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Tag Archives: flights

Five Tips for Saving Money on Your Next Flight

23 April 202122 September 2024

I recently learned that Tuesdays are the best day to purchase airline tickets.  But did you also know that flying on Wednesdays will reduce your airfare?   Here are five more tips for finding airline tickets to fit your travel budget.

  1. The earlier the better,  Flights booked early in the morning are usually the least expensive.
  2. Book your flight AND hotel together, Many online search engines provide package deals for purchasing more than one travel service, including rental car reservations.
  3. Check the airline’s website. You may be surprised to find that the same flight you booked through a travel site is cheaper on the airline’s website.
  4. Fly one airline to your location and another one on your return.  Flight times vary with each airline, so don’t be limited to one airline’s schedule.
  5. Sign up for sites such as Airfarewatchdog or TripAdvisor for FREE airfare alerts. It’s as easy as providing basic flight information and your email.

There is no better time than today Tuesday to book your next flight,

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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Sugarland Cellars in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

15 October 202022 September 2024

It was a beautiful day to enjoy wine during our vacation to Gatlinburg, so my sister and I decided to make the short drive to Sugarland Cellars.  Located at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains, this winery is easy to find on the main strip of town.

Surrounded by beautiful oak wine barrels and strategically placed wine tasting counters, we couldn’t wait to try some of the sweet wines that the winery has to offer.

Kassaundra was our wine expert, helping us decide which wines to sample and she suggested the 12 sample flight.  Staring with the dry wines, we sampled the Greenbrier, a blend of Riesling and DeBlanc grapes, available for $19 per bottle.

The Hellbender was our second dry wine, a blend of of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.  This was one of my favorite wines selling at $21 for a bottle.  I picked one up to enjoy later.

The LeConte, named for one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ highest peaks is a Chambourcin, most common in the cooler climates.  This wine is available for $18 per bottle.

Made from the Muscat grapes, the Martha Jane Rose is one of two semi-sweet options for $18 per bottle and the other is the Baskins Creek Blanc.

Three sweet wines wrap up our tasting with the Cherry-Kee made from local cherries, the Wiley Oakley from local blueberries and concord grapes and the Mountain Laurel from the muscadine grape, most commonly grown in this area sold at $18 per bottle.

We added a couple of additional bottles of the Cherry-Kee and Wiley Oakley wines so that we could sip them while enjoying the Smoky Mountain view from our rental’s spacious balcony.

Have you visited Sugarland Cellars winery in Gatlinburg?  Did you visit their wine production location as well?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

Many thanks for reading about my wine tasting in Gatlinburg and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to Do and Where to Go: 

Sugarland Cellars Winery
634 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN  37738
865 325 1110

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Former Church is now the Home of Father John’s Brewery

8 December 201919 September 2024

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon, my sinful urge to have a beer led me to Father John’s Brewery, the former Methodist church in Bryan, Ohio.  Originally built in 1867, this wooden church was later renovated in 1895 with a red-brick exterior, beautiful stained glass windows and the addition of a pipe organ, custom built.

Instead of waiting for a table, I grabbed a chair at the cross shaped bar and placed an order for a flight of brews.

A self-proclaimed novice to local craft beer, I tend to lean towards the light beers or ones that offer hints of fruit flavors.

My beer selections for my flight of 6 include:

  • The Venerable Bede IPA 1% – love this one
  • Sacrificial Goat Amber 66% – just a slight  nutty taste
  • Proverbial Porter 1% – grows on you; wasn’t my favorite at first
  • Michael’s Pale Ale 6.3%  a fellow bought the very first pint and they named this beer after him
  • Fresh off the Bine Fresh op Beer 5.3% – can taste the wheat
  • The Imp Imperial Rye 8,4%
  • Ranger IPA 6.5% – love this one

Enjoying my selection of craft brews, I grabbed a couple of my samples so I could walk around and browse the amazing set up.  I felt as though I was standing in the middle of a Renaissance castle with life-size armor, period furniture and Medieval embellishments.

