Vermont

Vermont is a beautiful state full of great beers and great views

Vermont Tips:

• Don’t miss Hill Farmstead Brewery: This spot is about an hour from the Waterbury & Stowe areas but absolutely worth the detour. They make some of the top beers in the country in a relaxed, simple atmosphere. Located in Greensboro Bend, VT.

• Waterbury > Stowe. Stowe gets the hype but Waterbury is much cuter, walkable, and quaint.

• On a New England road trip? Check out my New Hampshire recommendations here!

Waterbury Recommendations

• Freak Folk Bier: A top-tier brewery located in Waterbury. It is a cute little space with a front patio and superb beers.

• Blackback Pub: A restaurant with a great tap list in Waterbury. The nachos sound crazy with maple syrup on them but they absolutely slap.

• Vermont Beer Collective: A beer bar and bottle shop in Waterbury with a great tap list. They have 8 beers on draft and 3 on Lukr. The folks here are nice and their selection is legit.

• Prohibition Pig: ProPig is a restaurant in the front and a brewery in the back. They have a barbecue focused food menu and solid beers. They are also known for their margaritas.

• Ben and Jerry’s: The factory location is home to the Flavor Graveyard, factory tours, and more. Expect a line for the ice cream itself.

• Cold Hollow Cider Mill: A popular attraction with cider, donuts, and a slew of other things in their market. The also have breakfast, lunch, hard cider, and a few local beers in their restaurant space across from the market.

• Vermont Artisan Coffee and Tea: A coffee roastery that has a café along with tours and classes.

Stowe Pinnacle

Stowe recommendations

• The Alchemist: This brewery created Heady Topper, a famed IPA which they have on hand pull at the taproom. They have a neat space and a large outdoor area in Stowe. There is a rotating seasonal food truck onsite.

• Woodland Baking and Coffee: A nice little spot for breakfast and coffee with baked goods as well.

• Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road: This road is 4.5 miles long and takes you to the near top of Mount Mansfield at 4,395ft of elevation. It is open from 9:30-4:30 daily. It’s pretty pricey at $35 per car and driver, $13 per additional passenger. Once at the top hike to The Chin—

  • The Nose to The Chin via Long Trail: This trail is 3.5 miles long with 1,053ft of elevation gain. It takes just over 1.5 hours to complete and brings you to the highest point in Vermont. The views are great throughout the entire trail from the Nose to the Upper Lip to the Chin. Though this trail is rated moderate it is not difficult and very nice. The bugs can be pretty awful in the summer months. To climb The Chin from the base instead of from the toll road you can follow this steeper trail.

• Doc Pond’s: A solid restaurant with a fun vibe and g0od beer list.

• von Trapp Brewing: A Lager focused brewery with a full food menu and restaurant style vibes. They have decent views and are connected to the von Trapp Lodge.

• Lawson’s Finest Liquids: An OG New England brewery located in Waitsfield. They have a small food menu and their taproom connects to the Heart of the Valley Trail.

• Stowe Pinnacle Trail: This trail is 5 miles long with 1,561ft of elevation gain that takes about 2.5 hours to complete. It is located in CC Putnam State Forest right outside of Stowe. I would recommend going early to avoid crowds, but in general it was very quiet. The trail is rated hard and is steep at points but is quite nice overall with beautiful sweeping views at the summit.

Foam Brewers

Burlington Recommendations

It’s just about a half an hour from the Stowe/Waterbury area to Burlington! This is a cool, artsy city on the water.

• Foam Brewers: A great spot with great beers. They have a nice patio space where you can juuuust see Lake Champlain across from Waterfront Park. The tap list is IPA heavy, but their mixed culture spot House of Fermentology occasionally has beers available as well. They also have a small food menu.

• Burlington Beer Company: A good brewery with a food menu, massive tap list, and nice space. The tap list is IPA-heavy and their flights are preset.

• Waterfront Park: A gorgeous park on Lake Champlain with the mountains in the background. It is a great spot to watch the sunset.

• Zero Gravity Brewery: A lovely space with delicious food, but the beer is pretty average.

• Four Quarters Brewing: A solid brewery located in the Winooski neighborhood. They have a food menu, cocktails and wine along with their beers. Heads up you’ll need to pay to park here.

• Don’t stay at the Hampton Inn Colchester: I had a pretty terrible experience here and would never recommend it.

Morgantown, WV

Morgantown is an Appalachian college town

• Morgantown has a lot of unhoused folks and some clear drug issues. Be aware of your surroundings.

• The city has an open alcohol mile—PODA.

• Morgantown is located just 1.5 hours south of Pittsburgh—check out my Pittsburgh recommendations here.

Morgantown Recommendations:

• Apothecary Ale House: A solid beer bar with mostly local beers on tap. They also have a food menu and a lovely patio space.

• Mon River Rail Trail: A nice trail along the water but there were also several signs about sewage so perhaps it is smelly at times.

• Table 9: A nice restaurant with an upper deck over the river.

• Check out Coopers Rock State Forest: Either hike the Raven Rock Trail at 2.6 miles long/442ft of elevation gain or head to the overlook at the end of the park.

• Black Bear: Located in Evansdale, a tasty spot for Mexican eats and a solid craft beer bar.

Other Morgantown Ideas:

• Mountain State Brewing: Located on the river, but their upper deck with more views is not generally open. When I visited they only had 4 of their own beers on tap and they weren’t styles I wanted, so I opted for a margarita flight which turned out to be delicious. They also have a full food menu.

• Stay at Scholar Morgantown: A decent spot from Hilton. A little run down, but in a great location and very affordable.

• Forks of Cheat Winery: Solid wine with a free tasting, but it’s pretty inconvenient to get to. They have a nice patio outside as well.

• Skip Blue Moose Coffeehouse.

• Skip Cheat Lake.

New River Gorge National Park:

This National Park is located 2.5 hours south of Morgantown. It’s known for whitewater rafting and rock climbing, so there are not too many hiking trails and those that exist can be a bit boring.

• Long Point Trail: This trail is 3 miles long with 344ft of elevation gain and takes just over 1 hour to complete. It is a popular trail since it’s not too difficult and you can reach a nice viewpoint of the bridge, river and gorge.

Pittsburgh, PA

pittsburgh is a fun city on three rivers full of breweries!

On a Pennsylvania trip? Check out my Philadelphia recommendations here.

Adventures & Ales Top Pittsburgh Recommendations: 

• Dancing Gnome Beer: A great brewery located in Sharpsville (near Hitchhiker). They have tasty beers that are mainly IPAs. No dogs allowed onsite. ​

• Hitchhiker Brewing: Hitchhiker is a good brewery with locations in Sharpsville and Mt. Lebanon. In Sharpsville they have an open air taproom and a back patio. Be sure to try their Sours.

• Cinderlands Beer Company: Cinderlands has three locations—the Warehouse in the Strip District has a nice upper patio, cocktails, and food along with their tasty beers.

• Trace Brewing: A chill spot in the Little Italy neighborhood with coffee as well. They have a very small tap list and offer full pours only, but the beers are solid.

• Four Points Brewing: A nice spot on the North Side with solid beers and an IPA-focused menu.

  • Alberta’s Pizza: A great pizza spot next door with delicious dough

• Espresso y Mano: A good spot for coffee in the Lawrenceville neighborhood.

• Eleventh Hour Brewing: A nice brewery in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. They have solid beers and a nice patio. It has “neighborhood brewery” vibes.

Pittsburgh Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• ​Duquesne Incline: A cool old cable car that goes up an incline to a nice viewpoint. It’s a unique experience and you can see the entire city and rivers. It is $5 round trip to ride and parking at the bottom is $8. Sit towards the front (closest to the city) for the best views.

• There are numerous riverside trails and greenways in the city since there are so many rivers so be sure to go for a nice riverside stroll!

Other Pittsburgh Things To Do:​​

• Coven Brewing: A solid brewery but they have a tiny tap list (3 beers on tap when I visited).

• Brooklyn Bagel at Arsenal: Solid bagel spot in Lawrenceville—if you order online be sure to check your order is correct before departing. 

• Late Addition Brewing & Blending: A smaller brewery on the North Side with 10 taps.

  • Live Fresh is a solid spot next door for juices, smoothies and açaí bowls.

• Aslin Beer Company: The Pittsburgh location of Aslin is located in the Strip District Terminal, a mixed use facility with a lot of shops and different businesses. Their beers are always good but nothing too special. They also offer food and coffee at this location.

• Strange Roots Experimental Ales: A brewery on the North Side with a unique tap list. They have an abundance of outdoor space and Pittsburgh Sandwich Society inside.

• Warhol Museum: I would skip this unless you’re a big art person. Parking in the designated lot is $8, admission is $25, and the museum itself is quite small and a little boring.

• Mike’s Beer Bar: This spot has 500 beers, 80 taps, a full food menu, and a front patio space. It is located across from Pirates Field so it’s popular on game days. Unfortunately I found the service here to be atrocious.

• Randyland: An interesting art installation at a house. It’s colorful but I personally did not find it worth my time.

• William Penn Tavern: A sports bar in Lawrenceville with chill vibes.

Providence, RI

Providence as a whole was really disappointing to me. The city is pretty trashy, folks are horrible drivers, and I had some mediocre experiences. BUT I did go to a few really great spots, so I wanted to be sure to share my recommendations, as well as spots to avoid.

Providence Recommendations:

• Long Live Beerworks: A great brewery with an IPA focus. They have a front patio, a cute interior, and an incredibly nice team.

• Ogie’s Trailer Park: A delightful spot with a fun atmosphere inside and out. It exudes dive bar vibes with a food truck inside serving tasty eats. This is also a popular spot for brunch.

• Buttonwoods Brewery: A casual brewery with electic vibes in the Federal Hill neighborhood with a variety of beers available. Screaming Unicorn is located inside for eats.

