Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Driving into Skaneateles is kind of like stumbling onto small town America as it once might have been. The nicely maintained and numerous Victorian houses, the little downtown park complete with gazebo, the small locally run shops and restaurants that line the main drag and, oh yeah, the crystal clear Skaneateles Lake. It's just hard not to feel good when you find yourself in such a place.
Kim Edwards' latest novel The Lake of Dreams draws its insperation from the area and the author, who now lives in Lexington, KY, once lived in Skaneateles. The title of her book fits as the incredible vistas provided by the lake's long channel from the town's viewpoint has a real dreamscape quality to it.
The Sherwood Inn, a one time stagecoach stop, is one of the main focal points for locals as well as visitors. This is about as far as you can get from today's chain hotels. Each room has it's own individual style and the lakeview rooms are especially popular. What really makes the place special is the almost public house atmosphere of the cozy tavern. This is where you'll gather the most town gossip while enjoying some great pub grub and perhaps an offering from one of the Finger Lakes many wineries.
Speaking of wineries, just down West Lake road is a fairly recent addition to the Finger Lakes Wine Trail. Anyela's Vineyards has already produced some of my favorite reds (2005 Overlay) in a wine region known mostly for its whites. If you're doing the wine trail or parts of it, make sure this one is on your itinerary.
If you like your seafood, try Bluewater Grill just down the street from the Sherwood. This almost always bustling place is literally "on the water" and during warmer weather, the view from the outdoor deck is about as good as it gets. Bluewater is also positioned at the start of the downtown shopping area that's packed with unique shops.
If you do stay at The Sherwood, be sure and take advantage of their complimentary breakfast served on their enclosed porch with a great view of the lake, and, the croissants are made fresh each morning at the inn's own patisserie adjacent to the main building.
Published by Stephen Pinder
Stephen loves travel and travel writing. He also enjoys sports and golf with old friends and new ones he meets on the road.  View profile
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Monday, January 13, 2014

Going Vegan: It's a Process

Stephen Pinder
Stephen Pinder, Yahoo Contributor Network
Jan 13, 2014 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."
I was surprised when, about four months ago, my doctor started my annual checkup by handing me some papers that detailed the benefits of going vegan. I was even more surprised to find out he had started down the vegan highway because he had been on both high blood pressure and cholesterol medications. I was shocked because he was a few years younger than me at 45 and he looked to be extremely fit owing to his three day a week jogging routine.
He went on to explain that so much of our health is pre determined by genetics and, depending on the person, exercise and weight watching can help but only up to a point. A doctor friend of his had given him The China Study by T. Colin Campbell PhD. that detailed a 20 year study of rural Chinese people who were able, in some cases, to reverse some serious cardiac diseases after going vegan. My doctor told me that after adopting a vegan diet about three months prior to my appointment; he no longer took any of his medications.
This sounded pretty good to me as I'd been trying, without success, to get off my own high blood pressure medication. I went with some of the dietary ideas that were part of the papers he had given me and began my own vegan adventure.
I was under no delusion as to how difficult it would be to change after fifty years of eating anything I wanted and the fact that I love eggs, cheese, steak, fish and ham didn't help as vegan means no animal products, none, nada, zilch. I started off by substituting oatmeal for eggs at breakfast three days a week and eventually got that up to only one egg breakfast per week. The next step was to eliminate beef which wasn't as hard as I'd imagined because I had already almost entirely stopped eating anyfast food over the last two years. I found that beans of all kinds can be a good substitute for beef and, in a pinch, I can fall back on a veggie burger every once in a while. I've definitely increased my vegetable and fruit consumption and I've developed a real fondness for the Portobello mushroom sandwich.
Without trying I dropped almost 12 pounds over a three month period and I cut my high blood pressure medication from every day to every third day. All was going well until Thanksgiving rolled around.
Like many Americans, I find the holidays and the overabundance of food that comes with them to be impossible to escape. But now that the calendar has moved on to another year my resolution is to get back on the vegan highway because I've seen firsthand how effective it is.
Published by Stephen Pinder
Stephen loves travel and travel writing. He also enjoys sports and golf with old friends and new ones he meets on the road.  View profile

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Things to See and Do Around Lexington, KY

Stephen Pinder
Stephen Pinder, Yahoo Contributor Network
Jul 31, 2013 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."



Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd, Harrodsburg
Just south of Lexington, Shaker Village is one of those places just about anyone and any age can enjoy. You can eat local fare in the Trustee's Dining Room, spend the night in a period themed room in one of the restored Shaker buildings or take a tour of the grounds and learn from presenters in Shaker attire how life was back in the day.
Woodford Reserve Distillery, 7855 McCracken Pike, Lexington
Go a few miles west of Lexington through some beautiful Kentucky horse farm country to Woodford Reserve nestled in a quiet stream fed hollow. The tall copper pot stills and handsome stone aging warehouses make this one of the most picturesque distilleries in the world. You can take a tour and grab a bite to eat from their award winning kitchen.
The Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington
If you have even a passing interest in any type of horse you should take some time to explore the Kentucky Horse Park grounds and the Museum of the Horse. You can learn about the history of the horse, visit some retired thoroughbred racing champions and have a close up look at breeds from around the world.
Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Rd, Lexington
They only have live horse racing in April and October but, they're open year round for simulcast racing and you can have breakfast at the no frills Track Kitchen where you can sample cafeteria style southern fare and rub shoulders with the horsey set and maybe catch some early morning thoroughbred workouts on the track. The beautiful grounds are open to the public and provide a great place for a human workout too.
Joseph Beth Books, 161 Lexington Green Circle, Lexington
If you like books and independent book stores, you'll enjoy a visit to Joseph Beth Books, one of the region's largest and most popular. They also have Bronte's Bistro, an onsite café where you can get a bite to eat or enjoy a book with a coffee, wine or bourbon.
Back Roads and Byways
The horse farms and natural scenery that surrounds Lexington make for some memorable drives. Take Old Frankfort Pike west and stop at Wallace Station, a small restaurant with a country store atmosphere and great sandwiches made with homemade breads. Or, you can drive on to tiny Midway and check out the many shops and restaurants there.
On your way back to town, take Old Frankfort Pike east then turn right on Pisgah Pike, left onto Paynes Mill Road then left on Redd Road that loops back to Old Frankfort Pike.
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The Finger Lakes: a Great Place Gets Even Better

The New York Wine Region Now Has an Ale Trail and Distilleries to Visit

Stephen Pinder
Stephen Pinder, Yahoo Contributor Network
Apr 26, 2012 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."

I was pleasantly shocked when I overheard a conversation about the new breweries popping up among the well established wineries of the Finger Lakes. I was at my favorite watering hole in Skaneateles, the cozy tavern in The Sherwood Inn, enjoying a very nice Middle Ages IPA, brewed in nearby Syracuse, when I overheard the couple setting beside me. It had been four years since my last visit to the lakes region and I was about to find out just how much things can change in that length of time.

The next day I make my way over to Senaca Lake for a visit to Wagner Vineyard and Brewery. I'm pleasantly surprised again when I see the sprawling property that includes a busy restaurant in a building seperate from the winery/brewery. They picked a good place to set up shop; the view of Senaca Lake is as good as a trip to a therapist and quite a few people are taking it all in as they sit at picnic tables down by the grape vines. As I walk into the brewery area I'm hit by one of those too good to be true moments, a winery and a brewery in the same place; could it get any better? As a matter of fact, it does. When I sample the India Pale Ale I'm reminded of Benjamin Franklin's quote about beer being proof that God loves us; it's just an excellent balance of malt and hoppy goodness and I waste little time getting a couple of six packs to share with some of my ale loving buddies back home.

Just down the road is 2 Goats Brewing Company where the tin shack exteriot motif of the brewpub is almost as eyecatching as the view of the lake. I'm happy to find they have a fine India Pale Ale in their brewmaking arsenal and I'm also happy when I find out how well it pairs up with their slow cooked roast beef sandwich. This is the place to go for a laid back meal with a view as good as they come.

I venture on down Highway 414 to another place I was told about that turns out to be the biggest surprise of all; Finger Lakes Distilling. The spartan white walls of the main building look just right where it sits in the middle of a vineyard. The look inside is warm and inviting and full of examples of the distilleries end products. I see several bottles of vodka, gin, brandy and grappa displayed in the hardwood floored main room, and then there's what I'm really interested in; the whiskeys. I'm from bourbon country and I'm always interested in how whiskey is made outside of Kentucky. Distillery owner Brian McKenzie, has come up with an ingenious idea to use grains produced by neaby farmers and also using used wine casks as part of the whiskey aging process to give his bourbon and rye whiskeys a unique finish. His Pure Pot Still Whiskey, a salute to the Irish Whiskey style, is aged in the used bourbon and rye barrels, the ones used in the first part of the bourbon and rye aging. The size of these barrels is smaller (10 gallon) than the ones used in Kentucky and, as this allows for more direct whiskey to wood contact, the aging process is compressed; the smoothness normally aquired over a much longer time is accomplished in only eighteen months and, after I do a little sampling of the product, it really does taste like they've been aged much longer. I'm taking a bottle or two of each back home to see what my whiskey snob buddies think about these New York Whiskeys.

You can find more information at fingerlakeswineries.org. 

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Fantastic Freebies on Cape Cod

Stephen Pinder
Stephen Pinder, Yahoo Contributor Network
Aug 1, 2013 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."



