Category Archives: Restaurants

All-Inclusive, Bands, Bars, Food, Mexico, RCI, Restaurants

THE CROWN PARADISE GOLDEN IS NOT LOOKING SO SHINY ANYMORE

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It’s Spring break and once again, my family set out for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and our favorite resort, The Crown Paradise Golden. This time around, we stayed for two weeks and our experience was different in comparison to the prior years. Some of the changes were good, and some were not.

We arrived at the resort on a beautiful sunny day and we were able to check in immediately. This year we went through RCI, which we have in the past as well. Previously we were put in a larger room than other vacationers receive, but it was also more rundown. This year, we were in for a surprise.

Martin, the Crown Paradise Club Host, said he had a special room for us. We were led through winding halls until we reached an elevator. We promptly boarded and rode to the sixth floor and then walked up another flight of stairs (because the elevator we could have ridden to our floor had not worked in a few months). He then opened the door to a suite I had no clue existed.

Inside were two rooms, one with a king-size bed, another with two full-size. Two bathrooms, a sitting room with a television, couch, leather chairs, kitchen table, microwave, and full-size fridge. Out on the patio were three chaise loungers, a table with chairs, and a pool! We had our own pool! It was small, but still, it was ours for two weeks. My mind was blown. At first, I thought it was a mistake, but then I realized that this must be an upgrade they give to their RCI members.

My family greatly enjoyed the room we stayed in. We spent a lot of time around our small pool relaxing in our chaise loungers and dipping into the pool as the day heated up. We also spent a good amount of time playing games, such as Cribbage, Farkle, and Sevens, at our outdoor and indoor tables. The rooms were quite comfortable and the only two complaints I have about the rooms are that our pool was losing water and needed to have water added twice during our stay and that the water in the showers was quite touchy and had a tendency to be too hot if you didn’t turn them on in the right sequence.

Outside of our room was where the issues became most prominent. This being our third visit to the resort over a five-year timeframe, it has become apparent that the owners are not maintaining the grounds and structures like they should be. The main pool on the Crown Paradise Golden side has broken grates around it, which I believe were broken during our first visit five years prior. The pool was very cloudy, and the hot tubs were worse. I didn’t set foot in the hot tubs this year because of how nasty they looked. There are tiles in the pool that need patching or replacing. The bridge that goes from the front of the bar across the front of the hot tub looks disgusting. It’s rusted and nasty and it’s a hazard. I see people slip on that thing every single year. They should take it out.

When you look at the photos on the website, the balconies all look perfect, but in reality, the paint is flaking off, and in large chunks in some places. Even the Sky Bar 7 pool deck doesn’t look as nice as it does in the photos, and it’s only a couple of years old.

I have always enjoyed the food at Crown Paradise Golden, but this year was different. The food at the restaurants was great, though they are short-staffed in some areas. The Mediterranean restaurant took up the most time (over two hours) because there were not enough staff to serve the patrons.

Outside of the restaurants, the buffet left something to be desired. The food was freshest in the morning at breakfast, but even then, several items were cold when they should have been hot. The poolside café served a seafood cocktail one day each week for a timeframe of two hours and it did not appear to be kept cold. I became quite ill twenty-four hours after consuming it. On that same note, in past years, no one in our group experienced gut issues. This year I experienced them twice, as did both of my parents. I came home with a parasite (I’m not saying it came from the resort, but considering the other issues, you do the math).

Another situation we ran into was a pungent smell on the first floor near the rooms by the tennis court. We met a couple who said they were in those rooms and had to leave the patio door open at night because the smell was so strong. I can only describe it as the sweet stench of a dead animal. It smelled that way for a week. I feel sad for the people who got stuck in those rooms. I couldn’t handle the stench as I walked by each day to go to breakfast.

Outside of the above items, there are several other areas where the grounds could use further maintenance. They could clean the chairs in the buffet so that there weren’t bird droppings on them. One morning we asked a server to clean a chair, and he looked at it and walked away. To be fair, he was one of the head guys, but seriously? Who wants to sit on a chair covered in bird poop? We flagged down one of the younger servers, who immediately took care of it.

On an upward note, the resort added some new entertainment. They now have bands come and play poolside for two hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The music was splendid. One particular band is called Three Circus. I could have listened to them all night long, as they were that good. They covered AC/DC, ZZ Top, and many other rock bands. The band also plays up the street at Monkey Business at frequent intervals.

I was happy that they still have their weekly foam party, but not happy to see that they added balloons to it. While balloon animals are fun, the balloons are going straight into the garbage after the party. It’s an unnecessary hazard to the environment.

