DROG – Our Driving Blog | Things we find and do along I-95

FL: “Aargh”, Pirates in St Augustine Museum

Posted on January 7, 2015 by sandra

St. Augustine, FL Exit 318: The golden age of piracy is revealed through Pat Croce’s 30-year collection at the Pirate & Treasure Museum. You get to touch the only 400-yr-old authentic pirate chest in the world owned by authentic pirate Thomas Tew of RI, and see if you can spot one of the only Jolly Roger flags still around.

Below deck you can hear the tale of Blackbeard’s demise in NC at the hands of Great Britain’s Lt. Robert Maynard aboard the HMS Pearl – even though Blackbeard carried 6 pistols, a cutlass and a dagger! Find out about the miracle of Andrew Ramsen, whose rope broke when he was hung. The friars considered it a miracle, so the church saved him and he helped build Castillo de San Marcos.

See your favorite Hollywood pirates: one-eyed Willie from Goonies, Johnny Depp’s sword from Pirates of the Caribbean and Errol Flynn’s jacket from Captain Blood.

We learned that dancing the hempen jig means that when a person’s hung, their arms and legs twitch after the body drops. Ugh.

Location: St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, 12 S. Castillo Drive, St Augustine,FL 32084
Hours: Daily 10 – 8
Tel: 877-GO-PLUNDER (877-467-5863)
www.thepiratemuseum.com

Posted in Florida, History, Kids, Museum | Tagged age, authentic, Blackbeard, blood, build, captain, caribbean, Castillo de San Marcos, church, collection, Croce, cutlass, dagger, dance, deck, demise, flag, Florida, Flynn, friar, golden, Goonies, Great Britain, hempen, HMS Pearl, Hollywood, hung, jacket, jig, Johnny Depp, Joly Roger, leutenant, Maynard, miracle, Museum, North Carolina, one-eye, piracy, pirate, pistol, Ramsen, Rhode Island, rope, St. Augustine, sword, treasure, year | Leave a comment

CT: Authentic Italian Cuisine at Gusto

Posted on January 5, 2015 by sandra

Milford, CT Exit 36 : If you want to know what Italian food tastes like in Italy, let Riccardo (whose Momma and family are still back in Sardinia) cook for you.

You could start with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, greens, onions, with a warm balsamic dressing or eggplant rollitini (yum!). Pasta is light and authentic as in orecchiette with sausage, broccoli rabe, olives or try cannellini beans in a white wine butter sauce and there’s brick oven pizzas too (truffle oil, gorgonzola, prosciutto). The classic mains include chicken parmigiana and veal, or you can try swordfish Mediterranean: eggplant, tomatoes, olives, and polenta drizzled with balsamic reduction.

A baci ball dessert was the perfect ending (and shareable), or have a fruit sorbet (lemon, mango, coconut) to wash it all down.

LIVE MUSIC Thursday /Friday 7:30 to 10:30, & Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:00

Location: Gusto Trattoria- 255 Boston Post Rd., Milford, CT 06460
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30-10, Sat 4-10, Sun 4-8:30
Tel: 203-876-7464
www.gustotrattoria.com

Posted in Connecticut, Drink, Entertainment, Food, Restaurant | Tagged baci, ball, balsamic, bean, bisque, brick, broccoli, butter, cannellini, chicken, classic, coconut, Connecticut, dessert, dressing, eggplant, Food, fruit, gorgonzola, italian, Italy, lemon, lobster, mango, mediterranean, Milford, mozzarella, music, oil, olive, onion, orecchiette, oven, paglia e fieno, parmigiana, pasta, pea, pizza, polenta, prosciutto, rabe, reduction, Restaurant, rollitini, Sardinia, sauce, sausage, sorbet, swordfish, tomato, trattoria, truffle, veal, wine | Leave a comment

FL: Stop for Chocolate Popcorn at Peterbrooke Chocolatier

Posted on December 29, 2014 by sandra

Jacksonville, FL Exit 350B: Chocolate popcorn put Peterbrooke Chocolatier on the map. The combination of sweet, salty, crunchy and chocolatey is a 31-year-favorite. At a neighborhood Holiday Magic festival, local retailers offered complimentary samples, but founder Phyllis Geiger could not afford to give away pricey truffles. Putting on her thinking cap, she bought popcorn at the theater next door and then covered it in milk chocolate – the confection was a hit!

