I'm getting ready to fly out tomorrow to take part in an epic trip ... a 3000 mile race across America! I'll be in the media van documenting the brave souls that are taking on America's roads by bike.
Be sure to subscribe to The Travel Bite (click here) and stay up-to-date on my where abouts in the United States.
Still wondering, "What is Race Across America?" Check out the video below to find out ...
This summer has a lot of exciting new journeys in store for me. For one, I'm starting a new blog. After spending years visiting inns and collecting quite a menagerie of breakfast recipes, it's time to expand. This summer I'm launching a new site, The Travel Bite, that will be my personal travel blog and the place I share my love of travel and food. But don't fret, for everything inn, b&b and breakast related ... you'll still find it here on Inn The Kitchen.
This weekend I'll be flying out to LA to participate on the media team for Race Across America (RAAM). Be sure to subscribe and follow on Twitter to stay up-to-date on my 3000 mile road trip across America following inspiring cyclists from all over the world as they peddle fast from coast to coast. We'll be doing the live video updates on http://www.raceacrossamerica.org
As I'm gearing up to spend a couple of weeks doing a 3000 mile road trip from LA to Maryland to follow RAAM, I'm taking a closer look at road food. The small "mom and pop" type of diners that you discover while driving back roads state-to-state across America. Even in Europe I took a couple of short road trips and found some great eats along the way. My friends there thought it was strange that I'd rather take a car then a train. But fan and follower, Sam Turner, shares my sentiment for finding tasty and casual treats such as pizza and steak frites. Here are his favorite finds ...
Traveling for Food: Three Great European Dishes
by Sam Turner
Europe offers many delights for travelers interested in culture, art, gorgeous scenery and, most importantly, food. 
Foodies will love the chance to sample amazing dishes in different European nations: indeed, this relatively small geographical area has so much variety for your palette and you will be able to find something delicious whether you are on a trip to Paris or a Gran Canaria holiday. Here are three dishes that you absolutely have to try.
Steak Frites - Paris
Steak frites is practically an institution in France and nothing really sums up the Parisian experience like sitting down to one of these feasts. Everywhere you go you will find this dish executed brilliantly with delicious fries and steak covered in creamy pepper sauce that will linger in your memories for years. If you’re looking for somewhere specific try Au Boeuf Couronné, a restaurant that has been in business for over a hundred years, yet you’re likely to get something fantastic wherever you look.
Pizza – Naples
Pizza is undoubtedly one of the most popular foods in the world and you can find it in bars, fancy restaurants and cluttered dorm rooms. A trip to Europe should include a pilgrimage to the home of this legendary dish: Naples. The pies here are incredibly simple and are made up of only sauce, cheese, olive oil and basil leaves – after some time in a word burning oven they will change your whole conception of this delicious dish. The best place to indulge is Da Michele, a 19th century pizzeria, though there are a few other famous spots that are worth trying too.
Fresh Fish – The Canary Islands
European cuisine is not just cheese, beef and potatoes (though thankfully much of it is) and you can find some delicious, fresh dishes that are bit lighter. The Canary Islands, an archipelago very popular with tourists, has some amazing fresh fish that will delight those looking for something healthy. It is prepared very simply on the grill to ensure that you can appreciate the natural taste. Of course, the delights of fresh seafood are not limited to the Canary Islands and you can find great fish in Greek, Turkey, the UK and anywhere else next to the sea.
Sam Turner is a Canadian writer based in Toronto, though he spends most of his time jetting across the Atlantic on European trips. He loves writing about food, outdoor adventures and live music.
Here's a guest post from Twitter friend, @SanteFeTraveler. I'm looking forward to driving through Santa Fe this summer and hope to have the time to stop by one of these recommended museums ...