If you’re new to the Crown Paradise Golden, and you drink enough, you may not notice the issues I listed above. You may be okay with the chipped paint on the building and the broken pool grates. You may not even notice the stench of a dead animal. That’s okay. If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.

I for one, when I’m paying $1.5k for a vacation, expect things to be in working order. I don’t care if you are an adult-only resort. This girl is going to take a break from the Crown Paradise Golden. Hopefully, with any luck, they’ll get their act together before our next visit.

Crown Paradise Golden Puerto Vallarta | Official Site (hotelcrownparadisegoldenpuertovallarta.com)

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Art, Music, Restaurants, shopping, Uncategorized, Wine, Winery, Wisconsin

Out Of The Woods & Into Your Heart

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So, I will be the first to admit, I love wine. This past November we visited Cable, Wisconsin for a mini getaway for our five-year-anniversary. We researched the area to find some fun places to visit and I was quite pleased to find Out of the Woods Winery, which is located thirty minutes away in Hayward, Wisconsin. As a side note, I would like to apologize for how long it has taken me to write this post. I had surgery right after our visit and life has been a bit crazy.

Neal and I walked into this establishment looking for some good wine and we got so much more. We were first greeted by Dan, who is one of the owners, along with his father and brother. He took his place behind the bar and poured us our tastings. Not only does he have wine, but also cider. We chose to taste a mixture of 7 wines and ciders.

We tasted:

  • L1: Spring Lake Sauvignon – quite dry and not my favorite, but if you love dry white wine, this might be for you.
  • L2: Tiger Cat Riesling – Great flavor. The perfect combo of sweet and slightly dry. We decided to take this bottle home and put it aside for our anniversary next year.
  • D2: Noval Black Port – I loved this wine! It has a taste of dark chocolate covered cherries. It’s sweet but not too sweet. My husband wasn’t as into it as I was, so I didn’t buy a bottle, but will definitely go back for a glass next time we are in town.
  • C2: Nektar Zombie Killer – This cider has a prominent honey flavor and is the perfect mix of sweet and tart. It was my favorite cider.
  • C3: Rekorderling Strawberry Lime – This is their most popular cider. You can taste both strawberry and lime. It’s sweet but not in an overpowering way.
  • C5: Wyders Dry Pear – This cider has a very light flavor and is too light for me. Dan tells us that it’s great mixed with the Belgian Saison.
  • C6: The Cider Farm Belgian Saison – Tastes like black licorice. The flavor is soft, but on the metallic floral end. I am not a fan of floral flavors, so this doesn’t cut it for me.
  • C5 & C6: Wyders Dry Pear & The Cider Farm Belgian Saison – Definitely cut the wild flavor of the Saison, but isn’t something I would go out of my way for. Simply not my thing.

After we completed our tasting, Dan offered to let us try some items he was debating on carrying. We were delighted to give our thoughts.

Bonus Tasting:

  • Omme Gang Brewery: Rose Cider – Definitely dry and a little bitter, but it would make a nice refreshing gluten-free choice. I would drink it on a hot summer day. I say it’s a keeper.
  • Wild Tonic Hard Jun Kombucha – Nice flavor. It’s sweet and unlike what I expected from a Kombucha. It would compete well with the ciders and it’s a healthy alternative.
  • SKOL Red (from Chateau St. Croix Winery) – This is a decent table wine, very flavorful. It smells like strawberries and has a tartness to it. I would definitely drink it if it was in stock.

Dan is charismatic, to say the least. He was able to explain each wine and cider. He told us the history of the winery. He explained how he keeps art displayed regularly throughout the winery because his late mother was an artist and a local farmer recommended hanging art. He told us, “If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.”

As we tasted our way through the list of wines and ciders, we were able to listen to live music provided by John. He sings and plays acoustic as well as harmonica, each Saturday. He stayed longer than normal, simply because he felt like it. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. You can’t help but feel as if you have become part of the family. As I look out the window, I see Dan’s father and his brother Jess, stringing Christmas lights. We couldn’t have asked for a more memorable experience. Out of the Woods Winery has truly captured our hearts.

For more information on Out of the Woods Winery, please visit: https://www.outofthewoodswinery.com/

Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Maggie’s In Bayfield, Wisconsin

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This past May, my husband and I took a trip up to Bayfield because we were on a mission to see several waterfalls in Wisconsin and Michigan. While bumming around the town, we asked locals what they suggested for a decent place to grab a snack. Maggie’s and one other place, of which I cannot recall the name, were the top options.