The following day, after the 4th customer asked for it, the Peterbrooke chocolate covered popcorn legacy began. Munch some at the cash (or other samples) or try their fudge caramel corn, chocolate peanut butter Ritz crackers, toffee bars or chocolate pretzels. Pick up some sugar-free bridge mix or chocolate blueberries for the car.

Here’s some sweet gift ideas: milk chocolate crayons in a box, chocolate pizza or they can even cover a wine bottle with chocolate. There’s a production viewing window.

Location:Peterbrooke Chocolate Factory Store –
1470 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-6, Sat 10-4, Sun 12-5
Tel: 904-398-2489 or 800-771-0019.
www.peterbrooke.com

Posted in Chocolate, Florida, Fun, Kids, Shopping | Tagged bar, blueberry, bottle, box, Bridge, butter, carmel, chocolate, complimentary, confection, corn, cracker, crayon, crunch, festival, Florida, founder, fudge, holiday, Jacksonville, legacy, local, magic, map, milk, mix, peanut, pizza, popcorn, pretzel, production, retailer, ritz, sample, sugar free, sweet. salty, theater, toffee, truffle, view, wine | Leave a comment

VA: Enjoy Reminiscing about Toys of Yesteryear

Posted on December 23, 2014 by sandra

Prince George, VA Exit 46n or 84S: You can enjoy remembering the pleasures of your childhood toys or even those of your parents or grandparents which are re-visited at this vintage collection of toys, some of them are over 100 years old!

“Toys of Yesteryear”, the Center’s annual exhibit, puts everyone in the spirit of the season.

New this year, “Traditions of the Past”: A Czech and Slovak Christmas; a Czech-Slovak exhibit to celebrate a fascinating culture that became an integral part of this area after the Civil War.

The exhibits are FREE!

Location: Prince George County Regional Heritage Center, 6406 Courthouse Rd, Prince George, VA 23875
Dates: now – January 4, 2015 (closed Xmas Eve/Day, New Years Day)
Hours: Mon – Fri 10 – 4, Sat & Sun 1- 4
Tel: 804-863-0212
princegeorgevahistoricalsociety.org

Posted in Fun, History, Kids, Special Event, Virginia | Tagged annual, area, celebrate, childhood, Christmas, civil, collection, culture, Czech, exhibit, free, integral, past, Prince George, season, Slovak, spirit, toy, tradition, vintage, Virginia, visit, war, year, yesteryear | Leave a comment

GA: Eat Fresh Locally Caught Georgia Shrimp

Posted on December 22, 2014 by sandra

Darien, GA Exit 49: just caught locally wild GA shrimp or flounder (do not miss the lip-smacking crispy “scored” one on the menu) should have you driving off this exit right to Skippers’ Fish Camp.

In a glass and wood decor with water views and great sunsets, the menu here takes you from an oyster bar to crab to a sunset salad (roasted veggies, feta, balsamic dressing, pizza crusts), and for landlubbers, rib-eye steaks, sausage stuffed pork chop wrapped in bacon, and BBQ.

Make sure to order some of the sides: sweet potato souffle or mac’n cheese, and the locals love the peach cobbler a la mode for dessert.

Notice the 12 1/2’ gator on the wall, Skipper himself caught it right here!

Locatiion: Skippers’ Fish Camp, 85 Screven Street Darien, GA 31305
Hours: Daily 11 – 9
Tel: 912-437-3474
www.skippersfishcamp.com

Posted in Food, Georgia, Restaurant | Tagged a la mode, bacon, balsamic, bar, BBQ, camp, cheese, chop, cobbler, crab, crispy, crust, Darien, decor, dressing, exit, feta, fish, flounder, gator, Georgia, glass, landlubber, local, mac n cheese, menu, order, oyster, peach, pizza, pork, potato, ribeye, roast, salad, sausage, score, shrimp, side, skipper, souffle, steak, stuffed, sunset, sweet, vegetable, view, wall, water, wild, wood, wrap | Leave a comment

VA: 20th Anniversary of First Night Alexandria

Posted on December 17, 2014 by sandra

Alexandria, VA Exit 177: Celebrating 20 years, this annual family oriented New Year’s Eve bash takes over Old Town Alexandria with a celebration of the performing arts. With more than 100 performances at 22 indoor venues, including live music, dancing, children’s face painting and games. Coffee shops, retail stores, hotels, museums and public buildings are transformed into performance venues to showcase entertainment by local and regional talent.

