So, I’m daydreaming like crazy and right now I’m not thinking about beach getaways, I’m thinking about good old London, with all it’s culture and rich, homey foods. Luckily New York has many fantastic Great Britain-esque options. So, when I finally dig out of my ice cavern, here’s where you can find me:

A Salt & Battery. 112 Greenwich Ave. www.asaltandbattery.com

My first go at fish & chips was not very successful. I was hopped up on Malaria pills and on a bad layover in London that resulted in my carrying an enormous suitcase 25 blocks when I got off at the wrong tube station. So, you can understand why I wasn’t hungry and tossed most of my platter. When I was ready to try again, I ran to A Salt & Battery. Their menu of fish options and chips (“no french friend here!”) is so reminiscent of London that I can’t help sitting happily in their little window seating, munching like mad and reading Madeleine Wickham books in a really bad accent. Haddock, sole, scallops, fish cakes- they’re all here, and you can wash it down with a frosty Newcastle. They’ve also got a little shop where you can pick up the necessary imports to make your own meal at home.

Tea & Sympathy. 108 Greenwich Ave. www.teaandsympathynewyork.com

If I could make it to Manhattan today, this is the first place I’d go. This little shop is so tiny that you should prepare to sit back-to-back and squished to the side with friends you haven’t met yet. The tables are covered in old fashioned checkered table clothes and the shelves stocked with quirky teapots, from little cottages to animal figures; in that way, it reminds me of Staten Island’s Cookie Jar! Their menu is chock-full of teas, sandwiches and soups, but my favorite is the platters of scones and tea sandwiches. They come for one or many, with jams and clotted creams and are amazingly delicious. It’s a great place to reconnect and meet-up with friends for a casual lunch.

Brick Lane Curry House. East 6th Street. www.bricklanecurryhouse.com

The good people of London eat curry the way we eat Chinese takeout, and the best curry in New York is definitely Brick Lane. Curries, chutneys, veggie specials and lots of chick pea and pastry appetizers round out the authentic menu – a favorite among Londoners visiting NYC. The staff is incredibly helpful, so if you aren’t a curry fan, feel free to ask what they recommend.

Chip Shop. 3 locations citywide. www.chipshopnyc.com

Get ready for anarchy in the form of greasy, battered, crazy food at this restaurant that’s just as much eatery as it is spectacle. The menu at this punk rock themed place includes your standard fish & chips, meaty mac and tons of pies, as well as a variety of puddings and deep fried desserts. Yep, chocolate bars, twinkies… whatever you can deep fry, Chip Shop will do. And not just desserts. Deep fried pizza is on the menu, but feel free to call ahead and ask if they’ll deep fry your meal of choice. On weekends they offer a full English breakfast with (my fav) Bucks Fizz.

Nevada Smiths. 74 3rd Ave. www.nevadasmiths.net

Nevada’s is the place to watch football – and by football, I mean what we Americans call soccer. Footy matches are always on call at this tavern where they serve 20 draft beers and will mix your cocktail of choice. Another plus on this cheeky bar is that it’s a great place to meet men; ladies, if you’re single, this is the place to be. Before you go, get your football education right on their blog.

Myers of Keswick. 634 Hudson. www.myersofkeswick.com

You’ll have a hard time going back to C-Town after you visit Myers. It’s a traditional British grocery store right in the middle of New York City. On the shelves you’ll see teas, jams, candies and the ingredients you’d need to go home and make a jolly old meal. The shop is named after a British small town and has the same exact feel. Go in, wander for awhile, and ask the shopkeeper which teas you’ll need to make a proper tea cabinet at home.

These are my favorites, but if you’re into British culture, there are plenty of other places in NYC like Red Lion and LongBow. Go out and enjoy- I’ll see you when the city thaws!

photo via flickr

What’s standing in my way? A visa.

The process of obtaining a visa to a country like Brazil sounds simple at first, but there are actually a few steps involved. To save you the frustration, here’s a simple list of what you need to do before you head off to the Consulate.

