Travels in Italy: Amalfi Coast

 Travels in Italy: Part III  ~

Amalfi Coast

Planning to explore the intense beauty of Italy's Amalfi Coast? You are in the right place because The Red Balloon has just returned and what an absolute breathtaking experience it is! The photos do not do it justice. Within the Campania region of Italy lies the Amalfi Coast, a 50 kilometer stretch of land that is beyond compare. 

The coast is located between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno. Filled with gorgeous views, port cities, beautiful beaches, and pastel colored fishing villages. The beaches here are considered to be the best and most beautiful of the entire Tyrrhenian Sea. Tip: Check the weather since temperatures in some months (ie. summer) can get extremely hot. 

Whether you are seeking the posh life of Positano 

Or the artwork in Amalfi, the coast has it all!

The Amalfi Coast is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It officially earned its spot as a UNESCO world Heritage Site in 1997. 

Below see the inside of the Parrochia Di San Gennaro, the Church of St. Gennaro, built in 1589. The church is divided into three naves. The church is a site to behold. 

Throughout each town in the Amalfi Coast is no shortage of things to see and do. Il Sentiero degli Dei or the Path of the Gods, was once the sole connection between the 13 villages of the Amalfi Coast. What are the 13 villages of the Amalfi Coast? 

Glad you asked! They are: Amalfi, Atrani, Cetara, Conca de' Marini, Furore, Maiori, Minori, Positano, Praiano, Ravello, Scala, Tramonti, and Vietri su Mare. Each with their own unique and distinct ambience.

See a photo from the Path of the Gods:

Tip: Be sure to bring water with you on the trail. If you are traveling during a time of year when temperatures heat up, it is best to start early. 

Be sure to bring a camera. You will be glad you did.

Tip: While on the Amalfi Coast be sure not to miss a visit to Capri. The Blue Grotto is the most visited site in Capri and The Red Balloon took a boat from the town of Amalfi to Capri and then a second boat to then board a row boat into the Blue Grotto. Behold you will be entered into a whole new world!

Stay turned for more tips from The Red Balloon's Travel Series.

Best of Cape Cod: Yarmouth

 The following was originally published as part of The Red Balloon's Cape Cod Travel series. It is now part of the Best of Cape Cod series. Enjoy!

The Red Balloon has first taken you through Hyannis now onto a new part of Cape Cod: Yarmouth.

In Yarmouth, you can find endless places to explore.

While staying in Yarmouth, the Hampton Inn and Suites are conveniently located on Route 28 which makes it easy to get to other places on Cape Cod and is literally minutes from Main Street in Hyannis.

The Hampton Inn and Suites offers complimentary breakfast. In addition to indoor breakfast, they offer a full breakfast over by the pool just in case you desire to eat with a view! Countless amenities are available at the Hampton Inn and Suites including a shuttle which will take you to any place you desire within two miles, an indoor and outdoor pool, gym, and a whirlpool. For those desiring the beach, this location is ideal. Within minutes of the hotel is Seagull Beach. Insider tip: continue walking further down the beach and you will find that there is plenty of space no matter how crowded it appears on first glance! Photo proof below!

                                    
                                       

While at the beach, be sure to tell the two brothers who do an impeccable job of making sure things run smoothly in the parking lot, that The Red Balloon sent you!

Within minutes of the hotel are great places to eat and see. There are plenty of options for miniature golf including Wild Animal Lagoon which offers endless photo opportunities while enjoying some rounds of mini golf.

If you find yourself visiting from Memorial to Columbus Day, be sure to take part in the Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail. The Hampton Inn and Suites has their very own Sand Sculpture (as seen below) in this annual Yarmouth competition.                                   

                                                            

While exploring Yarmouth you are sure to see more sand sculptures. The one below was among a favorite contender.

                                      

While in Yarmouth, The Red Balloon highly recommends dining at DiParma Italian Table. The music and ambiance of the restaurant makes it a must-see. The food makes it a must visit on your next trip to Yarmouth.  The property is a hidden gem in Yarmouth. It truly feels like a bit of Tuscany right on Cape Cod! Insider tip: Be sure to make reservations. The restaurant opens at 4 pm nightly and without reservations you may need to wait for an hour or more to obtain a table. Note: Seating outside is limited but essential!

                                            

Pictured above, DiParma's outdoor seating. Pictured below: DiParma's exquisite eggplant parmigiana. Trust The Red Balloon, patrons come back night after night to enjoy the food here. 

                                       

Where will The Red Balloon be next?

