Long Weekend in Reims, France http://ift.tt/2a0zRQI

Set among the vineyard-lined hills of France’s Champagne region, the city of Reims has multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, numerous les grandes marques Champagne houses, and a handful of hidden-gem bars and boutiques that are lifting the dust off this once sleepy city and giving locals and visitors new places to toast and shop. Historically, Reims has been the site for the coronation of more than two dozen kings and was pivotal during the 1940s as the site of surrender during WWII.

Friday

Arrive and check in to La Demeure des Sacres, a stylish boutique hotel housed in a renovated 1900s mansion in the city center. Head out for a bite to eat at L’Atelier d’Eric, a petite bakery run by celebrated pastry chef Eric Sontag, who serves gourmet sandwiches, artisan breads, and an array of gorgeous cakes and jeweled pastries. Don’t leave without sampling his sweet and spicy version of Reims gingerbread, a regional specialty since the Middle Ages.

After lunch, make your way across town to Champagne Taittinger, one of the last great Champagne houses to remain independently owned. Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne is highly regarded as one of the finest wines in the region, but all of the brand’s sparkling wines are renowned for their elegant structure and delicate bubbles. During operating hours, the house offers tastings and guided tours in English (the last tour leaves at 4:15 pm) that take guests 18 meters below ground into the 4th-century chalk mines. The cellars have recently been registered on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and contain remnants from a 13th-century abbey with carvings dating back to the time when Benedictine monks wandered the cavernous crypts. Reservations are not required, but are recommended during peak season.

After sipping a few of the house’s cuvées, the short 400-meter walk to Saint-Remi Basilica will be a breeze. The basilica is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains the remains of Saint Remi himself, the former Bishop of Reims who died in 553 AD. It is the largest Romanesque pilgrimage church in northern France, and, although the building was heavily looted during the French Revolution, the original 12th-century stained-glass windows were not harmed and are still on display today.

Make your way back to your hotel to freshen up and get ready for a lavish dinner at Le Parc inside Domaine Les Crayères. Two-Michelin-starred chef Philippe Mille creates artful à la carte dishes and fixed tasting menus to pair beautifully with an astounding wine list that features more than 600 bottles of Champagne. Save room for the impressive cheese cart before dessert to get the full gastronomic experience.

Saturday

Opt for a light breakfast at the hotel to save room for fresh samples during your visit to the Halles du Boulingrin. This covered market was restored to its former Art Deco glory in 2012 and has become the main market for locals to purchase perfectly ripe fruit, fresh seafood, and locally made artisanal products.

If you haven’t already had the chance to taste the famous biscuits roses de Reims (pink biscuits dusted in powdered sugar that are best savored the local way: dipped in a glass of Champagne), stop in at Maison Fossier on your way to the city center for a sample of this local delicacy or to stock up on souvenirs. The storefront is just steps from the Notre Dame Cathedral, where more than 2,300 statues adorn the cathedral’s stunning façade that dates back to the 13th century. The cathedral is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been the site of 25 coronations. Make sure to keep an eye out for the angels on the walls, as this is the only cathedral in the world to display angels with open wings, including the famous smiling angel on the western wall of the north portal.

Stop in next door to the cathedral at the Palace of Tau (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to brush up on your French history and see where the kings of France stayed while they were in town for their coronations. Get lunch at the Café du Palais, an Art Deco restaurant opened in 1930 and one of the only cafés in Europe where you can order wines by the glass and dine bistro style beneath a stained-glass ceiling (opens at 3 pm). For healthier fare, check out the brand new Vapeurs et Gourmandises, where chefs cook lunches with fresh ingredients seasoned with local spices and herbs. Spend the rest of the day shopping the boutiques and department stores at Les Galeries Lafayette, before popping in at the massive Cave de Sacres to select a few bottles for your home cellar from the more than 700 brands of Champagne in stock.

Go with an under-the-radar restaurant for dinner that is favored by locals. Don’t be deceived by L'Epicerie Au Bon Manger’s exterior; although it looks like a small butcher shop from the outside, inside you’ll find sharable plates of locally made charcuterie and cheese, farm-fresh salads, and sustainably sourced seafood to pair with the restaurant’s selection of biodynamic wines.

After dinner, soak in the nightlife scene of Reims at Le Clos, an atypical wine bar with a young vibe and a casually cool atmosphere. The bar is decorated with vintage chic panache (think phonographs, velvet sofas, and fringed Veuve Clicquot pillows), while the string-light lined courtyard features a large stage for live music. The courtyard attracts winemakers and locals with live music, lawn games, a food truck serving burgers, and a tiki bar serving charcuterie plates and chilled glasses of Champagne.

