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Kids Sail Free on Disney Cruises

donna.airoldi — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:58:29 GMT

Disney Cruise Line is offering a “Kids Free” special on some of its sailings this winter and spring.

Guests 12 and under can sail free on three-night voyages aboard the Disney Wonder when accompanied by two full-fare paying guests within the same stateroom. This offer is valid for most sailings from Jan. 22 to May 28, 2009, and covers a variety of stateroom categories, ranging from deluxe family staterooms with verandas to standard inside staterooms. The cruises depart from Port Canaveral, Fla.

The Disney Wonder recently launched a 3-D cinematic experience in both the Walt Disney and Buena Vista Theatres where guests can view first-run, full-length 3-D films such as Walt Disney Pictures’ Bolt and the upcoming Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience.

There are a limited number of staterooms available for this special offer, however, so book fast before they’re all taken. Though the cruise for those 12 and under is free, guests will be responsible for all related taxes and fees.

To book or for more details on the “Kids Free” offer, visit www.disneycruise.com/kidsfree or call Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500. Mention or input booking code “FREE” when making the reservation.

Getaway Gifts: Treat Yourself While on the Road

donna.airoldi — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:45:40 GMT

(The following post was contributed by TravelMuse writer Laurie Bain Wilson.)

Travel is a great way for families to experience the holiday season’s joys, and it’s just as fun to unwrap the surprises that visiting a new destination brings than getting a handful of gifts. Here are some far-flung and close-to-home ideas for getaways where you can enjoy the holidays.

Canada

Our neighbor to the north beckons families to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler with its dozens of 12- to 14-foot tall Christmas trees all gussied up and in display in the lobby. But the best part of staying here for the holidays because each guestroom gets a fresh, live tree and decorations so families can create a home away from home. Nice touch: The trees are planted after Christmas at the resort’s golf course and surrounding areas. Call 866-540-4424 or visit www.fairmont.com/whistler. (Read our recent Whistler coverage!)

Across the Pond

Christmas in Europe is steeped in tradition thanks, in part, to the hundreds of authentic Christmas markets that are visually stunning and spiritually uplifting. In Austria, there is a Christkindlmarkt on in most cities throughout the country. One of the most engaging markets for children is Rathausplatz, a classic Christmas market in Vienna, located on the square in front of the City Hall. In addition to food and gifts and gluhwein (mulled wine) there is a collection of elaborately decorated trees in the square. Inside City Hall is where kids delight in Christkindls Werkstatt, the setting for thousands of kids to decorate cookies and make gifts. For more information about Austria’s Christmas markets visit the Vienna Board of Tourism at www.wien.info.

Oregon

Old-fashioned sleigh rides are free for resort guests at Sunriver Resort, located in Sunriver, Oregon, 15 miles from Bend. The resort also holds the distinction of boasting Central Oregon’s biggest holiday light display. Kids can have breakfast with Santa, enjoy a teddy bear tea and get an elf tuck-in. Bonus: Family Christmas sing-along concerts. Call 800-801-8765 or visit www.sunriver-resort.com.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

The combo of Western, Hispanic and Native American traditions make celebrating Christmas here a true cultural experience. Farolitos, small bags filled with sand and lit from within by votives, are Santa Fe’s traditional Christmas decoration and you’ll see them everywhere you go here, especially on Christmas Eve when Santa Fe Plaza, the city’s heart and soul, is decorated with 1,000 farolitos; cider is served, carols are sung and you can walk from here to the nearby Cross of the Martyrs, also outlined by farolitos. You’ll also see luminarias, small bonfires that are believed to have lighted the way for the Three Wise Men to Mary and the baby *****.

Make reservations at one of Santa Fe’s many restaurants to dig into the traditional Christmas meal of posole (dried corn like hominy in a thick soup or stew with chiles.) The Santa Fe ski area, known as Ski Santa Fe, located 16 miles from the Plaza, typically has all 43 of its runs open by Christmas. For more information, visit www.santafe.org.