• Oak Bakery: A Jewish bakery with delicious eats.

• DePasquale Square: A touristy area full of restaurants (particularly a lot of Italian spots!). There is a cute fountain in a pedestrian area with seasonal patio seating.

Ogie's Trailer Park

Other ideas:

• Moniker Brewery: A Lager-focused brewery in the Federal Hill neighborhood.

• Proclamation Ale Company: An average brewery in the suburbs of Providence. They have some games in the taproom and Saugy Hotdogs inside for eats.

• Titled Barn Brewery: An overrated brewery in the suburbs of Providence that is overrun with children, overpriced, and serving average beer.

• Buns and Beans: This looks like a good spot for breakfast and coffee but it was absolutely exploding with people and a line down the block so I ended up skipping it.

• Rocky Point State Park: A run down park on the water in south Providence. Very sad excuse for a state park.

• Tori Tomo: A downtown ramen spot that I would give a 0/10. Half of my ingredients that I paid for were missing and the service was awful.

New Hampshire

Keene

Keene is a cute little town just over the Massachusetts and Vermont borders in southwest New Hampshire.

• Modestman Brewing: A great brewery on Main Street with chill vibes, the nicest people, and a pizza menu. Highly recommend.

• Margaritas: A Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown. The have a nice front patio, friendly staff, and margarita flights!

• Stay at Courtyard Marriott Keene: This hotel is right downtown off of main spot and incredibly convenient. It is a nice spot and the staff is very friendly.

• Branch and Blade Brewing Company: A small spot with a restaurant inside and dog-friendly outside area. The beers here were a bit hit and miss for me, but I’ve enjoyed their cans in the past.

Mount Willard

White Mountains

The White Mountains region is located in northeast New Hampshire, about two hours north of Keene. It is a beautiful area full of hiking trails.

• Crawford Notch State Park:

  • Arethusa Falls and Frankenstein Cliff Loop: This trail is 6.6 miles long with 1,637ft of elevation gain and takes just over 3 hours to complete. It is rated hard, and you’ll climb over 1,200ft in the first 1.6 miles which is quite steep at times. After this ascent you’ll reach the cliff which provides stunning views. From there you’ll journey to the largest waterfall in New Hampshire. You can also do just the cliff trail or just the waterfall trail—the waterfall trail is more popular and more maintained. It is $5 to park.

  • Mount Willard Trail: This trail is 4 miles long with 895ft of elevation gain and takes just over 1.5 hours to complete. The trailhead is at Saco Lake and then has a steady incline to the summit. This trail is wildly rocky, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes. There is a great view of the Crawford Notch at the top, though the summit can be overrun with bugs in the summer months.

• Schilling Beer Co: Located in the adorable small town of Littleton, Schilling is a Lager powerhouse. Their beers are superb, and the atmosphere on the river is tough to beat. Their food menu is pizza-focused and full of absolutely delicious eats. They have three locations on their campus: the store and tasting room, the brewery pub and kitchen, and Mill Street Kitchen.

• Maia Papaya: A delicious spot for breakfast, lunch and coffee in Bethlehem. An absolute delight!

• Franconia Notch State Park:

  • Lonesome Lake via Cascade Brook and Pemi Trail: This trail is 8.1 miles long with 1,210ft of elevation gain and takes about 4 hours to complete. It is located at The Basin, which in itself is worth checking out. The lake is a popular trail but it is still quiet, and it is a part of the Appalachian Trail. As a heads up, the lake itself can be swarming with bugs in the summer months. I would not actually recommend this route, as the Pemi Trail is absolutely awful. There is a shorter, more direct trail that avoids the Pemi Trail, but you will also miss Cascade Brook which has Kinsman Falls, two stream crossings, and is pretty walking along the water.

  • Bald Mountain Trail: This trail is a quick .6 miles long with 242ft of elevation gain and takes about 30 minutes to complete. At the end it is a very steep scramble, but otherwise it’s very moderate. The views at the top are pretty but hindered a bit by the neighboring ski area. This trail also connects to Artist Bluff and Echo Lake.

  • The Flume Gorge Trail: This trail is 2.4 miles long with 482ft of elevation gain and takes about an hour to complete. Reservations are required and the entrance fee is $19. There are limited hours with the earliest you can enter is 9am, and I would recommend arriving around this time to have the trail to yourself. I found this to be a bit overwhelming, but it is quite popular. If you’ve been to Watkins Glen State Park in New York this has a similar vibe but is less impressive.

• Look up! The stars at night in this area can be incredibly bright due to the isolation.

• While you are in this area, Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, Vermont, is just about 1.5 hours away. They make incredible beers in a pretty, simple space.

Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake

Roanoke is a great base city for exploring Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains! To make it even better, Smith Mountain Lake is just an hour east of the city. SML is a popular lake getaway with 500+ miles of shoreline. Most folks just visit one or the other, but I found it was a great way to combine a mountain weekend and a chill lake weekend all into one trip together.

McAfee Knob

Roanoke Recommendations:

• Blindhouse Beer: A stellar brewery focused on Belgian and French styles where everything is a slow pour. The beers are fantastic and the vibes are great. You can also get Food Hut RKE delivered to your table.

• Go for a hike! The Appalachian Trail runs on the west side of the city and the Blue Ridge Parkway is on the east side, providing ample trailheads all close to downtown.

  • McAfee Knob via Appalachian Trail: This 8.1 mile long trail with 1,811ft of elevation gain leads to one of the most photographed areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It takes just under four hours to complete. The trail is shaded the entire way which is a bonus in the hot summer months. The views are fantastic and the trail is quiet—highly recommend. You can also choose to go up or down the fire road which is flatter and smoother than the AT.

  • Carvin’s Cove Hay Rock via Appalachian Trail: A 7.9 mile/1,423ft of elevation gain hike to an overlook of Carvin’s Cove. You can also shorten the distance to 5 miles (same elevation gain) to the first lookout to save time. A nice view of the water below.

• Take a scenic drive: The Blue Ridge Parkway has some great viewpoints—a lot of them can be overgrown in the summer months but Great Valley is a stellar spot, especially for sunset.

• Big Lick Brewing Company: This brewery has a wide variety of beers on tap, a nice patio, and you can get food delivered to your table from nearby restaurants.

• A Few Old Goats Brewing: A solid brewery with chill vibes and a nice patio space.

• Mill Mountain Park & Star: The famed star overlooking Roanoke lights up at night and there is a great viewpoint over the city and surrounding mountains. Heads up the Google maps location is a little off if you search for the star, search for the park instead.

• Barrel Chest Wine and Beer: A bottle shop with self-pour beer and wine taps. They also have a charcuterie selection.

• Three Notch’d Brewing: An average brewery with a full food menu.

• Olde Salem Brewing: The Roanoke location of this brewery is located in the downtown market and their main taproom is in neighboring Salem. You can get food delivered to your table from nearby restaurants. The beer is mediocre.

• Twin Creeks Brewpub: A brewery off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Fables & Feathers Winery

Smith Mountain Lake Recommendations:

• Jake’s Place: A restaurant and beer bar on the water with a killer tap list. The food menu is pizza-focused and tasty. Great atmosphere and experience.

• Hickory Hill Vineyards: Very tasty wine in a relaxed atmosphere.

• Smith Mountain Trail: The lake’s namesake mountain provides a unique vantage point! There is a moderate trail that is 5 miles long with 1,000ft of elevation gain out to a cool viewpoint or you can go all the way up for another view. To reach this viewpoint you’ll turn left at the 2.5 mile point and go downhill to a small ledge with beautiful views. This trail takes just over two hours in totality and is very quiet. You will need an access permit which can be bought online ahead of time. 

• Fables & Feathers Winery: A nice winery a bit off the beaten path. Tasty wines, friendly service, nice patio overlooking the vines.

• Smith Mountain Lake State Park: This is a nice state park that has 7 short, mostly flat trails along with some water access and picnic areas. There is a $7 entrance fee.

  • Chestnut Ridge Trail: This trail is 1.5 miles long, is mostly flat, and takes about 40 minutes to complete.

  • Turtle Island Trail: This trail is 1.4 miles long, mostly flat, and takes about 30 minutes to complete.

• West Lake Coffee and Café: A decent spot for coffee and breakfast.

• Ramulose Ridge Vineyards: Another winery 2 minutes from Hickory Hill. They also offer sangria. Unfortunately it seemed like the bottle I ordered from had been open for far too long, wouldn’t really recommend.

• The Bagel & I: Solid bagel sandwich but the bagel itself was stale.

Philadelphia, PA

In West Philadelphia born and raised [in the brewery] is where I spend most of my days!

Philly Tips: 

• Philly is a really cool city with lots of distinct neighborhoods to explore. It exudes gritty vibes.

• Driving here is not enjoyable, avoid it if you can.

• On a Pennsylvania trip? Check out my Pittsburgh recommendations here.

Adventures & Ales Top Philly Recommendations:

• Human Robot: A stellar spot for Lagers in particular, but they of course make other styles too. They have a few locations across the city—the OG has Poe’s Sandwich Joint inside with tasty, massive sandwiches.

• Other Half Brewing: Other Half is one of the top breweries in the country, and their Philly taproom is cranking out some delicious beers. They have a nice patio space and inside they are set up for bar seating and watching sports. They also have a small food menu and cocktails. Parking in this area can be very annoying.

• Bart’s Bagels: Superb bagel sandwich spot in West Philly. Their menu has a ton of options. Highly recommend.

• Venture an hour north of the city to Brick Farm Tavern: This lovely restaurant and farm has fresh Troon on draft and tasty eats. Worth the drive x 100.

• Fermentery Form: Brave the creepy alley you have to walk down to get here for the delicious beers! I am forewarning you that it is literally an alley with no sign for the brewery, just go with it!

