Month: August 2021

Best Coffee Roasters

More than 150,000 Americans do it. It in this case, it refers to drinking coffee – to the tune of 400 million cups a day. And while it is the most popular drink worldwide, if it wasn’t for that nasty tea tax, Americans might be more the tea drinking types. Coffee became popular after that tossing of the tea incident in Boston Harbor and drinking coffee became a sign of loyalty to America.

This September 29, raise your cuppa and toast National Coffee Day by visiting some of these coffee roasters near our Petite Retreats who seem to know what’s best for the bean. Customer reviews rave about the intelligent baristas, the excellent variety, and the tasty pastries.

Madison, Wisconsin: JBC Coffee Roasters, a consistent award-winning roaster, has a mission to provide its coffee drinkers with a “seed to cup experience, honoring everyone involved.” Their location in Madison sells coffee beans and has a tasting table, offering regular coffee and espresso training classes in addition to public cuppings, or tastings, each month, but it is not a coffee café. Instead, you can grab of cup of JBC’s coffee at the Dane County Farmer’s Market in the city’s Capitol Square. They also have a subscription service for shipping beans direct to you.

Capitol Square, Madison, WI.

Portland, Oregon: Heart, with three café locations in the city as well as a roasting facility, was named to bluecart.com’s 2021 list of Top Roasters in the U.S. Roasting coffee since 2009, the owners have built a strong relationship with the growers, traveling to the farms throughout the year, with a goal to build a mutually sustainable business.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Passero’s has been roasting and serving some of the best coffee long before coffee became as trendy as it is today. Since 1990 they have been roasting beans supplied from small, family-owned farms around the world. Passero’s prides themselves on their use of organic beans that are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. 

Seattle, Washington: Visit Elm Coffee Roasters in the city’s Pioneer Square on any given Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and you can watch the roasting process through giant viewing windows. Pre-Covid, customers could sit at the marble counter and enjoy their coffee but currently it is to-go only. Starting in 2013 by Seattle native Brendan Mullaly, the philosophy at Elm is a simple one – combining great tasting coffee and welcoming service.

Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA.

Santa Barbara, California: Owned and operated by former professional bicycle racers, the two Handlebar Coffee Roasters locations in Santa Barbara have a European feel, as the owners became enamored by the café culture while biking extensively through Europe. After retiring from the racing circuit, they attended the American Coffee & Barista School in Portland, Oregon, and subsequently opened Handlebar in 2013. Today, Handlebar is known for its delicious coffees, pastries, and friendly service and is a destination for visitors and locals alike.

Looking for a coffee roaster near your favorite Petite Retreats location? Check out coffeebeaned.com for a listing of US roasters.

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Day Trippin’

Book at stay at one of our fabulous Petite Retreats and get ready to day trip around these areas where we offer our unique accommodations.

If you’re planning a stay at a cozy cabin at New York’s Lake George Escape or Alpine Lake, day trips can include a visit to Cooperstown or a trip to the state capital, Albany. Cooperstown, which is just about 2 hours from either location, is home to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Fenimore Art Museum and spectacular Glimmerglass State Park which overlooks beautiful Lake Otsego. Albany, which is less than an hour from either location, offers the grandeur that is the State Capitol building – which was completed in 1899 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another historic location is the Schuyler Mansion, a Georgian mansion built for Philip Schuyler, a general in the Revolutionary War and a state senator. The home was also the site of the wedding of Schuyler’s daughter Eliza to Alexander Hamilton. Albany is also home to the Irish American Heritage Museum and the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail.

Lake George Escape in Lake George, NY.

Take your pick from cottages and cabins to an ultra-cool tipi or covered wagon accommodation at Rancho Oso and get set to explore beautiful Santa Barbara and the nearby areas. One option for a day trip is Ojai, a lovely laid-back California small town. Less than 40 miles from Santa Barbara, Ojai is a great destination for a little bit of everything. Shopping, dining, mountain trails, and wine tasting are all options for the day. And come sunset – do not miss this experience in Ojai, which is known for its pink sunsets, or as the locals call it, the Pink Moment. A bit further afield, about 2 hours away, is Anaheim. Of course, Anaheim is home to Disneyland Park, the original Disney theme park that opened in 1955, but there’s more than flying elephants and spinning teacups to be found here. The Center Street Promenade is the place to be – if you’re looking to shop, eat, sample craft beer, and browse a farmer’s market. Speaking of eating, the hip Anaheim Packing House Food Hall, located in a former citrus packing facility, has plenty to eat. The Packing District also has merchants and live music events. 

