Summer Travel

With summer fast approaching it may be time to sit down with your family and discuss some options for a vacation. With this economy being so depressing, gas and grocery prices soaring and the overall worry of how to even pick the right destination, I can see how it may be challenging to approach this subject.

I want my daughter to grow up with as many interesting experiences as I can possibly provide for her. However, with these challenging times, it can be tough to come up with that special dream trip. Maybe you can't afford to have a two week stay in France touring fine wineries and eating beautiful triple creme cheese. But I bet you can afford to go through Illinois for a taste of their amazing wine region followed by a trip to Wisconsin for a cheese tour. That trip to China may just be way too expensive, but going to Chinatown in DC, San Francisco or NYC may fit right into your budget. 

This economy while very hard to deal with sometimes, can give way a path to rediscover food, creativity and interesting neighborhoods that may have been overlooked for a more notable location. The people that live in our beautiful cities have stories and recipes to share. Even in some smaller cities and states, like Nebraska or Indiana there can be such amazing food and culture to discover. 

When I was working for Senator Clinton's campaign in Iowa, I discovered that there was quite a wine region there. Who knew? Discovering new places to visit with your kids can be such a wonderful bonding moment for the entire family to share. And may I suggest taking a train. You see so much more of our country that way, while saving quite a bit on gas and food stops. Whenever I can, I try and take a train. You can sit in the observation deck with your kids and discover a whole new America that way!  

I would like to share my favorite places to visit with children:

1. Washington DC: This city has it all for the family. History, art, culture and an amazing food scene! You can do your tour of Capital Hill in the daytime and enjoy international cuisine by night fall. There is everything here, from Ethiopian to true Spanish  tapas. And don't forget to sample some of the local Maryland crab cakes. Helpful hint: call your local congressman and schedule a private tour of the Capital. You will not have to stand in a huge line and you will have a much more personal and educational experience with your little ones. 
2. Chicago, IL: The amazing architecture, beautiful shore on Lake Michigan and of course the all the cool and eclectic neighborhoods. Each one boasting a unique food experience. My favorite neighborhoods in Chicago are Wicker Park/Bucktown, Logan Square and Little Village. It is said, that Little Village has the highest concentration of immigrants in the US. So you know there are some great eats there! 
3. Iowa City, IA: Okay sure, you may find this one strange, but once you visit this extremely family-friendly progressive city, you will want to move there! In the summer time, IC has a jazz concert festival, writers workshops and some really cool nightlife. 
4. Nashville, TN: This city is way beyond the old honky tonks on Broadway (which are cool don't get me wrong). There is an emerging food culture in Nashville that is imaginative, creative and very delicious! For parents that are raising their kids meat-free like me, there are great vegan-inspired bistros all over East Nashville. This trip will be good on your wallet as well as your stomachs.
5. Pittsburgh, PA: French fries ON your sandwich... say what? Pittsburgh is known for their several Super Bowl and Stanley Cup wins and unique way of say you guys "yinz going to the game" is what you will hear there. However, it is a very affordable city to visit and has a tone of things for kids to do there. While I find that every city that I get to visit has some challenges and Pittsburgh has many, it also has a great way of showing off their food. You will find that Western PA cheese is all around and some of the tastiest I have ever had. 

I hope that the summer brings great travel, bonding, and of course eating for everyone. Cheers!