• Crime and Punishment Brewing: Located in the Brewerytown neighborhood (perfect fit, I know), this brewery is legit. Their beers are fantastic. They’ve got a small food menu with some amazing perogies if you’re hungry as well!

• Evil Genius Brewing: Hilarious beer names, a cute outdoor space, and fun vibes. They’ve got a small food menu to keep you satisfied. Located in the Fishtown neighborhood.

• Monks Cafe: A Belgian beer bar with some amazing beers on tap. Dirty glassware, pretentious staff.

• St. Oner’s: The downtown taproom for Tired Hands located in Fishtown. They have a good, IPA-heavy tap list and a small food menu. Their taproom is small but beers are tasty.

• Carbon Copy: A solid brewery in West Philly with a pizza-focused food menu. They are housed in a cute building.

Evil Genius Beer Company

Philly tourist spots actually worth visiting:

• The Rocky Steps: You gotta run up ‘em!

• Philly Magic Gardens: Artsy space, $10 entrance fee

• Love Sign: Duh, it’s a must! There are actually a few scattered throughout the city, the main one is in JFK Plaza near City Hall

• Rittenhouse Square: A lovely park

Other Philly things to do:

• Love City Brewing: Cute brewery with industrial vibes and rotating food trucks that pull inside through the back door.

• Kismet Bagels: Solid bagels downtown.

• Humble Parlour Brewing: This brewery has great reviews but unfortunately they ran out of beer when I was in town.

• Passero’s Coffee: Great coffee shop in downtown Philly. The staff is super friendly and I am still dreaming of the lavender honey latte I had.

• Urban Village Brewing: I expected to not be very impressed with Urban Village’s beer because of the brewpub vibes, but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s located in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, a trendy area worth wandering around, and they were cranking out some delicious stuff. They’ve got cool flight boards made from used barrel that let you sample every beer on the menu, a cute outdoor space, a solid food menu, and great happy hour pricing!

• Second District Brewing: A little bit of a pretentious vibe, but worth it. They’ve got a small food menu (again with amazing pierogies—who knew Philly was the pierogi hot spot?!)

• Ground Rittenhouse: A cute plant shop and café that is dog-friendly downtown.

• Yards Brewing Co.: A huge space for this commercialized brewery. Average beers, full food menu

• Philadelphia Brewing Company: Basic beers that weren’t too impressive, but their Peacock Room is a cozy little spot to play games next to the fire

• Bluestone Lane Coffee: A cute coffee shop in the city center

• Saint Benjamin’s Brewery: Very brewpub vibes but also grungy at the same time. They’ve got a full food menu with some delicious options like mac and cheese egg rolls

• Mainstay Brewing: Solid beer spot.

• Federal Donuts: Hot, fresh, and delicious donuts!

• Brewery ARS: This brewery has a couple of locations in South Philly and Fishtown. They have solid beers.

• Bar Hygge/Brewery Techne: This spot is definitely more of a restaurant, but they do make their own beer. It’s a cute, cozy spot with 7 of their own beers on draft. They’ve also got cocktails and wine, and a full food menu. I’d recommend getting a board to kick things off!

• Avoid at all costs: The Maj Hotel. I cannot begin to explain how horrendous my stay here ended up being. 0/10, run by scam artists.  

Washington D.C.

Washington D.c. is a historic city full of Distinct neighborhoods to explore

​D.C. Tips: 

• Traffic is truly the worst, avoid driving if you can. Rent bikes through the Capital Bikeshare program, use the Metro, or walk. Parking costs quite a bit nearly everywhere, so having a car is a bit of a nuisance.

• D.C. is obviously a very political city so expect to see protests, delays due to events, and more. Everything in general here tends to be quite crowded.

• A couple of days is plenty of time to see most of the city but the suburbs of D.C. are extensive, so there is also a lot to explore surrounding the area as well. Baltimore is also just an hour north for another city to adventure in, check out my Baltimore guide here.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: 

• ChurchKey: A great beer bar with chill vibes and a fantastic beer selection. They also have a small food menu. Unfortunately the service we experienced here was truly atrocious, but the beers made it worth it.

• Sovereign: A Belgian restaurant and beer bar with a killer beer selection and cool vibes. It is located down the alley, so don’t miss it!

• Other Half Brewing: The DC taproom for this NYC-based brewery is in an industrial space with fantastic beers. They have a nice outdoor space and chill vibes.

• Pearl’s Bagels: A delicious spot for bagels. They are quite popular so expect a short wait, but it is worth it.

  • Compass Coffee is next door if you’d like something more than the basic coffee menu at Pearl’s to accompany your bagel.

• Bluejacket Brewery: A solid brewery in the Navy Yard area of DC with a nice patio. They are mostly IPA and Lager focused and they also have a full food menu with brunch on the weekends. Parking in this area can be a challenge.

• Aslin Beer Company: A popular brewery with a large outdoor space. Aslin has three taprooms—DC, Alexandria, VA and Henrico, VA.

• Dacha Beer Garden: A cute little beer garden with mainly German and local beers on tap. They also have a small food menu, Happy Hour and frequent events. Visit them at their Shaw or Navy Yard locations.

Pearl’s Bagels

Explore the Metropolitan Beer Trail!

This is DC’s first ale trail and links 7 bars and breweries along the Metropolitan Branch Trail. You can bike along the trail between the various locations or walk between some as well. Download the free digital passport and check in at each location to receive a free t-shirt!

• Wunder Garten: A large beer garden and event space with an extremely nice outdoor area. They have a large draft list, cocktails and wine. They also have a couple of food partners if you are hungry. The Happy Hour specials are great!

• Metrobar: A very unique bar with an old metro car. They have fun vibes, DJs and food trucks. The drink selection includes draft beers, canned beers and cocktails. The team here is also super nice!

  • Metrobar is a great spot to try Urban Garden Brewing—a black, Latin, woman owned brewery that does not have a taproom but makes great beer.

• Right Proper Brewing Company: A neighborhood brewery with board games, frequent live music, and chill vibes. They have two locations, the Brookland Production House and Shaw Brewpub and Kitchen.

• Red Bear Brewing Company: An average brewery with a full food menu that includes brunch. They have a small patio and are located in an artsy area.

• The Eleanor: This is a bar, grill and bowling lounge with a full food menu including brunch, happy hour, a large beer list and an extensive cocktail list. They have pin ball, bowling and a couple other games. The parking here is in a paid garage under the building.

• The Dew Drop Inn: A beer and cocktail dive bar with daily food trucks. They also do beer cocktails combining local beers with liquors into delicious creations.

• City-State Brewing Company: A brewery with a small tap list of below average beers. They have indoor and outdoor seating and some games.

National Museum of American History

Touristy DC things worth doing:

• Explore the National Mall: This area is home to the Lincoln Memorial, the Tidal Basin, Washington Monument, Smithsonian Museums, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Memorial, the White House, the Capitol, World War II Memorial, and more! You can start at one end (the Capitol or Lincoln Memorial) and wander throughout the area. It does get a bit crowded at the popular stops so go early or later in the day for less people around.

• Visit a Smithsonian Museum:

  • National Museum of African American History and Culture: This Smithsonian requires free advance ticket reservations that go very quickly so be sure to plan ahead! The museum is massive and full of history, pop-culture and more.

  • National Museum of American History: This Smithsonian is focused on innovation, democracy and history.

  • National Air and Space Museum: This Smithsonian has been going through renovations for several years to expand their galleries. They are focused on the history and modern inventions around space exploration and flying. Entry requires free advance ticket reservations.

  • National Museum of Natural History: This Smithsonian is focused on the origination of the earth with exhibits around fossils, animals, mummies, gems, geology, and more.

Metrobar

Other Washington DC things to do:

• The Bruery: This California-based brewery has a small taproom and bottle shop in DC. They have limited hours though so be sure to plan ahead if you’d like to visit.

• Pizzeria Paradiso: A delicious spot for pizza with a solid craft beer selection.

• Matchbox: A restaurant with 3 locations in the DC area offering brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks. The Penn Quarter spot is near the National Mall with well-priced food and drink.

• Gregory’s Coffee: A local chain coffee shop with a small food menu and tasty coffee.  

Baltimore, MD

Baltimore is a gritty city on the harbor with some nice neighborhoods to explore

Charm City Tips: 

• Baltimore gets a relatively bad rap—if you’re planning a trip here plan to hear the phrase “be safe!” at least 100 times. I didn’t feel unsafe at any point, but I always travel very aware and make smart decisions, so just be conscious of your surroundings.

• As a heads up most of the breweries in Baltimore don’t open until pretty late in the afternoon, unlike other cities where some open as early as 11am or 12pm.

• Check out my guide to neighboring Washington DC here and my guide to the nearby Delmarva Peninsula here.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:

• Sapwood Cellars: A stellar brewery in Columbia, a suburb just southwest of Baltimore about 20 minutes from downtown. They are located in an industrial park but have a nice taproom and new patio. They have a great variety of beers and everything they make is extremely good. Highly recommend!

• The Local Oyster: A fantastic restaurant with two locations—Locust Point and Mount Vernon. The oysters and beverages are superb and the folks are incredibly nice. Highly recommend.

• Crooked Crab Brewing Company: A great brewery just south of downtown in the suburb of Odenton. They are located in an industrial park and have only indoor seating along with a pizza menu. IPAs are what they do the most and what they do best.

• Pariah Brewing Company: My favorite brewery in Baltimore proper—the beers here are great and the team is incredibly nice. Overall great vibes. They also have a nice patio space and frequent food trucks.

• Sam’s Bagels: Tasty bagels and nice folks—in the heart of the Federal Hill neighborhood.

• Wet City Brewing: A great brewery located downtown. Their Sours and IPAs are delicious, they have a food menu, and they have great vibes.

