjacks for a real treat before doing some sightseeing!

3. Flap Jack Family Restaurant – Lansing, Michigan

It can be hard to get your children to eat while on the road, so it’s important to find a place that serves options that they will actually want to eat. It’s hard to go wrong with pancakes, which is the ultimate child-friendly breakfast food. Flap Jack Family Restaurant makes no qualms about its family-style service. It’s not a high-end restaurant, but the quality of the ingredients is top of the line. Parents can enjoy the hearty skillets, while their children can feast on fluffy pancakes and gobs of toppings.

4. The Griddle Café – Los Angeles, California

A popular hole-in-the-wall almost seems like an oxymoron, but the Griddle Café, located right on Sunset Avenue in Los Angeles is one of the top celebrity spots that lives up to its hype. Not only are you likely to see a star or two eating breakfast at this landmark; you are likely to fall in love with everything on the menu. The cheesecake French toast is a perfect example of what you’d expect to find in the thriving diner that serves A-list celebs. You can even purchase mixes for some of their most popular dishes, such as the red velvet pancakes, to make at home.

5. Stoby’s – Conway, Arkansas

This restaurant is not for wimps; the large portions and hearty platters are definitely worth being on several top breakfast spot lists. The homemade biscuits are perfectly paired with “old-fashioned, real-deal breakfast gravy.” The omelets are gigantic and are smothered in cheese. If you’re dying for something new, ask for Stoby’s spicy white cheese dip on top for a bang.

Fast Food Picks and Pans

November 18, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

“May I take your order, please?” All of us hear those words at one time or another through a car window or at an airport food court counter—especially when we’re in a hurry to grab a bite and get on our way. Yet we all know that fast food is not exactly synonymous with healthy eating. However, many fast food chains have jumped onto the healthy-eating bandwagon, and even more significant, several health-focused organizations and publications have come out with fast food dining guidelines and even praise for some of the menu items.

Apps-etizers

To make the whole process easier, before you even consider eating fast food, there are also both apps and websites that you can access through mobile phones to help you make the best possible choices right from the start of your meal. A couple of the best are Fast Food Calorie Counter(iPhone, $.99; Android, $2.99) and The Fast Food Explorer website.

Belt-Healthy Burgers and Sandwiches

When easy grab, go and eat is a priority, sandwiches are a natural choice. Unfortunately, most fail the healthy-eating test, being loaded with fat in the fillings—fried (and deep-fried) meats, slathered-on creamy sauces and cheeses—plus overloads of sodium (in processed and salty meats and cheeses). Still, there are a number of fast food sandwiches, and even a burger or two, that can make the grade according to nutritionists, like the following:

  • Subway, Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain’s lean meat sandwich options, like grilled chicken or roast beef, with light vinaigrette-style dressings and plenty of healthy veggies (ranging from 300-400 calories)
  • Starbucks’ Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwich (420 calories)
  • Wendy’s Jr. burger (only 320 calories)
  • Burger King’s Whopper Jr. (340 calories).

Satisfying Salads

It’s all too easy to think you’ve chosen healthily when you order a salad, but watch out! Many fast food salads are loaded with fatty dressings and often topped with things like cheese, bacon and fried chicken. The result is a meal as high or higher in saturated fat as a full-sized burger. This doesn’t mean you have to give up everything but lettuce, though. Au Bon Pain, for example, has the following several great salad choices, all of which received four-to-five star health-conscious ratings from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:

  • Garden Salad
  • Charbroiled Salmon Filet & Yellow Peppers Salad
  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad
  • Thai Chicken Salad
  • Tuna Salad

Another four-star winner is Subway’s Subway Club Salad with Fat-Free Italian Dressing.

Chill-Fighting Chilis and Soups

In cooler weather (or after sitting in an over-air-conditioned office all day), soup is a natural comfort-food choice, and several fast food restaurants offer up some choices that can offer that comfort in pretty healthy form, like the following:

  • Chick-fil-A’s Hearty Breast of Chicken Soup (140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat)
  • Quizno’s Creamy Broccoli Cheese (175 calories, 9 grams of fat)
  • Quizno’s Chili (145 calories, 3.5 grams of fat)
  • 13.25-ounce bowl of Panera’s Vegetarian Black Bean soup or French Onion with Asiago Cheese (180 calories, 4 grams of fat each)

Even Desserts!