Santa Fe is a hub of art, history and culture and the city’s ten museums highlight that. For a small city (2010 census figures put the population at a little over 75,000) that’s a lot of museums. They all have a distinct character and are worth a visit. If time is short, here are my five top picks:
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture: The mission of this museum located across from the Folk Art Museum on Museum Hill’s Millman Plaza, is “to inspire appreciation for and knowledge of the diverse native arts, histories, languages, and cultures of the Greater Southwest.” There are two long-term exhibits, Here, Now, and Always and The Buchsbaum Gallery of Southwestern Pottery. And while you’re there, visit the Colleen Cloney Duncan Museum Shop. It’s a great place to pick up contemporary Native American handcrafted items. They offer pottery, textiles, jewelry, sculptures, kachinas, baskets and more. They also have a collection of books about native culture.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: If you are an O’Keeffe fan this is a must see. The small museum only has a fraction of its collection on view at any time. Thanks to a generous bequest by the now disbanded O’Keeffe Foundation, they own the largest collection of the artist’s work in the world. They also own the O’Keeffe Home and Studio in Abiquiu, NM open for tours between March and November. Exhibits at the museum change about three times a year; when there’s a changeover, the museum closes for about two weeks. If the O’Keeffe is a must-see for you, plan your visit accordingly.
Museum of International Folk Art: One of two State-run museums on Santa Fe’s Museum Hill (Camino Lejo),
the museum, opened in 1953, has the largest collection of folk art in the world. There are four wings, each charged with a different mission:
Bartlett Wing: When the museum first opened in 1953, this was the entire extent of the museum. It’s expanded over the years. Named for museum founder, Florence Dibell Bartlett it now houses changing textile exhibits. The wing’s cutting-edge Gallery of Conscience exhibits work from folk artists around the globe. It also examines the issues these artists face in the contemporary world.
Gerard Wing: This newly renovated gallery is home to the long-running exhibit, Multiple Visions: A Common Bond, the folk art collection donated by architect and designer Alexander Girard. Displays include colorful artifacts from over 100 countries on six continents. Kids love it here and if you have a sense of whimsy, you will too. It’s easy to leave with a smile on your face.
Hispanic Heritage Wing: This section of the museum displays folk art from New Mexico and Hispanic areas around the world.
Neutrogena Wing: The two galleries here have different missions: the Cotsen Gallery houses the museum’s extensive collection of textiles. Lloyd’s Treasure Chest allows visitors to discover a little of what goes on behind the scenes at the museum.
NM History Museum: the newest addition to the Museum of New Mexico (opened in May 2009. The permanent exhibit, Telling New Mexico, Stories From Then and Now, tells the history of New Mexico from the Pueblo people, here before the arrival of the Spanish through the present. This is supplemented by short-term exhibits. If you’re interested in history, this is a great place to check out. The gift shop here has a wonderful selection of Native American and Hispanic art. The museum complex includes the Palace of the Governors, the oldest government building in the United States and the Fra Angelico Research Library.
New Mexico Museum of Art: The wonderful pueblo-style building, home to The New Mexico Museum of Art, was built in 1917. It’s located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe; on Palace Avenue just west of the Plaza. It‘s fitting that the core of the permanent collection consists of works by southwest artists. The concentration is on New Mexico artists dating back to around 1880. Some of the better known artists in the collection are: Georgia O'Keeffe, Elliot Porter, Gustave Baumann, Fritz Scholder and Maria Martinez. The museum also has short-term exhibits; some are created in-house and some are traveling exhibits mounted by other museums. A must-see: the frescos on the courtyard walls painted by renowned Santa Fe Artist Will Shuster as a WPA project in the 1930s. The museum houses the Saint Francis Auditorium, an intimate concert venue. It’s one of the concert spaces used by the prestigious New Mexico Chamber Music Festival held each summer.
The other five museums in town are also worth a visit. Narrowing down the field was a difficult task. In case you want to check out the others, here are their websites:
Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts
Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
Billie Frank has over twenty-five years experience in sales, marketing and customer service. In 2004 she began a career in the hospitality industry at a small inn outside of Santa Fe, NM. After leaving that position, she worked as a concierge at two Four-Diamond hotels in Santa Fe for over four years. Billie is co-owner of The Santa Fe Traveler, a travel concierge and trip-planning service. She writes a travel blog, Santa Fe Travelers. You can also follow her on Twitter
Photo Credit: Steve Collins