• Checkerspot Brewing Company: A nice brewery near the stadiums. They have a small food menu and patio space. IPAs are what they do best here!

• Peabody Heights Brewery: A solid brewery with a large taproom and patio. They have a full room dedicated to arcade games here.

The Local Oyster

Baltimore Touristy things worth doing:

• Federal Hill Park: A lovely park with great views of the skyline and harbor. 

• Walk the Harbor for water views, there is a park along the water.

• Cross Street Market: A nice food hall with a variety of vendors. Located in the Federal Hill neighborhood.

  • Ceremony Coffee Roasters is inside here with coffee, tea and a small breakfast menu.

• Wander the Federal Hill neighborhood—this area is full of bars, restaurants, shops, coffee and more.

Pariah Brewing

Other Baltimore things to do:

• Pure Raw Juice: They have several locations in the Baltimore area for juice, acai and smoothies. Delicious but expensive.

• Diamondback Brewing: An urban brewery with indoor and outdoor seating and average beers. The beer selection is limited and the pizza is not great.

• Morning Mugs: An average coffee shop, but they are super dog friendly!

• Skip Nepenthe Brewing Company: I had a truly horrible experience here and they reached out to apologize but I can’t imagine ever supporting such a business.

Wheatland Spring

things to do in the greater baltimore area:

• Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery: This is a stellar brewery in Waterford, VA set on a farm. They have a small and delicious food menu, insanely fantastic vibes, and great beers. Highly recommend!

• Idiom Brewing: A solid brewery in Frederick, MD with a large taproom and a back patio. They have a nice team and are dog-friendly inside and out. They also have frequent food trucks and live music.

• Adroit Theory: This brewery is in Purcellville, Virginia, but if you happen to be anywhere nearby it’s a great stop! Their beers are absolutely delicious, particularly their IPAs and Sours. They have indoor and outdoor seating and slushies in the summer.

• Bear Chase Brewing Company: Located in Bluemont, Virginia, 15 minutes from Adroit Theory. They have fantastic views and average beers. This is a casual spot with a ton of seating on the elevated patio and along the lawn. They also have a small food menu.

Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, ME

Acadia National park is a treasure on the coast of maine & The bayside town of Bar Harbor is full of restaurants and shops for after your time in the park!

​Acadia/Bar Harbor Tips: 

• If you are visiting during the summer, anticipate a lot of tourists. Acadia & Bar Harbor are very popular spots. Bar Harbor is set up to be a tourist magnet with restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions.

  • If you’re looking for a quieter stay I’d recommend staying in Southwest Harbor, which is located on the other side of Mount Desert Island but is still convenient to everything!

• You’ll need a parking pass to visit Acadia from May to October. You can buy it online ahead of time and print it out to place on your dashboard.

  • They are quite strict on parking, so be sure to always have your pass and follow the parking regulations! We saw lots of tickets for folks parked on the curb, not far enough off the road, without passes, etc.

  • Expect paid (and crowded) parking throughout Bar Harbor as well.

  • The Island Explorer is another way to get around if you want to ditch your car!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:

• Explore the Ocean Path and Gorham Mountain: You can drive the Ocean Path to the main tourist spots (excluding Gorham Mountain), but I’d always recommend the hike over the drive!

  • This trail on AllTrails went along the Ocean Path and up Gorham Mountain. It was about 4.3 miles, 40 flights up, and took about 2 hours. The trail starts at Sand Beach, a popular and beautiful beach for sunbathing and swimming. From the beach the trail heads along the road to Thunder Hole, a popular tourist spot where the combination of the waves hitting the rocks and the release of air from a cavern cause a thunderous boom and large splash to happen. From Thunder Hole the trail heads to Gorham Mountain, where you climb up a rocky trail to the summit with fantastic views. The last section of the trail is working your way down the mountain, and The Beehive Trail is right at the end where you can turn off to add another 1.5 miles on. This is a popular loop with some challenging rung and ladder sections.

• Thruston’s Lobster Pound: A great spot in Southwest Harbor for fresh lobster! They have a full menu with counter service and the restaurant is located right on the water.

• Tap & Barrel Tavern: A small sports bar with a killer beer selection! Highly recommend.

• Bar Harbor Beer Works: A bar/restaurant in the heart of Bar Harbor with a plethora of Maine beers and delicious food.

• Blaze Brewing: A restaurant-style brewery with several locations in Maine that has solid beers and great guest taps.

• Leary’s Landing: An Irish pub with a solid beer list and food located right in the heart of Bar Harbor.

• Milagro Coffee: A nice coffee shop in Southwest Harbor with breakfast options as well.

• Atlantic Brewing: A brewery with two locations on the island. Their newer spot in central Bar Harbor has a rooftop and a kitchen, but a very limited beer selection.

Ocean Path

touristy arcadia national park things worth doing:

• Cadillac Mountain: The highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place to view sunrise in the United States from October 7 through March 6. You can drive up (with a specific parking pass) or you can hike up!

  • This trail on AllTrails was around 7 miles, 95 flights up, and took a little over 3 hours. It was a moderately difficult hike and very rocky, but the views at the top are fantastic! This is one of the most popular spots on the island, so expect there to be a ton of people at the top of the mountain who drive up, but on the trail itself it was pretty quiet. Also to note, there is limited parking at the trailhead but you can also park on the road just below the trailhead and cut through via a footpath.

• Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse: A nice lighthouse in Southwest Harbor. Go at sunset for fantastic views and be sure to go down the trail on the left where you can hang out on the rocks for better views!

• Echo Lake Beach: A popular beach with nice views.

• Agamont Park: A public park overlooking the harbor in Bar Harbor. The perfect spot for a picnic or to enjoy an ice cream!

Leary’s Irish Pub

Spots to avoid:

• Fogtown Brewing Company: A small brewery in Bar Harbor with quite honestly terrible beer. I could not finish a single beer on the flight.

• Jordan Pond House: A restaurant on a pond that is swarming with tourists and nearly impossible to park at. I’d recommend taking the shuttle if you’re interested in visiting as the parking lot is not sufficient for the number of people trying to visit.

• Silent City Coffee/Saint Dreux’s: Absolutely would NOT recommend. I went for breakfast and coffee to-go and spent almost $50 for two people + it took over 30 minutes to get the to-go food + the customer service was terrible.

Portland, ME

Portland, Maine is consistently rated one of the best beer cities in the US and is super gorgeous! I highly recommend this cute little city!

​Portland Tips: 

• Walk! Portland is small enough that you can walk from spot to spot most of the time instead of needing to drive/Lyft.

• Go whale watching! But don’t be surprised if your tour is cancelled multiple times due to weather.

• Portland is pretty small so you don’t need much time here, 2-3 days is perfect. Acadia National Park is another great spot in Maine to explore, check out my guide here! are It is also easy to hop on the Amtrak to another Northeastern city if you’ve got more time! Check out my guide to Boston here!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:

• Novare Res Bier Cafe: A great beer bar with a killer selection! They also have a nice patio and food options—I highly recommend the charcuterie board!

• Tandem Coffee and Bakery: Delicious breakfast spot! I’d recommend ordering online as it can be quite busy.

• Mast Landing Brewing: Fantastic spot just outside of town in Westbrook, Maine. They have a huge tap list exploding with delicious IPAs and a small food menu—I highly recommend the pretzel!

• Maine Beer Company: Located in Freeport, Maine, about 30 minutes north of Portland, this is a must-visit. They have a beautiful space, delicious pizzas, and phenomenal beers.

  • Mast Landing Brewing has their second location right around the corner in Freeport as well!

• Belleflower Brewing: An under the radar brewery that is crushing it. Definitely recommend checking out this little spot, particularly for their IPAs.

• Oxbow Blending & Bottling: A terrific brewery specializing in Farmhouse Ales. This spot has awesome vibes plus they have Duckfat onsite for drool-worthy fries and other goodies.

• Bissell Brothers Brewing: A great brewery with tasty IPAs and a full food menu. They’ve got a nice patio and a large taproom. Heads up, you’ll need to pay to park.

• Brewery hop on Industrial Way:

  • Allagash Brewing: Easily the most popular brewery in Portland and for good reason! They have fantastic beers and don’t sleep on their onsite food truck Bite Into Maine!

  • Definitive Brewing Company: Industrial vibes, tasty beers, and frequent food trucks.

  • Foundation Brewing Company: Solid brewery with a variety of beers to choose from.

  • Battery Steele Brewing: Another option on this brewery-packed street!

Allagash Brewing Company

touristy things in portland worth doing:

• Hang out on the Eastern Promenade: Walk the trail and gaze at the sailboats!

• Wander around the adorable downtown and pop into shops!

• Peak’s Island: Grab the ferry and adventure around! We rented a cheap and fun little golf cart to go around the island for a couple hours.

• Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse: Gorgeous and totally worth the short drive from downtown Portland!

Portland Head Lighthouse

Other Portland things to do:

• Liquid Riot Bottling Company: A variety of local beers + check out the view from the back deck!

• Rising Tide Brewing Co.: Another great brewery in Portland! They have cute little flight trays and a wide array of options!

• Austin Street Brewery: Located right next door to Rising Tide, this is a solid brewery with a small tap list.

• Little Tap House: A restaurant with a farm-to-table menu and a large tap list. This spot is especially great for brunch and happy hour!

• Lone Pine Brewing Company: Solid brewery with nice staff members and a large patio outback. The Oh-J is a must try!

• Goodfire Brewing: Right behind Lone Pine, this a cool spot with experimental flavors + shuffleboard in the back.

Boston, MA

Boston can get a bad rap for its weather and aggressive locals, but it’s a cool city to spend a few days in!

Boston Tips: 

• Expect terrible driving. Parking is bad. Drivers are bad. Lanes end with no warning. I’d avoid having a car if you’re staying in the city center.