Of course, we can’t forget the call of the sweet tooth. Fruit is, of course, the healthiest choice, but sometimes, we just want something gooier and more, well, decadent—at least in taste. Even here, there are comparatively healthy choices available at the fast food counter. The following three options that make Fitness Magazine’s list are all at just 3.5 grams fat:

  • McDonald’s Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone (150 calories)
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Lil’ Bucket Strawberry Shortcake (150 calories)
  • Pizza Hut’s Cherry Dessert Pizza (240 calories/slice)

Rustling up the Best Tex-Mex in Austin

November 7, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Texas is known for offering a bigger than life lifestyle, and its booming city, Austin, with its constantly growing population, is a perfect example of just how true this statement is. There are many reasons why over 19 million people from around the world flock to the state capitol every year: the live music, the college football and, of course, the Tex-Mex.

It is nearly impossible to go anywhere in Texas without enjoying the unique flavor of true Texan Tex-Mex, especially since the state prides itself on offering the best. Tex-Mex, for those gringos who have not had the pleasure to enjoy it, is a combination of Texan flavor and Mexican food, which is blended into a signature style that makes the mouths of many water. Spicy salsa, freshly fried tacos and endless mountains of homemade flour tortillas are a staple in any good Tex-Mex stop, but there are a few Austin stops that must be made to experience the real deal.

Chuy’s

Located in South Austin, this restaurant has been a staple stop for Austinites. Perfect for large parties, Chuy’s does a great job of getting you your meal, quickly, while also ensuring that you’re provided with chips and fresh salsa from the self-serve bar. Once the dishes arrive, be prepared: the portions live up to Chuy’s “big as yo’ face” philosophy. Top dishes include the chile rellenos, which are fire-roasted peppers that are filled with cheese or meat before being fried, and the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom, hand pulled chicken and cheese with a Boom-Boom sauce. You’ll want extra tortillas to sop up any remaining sauce.

For those who aren’t sure what type of spice level they can handle, Chuy’s has several signature sauces for your enjoyment. Pick from a mild, one-jalapeno meter rating, given to the ranchero sauce, to the hot, three-jalapeno rating, given to the hatch green chile. There are other options in between, so make sure everyone orders a different sauce to ensure you get to try the full spectrum. Also, be sure to order the special creamy jalapeno sauce—it’s not on the menu, but it’s well worth asking for.

Hole in the Wall

This bar is not your standard “hole in the wall,” despite what the name portrays. The Hole foods are spectacular, especially the breakfast items, which are served all day long. Try interesting combinations, such as the Crawfish Omelet or the Redneck Benedict for a unique blend of flavors.

Obviously, every bar has specials, and Hole in the Wall has done a good job of making its own spectacular fun.

Maudie’s

If you’re in the mood for finger foods, Maudie’s has some amazing tacos, quesadillas and chips for you to enjoy. There are six Austin locations for you to choose from, so there are plenty of spots for you to enjoy a Mexican meal.

The top favorites are the crispy tacos, which are covered with yellow cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and stuffed with flavorful meat. Maudie’s has managed to make interesting variations of favorite dishes, such as the Skinny Sheryl’s Enchiladas. This tasty dish is made with chicken, a sauce made with tomatillos, lettuce, tomato and even grilled zucchini. For the indecisive, the combination plates have ample portions of everything.

Seeing More than Potter and Mickey Around Orlando

October 3, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Odds are, either for business or vacation (especially if you have kids), Orlando, Florida may be on your travel list. Not only is it home to Disney, Epcot, Potter World and much more, but it’s become a top business convention and trade show destination. However, whether you’ll be in the area for business or pleasure (or both), with kids or without, there are a number of lesser-known attractions in the area that are well worth your time—and that can get you away from the big crowds. Plus, with daytime temperatures back down in the comfortable range (upper 70s-low 80s), late fall is an especially great time to visit.