• Look up the times your local consulate is open to accept visa applications. Not all are open all the time, and some only accept visa applications for a one or two hour period per day.
• Keep a file with your hotels information on your. Note the full address, including the website and phone number, and the state abbreviation of where you are going. For Rio, you’ll want RJ.
• While on the website, fill out the digital application for a tourist visa. Note the price of your visa as listed now. At the end of the process print your application, or note the application number.
• Get a money order for the amount of the visa. If you’re a journalist, escape extra charges by requesting a tourist visa.
• Also get two photos, like you would for a passport. Your local Duane Reade or CVS can usually accommodate.
• If you’ve been to Asia or Africa recently, you might need to get a Yellow Fever shot. Brazil has pretty tight standards when it comes to bringing disease into the country and it’s better to play safe than sorry.
• Take your passport, application, hotel information, money order, photos, and vaccination records to the consulate during the time listed on their website.
• It should take about a week for your visa to process, but if you are a journalist working with the tourism department, you might be able to get it expedited.

Here are a few links that might help you. Good luck!

FAQ: Brazil Visa

Passport Express: Brazilian Tourist Visa

Rio de Janeiro Wiki

States of Brazil

US State Department- Visiting Brazil

psst: click the addresses for maps!

The Heartbreaker Espresso at this chained cafe is just that: heartbreaking. grab a mug of the sweet and sugary house blend and enjoy the current art exhibition under twinkling holiday lights. They swap out the formula of the espresso with the seasons so no two trips will ever be the same.

Birch is serious coffee in a relaxing setting. Their house lend is dark and hard and perfect for a late afternoon pick me up. Also perfect is the intimate setting of the cafe. It’s a great place to meet friends or business folks and have a quiet talk right in the middle of a busy neighborhood.

Proud of their fair trade and organic coffee, Think is the kinda place where you can people watch. Everyone was eco-friendly students to non-profit backers, to start-up entrepreneurs grabs a cup here before starting their work day. Their iced coffee is light and adaptable; you can sweeten it as much as you want.

Photo via Cafe Grumpy blog

I take the opportunity in Lake Harmony to unplug and do nothing. I sit at the man made beach. I eat ice cream sundae’s. I sit on a couch and read the newspaper. This has been going on for 4 years now and for the most part, I’ve been really happy with this traditional excursion. I put it in my calendar and look forward to the one week a year when I’ll have time to dip in a pool and drink bad frozen margarita’s out of plastic cups. I love it. So, I’m not exactly sure why I felt the need to mix it up this year.

After a week of sharing a room with 7 screaming, sticky kids, you kinda wanna pull your hair out. Now, add in feuding adults, whining 20-somethings, room service that doesn’t quite understand what “we need towels” means, and, oh yeah, no wifi (aka no connection to the outer world) and you’re bound to loose it, like I did. Instead of running to the parking lot and hightailing it past the Dairy Queen into civilization, I strapped on the running shoes previously left neglected in the back of my car and went to the front desk.

“Hello! Do you have a map for the hiking trails in the area.”

“Hiking trails?”

“We’re in the middle of the woods. There’s gotta be a trail or a lookout point or something, right?”

“Oh. Well. No trails but we do lead a group *drive* up the hill to see the Split Rock. Or you can meet everyone out front and grab a Segway!”

Hi. Poster child for laziness here, but seriously. Segway? Those little black machines, all stick and tires, leave in my mind images of Pixar film Wall-E. Chunks of exhaustion, unable to get up from our little seats for fear of falling off the Earth. No sir, not me. So, how to find my way to the top without motor vehicle?

As if on mention, a team of Segway’s clattered behind me, ascending up a steep overpass that, I’m sure, is used during the winter to launch snow tubers. One by one the team members turned around and came back down, opting to do whirlies and circles in the asphalt parking lot beneath the hill instead. Placing in my earbuds, I started a slow job to the hill.