• I would not recommend going in the winter unless you really enjoy the snow and cold—Boston gets slammed with winter storms.

• Be sure to venture into Cambridge and out to Cape Cod while in the area as well!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:

• Tree House Brewing Company: A stellar brewery with 5 locations (one is on the beach and one is at a golf course!). They have some funky rules about how many pours you can get and ordering to-go beer, so be sure to check out their website for each taproom’s policies before visiting.

  • Sandwich: A beautiful spot on Cape Cod at the beach! Dog friendly outside, and they serve delicious pizzas and lobster rolls.

  • Carlton: The OG location is a massive, beautiful campus. They run like a well-oiled machine. Dog friendly inside and out, pizzas sometimes available.

  • Deerfield: This is a converted industrial building that they made into an epic taproom. They have a plant-filled interior and a spacious outdoor area. Dog-friendly outside, pizzas available.

• Trillium Brewing: Trillium is consistently one of the best breweries in the country and you absolutely must try their beers while in Boston! Trillium has four locations in the area: Fort Point, Fenway, Canton, and on the Greenway!

  • Trillium Fort Point: This location has a large tap list, a rooftop bar, a full food menu, and a nice outdoor patio. Highly recommend checking out this location!

  • Trillium Fenway: A smaller tap list and a small taproom, but the outdoor space is nice. This location is right next to Time Out Market which has a bunch of different food options.

  • Trillium Canton: Their newest space is a bit further outside of the city center. Full food menu, gorgeous, spacious taproom, and a huge outdoor area.

    • Pro-tip: The Homewood Suites in Canton is a 3 minute walk from this Trillium location!

  • Trillium on the Greenway: A seasonal taproom located right on the Rose Kennedy Greenway!

• Fenway Beer Shop: A bottle shop close to Fenway Park with a really good selection of cans and bottles. Highly recommend!

• Mike’s Pastry: Touristy but worth it. Cannolis are not usually my favorite but I loveeeeee Mike’s. The peanut butter chocolate is clearly the best. Cash only!

• Rose Kennedy Greenway: A fun outdoor space in the heart of the city. The city’s best food trucks park here for lunch time—get on it! Trillium Brewing also has a location on the greenway!

• Tatte Bakery & Cafe: This fantastic bakery has numerous locations throughout the Boston area for you to try their delicious baked goods. I recommend going to the location near the Boston Commons and taking a stroll with your coffee/snack!

• Vitamin Sea Brewing: A solid brewery in Weymouth specializing in IPAs. It is a nice little spot with good vibes. They also have a location in Plymouth.

  • Barrel House Z is across the street

• Sam Adam’s Brewing: Super touristy of course, but at least they have brewery-only releases to try when you visit! They have a nice outdoor space as well.

• Night Shift Brewing: They have several taprooms throughout town, so we checked out the Love Joy Wharf location. It is right on the water and they are a solid brewery.

• The Lawn on D: This is basically an adult playground with games, swings, alcohol, dogs, and more.

• Harpoon Brewery: This massive brewery is definitely worth a stop. Be sure to get a pretzel.

Trillium Brewing

touristy things in boston that are worth doing:

• Fenway Park: You gotta do it! It’s such a cool little stadium. Even the cheapest seats have a great view because everything is compact.

  • Bleacher Bar is a great place to pre-game with lots of craft beer options right across from the stadium

• Newbury Street: Wander the shops & admire the brownstones!

• Boston Public Garden & Boston Commons: The swan boats are iconic and the park is gorgeous!

• Wander North End: This neighborhood is full of fantastic Italian restaurants! For something casual grab sandwiches from Pauli’s and enjoy them on the waterfront of the Boston Harbor at Langone Park with Mike’s Pastry!

• Boston Public Market: A great food hall with lots of options. Makes for a great stop for lunch!

• Explore Cape Cod: A fun spot to spend a day or two! Expect road delays.

  • Provincetown: A cute little town at the end of the cape full of shopping, restaurants, ice cream shops, and more. Be sure to stop at The Canteen, a self-proclaimed “Provincetown institution.” This restaurant and bar has a great patio on the water. The food is tasty but nothing too special and they have a solid beer selection. Their raw bar is weekends only.

  • Sandwich: This town is at the start of the cape and home to one of Tree House Brewing Company’s taprooms. It is located right on the water with gorgeous views and a beautiful interior. They have delicious and massive pizzas + lobster rolls. In addition to their incredible beer they have craft cocktails in the airstream outside.

  • Cape Cod National Seashore: Check out Highland Lighthouse and Coast Guard Beach!

Fenway

Cambridge & Somerville Recommendations:​​

• Explore Harvard of course! Here is a self-guided walking tour!

• Lamplighter Brewing: A fun brewery with yummy beers and a small food menu.

• Remnant Brewing: A great brewery in Somerville located in Bow Market. Really good beers and several other food/drink options in the market plaza as well.

• Aeronaut Brewing: Another brewery in Somerville with good beers, a huge patio, and chill vibes.

• Simon’s Coffee Shop: A cute and homey coffee shop with killer breakfast sandwiches!

• Kendall Square Roof Garden: A cute garden with a nice view.

• Cambridge Brewing Co.: Personally my favorite part was that they have different mini-glasses for flights for each type of beer! A fun spot with food as well.

• The Sinclair: A great spot for brunch in Harvard Square. Sit on the rooftop if the weather is nice!

New York City

New York City! So much to see! So much to do!

The Big Apple Tips: 

• Have cash on you! Lots of places are cash only or have a high minimum for cards

• Use the Subway to get around, it is super easy and convenient. Each ride costs $2.75, just get a card from any station and refill it as you need.

• NYC is massive, plan to spend a good chunk of time in the city if you want to be able to truly explore.

• La Guardia is a bit of a pain to fly in/out of because only cars/buses can get you there and it’s in the northeast corner of the city, plus they are doing a massive renovation right now making the traffic atrocious. At JFK you can take the Subway and therefore not have to worry about traffic. You can also fly into Newark as an option. From Newark you can take the train into Penn Station and then subway from there. Rideshares from Newark are particularly expensive because there are a lot of tolls to cross into the city.

• Per usual I will remind you that it is much nicer to visit when it is warm outside and not in the dead of winter so that you can actually enjoy walking around the various boroughs.

• Want a more slow paced and scenic adventure while you’re in the area? Head up to the Hudson Valley area! Check out my guide here.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: ​

• Other Half Brewing: A fantastic brewery with phenomenal beers. They are mostly an IPA brewery but they also make great Lagers and Stouts. Other Half has 3 locations in NYC:

  • Center Street: This is their original taproom. It is a small space and can get packed but it is a fun atmosphere.

  • Domino Park: A beautiful, modern taproom located right across from the river. Domino Park itself is across the street and is a beautiful park with great views.

  • Rockefeller Center: A small taproom in the heart of Manhattan. They have a beer garden in the summer months as well!

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway: AMAZING! So magical. Highly recommend. If Harry Potter isn’t your thing (you’re crazy), I would still recommend seeing a show on Broadway for the experience.

• Empire Fulton Park: Grab a bagel and a coffee and sit by the water admiring the skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge!

• Torst: A killer beer bar with chill vibes and an insane tap list. Very sleek space with extremely nice staff and a small food menu. Pricey but worth it!

• Fifth Hammer Brewing: Delicious beers, frequent food trucks, dog friendly. Located in Long Island City.

• Beer Street: A great beer bar with two locations: the OG is located between Williamsburg and Greenpoint and Beer Street South in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Beer Street is a small beer bar with a killer tap list, reasonable prices, and chill vibes. Beer Street South is much larger than the original space and has even more taps.

• Proletariat: A small unassuming beer bar with 12 taps, some of which are local, some of which are not. They also have some cans and bottles to choose from.

• Grimm Artisanal Ales: Tasty beers in a vibrant setting. This is a popular spot so it can be very packed and loud as a forewarning, but the beers are worth it!

• Evil Twin Brewing: A top-notch brewery with two locations in NYC—Ridgewood and Dumbo. Ridgewood has a nice airy taproom and patio space but it is definitely a hike from most spots in the city. The Dumbo taproom has great views outside and both have similar tap lists.

• Finback Brewery: Another great brewery with two locations—Glendale and Brooklyn. The Glendale taproom is their original spot and definitely off the beaten path. Their newer spot in Brooklyn is within walking distance of a bunch of other breweries and a cool space. They have a huge tap list at both spots full of great beers. In Brooklyn they also have a small food menu via Dumpling Up

Grimm Artisanal Ales

touristy nyc things worth doing:

• Central Park: The absolute “must” in NYC, but be forewarned it is absolutely massive! Plan ahead if there is something specific you want to see/do in the park. The Central Park Zoo, The Met, dog parks, and more are housed here.

  • Liberty Bagels is a touristy but delicious bagel spot nearby Central Park

• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge: If you do it on a weekend mentally prepare yourself for hoards of people, but a must!

• The Met: A fabulous art museum located in Central Park. Tickets are $25 and you can buy them online ahead of time to skip the line. The museum is massive, so plan to spend a good chunk of time here.

• Bryant Park: It’s just another park, but it’s pretty and a nice place to sit and relax

• Times Square: Honestly just walk through it once on your way from point A to point B to see the giant signs and shops, otherwise you don’t need to spend time here.

• The High Line: An elevated park with tons of greenery. Beware it gets very packed!

  • The Standard is a beer garden on the High Line with limited hours.

• Staten Island: Take the free ferry to SI—you don’t need a ticket or anything, just line up and board. On the way to SI you’ll want to be on the right side if you want to see the Statue of Liberty, left coming back. The ferry ride is ~25 minutes each way.

• 9/11 Memorial and Museum: A somber visit to the World Trade Center recognizing the victims of 9/11.