Father John’s Brewing Company opened in 2012 to produce ales and lagers in addition to wine and meads.  With a brew-on-site operation, Father John’s includes eighteen draft beers.

Red hymnals rest on each table in lieu of the traditional church pew.

While indoors you may notice the dark, mysterious interior, a walk outside will have you feeling as though you have taken a seat among the French countryside.

The owners of Father John’s want visitors to consider their brewery as a place to discover.  One way is to roam both the beautiful exterior as well as the fascinating interior.  During my exploration, I learned that there is a crypt within the grounds of the church.  The space below the ground has been covered with a clear glass as it is thought to be containing remains, but out of respect it has been undisturbed.

Did you know that the first gluten-free craft beer made in Ohio came from Father John’s?  They appropriately named it Intolerant Ale.

Exiting the brewery, I found the beautiful garden with fire pits, flowers and tables to enjoy the outdoors.  What a change from the dilapidated structure that had lay empty over a period of time leaving the slate roof falling in and its foundation crumbling.   Saving the building, Dr. John Trippy opened the space as a brewery/restaurant in 2012.  Shortly thereafter, the Stoned Goat Inn was opened for visitors needing an overnight stay.

There is an incredible serenity at Father John’s.  Visitors are welcome to take a tour of the brewery, experience a wine tasting, book a private gathering or even a night at the inn for an immersive experience.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Father John’s Brewery in Bryan, Ohio? Did you stay overnight?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my exciting visit to Father John’s and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Father John’s Brewery
301 W Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313

Tues – Thurs: 3pm – 10pm; Friday: 3pm – Midnight; Saturday: 11am – Midnight and closed Sunday and Monday

Where to Stay:

Father John’s Brewery
301 W Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313

Tues – Thurs: 3pm – 10pm; Friday: 3pm – Midnight; Saturday: 11am – Midnight and closed Sunday and Monday

Where to Eat:

Father John’s Brewery
301 W Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313

Tues – Thurs: 3pm – 10pm; Friday: 3pm – Midnight; Saturday: 11am – Midnight and closed Sunday and Monday

I ordered the Angelic Wings with the Sweet Thai sauce in addition to the Charcuterie Board with its many cheeses and meats.

Where to Drink:

Father John’s
301 W. Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313
Website:  https://www.fatherjohnsmicrobrewery.com/

What to Read:

  • A Sweet Century: The 100-Year History of Spangler Candy Company and the Spangler Family, Bryan, Ohio, by William L. Culbertson
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Wining Down in Old Mission, Michigan

9 April 201921 September 2024

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Did you know that Michigan is not only known for its production of cherries, but also its wine?   I took the day to explore the Old Mission region of Michigan to visit their wineries and started my afternoon at Black Star Farms.

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Black Star Farms has three tasting rooms located near Traverse City and two wine processing facilities.  I browsed through the charming gift shop to wait for a space at the tasting bar in search of a wine to bring back home.

  • Sparkling Fruit Wine: Black Star Farms Hard Apple Cherry Cider:  Bubbly with crisp apple & cherry;  $12 per bottle
  • Fruit and Sweet Wine: 2013 Arcturos Late Harvest Riesling, Rich apricot, pear and honeysuckle notes   $17.50 per bottle
  • Sweet Red Wine: Artisan – Fruit driven with very soft tannins; $13.50 per bottle
  • Dessert Wine: Sirius Raspberry Dessert Wine – excellent!!!  $27.50 per bottle
  • Dry White Wine: 2013 Arcturos Pinot Noir Rose: Bright & fresh berry fruit notes; $13.50 per bottle
  • Dry Red Wine: 2012 Arcturos Pinot Noir, peppery; bright berry nose delicately touched with spicy oak; $25.00
  • 2012 Vintners Select: Rich dark fruit flavors and a hint of cocoa and spice $25.00
  • 2012 Arcturos Cabernet Franc: Raspberry & blackberry with herbal spicy oaks $28.50 per bottle

Recommended:  Red House Red – fruit driven with layered flavors and hints of oak;  $14.50 per bottle