Several minutes and one intrepid older couple later, I found myself in the center of this behemoth that, from the bottom, looked to be just an anthill. Staring out above all those trees and smaller hills I had the determination to suck up the coughing gulps that stopped me in my tracks and continue up the incline. Up and up and up, till the top.

Reaching that summit I entered a dirt path that met up with a street. I wasn’t sure where I was going but chose to walk up the path, passing cabins and homes and backyards like some sort of Disney princess searching for escape from a rude and vicious queen. And finally, I reached the Split Rock. I knew I had arrived because of a make-shift pebbled parking lot full of Segway’s and one minivan.

In front of me was a split rock. Really. A rock split in half. And on the other side a pair of rickety wooden steps and a picnic table. Team Segway sat at the table at the bottom, taking MySpace-esque photos to probably share with all thier Facebook friends. Look at me on a mountain! I’ve been there but today wasn’t the day for it. Step by step I walked the stairs till I reached a small platform, barely enough room for two people, poached sensitively at the top of this split rock. I wish I could say somethign dramatic like,  “I gasped at the view!” or something, but no I didn’t. I did enjoy it though. And I sat up there, staring out over summits for a really long time. Then I climbed down and walked the other way down the dirt path. I chased those homes and backyards all the way down the dirt path, noting wooden carved totem poles and airstream trailers.

Then I walked through the door of that family resort, past 7 sticky kids, tired fiance’s, and everybody else, and jumped right in the hot tub. It occurred to me, sweating out my upset in a stone sauna, that for my “nothing” time I had done, well, something. I had seen something. I had gone somewhere. Relaxing, and the idea of doing nothing doesn’t so much mean literally being still all the time. Doing nothing means not exerting, not forcing, not complying. Something the most strenuous activity, the one that makes you sweat and curse, can be just as gentle as “nothing.”

A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of catching a quick coffee with Linda and Craig Martin. Known for Indie Travel Podcast, this dynamic couple embodies the kind of adventurous spirit I’ve always wanted to unabashedly show, but have never had the courage to fully embrace.

I learned a lot about how Indie Travel Podcast started and Craig’s hair regiment and we laughed about families reactions to traveling, both wonderful and slightly off. Linda looked across the table and asked “What about you? What are you doing?” and for the very first time in my life, I didn’t have an exact response.

I was that annoying kindergartener wearing the Yale hoodie. I was accepted to a charter High School and worked my way into college by merit and scholarship. I opened “Letters to the Editor” at the very best internships New York publishing has to offer, and bought lunch for some amazing editors that I’m shocked would even spend time with me. I stepped right into a career and wore that label for a while. But it just didn’t stick.

I mustered up the courage to look this independent couple in the eye and with a little bit of shame, tell her that I had no idea what I was doing, but I was kind-of having fun figuring it out. And they both smiled and replied, “That’s fantastic.”

Now, there are likely two responses from you, the reader, to this situation.

• You’re a traveler and this is no big deal to you. Who doesn’t want to wander, right? Who cares if you ever figure something out!
• You’re a professional, a loving mother or wife, a shop owner, really anyone who doesn’t fit into category one, and you think I’m depressed, or I’ve lost my mind, or I’ve hit a rough patch and will figure it all out soon.

And the space between those two extremes, because, yes, those are both extreme views and there are a million views surrounding those, well, that space between is where I sit.

I feel most comfortable in an airport or on a train, connected with wifi, and gadgets, and a list of places to look up once I arrive. I yearn to continue to be a successful homeowner, and continue flourishing in content and community management. I love my current work and really do feel the love back in the form of blog comments, retweets, and Facebook likes. But, I also have an intense need to be someplace new constantly, so much so, that I’m completely known for running off on weekend jaunts with a day’s notice.

