Drinks To Take You Away

While no ones traveling right now and we're all stuck in our homes dreaming about far off places, that doesn't mean we can't do things that remind us of travel or give us a little taste of being in a new destination. If you love a good drink and you're one of the many people working on their home bartending skills, here are some lovely drinks you can make to whisk you away.

You might also find a new favorite for all those Zoom happy hours you're doing right now to catch up with friends and feel a little less sad about not getting to go out to your favorite local bar/pub.

Photo by Julia Solonina on Unsplash

Amalfi Coast: Aperol Spritz

Tired of only looking forward to making dinner after working from home? Well, now you can celebrate like the Italians do with this fruity spritz. Go all out and have it with a selection of small plates by rooting around in your freezer for whatever appetizers you have on hand. Good Housekeeping has a recipe for you that also comes with a video so you get it right.

Photo by Vitor Pinto on Unsplash

Brazil: Caipirinha

Get more exotic than your normal rum cocktail with Brazil's National Cocktail that invokes the spirit of Carnival. While you can't visit this lovely country with its vibrant people, you can hit up your local liquor store for ingredients, come home and drink it while watching videos of past Carnivals...or Rio the animated movie if you have kids. Learn more about this cocktail, including how to make it, on Esquire.

Cuba/Miami: Mojito

Whether you're getting hyped for your online dance class or putting together a new, creative date night, the mojito can really elevate your evening. Feel like you're going to the beach or start planning that trip to Cuba while sipping on one of these light bevs. Gimme Some Oven even gives you a video to help you along.

Hawaii: Mai Tai

Sometimes you just need a tropical drink. Pretend you're in paradise with this sweet, sweet drink. Combine it with take out from your favorite Hawaiian restaurant, or just make some pineapple chicken packets on the grill with rice and put on your hula skirt. Eater knows how to make your drink perfect.

Kentucky: Mint Julep

With everything getting cancelled right now, you might be feeling a little sad for your most-looked-forward to events like the Kentucky Derby. I don't watch it, but I love the fashion, including those a-MAZE-ing hats. Well, you can always get dolled up and sip on a refreshing mint julep and set your sights on September when the Derby is supposed to be rescheduled. Cookie and Kate show you how to make one with things you already have on hand.

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London: Pimm's Cup

Whether you're having a backyard picnic or having a British feast, then Pimm's is where it's at. With a nice variety of fruits and herbs, you'll feel like you're drinking a healthy beverage. Check out the easy recipe on Bon Appétit. 

Photo by Johann Trasch on Unsplash

New Orleans: Sazerac

While in Nola for the Travel Goods Show this year, I had the opportunity to visit The Sazarac House and learn how it originated in the city and also how to make one. I love rye and I now know I am a fan of bitters in small quantities (which is how you should use them anyway). Why not go to the pros? Hit up Sazerac House for the recipe.

New York: Manhattan

I love a great whiskey cocktail, and this one with rye and vermouth, is a delicious way to feel sophisticated and also make that bottle of whiskey in your cabinet into something more upscale. Make it with just a few ingredients. I like this recipe from Fox and Briar

Photo by tanialee gonzalez on Unsplash

Mexico: Spicy Margarita

On your next Taco Tuesday, get really into your theme with an authentic dish and a lovely spicy drink to accompany the spicy sweet of your pico or salsa. This will also go wonderfully with your homemade happy hour nachos. Find the recipe at Liquor.com.

Photo by Sarah Gualtieri on Unsplash

Paris: 75

For a fresh and light cocktail, put on a playlist of your favorite jazzy French music and sip on a lemony 75. This is another one that can be perfect for brunch as well as happy hour. Find the easy recipe on Epicurious.

Photo by Adam Jaime on Unsplash

Scotland: Robert Burns

Drinks not as strong as you'd like? Well, you can make that up with this yummy whiskey and absinthe cocktail, possibly named after the poet, or possibly a cigar salesman who was a regular at the bar it originated. I recommend this post from The Spruce Eats to learn to make on.

Spain: Sangria

This is a great drink for brunch and spring/summer time. You can throw in a whole bunch of fresh fruit and call it good, which is especially good if you have some random fruits in your fridge or on your counter that is a bit too ripe to be good for eating on its own.