New England

Dog sledding has become a popular New England adventure, and one of the few places you can do it is at the historic Mount Washington Hotel nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The resort also offers sleigh rides, snowshoeing, and skiing. Kids can snuggle in front of a fire with eggnog or cider and then get tucked in by one of Santa’s elves. Bonus: The “Family Fun for the Holidays” camp offers supervised day and evening activities for kids ages 4 to 12. Call 800-258-0330 or visit www.mountwashingtonhotel.com.

In Boston, lace up your ice skates and trace figure eights at Frog Pond at the Boston Common, America’s oldest park. Take skating lessons at the Boston Common Skating School; they make a nice holiday gift. The school offers classes for kids as young as 3, plus hockey skating lessons for your budding Gretzky. Call 617-635-2120 or visit www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org.

Keep the skating theme going and reserve the Disney on Ice Presents World of Fantasy package at The Langham, Boston hotel. The package includes accommodations for four, use of the fitness center and indoor pool, a Disney gift and four tickets to Disney on Ice’s Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey production (Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.) Rates begin at $199 per night. Call 800-791-7761 for more information on the package.

24 Hours in Sausalito

donna.airoldi — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:46:31 GMT

During my week in California this month, I managed to spend 24 hours in Sausalito, a lovely tourist town with Italian and shipping-industry roots located on the waterfront a short hop across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Wonderful dining, shopping and simply relaxing are what attract people to the community.

If you stay in the heart of Sausalito—Bridgeway Boulevard is the main drag—most places you’ll be interested in are within walking distance. Here are a few highlights from my jaunt:

Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa. Even though the staff were wonderful at Casa Madrona, I have to give the hotel an overall mixed review. However the spa at Madrona is well worth a visit. I managed to snag a one-hour massage appointment ($95) the afternoon I arrived. My therapist, Sean, was fantastic. He combined Swedish and Deep Tissue techniques to work out tension in my neck, shoulders and back—regular sore spots for us writers and editors. The spa has nine treatment rooms and is open daily until 9 p.m., but it’s recommended you book before your stay to ensure you get your preferred time slot.

Casa Madrona suite; Casa Madrona Artist’s Cottage room; Scoma’s.

Scoma’s. This seafood restaurant came highly recommended from a local, and it did not disappoint. The New England clam chowder was thick and chock full of delicious clams; the fish and chips were a hit—light, flaky and in a coating that was not at all greasy; the local linscott, a white fish, was perfectly sauteed and served with crisp green beans and buttered corkscrew pasta. (There’s a branch in San Francisco on Pier 47.) Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Try Il Piccolo Caffé & Art Gallery on the waterfront, where Bridgeway and Princess Street meet, for authentic Italian sandwiches and pastries. Excellent coffee and perfectly-sized homemade chocolate croissants (three bites) hit the spot. You can sit outside and watch the sailboats go by.

Il Piccolo Caffé; Winship Restaurant; shops on Princess Street.

For a heartier breakfast, we enjoyed the Winship Restaurant, located in a building that served as the town’s first general store in 1875. I devoured the Joe’s Special—ground beef, eggs, baby spinach and onions, served with potatoes and toast. The Poached Eggs on Grilled Salmon Potato Cakes and the Eggs Benedict were hits with my dining companions. If bringing children, parents are asked to monitor their behavior and make sure they stay in their seats so as not to disturb other diners.

Sausalito is packed with boutiques, children’s stores and the obligatory tourist shops. For a wonderful selection of local, New York and European designers and fashionable items, don’t miss Arlecchina on Princess Street. The owner carries the fun Stiletto and Beebop & Wally labels. For lovely culinary items there’s the Venice Gourmet Deli, (625 Bridgeway), where you can also grab excellent sandwiches to go. You can also shop for its goods online.

Or enjoy the deli’s food while chatting with the locals at the No Name Bar, a wonderful old dive bar on Bridgeway near the Casa Madrona which caters its meals from the deli. The bar has live music most nights and jazz on Sunday afternoons.

A harbor morning; jazz at the No Name Bar.

(All photos by D.M. Airoldi.)

44 Free Things to Do in D.C. for the 44 Days Until the Inauguration of U.S.’s 44th President

donna.airoldi — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:42:40 GMT

Today, Dec. 7 is typically remembered as the anniversary date of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, which marked the U.S. entrance into World War II. This year it also happens to be the 44th day until the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, on Jan. 20, 2009.