And so I lie here, gadgets in hands, loaded with maps and apps; Dropbox and Evernote, and struggle to find my place between the entrepreneurs and the nomads. That’s my equator and it’s the balance I struggle to figure out every day.

What’s your balance? What line do you draw and how did you come to it? What if you have no balance: Do you live for business or pleasure, and how do you make the choice?

Whether you’d like to take a steamy shower in the glass enclosure, or enjoy a relaxing soak with a soak in the centrally located jacuzzi bathtub, you can do either- or both at the same time, plus keep your views of the forest right outside your door. If that doesn’t work, lounge on the chaise in front of the fireplace, sip from the mini bar, or find a movie on the flat screen TV. The balcony doors swing open to serene forest views. Keep the doors shut unless you want to loose your belongings to curious little forest dwellers! Combined with the resorts wifi, this is the most comfortable work location I’ve ever come across.

Back up to the main cabin, you can lay back in the heated infinity pool and watch the sun set over the forest as the bright and smart staff offers choice after choice of local beer. Inside you’ll find a bar and a fitness center, as well as a spa and restaurant, situated in front of hilly views and a cozy fireplace.

My time at Nyungwe was short, but after a week of trekking through mud, climbing up mountains, gorilla seeking, and running through fast-paced and hardcore Kigali, Nyungwe was exactly what the doctor ordered. This isn’t a Holiday Inn; luxury will cost you, however, if you can afford it, the spectacular, literally awe-inspiring views, meals crafted from local veggies and livestock, and the pure love you’ll receive from the staff, from the minute you pull up ’till you go home, is more than worth it.

Besides this being the only lodging in Rwanda where I could let my guard down (please remind me to tell you the epic battle between woman and water), I saw no better modern representation of this beautiful country of 1000 hills.

Nyungwe Forest Lodge. Gisakura, Rwanda.

Every day thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Vatican City, a tiny village nestled inside of Rome, and home to the Catholic church. Inside those imposing stone walls, the Pope and his buddies plan the rights and wrongs of guilty Catholics across the world, and in their spare time, plant gardens. After 27 years of Catholic church, time-outs issues by Brooklyn nuns, and sneaking baggy jeans in under a plaid skirt, I didn’t feel the draw to the Vatican for any specific religious reason; I’ve had enough guilt in my life. But this oasis, quiet and untouched in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities, has more to offer and maybe even something a little spiritual for the non-believer.

A little tactical information for you: You can grab a local bus near the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps that’ll take you to the gates of Vatican City in about 40 minutes. You can attempt the metro, but as many lines close midday for maintenance, you might find yourself stranded. If you’ve purchased a Roma Pass, discount card to the city (a great idea for even a quick stay), you’ll be tempted to use it here. But it won’t work. The Vatican operates on a separate city system than the rest of Rome, which means no discount applies to the museum entrance fee. From here, you’ll wind up, down, and around hallways of both traditional and modern art; statue and canvas; furniture; all between. And eventually, following this path, about an hour later, you’ll end up at the Sistine Chapel.  Tickets can be purchased online, cost 15 euros and do not grant access to any of the basilica’s as of the date of publication.

Soon after picking up tickets and maneuvering through well-kept bathrooms, I stumbled upon a tiny courtyard. My travel partner took this break as a pictorial pause, pointing and clicking at every crevice, stone work, statue, and flower in a five mile range. I decided to sit on a little bench at the far end of the courtyard and soak it all in: being in Italy, being at the Vatican, being a part of something. As I sat and watched, I noticed three specific groups of people pass through: tourists in tours, art students, older Italian women.

The tours were bright eyed and bushy tailed, stacked with DSLR’s, clicking away, pointing and murmuring. At this point in the long walk they were attentive, smart and interested in every nuance of every piece of art. Catching up with them about 30 minutes later was a different story. They were aching to rush through, pushing to see the Sistine Chapel, this holy grail of the Vatican Museum walk. Though I walked on a slower pace and perused statues with a light eye, my attentiveness had held through the end. Lesson learned, courtesy of my fellow Americans.

