Cape Cod Adventure

The Red Balloon travels to 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 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 prior 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. Take a seat and be transported to an Italian villa (no passport required!) 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 for the next stop.

                                                        

Paris: Photo Tour

Next Stop in The Red Balloon's travel series: Vive le France!

The Red Balloon recently visited the iconic city of Paris.

Here's a photo tour to enjoy!

Adieu!

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.

Travels in Italy: Venice

Travels in Italy: Part I    ~

Venice Photo Tour

Stay turned for more from The Red Balloon's Travels in Italy Series.

Diner en Blanc Boston

Diner en Blanc painted the town this past weekend...

the color of choice was of course....

WHITE!

The event title translates in French to "Dinner in White." What began in 1988 when Francois Pasquier invited a small group of friends to meet for dinner dressed in white in Paris has grown to a world-wide phenomenon. 

Pasquier asked his friends to wear white to make it easier for group members to find each other. Now, the event takes places annually across the globe in Australia, Mexico, Singapore, and the UK to name just a few locales. Participants do not know where the event's precise location will be until moments before they arrive. The requirements: bring a table and chairs and dress in all white.

Fast forward to 2024: Diner en Blanc Boston. Despite inclement weather, Diner en Blanc proved that you can't rain on this parade! As always, Diner en Blanc takes place in an iconic location and this year was no different. The location for this year's Diner en Blanc: Downtown Crossing! This was the 8th Diner en Blanc but this was the first year the event was able to gain approval for the iconic site of Downtown Crossing in Boston.

Downtown Crossing was quickly transformed by white tables and chairs and participants dressed head to toe in white. Participant had the option to choose from a variety of food and wine options when registering. In addition, participants could choose to bring their own food. Live music kept an upbeat tempo throughout the night despite the weather. Performers on stilts entertained while participants dined and danced the night away in Downtown!

See photos from the 2024 Diner en Blanc Boston:

   Until next time: Au Revoir!

Provincetown: Photo Tour

The Red Balloon takes on Provincetown. Below take a photo tour of the art, monument, and history on the tip of Cape Cod. The best part: you don't have to leave your front door for this tour!

 Follow along and take a trip abroad as The Red Balloon takes over Europe: coming soon!

Best of Cape Cod: Hyannis

The following was originally published as part of the Cape Cod series. It is now being featured as part of The Red Balloon's "Best of Cape Cod."

The first part in The Red Balloon's travel journey highlights Hyannis, perhaps most well known as being the home of the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port.

While in Hyannis you may ask, "Where is there to begin?"

The Red Balloon offers some sage advice: It is always good to begin with breakfast. Hyannis has many breakfast options and one of the best is right at the very end of Main Street (the side closest to the Hyannis Transporation Center.) The eatery is named the Sunnyside Restaurant and sunny it surely is here! The restaurant offers a full breadth of brunch or breakfast options for even the most discerning of tastes. Pictured below the vegetarian omelet, hash browns, and toast. Serving sizes are abundant and prices here are reasonable.

Now that breakfast is done it is time to explore. While you are so very close to the Hyannis Transportation Center, may The Red Balloon suggest taking some time to explore the many transportation possibilities from this location including the Cape Cod Central Rail Train which offers dinner and wine trains. These trains offers scenic views but reservations are required. Should you find yourself looking for a Brunch Train, the Central Rail offers a Sunday Brunch on board.

                       

                                        

If ever in need of a place for some quiet relaxation and respite, the Michael K. Aselton Memorial Park is extremely close to Main Street and offers exceptional views of Hyannis Harbor.  

                                       

While at the Park, you may not believe your eyes but there are Duck Boats in Hyannis Harbor! You will surely see them as well as they bring tours along Main Street through both land and sea.

                                            

If the Duck Boat isn't your speed there are plenty of other options for traveling on the water at Hyannis Harbor including a Pirate ship.

                                       

Back on Main Street there is no shortage of artwork and this one below was captured inside a place where you may not have thought to look for artwork: inside the Ben and Jerry's on Main Street!

                                           

Stay tuned for more in The Red Balloon's Cape Cod series! 

City Winery: Harvest Fest

"Bottle of Red?

Bottle of White?"

So goes the indelible Billy Joel tune but at the City Winery you don't have to choose for the winery boasts so many options of wine that any oenophile would feel right at home here.

On October 20th City Winery celebrated the season with its very own Harvest Fest. The festivities featured live music, local artists, tours of the winery, pumpkin painting, food sampling, and of course, wine! 

The winery recently received over 10 tons of grapes and attendees were able to view those grapes first-hand as well as taste freshly pressed grapes. Tour guide and winemaker, Richard, guided participants through the wine making process from the moment the grapes arrive to the time that they are placed in kegs or bottled. Fun fact: only a very small percentage of the wine at City Winery reaches the bottle. Much of their wine remains in stainless steel kegs and is able to be conveniently available on tap at the restaurant. This eliminates the need for packaging, bottling, labeling, and corking thus cutting down on the carbon footprint.   

Below, musicians captivated audiences during City Winery's Harvest Fest with their eclectic musical range including originals as well as covers from Fleetwood Mac and Katy Perry.

City Winery Boston is open daily and located on 80 Beverly Street in Boston.