Strolling Downtown

When most folks think of Orlando, old-time charm, gracious homes and cobblestone streets don’t come to mind, but that’s exactly what you’ll find through the Thornton Park neighborhood. Several outdoor cafes and restaurants dot the area, as well as specialty shops for great window-shopping.

Only about a mile in circumference, Lake Eola in downtown Orlando is a great site for a relaxing walk through the encircling park or a paddleboat ride on the lake itself. The lake is home to swans and dozens of other colorful birds, and the huge lighted fountain in the center is magical at night. You can also often catch free concerts at the park band shell.

Florida’s Nature Scene

Want something a bit more stimulating? Well, how about ‘gators? Okay, maybe you don’t want to run into one on the sidewalk (though that’s been known to happen…), but from a safe distance, those prehistoric-looking creatures are pretty fascinating. Gatorland offers you literally thousands of the scaly guys (and gals), as well as other reptiles and even some touchable critters in the petting zoo. Add in the breeding marsh, nature walk and rookery, plus the splash park and zipline for those wanting more adventure, and you’ve got a day’s outing to please all ages.

For even more variety in animals, you can head just a half hour north to Sandord to visit the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Here, too, you can cool off in a water park area and get your thrill on zip lines and treetop rope bridges at the ZOOm Air Adventure Park.

Late Fall Specials

Floridians may be acclimated to the summer heat, but they also seem ready to break out and celebrate as things begin to cool down a bit by late fall. You’ll have your choice of any number of arts, sports and other events during this time. At the end of October (23rd), downtown Orlando holds a ten-block wide Hispanic festival, Calle Orange, with traditional foods, music and entertainment from Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more music and a chance to do some ice skating at an outdoor rink, you can take in the University of Central Florida’s Light Up UCF: 50 Nights of Music, Lights and Ice, from November 12 through January 2.

Want something more competitive? The annual Pop Warner Youth Football Super Bowl will be held in Orlando December 10th-12th, along with concurrent national cheer and dance championships.

A Side Trip Worth the Drive

Orlando’s nearest beaches are less than an hour southeast, along the famed Space Coast, which is home to Kennedy Space Center. This stretch of Florida coast features what many consider the finest surfing spots in the East, not to mention the world famous Ron and Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach. Near the Kennedy Space Center is the Merritt National Wildlife Refuge, where kayaking and nature trails hikes may let you catch a glimpse of a bald eagle, bobcat, manatee or armadillo.

Locals’ Picks in Chicago

July 22, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Chicago is up at the top of travel destinations for business and for families, and for many obvious reasons: the Field Museum, baseball (White Sox and Cubs!), Millennium Park and much more. You certainly don’t want to miss those highlights, but there’s more to what makes Chicago a great place to visit than what is obvious and in the guidebooks. Whether you’re there for only a day or for longer, here are some off-the-beaten-path suggestions from those who know and live in the Windy City.

Get a Little Playtime

Did we mention Da Bears? Baseball? Of course, the Cubs’ Wrigley Field—whether you’re a baseball fan or not—is such an American classic that you don’t want to miss visiting it. But Chicago is also a great city for those who just like to be active themselves, and when locals aren’t vigorously cheering on (or bewailing) one of their teams, one of the great activities is bike rides. Even though you might not think of Chicago as a cyclists’ town, it’s become a popular pastime, both for weekend afternoon jaunts and for serious cyclists. The Chainlink is a locally run resource for biking enthusiasts, and it provides information and links for routes, themed rides and other resources. The site offers an iPhone interface, too.

Get a Little Nature

You’ll naturally want to visit both Lincoln and Millennium Parks, as well as the Field Museum of Natural History and the Shedd Aquarium, but for a more community-centered focus on nature, take a stroll through some of the community gardens, like those in the Prairie District, on Ravenswood near Foster and off Sacramento and Logan Blvd. In summer and early fall, these hidden gems are filled with vegetables and flowers, and they often have benches where you can just relax and watch the lazy butterflies and bumblebees.

And if conservation and sustainability is part of your nature appreciation, take a stroll by the Helenowski Residence on Chicago’s northwest side (corner of Ravenswood and Ainsle). The owner-remodeled home was awarded the most LEED points ever given (119.5 out of 136).