Those of you planning to attend the inauguration in Washington, D.C., should check out our Inauguration Day Tips article written by one of TravelMuse’s contributing writers, Debbie K. Hardin, who used to head up the communications department at the White House.

We’ll be featuring additional articles from Debbie on what to do in D.C. during inauguration week later this month, but the folks at Destination DC, the city’s tourism and marketing bureau, have pulled together a list of 44 free or affordable experiences to kick off the countdown starting today.

1. Stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech and where Marian Anderson performed her historic 1939 Easter concert.

2. Catch a free concert featuring Aretha Franklin on Jan. 19 at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

3. Explore famous and infamous moments in history by following the “Civil War to Civil Rights” heritage trail through downtown D.C.

4. Visit the newly remodeled National Museum of American History, where you can view a copy of the Gettysburg Address on loan from the White House. The theme of Obama’s inauguration, “A New Birth of Freedom,” is taken from the Gettysburg Address. Look for Obama’s name in the “American Presidents” exhibition.

5. See poignant images from the Civil Rights era on display in the Road to Freedom exhibition of more than 200 powerful photographs at the Smithsonian Institution’s Ripley Center, on display through March 9.

6. Make your way to Capitol Hill’s newest attraction, the state-of-the-art Capitol Visitor Center.

7. Live Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy by joining a volunteer program through Serve D.C.

8. Check out the presidential portraits on display at the National Portrait Gallery.

9. Tour the magnificent Library of Congress and test out its new interactive exhibits, like the re-creation of Thomas Jefferson’s original library.

10. Only Bill Cosby and the Obama Family can eat for free at D.C.’s legendary Ben’s Chili Bowl — but visitors can soak in the local flavor and chow down on the cheap with their signature half-smokes for just $5 or a chili dog for $3.60.

11. Cheer on the Inaugural Parade along Pennsylvania Avenue on Jan, 20.

12. Watch a peaceful sunset at the Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue).

13. Read the headlines from newspapers from around the world outside the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue. [Read our Newseum article

14. Learn what it was like to be a guest at a past presidential inauguration through The Honor of Your Company is Requested: President Lincoln’s Inaugural Ball, a special exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

15. Admire great works at the National Gallery of Art.

16. Say “inauguration” at The Phillips Collection admissions desk during the entire month of January and receive two-for-one admission. Take a picture of the Gandhi statue at the Indian Embassy, located just a few feet away.

17. Be a part of history on the National Mall and witness Obama’s swearing-in on Jan. 20. The entire length of the Mall will be open to the public.

18. Watch the changing of the guards at Arlington National Cemetery.

19. Stop by the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac for some quiet reflection.

20. Follow the Greater U Street Heritage Trail and discover Duke Ellington’s home and other greats along what was once known as “Black Broadway.”

21. Walk the grounds of Howard University, one of the country’s historically black colleges, and duck into the Howard University Gallery of Art. Admission is free and it boasts one of the most comprehensive representations of black artists in existence.

22. Stroll the cobblestone streets of historic Georgetown, once the stomping grounds of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Jackie Kennedy. Locate the booth at Billy Martin’s Tavern where he proposed to Jackie.

23. Stop for a photo op in front of the White House, the new home for the new First Family.

24. Visit the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Museum that explores American history, society, and creative expression from an African-American perspective.

25. Take a stroll through grand Union Station. What was once the Presidential Suite, where presidents waited to board trains and greeted foreign dignitaries, is now B. Smith’s Restaurant.

26. See breathtaking photos and fascinating exhibitions at the National Geographic Museum.

27. Explore the diverse cultures of Africa at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art.

28. Pay respect to those who served at home and abroad at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and National World War II Memorial.

29. Listen in on native folktales or catch a cultural performance at the National Museum of the American Indian.

30. Visit D.C.’s newest memorials, the Pentagon Memorial and the U.S. Air Force Memorial.

31. Get to know a Lincoln contemporary by touring Frederick Douglass’s historic home, Cedar Hill (advance reservations: $1.50). While there, you’ll enjoy one of the best views of the Washington cityscape.

32. Take a hike on Theodore Roosevelt Island and Memorial and find inspiration in the quotes from the environmentalist president, engraved on the memorial plaza.