Sunday

Before leaving town, make sure to make it out to the Musée de la Reddition (the Museum of Surrender). The museum shares an address with the Franklin-Roosevelt High School in Reims, so weekends are actually the best time to visit to avoid drop-offs and lunch bells. During the war, the building acted as the headquarters for President Eisenhower and was the site where the German Third Reich surrendered to the Allied forces in World War II. The actual room where the document of surrender was signed was left untouched, allowing visitors the chance to see the maps, plans, and even pencils left just as they were in May 1945.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Reims Guide

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Top 20 Free Things To Do In Hong Kong http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Hong Kong has a reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, but rest assured there are plenty of budget-friendly sights and experiences. Whether you’re traveling on a shoestring or simply love a great freebie, you can enjoy the best the city has to offer without spending a fortune—as long as you know where to look. —Kate Springer

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Philadelphia's Under-the-Radar Historic Sites http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Philadelphia isn’t short on historic sites; anyone who’s passed through the city on a weekend or class trip has seen the main ones: Indepdendence Hall, Liberty Bell, and the Rocky steps at the Art Museum. On your next visit to the City of Brotherly Love, check out some of these newer or lesser-known parks, museums, and haunted forts you may not have heard about yet.—Adam Erace

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Neighborhood Guide: East Passyunk, Philadelphia http://ift.tt/2afFo5x

When you talk to Philadelphians about hot neighborhoods, two names will be on their lips. One is Fishtown. The other is East Passyunk. Since they might be confusing to a non-local, let’s get some semantics out of the way. First, pronunciation: No matter what anyone tells you, you say Passyunk “pash-unk.” Second, this swatch of South Philly actually comprises two adjacent wards, Passyunk Square and East Passyunk Crossing. East Passyunk Avenue, the street from which they take their names, cuts a diagonal path through them. But locals make no distinction between the two. Got it? Great.

Back in the day, East Passyunk was a stronghold of Italian immigrants, and while many of their descendants moved to suburban pastures in ‘80s and ‘90s, the neighborhood bears an indelible mark, from the fig trees towering over concrete backyards to an Italian Immigrant Museum to red gravy cook-offs at the local Catholic high school.

Over the last decade, like many urban neighborhoods, East Passyunk has experienced a dramatic revitalization, to the credit of real estate eagle eyes, the vibrant LGBTQ community, young families, makers, and millennials. What makes Passyunk different from many other urban neighborhoods is that this transition happened organically, so there’s still a comfortable mix of newcomers and people who’ve lived here all their lives. Walk down the Avenue (as locals call East Passyunk Avenue) on any given night, you’ll probably hear English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Malay, Khmer, and about six different Italian dialects. The diversity makes for great ambiance—and great eating.

WHERE TO EAT

In 2013, Food & Wine named East Passyunk Avenue one of the top “foodiest” streets in the country, and the strip has only continued to improve since then. The diversity of options in both cuisine and price is deep. South Philly Barbacoa (1703 S. 11th St.) specializes in slow-cooked lamb tacos, Stargazy (1838 E. Passyunk Ave.) in English meat pies, and Saté Kampar (1837 E. Passyunk Ave.) in Malaysian satay over coconut-shell charcoal; look out for salmon head curry on special, and possibly America’s best beef rendang. Nearly a century old, Marra’s hearkens back to the hood’s Italian American roots with huge veal parms and garlicky clams and linguine, while more modern Italian cooking is on offer at Paradiso, Le Virtu, and Brigantessa. You can also check out upscale restaurants like Townsend, Will, Fond, and Laurel from Top Chef victor Nick Elmi, whose adjacent wine bar, ITV, just opened.

WHAT TO DO

East Passyunk draws most tourists to the intersection some in Philadelphia wryly refer to as “Cheesesteak Vegas,” the neon-illuminated triangle of East Passyunk Avenue, Wharton, and 9^th Streets, where sandwich heavyweights Pat’s and Geno’s face off. But the neighborhood offers a lot more to see than this always-mobbed rivalry. For example, visit the Singing Fountain on Passyunk and Tasker, a petite plaza where old men play chess, tykes splash around and neighborhood pooches get to know one another. On Wednesdays, there’s a small farmers’ market with live music. A short walk away, Columbus Square is East Passyunk’s main park; there’s a dog run and playground if you’re traveling with kids of the four- or two-legged variety. Over the years, neighborhood botanists have turned the square’s perimeter footpath into a jungle of fig trees, yellow-tipped fennel, roses, and honeysuckle. It’s a great place for a morning walk in summer with a cup of cold-brew from any of the nearby cafés. Just across the street, Theatre Exile puts on compelling independent shows in a taxi garage-turned-playhouse. For drinks after, choose from any number of local hangouts: Garage, Fountain Porter (famed for its $5 cheeseburger), the P.O.P.E., Lucky 13, Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar, or Bonnie’s Capistrano (1503 S. 13th St.).