For beautiful sunsets and evening views, the city of Chicago has many harbors along Lake Michigan, especially Montrose Harbor. Regardless of where you choose to view them, Chicago’s sunsets will take your breath away as you capture images in your mind when both the city and the sky collide.

Get a Bite to Eat

Of course, the culinary part of any visit to Chicago has to include a big slice of deep-dish pizza and an Italian beef sandwich. For brunches, two local recommendations are Broadway Grill and M Henry (Argyle Street). Like most major cities, Chicago also has little gems of international cuisine, like Pho Viet and Tank in Little Vietnam (in Uptown). Lulu’s (actually just a few miles north, in Evanston, near Northwestern University) has a fantastic dim sum brunch. For your sweet tooth, try out the Guatemalan pastries at Markello’s Bakery in Albany Park. A small neighborhood shop that is open 24 hours, they make it easy to just give in to temptation. Just grab one of the metal baskets, and fill ‘er up with authentic, fresh churros, empanadas and sweet Guatemalan bread. But be warned: the challenge will be making it back to your hotel with any leftover for breakfast the next morning.

Road Trip Eats: 7 Great Websites and Apps

July 13, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Some folks just eat to live, but many of us live to eat—and being on the road makes this both a challenge and an adventure. The huge number of apps and advice websites out there can mean that you spend too much time wading through and eliminating sites that are inefficient, unreliable or just plain marketing ploys. Below are seven of our top picks to help you spend less time struggling and more time savoring.

Top Choice

For not only great food but also out-and-out fun in the search, the award has to go to Urbanspoon with their website, phone apps (for iPhone, Blackberry and Android) and the new iPad app. Between the truly extensive listings (more than 800,000 all over the country), GPS and augmented reality feature and easy-to-use filters, you can find just about any type of food, cost range, atmosphere and location that you want. Can’t decide? Use the shake feature with phone or the “spin” feature on the iPad to let it choose for you (which is great when you’re part of an indecisive group!).

Local Blue Plate (and Other) Specials

Want to move beyond the tourist role? Easy-to-use LocalEats (for iPad, iPhone, iTouch, Blackberry, Android and website) tells you where the locals dine, with no chains covered and no commercially funded listings. Instead, listings are drawn from “opinions of critics and local media, trusted friends, site visitors and bloggers,” and they include menus, reviews and directions, plus dining coupons.

Another great source of local recommendations is Foodspotting. Most websites and apps include pictures, but Foodspotting is all about diners’ own opinions of dishes that are to die for. Just enter the city or region you’re in and get pages of photos that you can filter by date, type of food or even the person that is posting. Find a dish that really has you drooling, and you can search out other photos from the same restaurant. And the true road warrior will want to check out RoadFood.com’s restaurant reviews, recipes and “eating tours” guides to “the most memorable local eateries along the highways and back roads of America.”

Get More for Your Money

While Groupon, Foursquare and other deal-finding sites do include restaurants, the brand new (June 2011) app BiteHunter (for iPhone, iPad and iTouch) provides a focused, real time search mechanism for the best dining deals and specials in your target areas. This free app includes filters by food type, price and other factors.

Getting Dibs on a Table

What good does it do to decide where you want to eat and then find no tables are available? While several sites and apps offer some booking features, the best by far is OpenTable (for iPhone, Blackberry, mobile Web and free), though we have to note that its primary focus is larger cities. The app will also search out nearby dining spots and link you to menus.

Do-It-Yourself Food Adventures

Many of us foodies want to get in there and do-it-ourselves now and then, even on vacation. So if you’re staying in a place with a full kitchen, you’ll want to have access to the website Epicurious.com or their free app for great ideas. It includes shopping lists, recipes and full menus from such foodie favorites as Gourmet Magazine, so you can whip up dishes from regional delicacies that you’ve picked up from the local farmers market. Speaking of which, many areas have web pages or even apps for locating such markets (e.g., California Farmer's Market Finder), so be sure to add those to your explorations.

Bon appétit!