33. Browse local art and sample fresh fare at Capitol Hill’s Eastern Market (Saturday and Sunday).

34. See a public mural featuring Barack Obama outside neighborhood hotspot Marvin (at 14th & U), named for D.C.’s own Marvin Gaye.

35. All those visitors coming in for inauguration? You can watch their many, many airplanes take off and land at Reagan National Airport from popular park Gravelly Point, located on the Potomac River.

36. Watch skaters glide on the ice (or join in the fun—adults $7 for 2 hours) as you take in the outdoor art at the National Gallery of Art’s sculpture garden and ice skating rink.

37. See the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights at the National Archives, then stick around to research your own family’s immigration records.

38. Brush elbows with a genius with a visit to the Albert Einstein Memorial.

39. Walk east of the Capitol to Lincoln Park to see the Emancipation Statue, the city’s first memorial to Honest Abe, along with a statue honoring African-American education pioneer Mary McLeod Bethune.

40. Stop by the African-American Civil War Memorial on U Street.

41. Experience one of the world’s most moving museums, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

42. Build your horticultural IQ inside the U.S. Botanic Garden.

43. Find literary inspiration for your own presidential address at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

44. Climb inside a cockpit and touch a moon rock at the National Air & Space Museum.

For more information, travel tips and advice, log on to Destination DC’s official inauguration Web site, www.washington.org/inauguration.

Travel Bloggers Give Back With ‘Passports With Purpose’ Raffle

donna.airoldi — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:26:04 GMT

‘tis the season to be giving, fa la la la la, la la la la.

I don’t know about you, but I always feel better when I take the time to volunteer time or donate to a good cause, not just during the holiday season, but year-round. Turns out we have some terrific women in the travel blogosphere who have taken time out of their very busy lives to help make it easier for all of us to give to a worthy cause this holiday season: Heifer International, a global organization with a mission to end world hunger.

How, you ask? With the First Annual Passports With Purpose Raffle.

Here’s the deal:

Several travel industry companies (including TravelMuse) have donated cool travel items and packages, most valued at $100 or more, for readers to lust after, from discounts and gift certificates for hotels, camera shops, and travel gear and gadgets, to complimentary tours and free nights accommodations at resorts. You can check them out on the Passports With Purpose page on Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Each prize has an ID. Write down the ones you want, then head over to the Passports With Purpose page at First Giving, which is facilitating the raffle.

For each $10 donation you make, you’ll be entered into the raffle for the prize of your choice. Please be sure to enter the prize code in the comments field on the form, and don’t hide your e-mail address as it’ll be needed to inform you if you won your prizes. (You do want more than one, don’t you?)

You can make as many donations as you want between now and 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, Dec. 29, 2008. So tell all your friends, and donate early and donate often (to paraphrase from a favored political idiom from my hometown of Chicago)!

You’ll receive a receipt for each donation, and if you work for a company that has a matching gift program, please provide that information when making your donation. Every bit helps.

All proceeds go directly to Heifer International, save for a small processing fee for First Giving. Winners will be selected Dec. 30.

Who do we have to thank for organizing this terrific event? Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby, Beth Whitman of Wanderlust and Lipstick, Michelle Duffy of WanderMom and Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View. A big thanks to you all for launching this effort.

So what are you waiting for? Travel on over to Passports With Purpose and give, give, give!

Happy Holidays from Hyatt Hotels

donna.airoldi — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:54:16 GMT

The 12 days of Christmas have arrived a little early this year.

Hyatt Hotel’s and Resorts first-ever global sale — You’re More Than Welcome — offers 21 percent savings at nearly 350 properties around the globe. The sale went into effect Dec. 1 and lasts just 12 days in some locations, so act fast. Now you can afford that splurge at a luxe Park Hyatt property, or pocket even more savings when visiting relatives this season by staying at the family-friendly Summerfield Suites.

Photo: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa

U.S., Canadian and Caribbean Bookings

For participating properties in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, reservations must be made by Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 for stays through Feb. 1, 2009. Most of the company’s brands and properties are participating in the sale, including the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa, so snowbirds can still take advantage of the savings. All other Park Hyatt properties in the United States, Canada and Caribbean are not offering the discount.