• Grand Central Terminal: A rail station that is absolutely beautiful inside!

• Tenement Museum: Immigration museum with various exhibits and experiences. Buy tickets in advance or you might not get in!

Empire Fulton Park

Other NYC Things To Do:

• Threes Brewing: A Lager-focused brewery making quite delicious beers. They have 5 taprooms across the city: Gowanus, Greenpoint, Governors Island, Huntington and Moynihan. The Gowanus taproom has a full food menu from their onsite kitchen The Meat Hook. They also have several guest beers and wines.

• Talea Beer Co.: I visited their Williamsburg taproom which is a cute little spot with good beers. They also have a Cobble Hill taproom and a Grand Central space.

• Wild East Brewing: This brewery is in the heart of Brooklyn and makes a wide variety of beers. They have a nice space and solid beers.

• Interboro Spirits and Ales: A chill brewery with good beers and a small food menu. They are right around the corner from Grimm.

• Devocion Coffeeshop: Several locations in NYC filled with plants and delicious coffee!

• Kills Boro Brewing: They are on Staten Island and have super delicious beers. They have more dive bar vibes than brewery inside and a cute outdoor space.

• Chuko: A solid spot for Ramen in Brooklyn. Right across from Bier Street South!

• Baba Cool: A cute spot for breakfast, lunch or coffee! They have two locations: Fort Greene and Williamsburg.

• Flagship Brewing: Another brewery on Staten Island with lots of games and a very chill space.

• The Bushwick Collective: Located at 427 Troutman Street, there is a ton of street art and some nice bars and restaurants in the area as well.

• Bridge and Tunnel Brewing: A small spot with lots of taps and funky vibes.

• Queens Brewery: Another brewery option with a large space, frequent live music, arcade games, and a coffee bar.

• Sey Coffee: A cute coffee shop with skylights, plants, and delicious scones!

• Circa Brewing: Their lunch special is a great deal—pizza, salad, beer for $15! They have outside seating in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn. Their menu is mostly pizza but they have a few other things along with wine and cocktails. They have happy hour and weekend brunch specials as well.

• The Bronx Brewery: Extremely nice staff and a backyard to hang out in when the weather is nice. A small tap list but solid beers.

• King’s County Brewer’s Collective: A dog-friendly brewery with board games and chill vibes. Pricey, average beers.

• The Wheelhouse: A yummy grilled cheese restaurant!

Fifth Hammer

• Wander East Village: Lots of cute bars and restaurants to explore here!

• Boris & Horton: A cute little dog-friendly café.

• Tompkins Square Bagels: Super touristy and packed bagel shop with a plethora of options. Don’t get your bagel toasted—they are freshly made. You can also order online!

• Chelsea Market: Food hall/shopping combo in an old warehouse.

• Big aLICe Brewing: In Long Island City, this is a small brewery with average beers.

• Rockaway Brewing: A small brewery near Fifth Hammer with 11 taps. They have a second location at Rockaway Beach.

• East Harlem Bottling Co.: A beer bar and restaurant with a decent draft list, stop by if you’re in Harlem!

• LIC Beer Project: A small brewery in Long Island City with solid beer options.

• Pier 66: Frying Pan is a bar on the pier that has cute nautical vibes but is a bit pricey. It moves with the water so if you get seasick I would not advise it.

Skip:

• The Charging Bull: it’s surrounded by tourists most of the time and nearly impossible to actually see. When you do catch a glimpse it’s not as exciting as the hype.

• BierWax: A beer bar with two locations in Brooklyn and Queens. I was not super impressed here—they served my beer in a plastic cup, the staff was rude, they only offered 16oz pours and everything was very over priced.

• Keg & Lantern: A brewpub with average beers and mediocre service. They have specials every day and a full food menu.

• As Is: A beer bar in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood with mediocre service and mediocre food.

• Strong Rope Brewing: Pricey, average beers.

Rochester, NY

Rochester is a really nice city full of fantastic food & drinks!

ROC Tips: 

• Rochester is a pretty small city, you could easily explore without a car via ride shares, walking and biking.

• Make sure to eat a famed garbage plate—learn more here!

• On a Western New York road trip? Check out my Buffalo beer and travel guide here and my Finger Lakes area guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: 

• Fifth Frame Brewing: A killer brewery located in downtown Rochester. Their beers are absolutely fantastic. Their tap list is Sour heavy, but each style of beer I tried was delicious. They also have a small food menu and some outdoor seating.

• Strangebird Brewery: A fantastic brewery with a wide variety of beers and specializing in Farmhouse Ales. They also have a full food menu with delicious, locally sourced and seasonal options. Their taproom is beautiful and they also have an outdoor patio.

• Living Roots Urban Winery: An adorable winery with delicious wine and food and the nicest team! They have a great patio and a cute indoor space as well. Living Roots offers flights of wine, 3oz pours, 6oz pours, glasses and bottles. The small food menu has the perfect snacks to accompany wine including a great cheese board. Reservations are recommended but you can also walk in. They also have a location in the Finger Lakes.

• Mortalis Brewing Company: A great Sour and Stout brewery in south Rochester. Their taproom has very limited hours so be sure to plan ahead to visit.

• R.O.C. Brewing: A nice brewery downtown with solid beers and a lovely patio. F.L.X. Weinery shares the space with the brewery so you can get hot dogs, burgers, fries and more with your beers.

• Black Button Distilling: A fun distillery right near the market with a super nice team and tasty spirits. Their Bourbon Cream is their top seller, but they have a wide variety of spirits to choose from. They use all natural and local ingredients and aren’t afraid to go against the norm, such as with their award-winning citrus-forward Gin. They also make their own syrups, create canned cocktails, and host classes.

  • The city’s first craft brewery, Rohrbach Brewing, is right next door as well.

Strangebird Brewing

Touristy Things in Rochester Worth Doing:

• Genesee Brew House: This historic brewery is a must visit in Rochester. Downstairs they have a tasting room, gift shop and to-go beer selection. Upstairs they have a restaurant-style setup with a full food menu, a balcony with views of High Falls, and a rooftop terrace. They generally make light, easy-drinking beers and their Cream Ale is what they are famous for.

• High Falls: A large waterfall in the heart of downtown. Walk out on the bridge for the best views of the falls.

• Rochester Public Market: A massive market with indoor and outdoor sections full of food and drinks. A lot of booths are cash only so be prepared. Don’t miss Juan and Maria’s Empanada Stop inside and Flour City Bread Company along the perimeter.

• Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park: Check out this state park with access to Lake Ontario, a pier, fishing, a beach and the Lakeside Trail. Located 15 minutes north of downtown Rochester.

• Sam Patch Erie Canal Boat Cruise: This 1.5 hour canal cruise takes you down the Erie Canal and through Lock 32 with history along the way. There are snacks and drinks available on the boat and it launches from Pittsford which is 15 minutes from downtown Rochester. There are also walking and biking trails that run along the canal.

Living Roots

Other rochester things to do:​​​

• Sager Beer Works: A solid brewery right behind Living Roots. They have a full food menu, a small patio, and frequent events. Sager focuses on classic, easy-drinking beers with a neighborhood pub vibe.

• Swiftwater Brewing Company: An average brewery with an IPA heavy tap list and a small food menu.

• Copper Leaf Brewing: Located in Pittsford, a 5 minute walk from the Sam Patch canal cruise. This is a small brewery with solid beers.

• Lock 32 Brewing: Another brewery in Pittsford, right behind the Sam Patch canal cruise.

• Stay at the Courtyard by Marriott: This hotel is a great base for exploring Rochester. It is right downtown with clean and modern rooms. They also have a full restaurant and bar.

• Melo Coffee and Kitchen: A cute coffee shop with a food menu and outdoor seating options.

• Hop on a shared bike or scooter with HOPR

Buffalo, NY

Buffalo is an old, industrial city with a vibrant beer scene

Buffalo Tips:

• Buffalo is a very proud city and they love their Bills. Everywhere you go, football season or not, Bills insignia dots the city. In all of my travels I have never seen a city so obsessed with their NFL team. If you happen to be in town during football season prepare for a bit of madness.

• I found the driving in Buffalo to be alarming—folks are running red lights and driving aggressively everywhere you look. Be aware and be cautious.

• The Buffalo Roam app is what the city uses for parking. You’ll need to add a $10 deposit to start an account.

• On a Western New York road trip? Check out my Rochester guide and my Finger Lakes region guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: 

• Froth Brewing Company: An extremely good brewery specializing in Fruited Sours. Their taproom hours are a bit more limited than other spots in town so be sure to plan ahead.

• Other Half Brewing: The Buffalo outpost of the popular NYC brewery. They are located right across from the baseball stadium with a bit of an odd set-up. Inside they have a couple of arcade games with limited seating and only 8 taps. Outside there are a few tables and corn hole.

• The Beer Keep: A fantastic bottle shop and beer bar in the Elmwood Village neighborhood. They have great vibes, patio seating, a small food menu, and a killer selection of beers.

• Thin Man Brewery: A good brewery on Elmwood Avenue with games, a rooftop patio, a full food menu, and good vibes. Their tap list is Sour heavy but they still make a wide variety of beers.

• Belt Line Brewery & Kitchen: A great brewery with a plethora of IPAs and Sours. They also have a food menu and some outdoor seating.

• Big Ditch Brewing Company: A solid brewery with a full food menu in downtown Buffalo. This is a popular spot for workday lunches due to its location. Their Sours are what they do best!

Niagara Falls

touristy things in buffalo that are worth doing:

• Check out Niagara Falls: Touristy, yes, but still awesome to see. The Canadian side offers better views, so be sure to bring along your passport or enhanced license to get across the border. Expect it to be very busy. Niagara Falls is 30 minutes from downtown Buffalo.