Walking the Planks: Boardwalks Across America

June 7, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The scent of tangy, salty air and spun sugar and the sounds of seagulls and excited kids... Yep, we’re talking classic beach boardwalks. Whether you seek the thrills and chills of roller coasters and tilt-a-whirls, the delectable tastes of saltwater taffy and boardwalk fries or simply experiencing American history, boardwalks are the summertime place to go.

Commencing at Coney

Of course, Coney Island and Atlantic City Boardwalk are classics. Coney Island’s amusement park section, Luna Park, underwent renovation just a year ago, and visitors can now get their thrills on over a dozen new rides, including the Tickler, a spinning roller coaster, as well as on the NYC Historic Landmark Wonder Wheel. And, if you’re not too queasy afterwards, Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs are the must-have cuisine, just as they have been since 1916. The four-mile-long Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey was constructed in 1870. Besides its dozens of rides, arcade games, shops and snack bars, sightseers can visit the Absecon Lighthouse, just three blocks away. Built in 1857, it’s the third tallest lighthouse in the country, and from the top (228 steps up!), you get a fantastic skyline view.

Strolling South

A bit farther south are three more top choices, with all the usual fun and games, plus their own unique extras. At Maryland’s Ocean City Boardwalk, you can take a whirl on one of the painstakingly carved and painted horses, zebras or other creatures of Trimper’s renowned 109-year-old carousel. Virginia Beach’s boardwalk boasts evening street performers, and day or evening, you and your friends can rent a four-person surrey bike to pedal along its three-mile expanse in style. Myrtle Beach in South Carolina is a popular vacation spot for any number of reasons, not the least of which is its boardwalk, which combines all the expected boardwalk amusements with jetty extensions for visitors to meander down when they want a bit of a breather from the hustle and bustle of this happening location.

Texas may not be a state you’d associate with beach boardwalks, but Houston’s Kemah Boardwalk was named one of the top ten American Boardwalks by Forbes Traveler in 2009. Located on Galveston Bay, the boardwalk was built in 2001 with history in mind, and so it includes all the standards: a 65-foot Ferris wheel and wooden roller coaster, midway and arcade games, souvenir shops and restaurants. It also features less common attractions like a stingray petting tank, a rainforest exhibit and the Boardwalk Beast speedboat ride out into the Bay.

Winding West

The West Coast also has some top destination boardwalks. Sometimes called the “Coney Island of the West,” Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk boasts two national Historic Monument rides: the Giant Dipper roller coaster, built in 1924, and the Looff Carousel (1911), one of the few carousels that still includes the grab-the-ring feature. On Fridays in the summer, finish off a day of rides, games and playing in the sand with a free evening concert at the beach bandstand.

At the other end of California is San Diego’s Ocean Front Boardwalk (actually in Mission Beach). If you’re a classic rides fan, the Big Dipper roller coaster at Belmont Amusement Park is a must.And, for a real So-Cal experience, visit the Wave House Bar and Grill to grab a plate of nachos and watch surfers ride the simulated waves on the FlowRider and Bruticus Maximus.

If all this has whetted your appetite, consider picking up one of the many great books on America’s boardwalks, like America's Boardwalks: From Coney Island to California, The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: A Century by the Sea or Boardwalk Memories: Tales of the Jersey Shore.

A Tour of U.S. Artisan and Craft Beers

May 23, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

You don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to have heard of the two top-selling American craft or artisan beers: Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, brewed respectively (as you might expect) in Boston, Massachusetts and in Chico, California (just east of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range). Both breweries offer tours, but if your time is limited, you can just go to the tasting rooms to sample their extensive ranges of beers. With its emphasis on fresh farm-to-table local products, including veggies and beef from the local university farm, the food at Sierra Nevada’s restaurant is itself worth the visit. Now that warm weather is here, be sure that you ask for a table outside in the beautiful courtyard.

However, there’s more to artisan or craft beer than just the big names. In fact, some purists assert that once a brewery’s production gets that big, it moves out of the “craft” or “micro-brewery” category (category definitions are really slippery!). No matter how you define the category, there are numerous small breweries which produce fantastic beers and offer tasting experiences too good to miss.