Other Global Reservations

Remaining Park Hyatt hotels around the world and Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency hotels in 38 countries outside of the United States, Canada and the Caribbean are making the 21 percent discount available for reservations booked at least seven days in advance of arrival for stays through Feb. 1, 2009.

How To Save

Make your Hyatt reservation online and be sure to use the offer code LTP107 or call 800-233-1234.

Happy savings!

What to Do If You’re In a Foreign Country During a Crisis

donna.airoldi — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:48:01 GMT

With today’s terrible attacks in Mumbai, the airport shutdown in Bangkok and the potential for additional travel disruptions in other spots around the globe, it’s important to know what to do and where to get updated information should you find yourself in a foreign country during a crisis.

Here’s a compilation of information from the U.S. Department of State’s travel site:

India: U.S. citizens concerned about the wellbeing of friends and family in India can call this hotline for information: 888-407-4747. The U.S. Consulate General office in Mumbai will be open for emergency passport issuance beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27. U.S. citizens who have immediate travel plans and have lost or damaged passports can come directly to the Consulate to obtain an emergency replacement passport.

Thailand: American citizens traveling in Thailand are encouraged to register with the Department of State or with the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, online or in person at 95 Wireless Road. The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by phone at 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK at State dot gov. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.

General Post-Crisis Recommendations

Monitor the Department of State site (http://www.state.gov/), Bureau of Consular Affairs home page and the home page for the U.S. Embassy in the foreign country for up-to-date information about the crisis.

Contact your family in the United States to reassure them of your whereabouts and safety.

Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate if you need help.

Be sure to register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on-line, by phone, e-mail, fax or in person. Registration helps consular staff contact you if necessary and allows you to receive situation updates.

Monitor Voice of America and BBC broadcasts for announcements.

U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov.

Check Consular Information Program documents onlne for threat updates. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or, outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except on U.S. federal holidays).

Crisis Preparedness

Many of the above tips are good for pre-crisis preparedness too, such as registering with the local consulate whenever you are traveling to a destination with a heightened threat risk. Read more government tips.

For additional information, visit:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1187.html for post-crisis tips and
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1205.html for how to get help in a foreign country.

Tipping the Scales of Luggage Justice

donna.airoldi — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:31:23 GMT

As if travelers didn’t have enough to deal with when traveling by air, add luggage weight to the mix. Sure, we all know that overweight bags are going to cost us extra, but just whether or not a bag is accurately over the limit is at issue.

New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs recently led an investigation which found that of 102 scales of 810 total—14 percent of the scales at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and 4 percent of those at LaGuardia Airport (LGA)—overestimated the weight of bags by a pound or more, according to the New York Daily News.

With some airlines charging up to $100 per overweight bag, that’s a lot of dough for a few innocent pounds.

The worst offender appears to be American Airlines, with 28 scales off balance, according to the New York Post.

The city warned the airlines to correct the scales, and on a follow-up inspection most of the imbalanced machines had been recalibrated, except for 10 American Airlines scales, which were still off and have been marked with red “condemned” stickers, so passengers should try to avoid using lanes with those scales. The airline was fined $1,500.

American charges $15 for the first checked bag under 50 pounds and $25 for the second bag. Bags between 51 and 70 pounds cost $50; those weighing more than 70 pounds cost $100. In some cases, it would be cheaper to check a second bag than pay the fine on an overweight piece of luggage.

My question is, what if this is happening at more airports across the country, or even globally? While a majority of the scales used by airlines are accurate, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. On a recent trip, one of my bags weighed in at exactly 50 pounds; I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized I hadn’t tipped the scales to a higher fee. And you can be certain I’ll weighing my bag at home before catching my flight on American next week, just to be safe.

Have any TravelMusings readers been suspicious of overweight baggage charges during their travels?

Disney Goes Hawaiian

donna.airoldi — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:31:49 GMT

Sorry for the back-to-back Disney info this week, but I wanted to share the news that Walt Disney Parks and Resorts broke ground yesterday for its first family destination resort in Hawaii. The event included a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony for the 21-acre property, which will be part of the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development project on the west side of the island of Oahu. Disney paid $144 million for the site. What makes this project unique for Disney is that it will not include a Disney theme park, nor be located near one.