Entertainers include blue grass musicians, honky-tonk bands, clowns, magicians and classical musicians. End the evening with a spectacular fireworks display on the Potomac River at the foot of King Street at midnight.

The afternoon’s Fun Hunt features all-new activities for families and pets. A photo contest invites revelers to share their First Night photos and win prizes, including cash, and a Battle of the Bands.

For a small fee for adults (children 12 and under and active military are FREE), you have access to all the entertainment all evening long. Everything is within easy walking distances and there is a FREE King Street Trolley. Bundle up and bring an umbrella. The show goes on regardless of the weather.

Location: Old Town Alexandria -various locations- please consult website
Hours: 12 pm – 12 am
Tel: 703-746-3301
www.firstnightalexandria.org

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Entertainment, Food, Fun, Kids, Special Event, Virginia | Tagged activity, Alexandria, anniversary, annual, art, band, battle, blue, building, cash, celebration, children, classical, clown, coffee, contest, dance, display, entertainer, entertainment, eve, evening, face, family, firework, first, fun, game, grass, honky-tonk, hotels, hunt, King, live, magician, military, Museum, music, musician, New Year, night, Old Town, orient, paint, performing, pet, photo, Potomac River, prize, public, retail, share, shop, store, street, talent, trolley, umbrella, venu, Virginia, walk, weather, win | Leave a comment

FL: New Smyrna Beach Wine and Art Walk

Posted on December 15, 2014 by sandra

New Smyrna Beach, Fl Exit 249: Stroll Flagler Avenue and explore over 100 wines inside local pubs, galleries and restaurants during this wine tasting event.

Wine tasting passports are $25 and include 20 tasting tickets and a keepsake wine glass. Some locations feature both one- and multi-ticket wines to sample. Those who want to share their 20 tasting tickets with a friend may get an additional wine glass for $5.

Happening simultaneously to Wine Walk is the Gallery Group’s Art Walk, which also takes place on Flagler Avenue but from 10 -5. Stroll along enjoying your wine and artist’s exhibits; Some galleries will have artist demonstrations and there’s a register-to-win art drawing.

Location: Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Passports are available at the corner of Flagler Avenue and Peninsula Avenue, at the corner of Flagler Avenue and Cooper Street, or at the corner of S. Atlantic and Flagler Avenue.
Date: Dec 27, 2014
Hours: Art Walk: 10-5, Wine Walk: 1- 7
Tel: 386-428-1600nsbfla.com/calendar.cfm/mode/details/id/19868/recurringId/80395/wine-walk

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Drink, Entertainment, Florida, Food, Fun, Nature, Restaurant, Special Event | Tagged additional, art, artist, atlantic, avenue, beach, cooper, corner, creation, demonstration, drawing, event, exhibit, explore, fine, Flagler, Florida, friend, gallery, glass, guest, keepsake, local, location, multi, New Smyrna Beach, passport, peninsula, pub, register, Restaurant, sample, share, stroll, taste, tasting, ticket, walk, win, wine | Leave a comment

VA: George Washington’s Homestead has Gingerbread Exhibit

Posted on December 11, 2014 by sandra

Fredericksburg, VA Exit 130: The 28th Annual Gingerbread Contest and Exhibit at Ferry Farm is a long-standing holiday tradition. The exhibit attracts people of all ages who appreciate the creative interpretations. This year’s theme is “Home Sweet Home.”

Speaking of homes, this is where George Washington grew up from ages 6-20. Don’t expect to see anything much as his boyhood home burned down on Christmas Day in 1740 when he was 8. Archeological digs are still going on to find remnants of it. He was willed the home after his father’s death (along with 10 slaves) in 1743 and his Mom lived there until 1772.