Starting in the Northeast, Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Pennant Ale, Monster Ale and Brooklyn Brown Ale are popular choices at the Friday, Saturday and Sunday tastings and tours. The big brick warehouse has tables scattered around, where people hang out to drink beer and play cards and board games in a casual, party atmosphere. No food is served, but customers order pizzas from nearby shops or even bring in their own food, adding to the local hangout atmosphere. Further south in Baltimore, Maryland, is a great venue to visit tall ships in the Inner Harbor and to stop in at Clipper City Brewing Company for a Loose Cannon IPA (India pale ale). Down in Ashville, North Carolina, if you have small travelers along, you can please everyone with a stop at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company. Locals recommend the Houdini ESP (extra-special/extra-strong bitter) and Shiva IPA brews.

In the Midwest, Chicago’s Goose Island Brewery consistently wins honors for individual beers (RateBeer.com ranked their Rare Bourbon Stout fifth among best beers of 2011) and as a top brewery. Given its recent acquisition by Anheuser-Busch and expansion plans, it may not still qualify as a craft brewery, but given its history of quality and innovation (and huge number of fans, including President Obama), we’ll keep it on the list. Other popular Midwestern breweries include Indianapolis’s Sun King and Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing Company. Both feature seasonal, limited-release and year-round brews.

Moving to the West, Denver (Great Divide Brewing Company), Fort Collins (New Belgium—one of the microbrew movement founders) and Tucson (Barrio Brewing) all have breweries you’ll want to check out. Once you get to the West Coast, options are many. California’s options include not only Sierra Nevada in Chico, but also Alesmith in San Diego (huge selection) and Anchor Brewing Company (known for their rich Anchor Steam) in San Francisco. Up North, Portland’s Hair of the Dog Brewery (check out favorites like Doggie Claws and Bourbon Fred) and Hood River’s Full Sail Brewery (gorgeous location) are definitely worth a visit.

According to the Brewers Association, craft brewers are distinguished by their independence, innovation and integrity and their dedication to producing distinctive, fine beers. Those characteristics seem like a pretty good reason to add microbreweries to your road trip destinations. And don’t forget to also check out beer festivals, which kick into high gear during summer and fall.

National Sports Bar Chains

May 18, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

With spring’s collegiate and pro sports underway and summer’s not far behind, many a road warrior is thinking about the limits of their portable devices and apps. After all, some games just demand the big screen, right? Enter the sports bar…

Over the next few months, we’ll profile sports bars across the country that you might want to check out for their specific features (atmosphere, food choices, celebrity spotting, etc.). But, for starters (we feel your need, fellow fans), we’ll review some national chain sports bars so that you have a good chance of finding one, no matter where your travels take you.

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar

One favorite with locations across the country is Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, where you can be sure to score good viewing, food and drink. While folks do rave about the wings—offered with a choice of 14 barbecue sauce flavors ranging from Jammin’ Jalapeno to Thai Curry—it’s the sports viewing itself that gets top billing here. Sure, every sports bar has multiple screens, but every Wild Wings location has literally dozens of flat screens and projector screens plus surround sound.

Champps

Champps,found in theEast, the Northern Plains, Texas and Colorado, takes a similar approach. The owners built their chain around the philosophy that bigger is better—from burgers to TV’s, party atmosphere (“bring a DJ and have a party every night”!) to “decadent desserts” and rotisseries. The chain prides itself on not being “your average sports bar,” especially in terms of its food and their “slightly irreverent attitude.”

Dave and Buster’s

Another sports bar chain you can find all over the country is Dave and Buster’s. The menu is filled with standards like Philly cheese steak sandwiches, pizza, burgers, steaks, salads and pasta, and the full bar serve beers, wines, and their signature TNTea in a souvenir glass. But what fans really love are the games—and we don’t just mean on the many big screen TV’s. Every Dave and Buster’s is filled with arcade games (old-time Pac-Man to Nascar), plus classics like pool tables, skeeball and shuffleboard. Check out their Eat-and-Play combo where you get a meal and a game card at reduced price.