A vacation on Cape Cod can get expensive very quickly but, there are some quality free activities that combine learning and recreation for the entire family.
Bike Paths
The Shining Sea Bike Path is a 10 mile stretch of paved path that runs from Woods Hole to just north of Falmouth. The scenery changes from town to thick woods to a wide open vista of Nantucket Sound. There are no complimentary bikes provided but, you can also walk or rollerblade. The Cape Cod Rail Trail is 22 miles long and takes in the full scope of changing scenery between South Dennis and South Wellfleet.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
During July and August WHOI volunteers conduct free tours through the normally off limits facilities around their campus. You can get a behind the scenes look at how scientists research the planet's oceans and how it gets reflected in the classroom.
They also have the Ocean Science Exhibit Center that's open to the public from May through October. There's no formal entry fee but donations are accepted.
The Woods Hole Science Aquarium
This small aquarium in the tiny scientific community of Woods Hole is a treat for kids and adults. The seals out front have their own custom swimming pool and there's also a touch tank inside for a hands on experience of the local marine life.
Walking Trails
There are 12 year round trails on The Cape Cod National Seashore where you can walk in the footsteps of Henry David Thoreau while you enjoy the unspoiled beauty around you. There are trailheads in Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham.
Free Tours
Cape Cod Beer and Cape Cod Chips in Hyannis both offer free tours and you can sample the beer at CCB if you're over 21. Cape Cod Winery, in East Falmouth also has free tours and tastings.
Chatham Light/Lighthouse Beach
You can enjoy a free tour presented by members of The Coast Guard Reserve at Chatham Lighthouse just west of downtown. The lighthouse overlooks the expansive Lighthouse Beach that's also free. There's a thirty minute parking limit but you can walk or bike from town.
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Interesting Lincoln and Civil War Sites in Kentucky

Stephen Pinder
Stephen Pinder, Yahoo Contributor Network
Aug 14, 2013 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."

If you're interested in how Abraham Lincoln became one of the most respected of United States Presidents, you can go to his birthplace where it all began. Seen firsthand, his rise from the backwoods of Kentucky to the ultimate seat of power seems all the more remarkable. There's the added benefit of being surrounded by the beauty of the Bluegrass State.
A symbolic cabin that represents Lincoln's birthplace sits inside a handsome neo-classical memorial building in this 74 acre park. This is a very peaceful place setting when there aren't too many visitors. Nearby is a facsimile cabin on the Knob Creek property of Lincoln's boyhood.
The downtown Hodgenville museum has dioramas, wax figures and drawings depicting people and places of the Lincoln era along with memorabilia from the Civil War.
The Battle of Perryville took place about 50 miles east of Hodgenville in October 1862. One of the Civil War's bloodiest battles was technically a Confederate victory but ended up being perceived as a Union win because the rebel forces quickly retreated to the south. Today, the large park has a museum and serves as a setting for battle reenactments.
Mary Todd was born in Lexington and enjoyed a much more privileged life than her husband. The late Georgian house where she was raised has fourteen rooms on three floors and offers a glimpse into what life was like for the well off around the Civil War era. The museum if furnished with period pieces from the 1830s and 1840s and along with some original Todd and Lincoln family pieces.
Published by Stephen Pinder
Stephen loves travel and travel writing. He also enjoys sports and golf with old friends and new ones he meets on the road.  View profile

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12 Things You Didn't Know About Kentucky

Stephen Pinder
Stephen Pinder, Yahoo Contributor Network
Aug 13, 2013 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."


Just about every time I'm more than 500 miles away from my Kentucky home and I tell someone where I'm from, I can count on them saying something with the words Kentucky Derby in the sentence. If we end up talking for any amount of time questions about moonshine and most of the population going barefoot invariably come up. It's almost like Kentucky is still lost in some pre Civil War era where the rich folk ride around in horse drawn buggies while the women try to keep their hoop skirts from catching in the wheel spokes.
 
Over the years I've come up with some facts about my beloved Bluegrass State to pass along to those who have a sort of one dimensional perception of a place rich in its complexity.
1 - A Louisville druggist invented chewing gum.
2 - The electric light bulb was first publicly shown in Louisville.
3 - Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, was born in Fairview, KY about 125 miles west of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace in Hodgenville.
4 - The National Quilt Museum in Paducah is the world's largest.
5 - Kentucky has the most beef cattle east of the Mississippi River.
6 - Food Guru Duncan Hines was born in Bowling Green, KY.
7 - 95% of the world's bourbon is produced in Kentucky.
8 - The Song Happy Birthday was written by Louisville sisters Mildred and Patricia Hill.
9 - Johnny Depp, Ned Beatty, George Clooney, Warren Oates and Harry Dean Stanton were all born in Kentucky.
10 - All Chevrolet Corvettes are now produced in Bowling Green, KY.
11 - Mother's Day was first observed in Henderson, KY.
12 - The radio was invented by Kentuckian Nathan Stubblefield.
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