                                                       


Stay tuned and find out where The Red Balloon's travel series is next!

Cape Cod Part II: Hyannis

This is the second part in The Red Balloon's Cape Cod Series.

Hyannis has so much to see and do, including art, rich cultural and historical experiences as well as culinary wonders and shopping excursions, making it an ideal locale to visit on your next Cape Cod adventure.

If traveling from Boston the Capeflyer offers trains Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from South Station. Hop on board and avoid sitting in traffic! Snacks and drinks are available on board and you can even bring your bike. Insider tip: If bringing your bike you will need to place it in the very last car where all of the bicycles are stored.

First stop on the trip, once you have arrived, be sure to check out the artist shanties, which are conveniently located walking distance from Main Street, at Hyannis Harbor. In addition, you will find more artists and their craftsmanship directly across the street. The shanties are a venue in which local painters, sculptors, and photographers can showcase their best art. Artists who work in a wide variety of mediums can all be found here. The Hyannis Harbor is also the spot for people watching and catching a boat out to the islands of Nantucket and/or Martha's Vineyard.

For history buffs, the Hyannis Kennedy Legacy Trail is a must. The legacy trail is self-guided so you can continue at whatever pace you need to. The trail will bring you to the "Church of the Kennedy's" which is St. Francis Xiaver, located one block from Main Street. Also on South Street, you will find the Armory where on the day of November 9, 1960, JFK gave his Presidential acceptance speech. You could find yourself walking literally in the footsteps of a former President! 

While on the Legacy Trail you will find that Hyannis is a place with a past. Right on Main Street is a statue and plaque in tribute to the Wampanoag Chieftain, Sachem Iyanough who befriended and aided the early settlers. Fun fact: Hyannis bears a derivative of his name (something to impress your friends with when you return from Cape Cod.) In the photo below, you will see the statue of Wampanoag Chieftain. Behind the statue lies Hyannis Village Green where events are happening nightly. Recently the Boston Pops performed and there was a live performance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Insider tip: Be sure to arrive early for events to get the best spot. 

 Conveniently located on Main Street is the JFK Museum. Be sure to devote some time to explore all the museum to its fullest extent. Insider tip: The museum closes at 4 pm each day and does not open until noon on Sunday. Be mindful of this when arranging this stop within your travel itinerary.

Stop #10 on the Hyannis Legacy Trail is Veterans Beach which is a must-see. Best to visit the beach in the morning or late afternoon as the beach does tend to become crowded during the peak season.

Insider tip: If you are without a bike, take the free trolley from the Hyannis Transportation Center. Although Hyannis is extremely walkable, the trolley will stop at all of the hot spots including Veterans Beach!

If you find yourself looking to travel to the beach, Kalmus beach is conveniently located close to Veterans Beach and is much quieter. To arrive at Kalmus beach simply go past the Hyannis Yacht Club which is at the end of Veterans Beach.

Looking for a quick lunch spot? Look no further than Palio Pizza at 435 Main Street. For a more formal lunch or dinner, you can travel one block from Main Street to 72 North Street where the Portside Tavern is a family-owned restaurant offering a variety of foods including seafood caught daily.

No trip to Hyannis is complete without a trip to Ben and Jerry's at 352 Main Street. A great place to have a sweet treat after shopping and seeing the sights on Main Street.

For now it is time to say "Good Night Cape Cod" but this isn't good bye for The Red Balloon's Cape Cod series continues so stay tuned for the next locale complete with insider tips coming soon!

Happy Trails from Hyannis!

Everybody Water

Looking to stay hydrated at the top of your To-Do list this summer?

Join the club!

With temperatures rising it is often hard to stay hydrated but this summer is definitely going to be different and that is all due to: Everybody Water.

 This is one product you can feel good about using because the company believes in giving back to the community and using eco-friendly resources.

Everybody Water supports bringing permanent clean water systems into the homes of families for the first time. The actual size of each water is perfect for travel so whether you are heading to the beach, school, or work, the bottle is both a convenient and portable size. Every aspect of the product is able to be recycled. The container itself comes from responsibly managed forests. Even the cap is sourced from sugar cane making it bio-based. The water itself is filtered by reverse osmosis and you can taste the difference between this water and one that comes in a traditional plastic bottle.

The company has been an inspiration for other entrepreneurs to step up and begin to be more mindful about ways that their business can support and give back in meaningful ways to the community, which is truly amazing!

For more information, visit:https://everybodywater.com/

Happy Hydrating!