Venice, Italy: Bellini

This whole pandemic has me really sad when it comes to going to brunch with friends. While I normally only get a coffee, I have been known to try a new fruity drink. I can't go out to a restaurant, but we have weekly virtual brunches that sometimes have a theme. If you want a great drink to accompany your brunch at home, try a pretty bellini, which can really be customized to your likes. Try this one made with peaches from The Salty Marshmallow.

I hope this helps you get through Quarantine with a little higher spirits (ba dum bah). Maybe if you're into it, you can throw an impromptu bartending lesson for your friends during your next Zoom happy hour get together. 

What are your favorite cocktails from your travels?

The House of MinaLima

If you've been around here for a while, you know how much I love the world of Harry Potter. We won't discuss my issues with JK Rowling herself, but the books are a huge part of my life. When I found out the House of MinaLima - named for Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, the graphic designers behind (almost) all the paper props in the Harry Potter movies - was open to visitors in London, I put it on my list to visit. Since you can't get to London right not, and even if you could, you wouldn't be able to visit MinaLima at the moment, I've put together my favorite photos and videos of this cozy, multi-story destination.

I'm in love with the shop front. It's hard to miss it, even if you aren't into Harry Potter. It's a gorgeous, historic building with very cool window displays.

Every inch of space inside is literally packed with things to look at. It's hard to know where to look, but it's also quite small inside, so you'll be vying for space with other customers and fans to see every detail. And don't forget to look up, because the ceilings are all different and amazing.

The bottom floor is a true gift shop, but then you head up the stairs for the other levels of exhibit (and also most of the things on display are also for sale).

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MinaLima has super luxe wrapping paper and wallpapers with all your favorite Harry Potter themes. They're actually pretty affordable considering I thought they would cost twice as much. I also kind of want to wallpaper my whole house with them, but I resisted and realized I'd already spent way more money on Harry Potter merch than I should have by this point in our trip, plus I knew I could buy anything I regretted not purchasing online when I got home. This visit was also right after it had poured so hard my Hardy's candy bag fell apart and all my things rolled away in the middle of the street, so I didn't really want to repeat that with items that were of a paper nature.

One of my favorite things in Harry Potter are the newspapers and magazines. I'd give anything to be able to pick up just one edition of the Daily Prophet or The Quibbler or even Transfiguration Today, but since I can't, there's this awesome newspaper landing, complete with floating candles.

There are so many little details everywhere, so keep your eyes peeled and take your time in all the rooms. As you can see, the stairwells are quite small. If you get claustrophobic, this isn't really a shop for you. 

You'll also find items from the new Fantastic Beasts franchise, because MinaLima also does all the artwork for their posters, pamphlets, etc, you see in the movies. If you want to see some of the MACUSA items or the New Salem Philanthropic Society propaganda flyers, you'll find them here, though it's a much smaller percentage than original Potter paraphernalia. 

If you want to read more about my Harry Potter explorations in the UK, Check out my walking tour(s) of Edinburgh. I'll also be writing about the Harry Potter Tour in London. This was our second visit there and so much more has been added. We seriously spent over 5 hours there. Don't forget to check out my other posts on free things to do in London, in case you're planning a future trip and don't want to spend your whole life savings there: Part 1 | Part 2

My Favorite Free & Cheap London Activities (Part 2)

In my last post, I started talking about my favorite free and cheap activities in London, because it looks like London is a popular destination for my readers right now while we cant't travel. I want to continue my list of things that cost very little or nothing in the city to make a trip full and still make it feel like you experienced the best of what there is to offer. 

I always suggest adding free attractions and activities into your trip to stretch your budget, but this last trip we went on was more the other way around, because we have already done a ton of the main activities on our previous trips.

Neal's Yard

We did a lot of walking in London on our last trip (in fact, on all our trips there), because there's no better way to explore the feel of a place than by wandering through neighborhoods. London is very walkable, though it feels very spread out when you're taking the Tube everywhere. Neal's Yard in Covent Garden is a tiny little alcove neighborhood with super colorful buildings. You'll find boutique shops and tiny cafes, and everything just feels a little bit surreal. It's gorgeous, though, and you can wander up to the West End and Piccadilly Square from there.

Sky Garden

Want to see London from the sky? If you don't want to spend the money for the London Eye or the Tower Bridge Experience (though I highly recommend doing this for the walkway) or spending the money on a fancy dining experience at The Shard - and even if you do - Sky Garden is a must-do. You have to make reservations in advance, but tickets are free. Tickets open up for various slots throughout the day a month out, so you'll want to remember to plan ahead in order to get a good morning slot. The building has a 360-degree view and has some of the best photo ops inside and out.

