Tag: destinations

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Sea-less in Seattle

My high school best friend lives in Seattle, and every few years I fly out for a visit.  We fall back into the same old routines, jokes, and escapades, despite time and distance.  I’m fortunate to have old friends like Debs, and this summer, in particular, I welcomed a much-needed (albeit brief) respite from all the drama and uncertainty back home.

This time, I introduced Debs to my new-found love of boating.  I reserved a boat out of Carefree Boat Club’s Fishermen’s Terminal dock, and we headed east through Lake Union to Lake Washington.

It was my first time boating in freshwater.  Boating on Lake Washington was very different because lakes don’t have tides, and the currents were much weaker than I’m accustomed to. I checked out our anchor and it looked as if it had never been used. Then, when we stopped for lunch on the water by Seward Park, I realized why.  We turned off the engine, and the boat stayed put!  I also found that I could go much faster on the lake than on the ocean, which was awesome.  (Debs will vouch for me having a lead foot from the day I began driving).

We watched seaplanes land on Lake Union and checked out the houseboats.  On Lake Washington, we did a loop around Mercer Island and saw the Boeing Factory.  Heading back, we caught a great view of the Seattle skyline, and I had another new first: filling up the tank.

I still prefer the ocean to lake boating- there’s just something about that ocean air, but it was so fun to try something different and to explore Seattle with Debs from a brand new vantage point.

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Swimming and Szechuan Food in Milford

Recently, we cruised out of Carefree Boat Club’s Milford dock and headed northeast on a picture-perfect afternoon.  After anchoring off the coast near one of the Milford beaches and enjoying a swim, we meandered back toward the harbor and watched sailboats catching the sea breeze and late afternoon sun.

We ate dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.  Believe it or not, you can get authentic Chinese food just a few miles away from Port Milford Marina.  Lao Sze Chuan (1585 Boston Post Road, Milford) has the real-deal New York City Chinatown fare I ate as a kid with my grandmother.   It doesn’t look like much.  It’s in a strip mall next to a billiards hall, and the décor is bare bones, but the food is authentic and delicious, and the price is right.

If you’re looking for seafood after spending time on the water, I recommend the steamed whole sea bass, which is prepared in a ginger and scallion sauce, as well as the squid with pepper spiced salt.  If you enjoy spicy food, try the twice cooked sliced pork with Szechuan Jalapeno and chives or the prawns with garlic sauce.

Be forewarned that spicy means spicy, and the whole fish and shrimp arrive whole with heads, tails, and all.  You’ll also find some truly out-there dishes on the menu, including jellyfish, tripe, and sea cucumber (sea cucumber is an acquired taste- I tried it once as a kid, and that was enough).

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Island Girl

I was born and raised on an island–well, technically, at least.  Manhattan is surrounded by water, but you can easily forget that.

Today, I am a true “island girl.”  Every summer, we look forward to vacationing with 
friends on Martha’s Vineyard.  We split a rental house with another couple to keep it affordable, and we truck in as many groceries as possible in car trunks and coolers, including BJ’s-sized  cartons of blueberries, grapes, and cherries, as well as parmesan cheese, spices, and sauces.  Groceries that are expensive on the mainland are astronomical on the island.  Our
friend, who is a year-round islander, supplies whatever we forget.  Most nights, we sip wine and cook dinner as a team, and each couple watches the other couple’s kids for a “date night” at one of the high-end restaurants.

We love the Vineyard because it is one of the few remaining places where life slows down.  Cell reception is spotty so you can’t check your work e-mail at the beach, and the kids are forced to unplug and enjoy the outdoors.  The island has only a handful of chain stores or restaurants.  Because island access is controlled and the Vineyard has miles of beaches, they tend to stay pristine and uncrowded, even during peak months.

No trip to the Vineyard would be complete without a visit to Larsen’s Fish Market in Chilmark.  Larsen’s makes some of the best clam chowder I’ve ever had.  I also recommend the fresh oysters and steamed mussels and clams.  Larsen’s is rustic-
you eat on benches and crates right next to the dock, but it’s difficult to find fresher seafood.  The fishermen pull up right behind the market to unload the morning catch.

Just watch out for opportunistic seagulls.  I had to stare this guy down—a useful skill I learned dodging cab drivers on that other island of mine.