The art students kept a similar pace. Whether pencils, pens, camera phones, or whatever medium they chose to document the halls, they ran through with the velocity of someone on a hunt or a mission, searching for something. And when they found it, they knew. Ceiling tile, statue, stuffed beast, they’d stop all of a sudden, make the art-ponder face, sit down, and interpret. I envied their eye and ability to just know exactly what they were looking for. Like a very astute intuition. Amazing, and very unlike the indecisive American girl in the corner garden.

Finally, as I sipped my water, an elderly woman walked by. The term “walked” is an overstatement as she, hunched over, slid her way across the pavement to an area of birds, tossing bread crumbs to feed them. She packed up her bag and sauntered back the way she came, and I got the impression that this was not the first time she’d fed her feathered friends. This was ritual. This was a mutual partnership between her and the earth she visited: they’d be there for each other.

Within twenty minutes, while my partner searched for the Vatican through the lens of a digital camera, I had seen it in the people who inhabited the halls: wonder, intuition, faith. I’m sure the Pope was hidden somewhere behind some enormous door. I’m sure there was an amazing mass happening in some church, but for me, these people would create my impression of Vatican City.

Although I had a number of guides,previous trekkers, and a wealth of online reading to guide me, landing in Rwanda was still major culture shock. And although I consider myself an expert at city markets, navigating strange cuisine, and reading a map, there were many tips I couldn’t have guessed that I really wish someone had told me. Here, in no logical order, I pass them on to you.

I hope you love airports ’cause even for a seasoned travel vet, this is one long trip. It was almost mind numbing to sit through New York to London, London to Ethiopia, Ethiopia to Entebbe, and Entebbe to Kigali, and by my second hour in the barren Addis Ababa airport, I wanted to hang the white flag and head home. By the time all was said and done, I had 30 hours logged in each direction. Bring lotsa books and several plug chargers or an adapter case for your chosen form of entertainment. If you stop in Ethiopia, there is no Internet access or Wifi, save for an expensive Internet cafe. You’re better off grabbing a bench and some shut eye. But keep an ear open since gate notices are rarely in English and change sparatically. It’s an adventure under one roof.

French was the official language in Rwanda ’till just a few years ago. English is the official language now. That being said, don’t expect everyone’s English to be stellar. Throughout the city, guides, and even markets cranked out their best English, but when it came to shops, eating, and other daily activities, your new friends might have a roster of 20 or 30 words and that’s that. Like with any new country, it helps to learn a handful of words in their local tongue. Even “hello” and “goodbye” are much appreciated.

You won’t be able to exchange your money in the states. Seriously. The cashier at JFK International (New York City, people!) laughed at me when I asked for Rwandan Francs. Instead, I cashed in for a few pounds for my London layover, and exchanged the remaining pounds for francs in Kigali on a city tour. Exchanging money was a fun sidetrip, with locals begging for a few bucks right ’till you walk through the bank door. At this moment you’re looking at maybe 600 francs for every USD, at generous exchanges.

I also decided to keep some American bucks in my wallet and it worked out. After two days worth of mishaps and hardships, I was out of loot- and needed to tip. You’ll find the people of Rwanda very heartwarming and generous, and for their open love (and services. Say, pushing your truck out of a mud hole?) they like to be tipped. I ended up giving American money, which was gladly accepted.

Don’t drink the water. Just don’t. Some hotel let you know when you can’t. Others assume you know. I just wouldn’t, particularly when there’s plenty of bottled water and drinks to go around. I might also be a germophile but I carried an extra bottled water with me at all times. It came in handy at night to brush my teeth with.

You know those canvas and nylon supermarket bags everyone’s always urging you to buy for your groceries? Bring a few. Since plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda, I used one for my dirty laundry, and ended up using the other to hide the plastic bag I needed to get through Heathrow. For the record, a man carrying a thing shopping bag outside of the airport was stopped, and it was confiscated. My teeny tiny ziploc was not, although I waved it around in public by accident a few times and was greeted with shock and grief from locals.