Leadenhall Market

Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Even if you're not, Leadenhall is a beautiful covered marketplace that houses a ton of great merchants and eating establishments. If you are a fan of Harry Potter, this is the market used for Diagon Alley in Sorceror's Stone. I wasn't looking to make any purchases here. We, basically, visited for the vibe and to check out the store fronts. Worth it!

St. Dunstan in the East

There was once a parish church in London, but it was mostly destroyed in WWII. Instead of knocking down the rest of the church, the ruins were left and the city developed around it. Right in the middle of some huge skyscrapers is this quaint little park with standing stone walls that give you the feeling of being somewhere else. While we were there, a bridal party was getting their photos taken and some people were taking their lunch from work. There are plenty of places to sit and just take in the beauty and solace.

Wallace Collection

While there are a ton of big museums in London, this one that is not as well known is nestled in a quiet neighborhood and has a really interesting collection. I only learned about it by searching a list of best affordable afternoon teas. Their tea room has afternoon tea for approximately $22pp, but their collection has servingware, weapons, and armor, among other things. While there, we happened to be fortunate enough to visit during a special Manolo Blahnik shoe exhibit. 

Imperial War Museum

There are several locations of Imperial War Museums, and as a person who doesn't really love the idea of war at all, I have been very intrigued by my visits. We visited IWM London, which ended up with us taking a much longer walk than expected, but it was worth it. There was a holocaust exhibit then, which was fascinating and heartbreaking, where we learned quite a lot that we didn't know before. The museum isn't intimidating in size like others, so visiting can fit into a few hours.

St James's Park (Pelicans)

St James Park isn't the coolest or biggest park in London, but it's very pretty and the walkways are large. If you visit at certain times of the day, you can watch the park's resident pelicans being fed. If, like me, you've never seen a pelican in real life, you'll be astounded by the size of these birds. There's also a sweet little garden next to their chosen pond. St James's Park also empties out at Buckingham Palace, so you can easily check out the outside of the gates and building or get a good spot for the Changing of the Guard. 

Buckingham Palace

If seeing the guards in front of the palace are on your to-do list, then you'll need to know that there are always crowds. The Changing of the Guard takes place most days at 11am, and crowds will be heavy, even during the low tourist season. You'll want to get there at least an hour early to get a good standing spot and plan to stay there for at least two hours. Wear comfy shoes and be patient. There were many people trying to leave or move during the process and getting yelled at by MPs (cops). This is a tradition and it's considered polite to find a spot and stay there for the duration. 

House of MinaLima

Here's another place to go if you love Harry Potter. MinaLima (a husband and wife duo) created all the advertising and visual goods props in the movies, including all the Weasley goods packaging and the Daily Prophet newspapers. The House of MinaLima is housed in a historic building, painted bright pink, and stuffed with paper prop recreations (like book jackets, Quibblers, and acceptance letters) and the rooms are very small, but it really makes it feel very Harry Potter-y. I loved it. You can purchase most everything inside, but no purchase is necessary to explore and take photos. I'll be adding a separate post on MinaLima and other Harry Potter locations in London.

Grocery Shopping

One of my favorite things to do on trips is to visit a local grocery store, especially when I'm in another country, because there are so many different things that are sold than at your stores at home. Not only that, but I tend to pick up breakfast items when I arrive, so I can save money on dining out for one meal of the day. Somehow, I found many items that we have at home, but at a fraction of the price, even in pounds. We made a game out of trying a bunch of different UK candy bars, which are relatively cheap, to decide which were the best ones to bring home.

Walking Tours

London is home to walks.com that has a multitude of walks each day that are really affordable and cover everything from hiking up the hills in the Notting Hill neighborhood to coming the shores of the Thames for historical artifacts. We took several walks and all of the tour guides were awesome and informative. You don't need to make a reservation. You just show up at your designated meeting point at the time specified and pay £10 per person to your guide.

There you have it. A monster list that will get you through a short or a long trip to London and save you hundreds of dollars on your visit. Transportation and food are not going to be as forgiving, but you can opt to eat at street vendors or local chains like Wagamama, make lunch your big meal of the day, and also walk as much as possible. I recommend getting an Oyster Card for the Tube if you're going to use it, as it will still be cheaper than taking cabs or Uber (if/when they allow for that service again).