Tuxbury Tiny House Village in South Hampton, New Hampshire puts you in the perfect location for two very different road trips. Rent a tiny house at Tuxbury and go city or go country with a day trip to Boston or the Canterbury Shaker Village, respectively. Boston is about a 50-minute drive from Tuxbury and provides all the excitement a big city day trip should. Walk the historic Freedom Trail, shop the markets at Faneuil Hall, or enjoy some Italian fare and delicious cannolis in the city’s North End. Stroll through the beauty of the Boston Public Gardens, America’s first botanical garden, or walk through the Boston Common, America’s oldest public park. Canterbury Shaker Village, a National Historic Landmark, has restored Shaker buildings, gardens, ponds, and plenty of history. Stroll the grounds, learn about Shaker life, and immerse yourself in this bit of past. There is also a picnic area and hiking trail here. Canterbury is about an hour’s drive from Tuxbury.

George Washington statue (c. 1859) in the public gardens in Boston, MA

Here’s an interesting way to get a few shots in front of the Eiffel Tower without going all the way to Paris, France. Why not go to Paris, Texas instead? If you’re planning a stay in one of the great cabins at Bay Landing, a day trip to Paris, Texas can definitely happen! In just under two hours, you can be taking plenty of Insta-worthy shots standing in front of the Texas version of the famed tower – except this one is topped with a cowboy hat. Only in Texas, right! And of course, when in Paris, wine should be on the menu. While Paris Vineyards is located outside of town, there is a quaint tasting room on the Paris Square offering several wines, including Chardonnay, Vin Blanc, and Tex Red. The Trail de Paris, a three-mile paved trail, is a great place to bike or walk and features a unique hummingbird/butterfly garden.

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5 Things to Do in… Lake George/Upstate New York

In case you might have missed it, there is a whole lot more to New York than New York City. For one thing, head north from The Big Apple and you trade concrete and steel for lots and lots of greenery. There are mountains, lakes and springs, beautiful valleys, and pastoral farmlands. There are charming towns, college towns and towns full of history as New York State was one of the thirteen original colonies. Prior to the arrival of the colonists, the area was inhabited by several Native American tribes.

A visit to Upstate New York in the fall means plenty of opportunities for leaf peeping, apple picking and enjoying the great outdoors. Here are a few ideas if you’re planning a trip to the area.

  1. Adirondack Balloon Festival: Celebrating its 48th year, the Adirondack Balloon Festival is not only New York State’s largest hot air balloon festival but is also considered one of the oldest events of its type to take place on the East Coast. This year’s event, while smaller than previous years due to COVID-19 safety aspects, promises to be just as thrilling as ever. The event runs from September 24 through September 26 and each of the days will have spectacular balloon launches. Best of all, this event is free! For more information, visit glensfalls.com/event/adirondack-balloon-festival-61317/.
  1. Take a Trip to Woodstock: The charming mountain town of Woodstock isn’t nearly as crowded with visitors as it was back in August of 1969 when it was the site of a music festival billed as “3 Days of Peace and Music” (and actually the festival was held on a farm outside of the town), and it is still worth checking out. There’s Overlook Mountain with its 4.6-mile moderate hiking trail. There are the museums and galleries along Tinker Street, which pay homage to Woodstock’s original history as an artist’s colony. Plus, Tinker Street also has plenty of shops and eateries. And there’s also the Mower’s Saturday/Sunday Flea Market and the Sunday Farmer’s Market, which both run through October.
  1. Learn Horse Racing History: A visit to historic Saratoga Springs demands a visit to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The town grew in popularity in the mid-1800s as wealthy Americans made it their summer place thanks to the wealth of mineral springs in the area. The Saratoga Race Course opened in 1863 and still offers a race schedule that runs from July through Labor Day. In addition to the Hall of Fame, which includes jockeys, horses and trainers, the National Museum of Racing has exhibits, artifacts and artwork that detail the history of horse racing.
  1. More Festivals and Fall Fun: In addition to the Balloon Festival, the area also hosts the Lake George Jazz Festival (September 17-19) and the Lake George Oktoberfest and Fall Festival (October 8-10). If you want to get a jump on Halloween scares, check out some of the more “spirited” places in the area including Fort Ticonderoga, where the sound of mysterious footsteps has been noted. Or check out Fort William Henry where phantom bells ringing, marching footsteps and flickering lights have frightened a few, and The Sagamore, where “permanent” guests can be seen floating around.
  1. Apples and Pumpkins: Another favorite fall activity, the area offers several places where you can pick your own apples and find the great pumpkin. Hicks Orchard is one of the oldest u-pick orchards in New York (hicksorchard.com) while Elmms Family Farm (ellmsfarms.com) is a great place for a fall outing with a pumpkin patch and a crazy corn maze.

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