  • If you’re just making a quick stop to see the falls, park at Niagara Garden Place near the police station. The falls are right across the street and it is $10 for 30 minutes of parking which is the perfect amount of time. There is conveniently a public restroom nearby as well.

  • If you want a more robust experience you can do a boat tour or walk behind the falls. You will get soaked as a forewarning. There are several different tour operators in the area with various options.

• Explore Elmwood Village: This is definitely the nicest neighborhood in Buffalo and Elmwood Avenue is full of bars, restaurants and shops to hop around and visit.

• Canalside Park: A nice park on the Buffalo River and Lake Erie. There are walking trails, boat tours and a Naval and Military Park.

Big Ditch Brewing Company

other things to do in buffalo:

• Resurgence Brewing Company: A popular brewery with a spacious taproom, an outdoor patio and some food options as well. They share a courtyard with Hartman’s Distilling Co. if a cocktail is calling your name!

• Hofbrauhaus: The Buffalo outpost of the German brewery. They are located downtown with a great patio space and stay true to the German roots with their beer and food menu. Hofbrauhaus also has a great happy hour, but the service I had here was truly awful.

• Gene McCarthy’s Old First Ward Brewing Company: A little dive bar with a full food menu that makes their own beer. They have a nice outdoor patio.

• The Intersection: A little coffee window in the Allentown neighborhood with coffee, tea, muffins and bagels.

Hudson Valley, NY

Hudson Valley is a gorgeous area just north of NYC full of great brews & views!

Hudson Valley Tips: 

• This area stretches 150 miles along the Hudson River from just north of Manhattan to Albany and things can be a bit spread out so be sure to plan ahead!

• While you are in the area head into the city too! Check out my New York City guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: 

• Suarez Family Brewery: One of the top breweries in the country for Mixed Fermentation beers and Lagers! The have a quaint little taproom with 2 beers on tap and a large bottle selection. Located in Hudson. They have limited hours unfortunately so if they are closed while you are in town you can try to snag their beers at local bars/restaurants.

• Hudson Valley Brewery: A fantastic brewery specializing in Sour IPAs and Farmhouse Ales. They are located in the heart of downtown Beacon and have a nice outdoor patio space.

• Equilibrium Brewery: Located in the heart of Middletown, Equilibrium makes some fantastic beers. They have a nice outdoor space, a full food menu via Equilibrium Bonfire that specializes in BBQ, and overall a very nice aesthetic. They also have a full retail section with merchandise and to-go beers.

• Tin Barn Brewing: Located in Chester, Tin Barn has solid beers with an IPA-heavy tap list. They have a large indoor taproom and a nice outdoor patio. They have pizzas available for food and a nice atmosphere.

• Foreign Objects Beer Company: Located in Monroe, this spot has a friendly team, a cozy taproom and a nice backyard space. They are known for their Hazy IPAs but I found the Sour to also be delicious.

• Plan Bee Farm Brewery: This is a nice farm-style brewery with tasty beers, chill vibes, and frequent food trucks. They use all local ingredients and focus on Wild Ales, Sours, and easy-drinking beers. Located in Poughkeepsie.

• Obercreek Brewing Company: A very popular brewery known for their Wild Ales and IPAs. It is a very small taproom and larger outdoor space. They have frequent food pop-ups and I highly recommend Busbys Pizza if they are there while you visit! Located in Wappingers Falls.

Hudson Valley Brewery

touristy things in hudson valley that are worth doing:

• Hudson Highlands State Park Reserve: This park is close to everything and has some great views. I did the Bull Hill Full Loop Trail which was 5.7 miles long with 1391 feet of elevation/122 flights up. It took about two and half hours total. The trail follows along the Hudson River for a section with nice views and was very quiet overall. I would recommend bug spray in the summer months, and there is a parking lot but it is a bit small and it is shared for several trails I would recommend starting early.

• The Catskill Mountains: It is $10 to enter the park and I would recommend going early, there can be a lineup to enter in the afternoons.

  • Artist’s Rock, Sunset Rock, and Newman’s Ledge via Mary’s Glen Trail: This trail is ~7.5 miles long with 790ft of elevation gain. A few issues: 1) the parking marked on AllTrails is incorrect, I just followed the map and found a small lot. 2) It is very rocky, buggy, and muddy. 3) The whole top loop is not at all worth your time. All of that being said, Newman’s Ledge is impressive and Sunset Rock is very cool. Artist’s Rock gives essentially the same view as Newman’s Ledge, just from a lower point. If I were to do this again I would park at the North Lake Day Use Area and do a quick out and back to Newman’s Ledge.

  • Kaaterskill Falls: This is very popular and parking fills up quickly. also very popular and fills up

• Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park: A nice large park with great views right near downtown. There are kayak rentals here if you are interested. This is a great spot to catch the sunset as well.

Melzingah Tap House

other hudson valley ideas + Where to Stay:

• I stayed at the Hampton Inn Middletown and the Hampton Inn Poughkeepsie and both were perfectly fine.

• Industrial Arts Brewing: An IPA-heavy brewery with two taprooms in the area, Garnverville is their original spot and Beacon is their newer taproom. The Beacon taproom has a large patio, food trucks and axe throwing next door.

• Sloop Brewing Company: An IPA focused brewery in the old IBM plant. They have more of a restaurant set-up and a full food menu.

• Melzingah Tap House: A beer bar and restaurant in downtown Beacon with a solid craft beer selection.

  • Fishkill Overlook Falls is right across the street and very pretty at sunset

• The Drowned Lands Brewery is located between Foreign Objects and Tin Barn, but unfortunately was closed for a private event when I was in the area.

• District 96 Beer Factory: Located in New City, District 96 is makes some great IPAs. There is a nice patio out back and they have a restaurant set-up. The Burger Loft has a food menu and a full bar with cocktails and more. Overall I enjoyed the beers but I wasn’t super impressed with the food, service, to-go options and dirty glassware.

The Finger Lakes, NY

The Finger Lakes Region of New York is a Gorgeous area full of Wineries, Breweries and Outdoor activities!

FLX Tips: 

• Summer or fall is the ideal time to visit! Book your lodging as far in advance as you can as it is a popular area to explore.

• This region is surprisingly very affordable—the food, wine and beer were all really quite cheap.

• Watkins Glen and Geneva are both great home bases for exploring this area.

• In terms of wine, this region is mostly Riesling and Cabernet Francs.

• On a Western New York road trip? Check out my Buffalo beer and travel guide here and my Rochester beer and travel guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top FLX Recommendations: 

• Aurora Brewing: A fabulous brewery in King Ferry on Cayuga Lake. The vibes are great, the pizza is delicious, and the beer is quite tasty. Highly recommend! They also have a taproom in Rochester.

• Tin Barn Brewing: A fantastic brewery on Seneca Lake with great views and killer beers. They also have a kitchen offering tacos and appetizers. Their main taproom is in the Hudson Valley area of New York.

• Other Half Brewing: The Bloomfield outpost of this popular NYC-based brewery has a fantastic outdoor space and delicious beers. Their Finger Lakes taproom is also home to their Wild Ale program so be sure to give some of these brews a try in addition to their fantastic IPAs and Stouts. The vibes are great here and it is a must visit.

• Standing Stone Vineyards: A phenomenal winery on Seneca Lake with beautiful views. Their building is also gorgeous. They offer various sizes of pours, if you are splitting with a friend(s) the 5oz pours a la carte are a very affordable way to try a variety of different wines. They also have a small food menu. Reservations are recommended.

• Stay at 41 Lakefront: This is a Wyndham hotel right on Seneca Lake in Geneva. It’s not the fanciest but it’s a good price and great views. They have Adirondack chairs on the water, super soft towels, and an onsite restaurant.

• Keuka Spring Vineyards: A lovely winery on Keuka Lake with great views. They offer tastings, glasses or bottles with indoor and outdoor seating.

• Weis Vineyards: An award-winning winery on Keuka Lake with solid views and some snacks. They offer tastings, flights, glasses or bottles.

• Climbing Bines Brewery & Hop Farm: A lovely outdoor space with a hop farm onsite. The beers here are average but it is a nice spot to visit overall. They also have a pizza food truck in the summer.

• Grist Iron Brewing Company: A popular brewery on Seneca Lake with solid beers, a full food menu and nice views. They have a large outdoor space with picnic tables. This spot gets very busy and the food wait can be quite lengthy.

Watkins Glen State Park

touristy finger lakes things worth doing:

• Indian, Finger Lakes and Gorge Trail Loop at Watkins Glen State Park: This trail is 5.8 miles long with 875ft of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. The gorge is quite nice, the lake is just mediocre so you could skip this section to make the trail shorter. It is $10 to park.

• Taughannock Falls via Gorge Trail at Taughannock Falls State Park: This 1.9 mile trail on Cayuga Lake is mostly flat and easy. It leads to a nice 215ft high waterfall. This trail is quite popular because it is easy and has great views. It is $9 to park, but that pass is good at all New York State Parks for the day.

• Lucifer Falls via Gorge Trail at Robert H Treman State Park: This trails is 1.6 miles long with 282ft of elevation gain and takes about 45 minutes to complete. Start to the right, it is easier than the stairs on the left. There is a nice view from the top with a large waterfall. You need to pay to enter at certain times.

• Geneva Lakefront Trail: A pretty spot for a walk along Seneca Lake to the State Park.

Two Goats Brewing

other things to do in The Finger Lakes:

• Two Goats Brewing: An average brewery on Seneca Lake with spectacular views. They have set flights of beer and a small food menu.

• Lamoreaux Landing Vineyard: A nice winery with solid views on Seneca Lake, but the wine and the service here was not as impressive as the other wineries in the area. They are 100% solar powered. Reservations are required.

• Lucky Hare Brewing Company: An average brewery on Seneca lake with a nice back porch. Babes Burgers is onsite for food.