After some debate we ate at Maggie’s. My first impression was that we had made a great choice because the atmosphere was fun with a tropical flare. There were quirky decorations and flamingos on almost every surface. I was pleased upon inspecting the menu, because they had some decent gluten-free options.

Our waitress came to the table to take our orders, and I discussed the gluten-free menu items with her. In the end, I told her I would like to go with a pepperoni and pineapple gluten-free pizza and a piece of the flourless chocolate torte. I was sure to tell her I have a gluten intolerance. My husband ordered a burger and onion rings.

The food did not come out as quickly as we would have liked, but it wasn’t a ridiculous waiting period either. At first bite of my pizza it was clear that the crust was barely cooked. The majority of the center was still raw dough and hardly warm. I flagged our waitress down and let her know that it was not completely cooked. She simply stared at me and offered no thoughts, so, feeling slightly irritated and hating to make a scene or send food back, I brushed it aside and said, ‘fine, I’ll just eat it without the crust’. I was not thrilled since they charged me extra for an uncooked gluten-free crust. I know that I should have made a bigger deal about this and that it is my fault for settling, but I have learned my lesson and will speak up more if this ever happens again.

My husband liked his food. He said the onion rings were decent, and the burger was filling. I was not happy with my food. At one point a manager stopped by our table and asked how things were. I told him the crust on my pizza was not cooked. The waitress came over and got involved in the conversation saying that the cook asked if I had wanted it cooked longer and she told the cook I was fine with it the way it was. The manager walked away, and I became quite irritated to find she didn’t even give me the option to put it back in the oven, and that the manager would brush this off. On top of it all she asked if we wanted dessert, which I had ordered with my pizza and never received. I said no, and we paid our bill and left. They charged us the full amount for the crust that was inedible.

I rarely complain about service at restaurants, and I like to give staff the benefit of the doubt if things are busy and get a little rocky, but this place was not busy and they have no excuse for their horrible service. I have never been so letdown by a waitress in my life, not to mention the manager who did nothing. There is no excuse for poor food when it’s brought to the waitress and manager’s attention. Restaurants rely on positive experiences and word of mouth to bring in new people.

If you happen to visit Bayfield and Maggies, feel free to let me know what your experience was like. This may have been an isolated incident but I’m struggling to find the desire to visit Maggie’s ever again.

For more information on Maggies, please visit: https://www.maggies-bayfield.com/

All-Inclusive, Bars, Bingo, Hotels, Mexico, Outdoor Activities, Restaurants

The Crown Paradise Golden in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

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Many of my readers may know that my family likes to visit Mexico each spring. Often we spend our vacation in Ixtapa, Mexico, but this year we tried something different. It took a good deal of research to choose the next vacation destination, but the research paid off.

Last year in Ixtapa we found our hotel overrun with children. They were everywhere, including the adult’s only pool. They screamed, they ran amuck, and they were extremely rude. Don’t get me wrong, I like children. I simply do not want them on my vacation if they cannot behave and follow rules.

Since I didn’t enjoy the free-for-all last year I looked into all-inclusive adult-only resorts. I found several great places in Puerto Vallarta but in the end we went with the Crown Paradise Golden. This hotel is located next to its sister hotel which allows children and has a huge pirate ship themed pool area and several children’s activities. If you stay at the adult’s only hotel, you can still enjoy all the restaurants and activities next door. You get the best of both worlds.

The food at Crown Paradise Golden was exceptional. The themed restaurants require reservations and I do one-hundred percent recommend them. They can be a little slow, so plan for up to two hours when dining, but it’s worth it. The restaurants are Mediterranean, Italian, American, French, and Asian inspired. Most people seem to love the Asian restaurant, so it was a little more difficult to get into. My favorite restaurant was Salvador’s, which is gourmet cuisine. The staff was delightful, and the food was exceptional. All the restaurant’s menus change nightly.

If you are looking for quick and easy food and beverages, then look no farther than the buffet which changes daily. Most people do not realize this but during off hours you can get a menu in the buffet and order specific foods. Next to the buffet is a grill which has brats, pizza, burgers, and fries. There is also a beach bar which has fresh foods such as tuna salad, fruit, Panini, and other items. In the realm of alcoholic beverages, they can be found quite easily at the poolside bar, lobby bar, or two beach bars. You definitely will not go hungry or thirsty.

Outside of food the hotel offers many fun activities such as BINGO, beach volleyball, pool volleyball, beer pong, random silly games, nightly shows, and much more. On Saturdays they have a pool party and fill the pool with bubbles. With the music blasting and sun shining it would be hard to not enjoy one’s self.