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A Premium Flight included 5 wines from the regular list, 1 from the Reserve List and a complimentary wine glass.  There were quite a few wine selections from which to choose.  A Reserve Tasting included 2 selections of their more expensive wines for $5.  For $5, Black Star Farms offered a sample of their dessert wine.   I decided on trying their Ice Wine Sample Tasting for $5, which included the 2013 A Capella Ice Wine. The grapes for this wine were frozen on the vine and then picked and immediately pressed.  This process results in an extremely concentrated dessert wine exploding with the flavors of ripe fruit, exotic flowers and subtle spices.  It could be purchased for $92.50 per bottle.

Before continuing on to my next winery, I realized it would be best if I ordered something to eat at Black Star Farms’  Hearth  & Vine Cafe and decided on the Arugula Pizza.  While I would have preferred to have ordered the Cured Meats and Aged Cheese Board, the serving size would have been more than enough food for at least two guests.

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Driving further north on the Old Mission Wine Trail, I found another highly recommended winery, the Chateau Chantal.  Charming wine barrels posed at the entrance and fabulous views of the vineyard from the tasting room added to the experience of tasting some of the best wines Michigan has to offer.

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I was greeted by the Sommelier (pronounced So-Mo-Yare), who recommended a few wines after learning that I love the dry reds and fruity locals.   For only $3 I had the option to choose five wines or for the same price I could have opted for the pre-designed flight.  The wines I chose included:  Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc, Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider (new), Cherry Wine, Last Harvest Riesling and Nice Red.

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At the time of my tasting, there were twenty-four wines as well as six brandies and dessert wines.  My first choice was the Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc 2012 retailing at $26 per bottle. It was described as “rich with red berry flavors and is robust but not aggressive”.  My next selection was a new product listed as a semi dry wine, the Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider.  It was created from Michigan Golden Delicious and Gala apples.  It was such a light tasting wine and not as dry as I had expected.  I bought a bottle to enjoy that evening which cost me only $12.

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Wine Sample number three was Cherry Wine, which was appropriate as Michigan is the Cherry Capitol of the Nation.  I had to buy a bottle of this to enjoy at a later date, especially for hanging out by the pool on a hot day.  This wine was another great buy for only $10.  The winery suggests having this wine with pork, chicken, beef, salads and sunny days.

Before ending my tasting with the Nice Red, I selected the Late Harvest Riesling ($16).  I was drawn to this wine by the description it was given…it is “sweet, but it has something a lot of sweet wines don’t have – acidity to give it backbone and structure. The nose is lively lime, honeysuckle & Gala apples. The palate is light-bodied but the fruit & acidity are lively & the sugar & alcohol give a little viscosity to it”.  They suggest drinking this wine with spicy Asian dishes and fruited desserts.

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My last wine was the Nice Red ($10), which was served chilled.  It is a “fruity, semi-sweet wine made from a blend of the first red grapes.” It was an excellent selection to round out my tasting and I learned that it could be served with most any type of food…I had to buy a bottle.   Three fabulous wines for just a little over $30.

I was sad to leave Chateau Chantal, but I had made plans for lunch. Just as customary with most wineries, the venue can be rented out for special occasions and events.  In addition there is a bed and breakfast on the grounds, perfect for a long weekend stay.

What do you think of the wineries in Michigan? I would love to hear your recommendations or to hear about your experience at Black Star Farms or Chateau Chantal.  Please leave a message below in the comments section. Many thanks for reading about my visit to some of the amazing wineries in Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Black Star Farms
360 McKinley Road
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:  231 944 1270

Hours of operation are seasonal, so check out the website to confirm when the winery is open.

Visit the Heart and Vine cafe for simple meals which are absolutely delicious!

Chateau Chantal
15900 Rue de Vin
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:   231 223 4110

Hours of operation are seasonal, visit the website to confirm when the winery is open.

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The Vineyard at Black Star Farms

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The Wine Press at Chateau Chantal

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About Me!

I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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