• Grounded: A nice spot for coffee and breakfast, they have a small patio as well. Located in Geneva.

• Finger Lakes Juice Bar: A solid spot for juice, Açaí bowls, and other healthy eats in Geneva.

• Seneca Mill Falls: A nice waterfall that is just a 5 minute walk from the parking area. The Keuka Outlet Trail runs along here as well.

• Big aLICe Brewing: This Brooklyn-based brewery has a taproom on Seneca Lake, but you can’t actually see the lake which is a bummer. The beer is average.

• Scuteri’s Cannoli Connection: A small family run business with cannoli, desserts and pizzas in Watkins Glen.

• Irish Mafia Brewing Company: A brewery in Bloomfield across the street from Other Half with a full food menu and average beers.

Upstate New York

Upstate New York is beautiful and full of small towns worth exploring. I spent time in Albany, Troy, and Saratoga Springs.

Albany Recommendations:

I would not recommend going to Albany in general, but there are a couple of great beer spots here. The city itself leaves a lot to be desired.

• Fidens Brewing Company: A superb brewery in a beautiful space. They have about 20 taps with incredible beers along with cocktails and wine. Their main focus is IPAs, but their Sours and Stouts are also delicious. The food menu is full of delicious eats.

• Delaware Supply: A fantastic beer bar with a great tap list, a cute interior space, and some patio seating. They also have a small to-go selection.

• Druthers Brewing Co.: Beer cheese everything and a large quantity of beers in their flight—need I say more?

• New York State Capitol: The biggest and most grand building in the city. Tours are available by request.

• Alias Coffee: A coffee shop in the heart of downtown that roasts their own beans in Troy. The service is very slow and not always accurate.

• Skip Hampton Inn Albany: This hotel is outdated, smelly, and has a host of issues. Unimpressed.

Saratoga Springs Recommendations:

Saratoga Springs is a super cute little town just a quick train ride from Albany, I highly recommend!

• Get outside! Check out the State Park or one of the many local parks

• Artisanal Brew Works: The owner is so nice, the beer is pretty tasty, and the taproom is nice and sunny.

Artisanal Brew Works

Troy recommendations:

If you decide to head to Troy, be sure to check out the two spots below!

• Rare Form Brewing: Worth the venture. A cute little taproom with friendly bartenders

• Brown’s Brewing: A bumping taproom and a full menu in a fun two-story set-up

Richmond, VA

Richmond is a fantastic beer city to visit! They are cranking out some delicious brews and have some awesome places to explore.

RVA Tips: 

• Hang out in Scott’s Addition—there’s a plethora of breweries, cideries, wineries, and distilleries all within walking distance of each other.

• Bop around Carytown and The Fan! These two neighborhoods are overflowing with restaurants, bars and shops to explore.

Adventures & Ales Top Richmond Recommendations: ​

• The Veil Brewing Co.: Their main location in Scott’s Addition has a fantastic outdoor patio to relax on with a variety of beers to choose from. Their Sours and Stouts are my personal favorites that they make! In Scott’s Addition they’ve got Nokoribi inside with a Japanese yakitori inspired menu.

  • The Funkhaust Cafe is their smaller funkier taproom with chill vibes and a small tap list. The hours are limited here so be sure to check ahead of time.

  • Forest Hill is their third, larger location and is across the river in Richmond. Y Tu Mama is located inside this location serving up delicious Mexican eats.

• Triple Crossing Beer: Their Fulton location has chill vibes and is one of my favorites spots in town to hang out. There is a ton of outdoor space, great pizzas, and absolutely phenomenal IPAs! Their downtown location has a great patio as well.

• The Answer Brewpub: Great beers, particularly their ‘Joose’ Fruit Beer series and Stouts. They’ve also got tasty food.

• Nate’s Bagels: A delicious bagel shop downtown. Order online ahead of time to skip the line!

• Mekong: A Vietnamese restaurant and beer bar with a superb tap list. It is connected to The Answer Brewpub and owned by the same folks.

• Roastology: A delicious spot for breakfast and coffee! Their biscuits are massive and delightful.

• Final Gravity Brewing Company: A great brewery just outside of central Richmond specializing in Hazy IPAs. They have a beautiful, dog-friendly taproom as well!

• Corks and Kegs: A killer bottle shop with a few taps and great selection of cans and bottles.

Nate’s Bagels

Other things to do in richmond:

• SB’s Love Shack: A fun dive-bar-esque spot for breakfast, lunch and brunch. They have two locations: Lakeside and Main Street.

• Tabol Brewing: A Lager focused brewery in the northside neighborhood. They have a nice patio and a cute space. They have their own food truck onsite and frequent live music.

• Vasen Brewing Company: A brewery with a wide variety of beers just up the block from The Veil in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood.

• Hardywood Park Craft Brewery: A large brewery with lots of outdoor space and chill vibes. Their Stouts and seasonal releases are what they do best!

• Benchtop Brewing: A Lager focused brewery in the Manchester neighborhood with solid brews. Their main taproom is in Norfolk, VA.

• Zorch Pizza: A delicious spot for ‘za in the Carytown neighborhood. Heads up this is a popular spot!

• Richbrau Brewing: A solid brewery right downtown with a small food menu. Their Sours are particularly good!

• 821 Café: A delicious spot for brunch! They’ve got lots of vegan and vegetarian options as well.

• Bingo Beer Co.: Another brewery in Scott’s Addition with a full arcade and food menu.

• Cupertino’s Bagels: Yummy New York style bagels!

• Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar: A restaurant and bar with a solid beer selection and craft cocktails. Right near SB’s so if you have to wait for brunch this is an ideal spot to grab a drink while you wait!

• Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop: A popular brewery in Scott’s Addition with a lovely rooftop patio. They usually have a food truck out front as well. The beer here is average.

• Ardent Craft Ales: One of RVA’s OG breweries with average beers and a nice patio space. Located in Scott’s Addition.

Norfolk, VA

THe Port City of Norfolk is a great spot to spend a weekend!

NFK Tips: 

• Norfolk is a bit spread out so be sure to plan your travels out ahead of time to avoid backtracking across the area.

• Virginia Beach neighbors Norfolk, check out a couple of top recommendations for the city at the bottom of this guide.

• Visit hungry. Everything we ate in Norfolk was extraordinarily good!

• Norfolk is just 1.5 hours from both The Outer Banks and Richmond—check out my guide to OBX here and RVA here.

Adventures & Ales Top Norfolk Recommendations:

• Codex: A wildly delicious restaurant in the heart of downtown Norfolk. I cannot emphasize enough how great everything was—the food was superb and portions were large, the cocktails were fantastic, and the team was super nice. Highly recommend!

• The Veil Brewing Company: The Norfolk taproom of Richmond’s hype brewery The Veil has great beers and a ton of space. Lil Za Pizza is inside making delicious ‘za and they have a small patio out front that is dog-friendly. Stouts, Barleywines and Sours are what they do best here.

• Explore the Chelsea District:

  • Benchtop Brewing: A nice spot with a wide variety of beers. They have indoor and outdoor seating at this taproom and a location in Richmond.

  • Smartmouth Brewing Company: A popular brewery with solid beers and frequent events. Ghost Kitchen food truck lives onsite for eats and they also have a taproom in Virginia Beach.

  • The Birch: A great spot for craft beer, cider, mead, grilled cheese and charcuterie. They have a beautiful space and a small front patio.

  • Grandiflora Wine Garden: A wine bar at an inn with a vegetarian food menu. The use of the word “garden” feels a bit strong here and the wine is very pricey.

• Commune: A great spot for breakfast, lunch, coffee, or happy hour. The food here is fantastic and the team is very nice. They have indoor seating with coffee shop vibes and a small front patio. Commune also has a location in Virginia Beach right next to Esoteric.

  • This is located in Norfolk’s NEON District, an area with street art and shops.

• Handsome Biscuit: A fun old school style spot for sweet potato biscuits that are delicious.

• Cure Coffeehouse: A cute spot downtown for coffee with a small food menu.

• Reaver Beach Brewing: A solid brewery with a nice team. They have frequent food trucks and events and are dog-friendly inside and out. IPAs are what they do best here! They’re Norfolk taproom is a 3 minute drive from The Veil and they also have a space in Virginia Beach.

The Veil Brewing

norfolk Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Norfolk Botanical Gardens: Beautiful gardens to explore! Tickets are $16 and on Sundays they are dog friendly! They have a massive layout and it is fun to explore.

• Check out the Elizabeth River Trail: This is a 10.5 mile long trail along the waterfront that is great for walking, running and biking.

• American Rover Sunset Cruise: These daily sunset river cruises offer a relaxing journey down the Elizabeth River. The schooner operates via wind on the way out of the harbor and motor on the way back. There is a bar and a bathroom onboard plus a musician. Tickets are $40 Sunday-Thursday and $45 on Fridays and Saturdays. There are a few other companies offering various versions of river cruises as well.

• Town Point Park: A waterfront park with frequent live music and events.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens

recommendations for Virginia Beach & The Surrounding ARea:

• Esoteric: A delightful beer bar and restaurant located in the Vibe Creative District. They have a great tap list, cocktails, and wine along with delicious food. This is a very cute spot with a great back patio as well.

• Commonwealth Brewing Company: A fantastic brewery specializing in IPAs and Sours. They are just north of the airport and worth detouring for. Commonwealth also has coffee and tea in the morning and a pizza kitchen. Their taproom is a popular spot and they have a nice large outdoor space too.

• Oozlefinch Beers and Blending: A Sour-focused brewery in Fort Monroe. Their taproom is right off Fort Monroe National Monument and the outside seating has some water views.

• Coastal Fermentory: A great brewery in The Yard District of Newport News. Their Hazy IPAs are delicious and they have a nice taproom and small patio. A second taproom will be opening in Newport News soon.