Outside of the hotel you will find boats ready to take you parasailing, beach massage stations, and plenty of white sand to walk on while the waves lap at your feet. You will also find people wandering the beach selling an assortment of items. They will wander up to the beach bars, so if you are not interested, simply say no. If you show interest every single salesman will come directly to you.

At the front of the hotel across the street is a spa. This place had the best prices for massages and they gave an amazing pedicure. I highly recommend them. If you are looking for the boardwalk and restaurants off the grounds, you can get a taxi that will take you downtown for a mere $6 each way, though check ahead because this can change. You are also in walking distance to Walmart, the peer, and a grocery store in case you forgot to bring anything.

Keep in mind that March is the end of Puerto Vallarta’s winter so it can be cloudy and sometimes cool. April is probably a better time weather-wise, but we always go in March and intend to go back for ten days this next year. No matter the weather, it’s still one of the safer locations in Mexico and there are plenty of things to do at the Crown Paradise Golden.

For more information on the Crown Paradise Golden, please visit: http://www.goldencrownparadisevallarta.com/

Bars, Mexico, Music, Restaurants, Tequila

Pipi’s in Puerto Vallarta

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Prior to visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, my family asked around to find out which restaurants were recommended by others. Only one particular restaurant was mentioned consistently, and that restaurant was Pipi’s. Everyone seemed to have walked away with the same great memories and could not wait to tell us of their experiences.

Pipi’s is indeed Mexican food, but so much more. If you are looking for an atmosphere that basically pulls you into a fun time, this is the place to be. The food was exceptional. Our waiter prepared guacamole right at the table. The drinks we enjoyed were margaritas the size of boats. They had several flavors to choose from. I couldn’t finish the whole thing because of the sugar and decent pour of alcohol, but I would definitely go back for another in the future.

The live music was a ton of fun and added to the energy of the evening and made you want to sing along. We could have sat and listened all night, partially because we were too full to move. We watched as many people sang along and celebrated their own special events such as birthdays and anniversaries which were accompanied by sombreros and tasty desserts.

If you want a memorable experience with great food and music, check out Pipi’s, you won’t be disappointed: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150793-d1032796-Reviews-Pipi_s-Puerto_Vallarta.html

 

Bars, Bingo, Minnesota, Restaurants, Uncategorized

Fun At The Lumberyard Pub

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Last week I wrote an article about Ladies Night at The Historic Afton Inn. To go along with that article I would like to let people know about another of my Ladies Night favorites. This one is a lot of fun and it combines two of my loves; purses and Bingo.

If you like playing Bingo you have got to check out the Lumberyard Pub. The Lumberyard hosts Coach Purse Bingo every third Thursday of the month. To make things even more exciting, each person receives a ticket and a chance to win a free beverage. The atmosphere is fun and definitely has its regular patrons whom you will hear hooting and hollering when they win a prized purse or drink for that matter.

Aside from winning purses and free beverages, the food at the Lumberyard is awesome. They have Wisconsin cheese curds, wings, nachos, sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads, just to name a few items. I haven’t eaten anything that I didn’t love. All of their food is great as well as the service.

Come on out, bring your friends, have some fun. The Lumberyard is a great place to spend an evening.

For more information on the Lumberyard Pub, please visit: http://lumberyardpubafton.com/

Minnesota, Restaurants, Uncategorized

The MSP Escape Lounge Experience

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Many people don’t like to fly, or they find the airport to be quite boring. Not everyone is as satisfied with people watching, as I am. If you are flying out of the MSP airport, and you need something to occupy your time, check out the, Escape Lounge.

The Escape Lounge, is a VIP area where you can sit and relax. Anyone can buy a pass into this area. If you happen to be a lover of Groupon, you may even find a voucher for the Escape Lounge.

Inside the lounge you will find plenty of space and outlets, for plugging in laptops as well as phones. Once you pay for entry into the lounge, you will have unlimited food and beverages to choose from. Alcohol is also unlimited, providing you are choosing items from a specific shelf. Some beverages are an extra fee.

Food in the lounge consists of sandwiches, cheese trays, cookies, brownies, soups, tacos, taffy, and a coffee machine that can make everything from black coffee to a mocha or espresso. I cannot vouch for the earlier hours of the day, but I have heard that they have eggs and pastries, which I will check out in March, when I next visit.

The atmosphere of the Escape Lounge was clean and quiet. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I very much enjoyed my visit, and I will be going back and bringing family with.