WHAT TO BUY

Independent shops have always lined the Avenue. Where once there were stores specializing in custom bustiers and religious paraphernalia, now you’ll find letterpressed stationery at Ocassionette, limited edition comics at South Philly Comics, vintage vinyl at Beautiful World Syndicate (1619 E. Passyunk Ave.), upscale menswear at Metro, and local prints at Nice Things Hand-Made (1731 E. Passyunk Ave.).

GETTING HERE

East Passyunk’s borders are 8th Street to Broad Street (Philly’s main north–south artery), and Snyder Avenue to Washington Avenue. From Center City, hop on the Broad Street line subway, get off at the Tasker/Morris station, and walk a few blocks west. By taxi or Uber, you’re looking at 10 minutes or less, depending where you are in Center City. You can also walk. The route straight down 12th is particularly nice, while walking down 9th will bring you through Philly’s famed Italian Market.  

WHERE TO STAY

The closest hotel to East Passyunk is actually in Bella Vista, the next neighborhood north. Bella Vista Bed & Breakfast occupies a row of stately townhouses with wrought-iron railings and overflowing flower boxes; inside rooms are decorated with sculpture, paintings and vintage furniture. Heading south, there’s a crisp new LEED-certified Courtyard Marriott (rooms from $195) in the bucolic Navy Yard, walking distance to the sports complex (home to July’s DNC) and the Olmsted Brothers–designed FDR Park.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Philadelphia Guide

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Britain's 13 Most Magical Harry Potter Sites http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The U.K (and especially London) is full of magical spots that featured heavily in the Harry Potter books and films. From the rocky shores of Scotland to Oxford University, here are 13 places in Britain where Harry Potter comes to life.—Ellin Stein

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World's 18 Best Water Parks http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Adrenaline knows no language barriers at the world’s best water parks. The limits of physics and gravity are tested on a global scale as water parks around the world race to build the tallest, fastest, and most thrilling attractions. From the world’s tallest slide that propels riders at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour to an extreme human cannonball water rocket, the world’s best water parks pull out all the stops in hopes of making a splash.—Zachary Laks

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A Foodie's Guide to Lobster Rolls http://ift.tt/2aweFh7

With hundreds of lobster shacks lining its 3,500-mile coastline, Maine is lobster roll mecca during the summer season. However, all along the East Coast, each state has its own take on the lobster roll. Nothing beats the feeling of celebrating a lazy summer weekend with a lobster roll.

NEW YORK

In New York City, there are great spots to get your lobster fix if you can’t make it all the way to Maine. The Lobster Pound in Red Hook has a few locations now, but nothing beats the original. Serving three varieties—Maine-style (cold with mayo), Connecticut-style (warm with butter), and even dairy-free in a Tuscan roll—it’s an essential stop for the lobster obsessed.

In Manhattan, the version served at Luke’s Lobster, with claw and knuckle meat and a secret seasoning, is a favorite among locals.

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut-style lobster rolls are simple and glorious—and bathed in butter. Residents are fiercely loyal to their creation and also to their favorite shacks. Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock is the perfect place to grab a lobster roll (and more—they also serve whole-belly clams and hush puppies). Abbots in the Rough in Noank and Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale are also favorites, with loyal fans lining up for the juiciest lobster outside of Maine.

MASSACHUSETTS

Head to the Lobster Pool in Rockport, Massachusetts, and grab a fresh lobster roll made to order. In Boston, Arogosta Bar and Bistro dresses up the classic lobster roll with aioli, pickled fennel, and a brioche bun. Attached to the Battery Wharf Hotel, it’s nice a spot for drinks and seafood after a day walking the city.

MAINE

For traditionalists, you can’t beat Lobster Shack at Two Lights. Sit by the water and listen to the foghorn blast every couple of minutes while enjoying a lobster roll, fried clams, or other seafood.

For foodie innovators, check out Bite Into Maine in Cape Elizabeth, which has some interesting spins on the humble roll. How about curry and chipotle with your juicy crustacean?

Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster sells more than 500 lobster rolls a day during the summer. Now in its 47th year, the barely-dressed lobster roll is everything you want in a good seafood sandwich. For something more upscale in Portland, head to India Street and find Eventide Oyster Co. for lobster bakes and the signature lobster roll.

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