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From the Pen
of Emily and Jenn
With all of my travel to various corners of the world, I haven't spent much time in the US South. So, I recently decided to drive from New Orleans to Pinehurst, North Carolina, with sister in tow and just two and a half days to spare. In hindsight, this itinerary was a bit aggressive for that timeframe, but we had fun nonetheless. As with most of our family trips, this mini-break revolved mostly around food.
On the first night of the trip, we sat down to dinner at Stanley, a modern restaurant right in Jackson Square in New Orleans' French Quarter that specializes in fresh "comfort food with a unique twist." I opted for the delicious Soft Shell Crab Poor Boy and a watermelon Italian soda. We followed up with a lazy hour at Café du Monde, where we sat on the terrace and enjoyed coffee and the best beignets I've ever had. Full of tourists and locals alike, this bustling 24-hour fried-dough heaven is a Big Easy must-do.
But the food fest was only just beginning. The next day was spent largely in the car, but not without a stop in Montgomery, Alabama, where we dug into a slab of ribs followed by banana pudding at Dreamland Bar-B-Que. If you think NYC's Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding is good, this is in a whole other league. I didn't know that banana pudding could taste like that----I think the secret is in the extra-cakey cake. Whatever it is, I want the recipe.
Next stop was Savannah, Georgia, where we spent the night at The Gastonian, a delightful bed & breakfast right in town. I loved everything from the friendly service to our room in the private carriage house to the delicious breakfast (waffles, eggs, fantastic coffee, the works). But the highlight of the Savannah stay was the lively St. Patrick's Day celebrations. It's a town holiday to the max, with fountains pouring green, tailgating at its finest, and costumes galore.
Wrapping up the trip just outside Pinehurst, North Carolina, we pulled into a Sonic where I was finally able to taste the drink of TV advertising fame that has been my mini-obsession for years running (being a Northern girl, I'd never actually been to a Sonic before). Pulling up to the drive-in restaurant, I pushed the button and excitedly ordered "One Cherry Limeade....Diet, of course."
--Jenn
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Greetings!
Welcome to the April 2011 edition of The Purple Passport Newsletter! Read on to find out more about how you can Put Your Stamp on The World this month.
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Painting the Town Royal: Will and Kate's London
 After eight years of courtship, Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton (Will and Kate, to us) are finally getting hitched. As the biggest royal wedding in over 30 years, this is, needless to say, kind of a big deal (the Prime Minister even dubbed their anniversary henceforth a "national holiday"). You may not have received a gold-trimmed invitation in your postbox for the reception hosted by Her Maj (what nerve!), but there's no reason why you can't still do as the royals do: shop, stroll, lodge, wine, and dine your way through London like a queen.
If you want to follow in the wedding party's footsteps, check in at The Goring, where it's rumored Kate will be spending the night before her big day. Catch a glimpse of where the ceremony will take place with a walk through Westminster Abbey. Swing by Buckingham Palace----the official London home of the royal family since 1837----where Her Majesty the Queen will host the wedding reception. If you want to freshen up a bit, pop into Penhaligon's, a historic perfume emporium and apothecary that has been bestowed a Royal Warrant since Victorian times. Fuel up on gourmet goodies at Fortnum & Mason, the historically upscale go-to grocer for the royal family. End the night with the dance party and tropical cocktails at Polynesian-themed Mahiki, where Prince Harry has been known to pop in. Though beware: with one prince now off the market, the competition is sure to get mighty fierce! |
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Fave Feature - Mapping Picks and Purple Picks
Remember when the mark of a serious traveler was a tattered map? Those days are long since gone, but we still appreciate a really good map----albeit a digital one----when we're trying to orient ourselves to a new city. That's why we created online maps populated with our picks, so you, our dear readers, could get a visual sense of how our favorite go-to spots are spread throughout each city we cover. Even better, you can toggle between viewing "All Picks" or just "Purple Picks"----those extra-special, purple-starred selections that have made our must-visit list. A touch more convenient than a lovingly stained and creased fold-up map, no?
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More Purple! - Facebook Facelift
Our Facebook community is over 5,500 and growing, and we've recently added new components to our page to keep up with the vibrant travel conversations taking place. Pay us a visit (and Like us!) to view photo albums of our most recently visited destinations and of the Purple team in action. It's a great place to get up-to-the minute announcements about our city guides, fave venues, and tempting travel deals. Be sure to drop by on Wednesdays for our "Where in the World" photo competitions. And of course, no social media "facelift" would be complete without a fresh set of links----you'll find multiple ways to follow us on Flickr, Twitter, and Tumblr.
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 Blink-and-you'll-miss-it spring is something of a gamble in Beijing. If you're lucky, you'll dodge the dust storms and hit it when the skies are achingly azure and the temperatures comfortably in the low 70s. But there's no gamble in spending a spring evening on the terrace at sexy garden lounge XIU. Despite being a relatively new kid on the block, it's managed to corner the city's jetsetter-barfly market with its cool menagerie of delicate traditional Chinese pavilions atop a slick, industrial-chic Central Business District rooftop. If the rocking architecture and well-coiffed patrons at XIU aren't eye candy enough, evening vistas of Beijing's nightscape are equally exquisite. Add in trickling fountains, hopping live bands, and gourmet bites like Peking duck, and you'll have to agree you've hit the nightlife jackpot. |
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About The Purple Passport
The Purple Passport was born out of a passion for travel, a love of the world's great cities, and a desire to spread the word. Our founders, best friends Emily and Jenn, have been traveling internationally together for over a decade----with purple-colored passport covers in tow. Now they've created this one-stop-shop, web-based city guide for all your urban travel needs, from researching a trip start to finish to creating an itinerary shared with your own favorite travel companions.
In keeping with our founding spirit, The Purple Passport personally visits every single spot that we review. And we always pay our own way, never taking compensation for covering a venue on the site or in our newsletter, which means you'll get the most honest, unbiased travel information for the world's most exciting cities. It's a portal to a world well-traveled, and we invite you to PUT YOUR STAMP ON THE WORLD!
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