Bring the big boy bug repellent. I’m a pretty juicy peace of meat to misquito’s and a few times they nearly picked me up and flew off with me. Besides dousing myself every morning and afternoon, I sprayed around windows and doors of each hotel, my own special little way of saying “be gone, creepers.”

If your phone is unlocked, head straight to a MTN stand when you arrive (they are the big yellow umbrellas and they’re everywhere) and spend your $2 on a Rwandan SIM card. A member of my group tweeted in the middle of the jungle while I struggled on AT&T’s International network in the middle of the city.

Hurry up and wait. Rwanda’s got it’s own schedule and doesn’t care about you, busy American. From day one, get used to rushing to your waiting spot, and then spending maybe 30 minutes to hear from or see whoever you are waiting for. Don’t fight it, it just is. And after all, you’re away from home, so why rush anyway?

A few days ago I was lucky enough to get a tour of the iconic Queen Mary 2 ocean liner, courtesy of Cunard. From the standpoint of someone who has never been on a cruise, I was amazingly interested in what propels this multimillion-dollar industry. Also, and let’s not pretend here, no one in my household is plunking down their debit cards for a top tier cruise suite any time soon, so because of Cunard, I was able to see these luxurious and amazing things, so thanks Cunard!

When you think of luxury ships, you no doubt think of the Queen Mary ships, and for good reason. The original QM was the first vessel to get that special reputation by being launched by a member of the Royal family. Additionally, the $800-million QM2 is the biggest ocean liner ever built, dwarfing the Eiffel Tower by 147 feet. That’s nearly four football fields in length.

If you’re ready to book a cruise but aren’t sure you can stay sane in the typical porthole closet-sized rooms of your standard cruise ship, you may want to book the QM2. This mega ship contains five duplex style apartments that, when combines together, form a 9,000 sq ft grand suite. Besides the prerequisite Bon Voyage champagne, daily fresh fruit, terry cloth slippers and bathrobe, nightly turn down and full bathrooms (with tubs!), the suites contain private libraries, exercise area, and balcony. Enough space for you?

Note for the cash deficient: There are also 76 affordable Princess Suites with balcony space, thermostat control, nightly turn down, and wifi.

If you feel the hunger after your jaunt from check-in to your stateroom, there are a ton of nom-nom tasty options. My favorite of them all has to be Todd English’s space, and not just because Todd is hysterical and can cook with the best of them. This space seems dwarfed in comparison to the ultra-super-mega luxury dining options on the ship, making it a bit more intimate, complete with fantastic deck access and an adult pool that, simply looking at it could calm the most neurotic New Yorker (that’s me). The food is your standard comfort food prepared in gourmet fashion; so picky eaters will find something, too.

You’ve got 9 other dining choices onboard from the delightful Jean-Marie Zimmerman, Cunard’s Global Culinary Ambassador. With a title like that you can probably guess that his food is outstanding, but this French born chef supervises every menu on the QM2, so you really can’t go wrong. Please do yourself a favor and enjoy a Hibiscus Martini in the Princess Grill.

There are literally a million activities you can engage in on this ship, but here are a few highlights that I was seriously impressed with:

• Illuminations: the only planetarium at sea.
• The library: a gorgeous collection of rows and rows of literature with sweeping views from tall deck windows.
• Canyon Ranch Spa with 24 treatment rooms, salon and fitness center, steam rooms, and a very, very sexy thalassotherapy pool. The QM2 is the first ship to feature Canyon Ranch onboard.
• Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar for seriously stylish sips in a retro chic setting. This intimate space made several ladies on tour stop, snap pictures, and “oooh.”

Through the next 12 months, the Queen Mary 2 will continue her transatlantic tours of 6, 7, 8, or 9 days between NYC and Cherbourg, Southampton, or Hamburg with additional connections to the Mediterranean and beyond Northern Europe.