Mickey and Minnie get in on the groundbreaking action. (Credit: Disney Vacation Club)

The resort plans are still being finaliized, but currently call for 350 hotel rooms, 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas, an expansive pool and water play area, an 18,000-square-foot spa, two restaurants, a wedding lawn, a children's club, a water way with family friendly tubes and body slides that will weave through volcanic rockwork and include an iconic caldera volcano, a wading pool for parents with toddlers, a sprawling zero-entry fun pool and a saltwater snorkel lagoon filled with a variety of exotic fish. The project is currently scheduled to open in 2011.

Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, noted that Disney chose to build a resort on Oahu due to the international popularity of Hawaii as a family vacation destination, and in keeping with Disney being such a strong a family-oriented brand, that the design also calls for activities and amenities that aim to engage every member of the family.

The resort also is being designed to respect and connect with the local culture of the Hawaiian islands, and the property will include cultural programming in the areas of environmental education, music, dance, history, and arts and crafts.

Question is, will you be willing to book a Disney resort vacation that does not include a theme park?

Chilling Out in London’s Clapham

donna.airoldi — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:44:49 GMT

One of the great things about having friends in foreign cities is that you can visit them and get an insider’s view of their local neighborhoods. Clapham, in South London, is the place I’ve gotten to know better recently, as I have two friends from the United States currently living there. (One is actually in adjacent Wandsworth.)

I spent a few days exploring the neighborhood prior to attending World Travel Market this past week, and here are three places that I can recommend if you too find yourself south of the Thames on your next jaunt across the pond.

The Clapham North

For a modern pub atmosphere where you can sit by the fire and chat with locals or gather around one of the TVs to watch the latest European football game, check out The Clapham North. It couldn’t be easier to find: Take the Northern tube line to the Clapham North stop, exit and cross the street. The food on offer is a step above typical pub grub, with overtones of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. While not out-of-this-world wonderful, the burger and steak with chips (fries) were solidly good. There are wine and cocktail lists, but surprisingly no ale on tap. But don’t despair, you can get Guinness, Hoegaarden and Leffe (although given my allergy to beer, I stuck with the Lagavulin).
http://www.theclaphamnorth.co.uk/index.html

The Loft lounge area. Photo by: Donna M. Airoldi

The Loft

This popular cocktail lounge was voted Time Out London’s Best Bar 2008, and it’s a favorite of both my fiends in the area. Blink and you’ll miss the small entry door, but once you’re up the stairs to its second-floor home, the room opens to a long space with terrific views of London and Clapham High Street, the main drag of the neighborhood. The Loft features more than 50 cocktails and 25 beers on the menu, with additional specials offered regularly. The Vesper Martini, in honor of Casino Royale, had the perfect mix of gin, vodka and Lillet. Other concoctions featured ingredients ranging from passionfruit to chili peppers. The space contains a restaurant as well, with both bar and dinner menus. The platter of flatbreads, crudities, meatballs, and spicy chorizo served with homemade hummus, babaganoush and taramosalata was mighty tasty.
http://theloft-clapham.co.uk/

Chez Bruce

Chez Bruce, a Michelin-starred restaurant provided what was by far my favorite meal of the trip. It actually is located in Wandsworth Common, which is near Clapham. We lingered over a three-hour lunch that started with a wonderful pappardelle of braised oxtail, bacon and parmesan cheese and ended with a selection from about 20 artisenal cheeses. The butternut squash soup with ricotta dumpling, sage beurre noisette and pine nuts; confit belly and burger of pork with choucroute, cavolo nero and grain mustard; and fillet of cod with olive oil mash, ratatouille and oregano also were fantastic. The lunch menu is prix fixe, with a choice of one to four courses, ranging from £14.50 to £35.50 (at time of publishing about $21.50 to $53). I strongly encourage including a cheese plate as one of your courses for a £4 ($6) supplement. We tried eight. All but one were excellent, the Coolea hard cheese from Cork in Ireland, a Hertfordshire goat cheese and Cashel Blue being favorites. Reservations recommended.
http://www.chezbruce.co.uk/