Enjoy this fragrant exhibit with the aromas of gingerbread, candy, and fresh greenery.

Location: Ferry Farm, 268 Kings Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Date: December 7-30 (Closed December 24 & 25)
Hours: 10 – 4
Tel: 540-370-0732
kenmore.org/events.html

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Food, Fun, History, Kids, Special Event, Virginia | Tagged annual, aroma, candy, contest, creative, exhibit, farm, ferry, Ferry Farm, fragrant, Fredericksburg, fresh, gingerbread, greenery, holiday, home, interpretation, sweet, theme, tradition, Virginia | Leave a comment

FL: Key West New Year’s Eve Dachshund Walk and Drag Queen Drop

Posted on December 10, 2014 by sandra

Key West, FL: Why not plan to spend New Year’s Eve in Key West? Key West features several original and creative New Year festivities.

Check out the Key West Dachshund Walk where about 200 dachshunds , dressed in a vast array of costumes, and their owners take a noontime New Year’s Eve stroll downtown. Spectators can watch the fun and meet the canine participants on Fleming Street between Whitehead and Duval streets. This self proclaimed ‘wiener wonderland’ is done annually to welcome in the New Year.

Ring in the New Year with Key West’s own versions of the midnight ball drop. From an oversized conch shell drop on the rooftop of famous Sloppy Joe’s (201 Duval St.-www.sloppyjoes.com) , a pirate wench drop from the mast of a schooner in the Historic Seaport (202 William St. www.keywest.com) and the fabulous drag queen Sushi drop from a balcony in a red high heel at Bourbon St. Pub (724 Duval Street – bourbonstpub.com/newyearseve.html ) you are sure to have a memorable night.

For more info: www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents/

Posted in Drink, Entertainment, Florida, Food, Fun, Nature, Pets, Special Event | Tagged canine, celebration, costume, Dachshund, Downtown, eve, festivity, Florida, Key West, New Year, participant, spectator, stroll, walk | Leave a comment

DE: Royal Swan Feeding Ceremony at the Hilton Wilmington Christiana

Posted on December 9, 2014 by sandra

Newark, DE Exit 4: Envision royal swans gliding across water, fountains and sparkling chandeliers if you at the Hilton Wilmington Christiana. The ambiance, decor and experience specialist in the lobby are all designed to transport you back to a time when Delaware socialites welcomed guests into their homes and entertained them in royal style.

Each evening in Spring, Summer and Fall, at 5:30 pm, guests make their way to the pond for the Royal Swan Feeding Ceremony: Once upon a time a handsome swan prince named Fred and a beautiful swan princess named Ethel met beak-to-beak under the fountain in the pond. Brandy and Cindy are the 7th generation of swans to grace the pond.

Each evening the Royal Swan Master in his tux summons them with a bell and staff and leads them to their feeding. This ceremony is open to the public, and all are welcome to participate and meet the swan family. Afterwards you can dine in their Brasserie Grille.

Location:Hilton Wilmington Christiana, 100 Continental Dr., Newark, DE 19713
Tel: 877-696-8671
www.hiltonestate.com

Posted in Delaware, Drink, Food, Fun, Hotel/Motel, Kids | Tagged ambiance, brasserie, ceremony, chandelier, Christiana, decor, Delaware, dine, entertain, evening, family, feed, fountain, generation, grille, guest, Hilton, home, lobby, luxury, master, Newark, participate, pond, pool, prince, princess, public, royal, socialite, specialist, staff, style, summon, Swan, transport, tuxedo, water, welcome, Wilmington | Leave a comment

DROG – Our Driving Blog

FL: “Aargh”, Pirates in St Augustine Museum

CT: Authentic Italian Cuisine at Gusto

FL: Stop for Chocolate Popcorn at Peterbrooke Chocolatier

VA: Enjoy Reminiscing about Toys of Yesteryear

GA: Eat Fresh Locally Caught Georgia Shrimp

VA: George Washington’s Homestead has Gingerbread Exhibit

FL: Key West New Year’s Eve Dachshund Walk and Drag Queen Drop

DE: Royal Swan Feeding Ceremony at the Hilton Wilmington Christiana

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