This year you can catch this queen to the Caribbean, featuring 3 itineraries from Cunard’s home at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal for 10, 11, or 15 days. And if you think you can’t afford all this awesomeness, those sails start at $1695.

If “around the world” or #RTW is more your speed, pick up your ticket for January 2011 when both the QM2 and sister ship Queen Elizabeth will begin global jaunts encompassing Sydney, Hong Kong, Cape Town, and Dubai.

One final note about this amazing luxury ship: unlike even some top tier land loving hotels, four leggeds are welcome. There’s a small kennel onboard that holds a handful of fuzzy friends, which also makes this an ideal mode of transatlantic transportation for anyone traveling (or moving) with their best friend.

Though I spent a great deal of time learning about new Twitter initiatives, learning about geo-location devices and listening to inspiring panelists, I made sure to spend a solid morning exploring beautiful Downtown Austin, and also spent quite a few nights eating out at it’s fantastic establishments. There’s no mistaking this town for a conference backdrop; Austin is part of the reason #SXSW is so amazing.

Everyone knows Austin for it’s ridiculously fantastic BBQ, but after a week in this easy going, Internet-friendly town, I got acquainted with it’s other establishments. Here are my non-BBQ picks below:

1886 at the Driskill Hotel

116 6th Street

No, you haven’t stepped back into the 1800′s at this Disneyesque boutique, you’ve just stepped into some amazing eats. Take in some people watching in a prime Downtown location while sipping handmade soups, popping artichoke poppers, and Dijon Crusted Porkchops. The price tag is a little high but if you can afford a splurge during your stay, take it here. You won’t be sorry.

Iron Cactus

606 Trinity Street

There’s no better way to spend an Austin afternoon than sipping a cold one with your friends. Skip the beer and slide down some Margarita’s on the patio of the Iron Cactus’ Downtown location. While they feature an array of Tex Mex specialties, the drinks take center stage at this relaxing haunt. So grab a couple friends after a long panel, and bring them back around here to discuss your latest Internet takeover. The view, the music and the spirits will invigorate you.

Frank’s

4th and Colorado

Part diner, part five-and-dime, Frank’s is the number one spot if you crave a drink and a hot dog in Austin. Thought the menu contains the usual’s (Chili Cheese Dogs, Waffle Fries…) Frank’s has a booming coffee list, a specialty menu for drinks from it’s popular bar, and a grocery counter with revolving wares such as hard to find candy and cook books. The best part of this little eatery is that it’s brimming with locals. Get to know the non-Southby Austin and have a lunch here.

The Four Seasons

98 San Jacinto Blvd.

Sure the Four Seasons is known for its dining options, but during my time in Austin, my absolute favorite moment came by sitting in the Lobby Lounge, ordering from their expansive drink menu (classic cocktails, of course) and watching the sunset over an idyllic garden and lake. After you work up an appetite, step downstairs for an amazing meal on the patio at TRIO. There, a lunch menu of seafood, chopped salads, and pastas are just filling enough to keep you going.

The Belmont

305 West 6th Street

Step back in time at this mid-century outfitted restaurant right on 6th, at the heart of the Downtown party district. Exec Chef Benjamin Nathan rolls out all the stops including Sauteed Beef Tenderloin, Slow Roast Prime Rib and Blue Crab Fingers. The adorable outdoor space is perfect for a cool drink on a warm day. This is one stop that’s as trendy as it is delicious – the perfect combination to impress and fulfill!

Bonus: Go see the bats!

Every night at sunset thousands of bats move from their home under Austin’s Congress Ave Bridge. If you’re staying near the conference center, you’ll need a cab or a lift, but it’s worth it, I promise! If you’ve got the capabilities, download Gowalla, Austin’s answer to Foursquare, which is filled with badges and fun tips – just like the bats! – for new visitors.