Smokey Bones BBQ & Fire Grill

Located in the East and Midwest, Smokey Bones BBQ & Fire Grill is a good choice if you’re traveling with folks who aren’t as avid sports fans as yourself. You’ll find sports on the big screens for you and, despite its name, food to please those looking for more than just sports pub grub, such as an Oregon Pear and Spinach Salad and blackened grouper (selections do vary by location). The full bar offers some respectable California vintages and a beer list that includes a few IPAs and microbrews.

Beef O’Brady’s

Soccer moms and t-ball dads don’t have to give up catching games on the big screens during vacations because there are also family-oriented sports bars—one such is Beef O'Brady's, with well over 200 locations spread throughout more than 20 states. The reasonably-priced food is basic sports bar fare—burgers and other sandwiches, wings, wraps, etc., plus salads, with kid-sized (and seasoned) selections, too.

BJ’s Brewhouse

Another sports bar chain, BJ’s Brewhouse, with its multiple screens for game viewing and its own “fine handcrafted beer,” is not only a treat for adults, but it is also a dedicated kid-friendly place. Their website even has a “kidslink” with trivia and games.

We go to chains for their predictability, right? Maybe that seems dull, but for some of us, it’s important to know that no matter where we are, we can walk into an establishment and be guaranteed our favorite Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap, or that exact same amazing plate of shoestring onion rings, or that there will always be one big screen tuned to international soccer.

Colds, Air Travel and Your Body’s Defense System

April 29, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Even though we’ve mostly made it past this year’s prime flu season, every frequent flier knows the despair of being seated right next to a frequent sneezer. And who hasn’t found jet lag morphing into a ticklish throat or achy body and grumbled about that recycled, germy airplane air? Well, although the germs are certainly major players in the cold and flu game, according to a 2004 study by University of Victoria researchers, the major culprit is not germy airplane air but rather the plane’s dry air—the result of pressurized cabins.

What the dry air actually does is inhibit the body’s “natural defense system against colds,” the researchers explain. The thin, healthy mucus and cilia (tiny hairs) in our upper respiratory tract “trap viruses and bacteria and move them from the nose and throat to destruction by acids in the stomach.” Okay, sounds a little gross. However, it’s useful to know that if that defense system gets dried out and we add in the general fatigue of travel, we have lowered our ability to fight those pesky germs being so generously shared by fellow travelers. So let’s talk about four strategies for fighting back…

Strategy #1: Stay hydrated.

The first cold-fighting strategy during travel is staying hydrated—something most air travelers already know is important for other reasons. But for the purpose of keeping that “natural defense system against colds” moisturized and operating in peak condition, there are a few wrinkles. Since you want to avoid any drying of the system, it’s better to sip water all through your travel day, rather than downing a bottle of water a couple of times. Colder liquids tend to inhibit the cilia movement, but warm liquids like herbal teas are useful because they tend to have a triggering effect on the mucus system.

Strategy #2: Try nasal moisturizers.

Another, more direct form of hydrating the mucus system is using nasal moisturizing sprays, mists or gel swabs specifically formulated for this purpose.

Strategy #3: Sanitize your hands.

Of course heading off the germs is still important because even with all the hydrating, you’re still traveling in close contact with lots of hitchhiking viruses and bacteria, courtesy of passengers on your flight and also on seatbacks, armrests, tray tables, etc., where germs can hang out for 48 hours or more. The Center for Disease Control recommends washing your hands (lots!) as the most effective germ-control measure, but this isn’t always very practical in flight (and besides, there are still those door handles to touch afterwards!). So it’s time to realize that hand sanitizing gels and wipes are not just for clean freaks. Choose waterless hand cleansers that contain alcohol, and use them often. They can also be used to wipe down tray tables on which you may be setting food or just resting your hands.

Strategy #4: Eat your veggies.

There are, of course, other strategies some people swear by, like Airborne, though studies have not proven their effectiveness. Some folks also advocate loading up, both before and during a trip, on Vitamin C or Echinacea, and boosting consumption of fruits and veggies high in antioxidants (like broccoli, spinach, blueberries, and pomegranates). This is a healthy strategy even when not traveling, but also an easy one to incorporate on a trip when you’ve booked a hotel room with a well-equipped kitchen at Extended Stay Hotels.