HERE:
ISLAND FESTIVAL CELEBRATES FOOD & WINE
It’s not too early to snag your tickets to the Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival (June 6-9), a four-day celebration of the finest seafood and farm-fresh ingredients on the island and across New England. For 2024, the popular event moves from October to the start of the summer and greatly expands its offerings. Programs include an opening night reception at the Harbor View Hotel, three grand tastings, five private dining experiences at top restaurants around the island (pairing an island chef with a celebrated guest chef), and a new masterclass series of hands-on food experiences for those who love to cook as well as eat. Designed by several culinary experts, the masterclasses include cheesemaking, how to craft cocktails like a pro, the art of gnocchi, and an open-deck oyster farm boat tour with the owners of Cottage City Oysters. Tickets sell out quickly; prices vary per event. If you’re looking for accommodations, four hotels are offering Food & Wine Festival packages linked via the festival website: Winnetu Oceanside Resort, Harbor View Hotel, Christopher Hotel, and Edgartown Inn. www.mvfoodandwine.com/
THERE:
BACON, MUSIC, AND MORE BACON IN MACON
How can one resist touring something called the Macon Bacon Trail? Not this traveler! Inspired by Macon, Ga.’s Coastal Plain League baseball team, the Macon Bacon, the indulgent self-guided foodie tour promises all-things-bacon at 19 cafes, burger joints, pizza places, and restaurants in this historic central Georgia town. A map and links to individual locations are available online, or download the Tour Macon mobile app. Visit five to 15 spots to earn badges and redeem Macon Bacon-branded prizes at the downtown visitor center. When not indulging in pork products, explore the rich live music scene as well as the town’s cultural music heritage, including museums dedicated to Otis Redding, The Allman Brothers, Little Richard, and Capricorn Studios, a 1969 launching point for Southern Rock pioneers. https://visitmacon.org/bacontrail/
Need a place to stay? Check out the 94-key Hotel Forty Five, part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio. Occupying one of downtown Macon’s few remaining historic high-rises, the hotel is named after its location on an iconic 45-degree angle formed by Cherry and First Streets with Cotton Avenue. Each guest room and suite features deluxe bedding, artisan cabinetry, vintage design elements, and a rich contrasting color palette accented with copper. Three unique dining venues include Loom, a chef-driven restaurant (the Steak Burger with house-made bacon jam is conveniently listed on the Macon Bacon Trail); Hightales Rooftop Bar, for elegantly crafted cocktails; and Reckon Coffee Bar, for your favorite morning beverage, pastries, and breakfast on-the-go. Rates in May/June from $185. www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcntx-hotel-forty-five-macon-a-tribute-portfolio-hotel/overview/
EVERYWHERE:
CANINE TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Love to travel with your dog? Say hello to Dog Travel Gear, an online shopping hub for canine travel essentials handpicked by dog travel expert Susan Hartzler and her furry companions. From practical gear (hard-sided portable kennels) to fashionable accessories (red all-weather boots), every item in the curated selection has been dog-tested and human-approved to guarantee a successful journey. A quick perusal of the website’s offerings will remind you of things you didn’t realize your pet might need when you’re on the road: a bed with machine-washable fabrics and zippered removable covers; quilted microfiber rear car seat protector; collapsible water bowls; pack of 140 poop bags; and more. And then there are specialty items such as pet bicycle baskets; jogger no-zip stroller; and a 3-in-1 airline approved rolling pet carrier, backpack, and car seat. And who can resist 100 percent cotton Hawaiian camp shirts? On the website’s blog, “Paws on the Go,” Susan shares her knowledge about dog travel with insights on where to go and resources on what to bring. https://dogtravelgear.com/
NECEE REGIS
Necee Regis can be reached at neceeregis@gmail.com.