If you are flying out of a different airport, checkout the Escape Lounge site to see if your airport has one: http://www.escapelounges.com/

Colorado, Restaurants, Uncategorized

Cinzzetti’s For A Tasty Italian Buffet

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If you happen to be in the Denver, CO, area on vacation, there will be no shortness of great restaurants to choose from. You will find everything from McDonald’s, to Denny’s, and plenty of great specialty restaurants. If you are looking for an Italian restaurant that the whole family will enjoy, and you like buffets, look no further than Cinzzetti’s, which is located in Northglenn, just outside of Denver.

Cinzzettis is a great place to try all of sorts of wonderful Italian inspired food. There are several salads to choose from, a large number of pizzas, and pastas, as well as desserts. They even have a crepe station. If you are looking for a relaxed experience where you can eat great food and even enjoy some wine, this is a perfect choice.

My favorite items at this buffet are the pizzas, the bow-tie pasta, and the chocolate soufflé. The soufflé is tasty, and it is hard to eat just one, or two. My husband very much liked the ice cream station; with sixteen different flavors, how can you go wrong?

I definitely recommend this buffet, but only if you like a more relaxed environment. If you are looking for quiet and intimate, then you may want to steer clear of the buffet, because most often there are families with children running around.

For more information, please visit: http://www.cinzzettis.com/

Colorado, Restaurants, Uncategorized

The Smokehouse BBQ in Winter Park, CO

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If you happen to be in Winter Park, Colorado, you will find that there are a lot of great restaurant choices available. I happen to be a little bit of a foodie, so choosing my meals always seems to be such a task. What food would taste the best, and what will provide the tastiest experience. I just don’t want to regret any of my culinary choices, especially when on vacation. Life’s too short, always eat good food.

Anyway, whether you’re like me, or you just like meat, The Smokehouse BBQ, is well worth your time.  They have a clean and inviting atmosphere for dining in. They offer some great bucket beer specials during happy hour. This restaurant also offers take out, if you prefer a more intimate dining experience.

The waiter was great. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was fairly prompt about getting us everything we desired, except the bill, which took a little longer than expected. I have forgiven this little time delay simply because the food was that delectable, and the establishment was somewhat busy by the time my party left.

The menu offers several different meal combos, as well as sides. I went with a two meat combo which came with two sides. I chose the burnt ends and pork shoulder. My husband went with the burnt ends and brisket. He ordered mac and cheese, and I ordered the sweet potato mash and potato salad. All of the meat was exceptional. My favorite item was the burnt ends.

We only went to this restaurant once during our visit, but I was highly tempted to go back on more than one evening. Had there not been so many other great options, I would have found myself once again at, The Smokehouse BBQ, enjoying more burnt ends. This is a place I will make a point of visiting again in the future.

For more information on, The Smokehouse BBQ, please visit: http://www.wpsmokehouse.com/

Casino, Hotels, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

An Overnight Trip To Turtle Lake Casino

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We all know that casinos are out there to make money, and one of the ways they do so, is by taking ours when we go overboard and pump too much into the machines, or we spend too much time on a losing table. I’ve never lost a large sum of money at the casino, because I learned quickly that casinos are there to take money, not give it. With that said, I still love casinos.

Turtle Lake Casino is located a mere thirty minutes from my current home. I have checked it out twice now and I find certain aspects of this particular casino to be quite wonderful. First off, it’s not very big, so you won’t get lost, like you could in some of the Las Vegas Casinos. Secondly, they give you some decent perks for playing their slots. I recently received a free night stay for September and October.

Last Thursday night, my husband and I went to Turtle Lake and we upgraded our free night stay to a whirlpool suite. The room was huge. It had a beautiful carved bed frame, microwave, fridge, walk in shower, and separate areas for sleeping and lounging. The window in our room overlooked the pool area, which was kind of neat. I enjoyed the room. I slept very comfortably, but was not happy about being woken at 4am by the outright brawl going on in the room above us. We did call the front desk and it was quickly dealt with, though it didn’t stop someone from stomping around angrily at other points throughout the night.

This casino is separated from the hotel, by roughly, one block. It is definitely in walking distance, so we chose to walk instead of taking the shuttle. The actual casino has three food options. You can choose to dine at the buffet, the concession stand, or the Me-Ki-Noc Restaurant. If you are staying in the hotel, they also have Heggie’s Pizza available as well as a continental breakfast in the morning.

The only food option I have taken advantage of has been the buffet. It is by no means a large buffet; it is actually quite small. I think the best option is to go on Thursday nights for surf and turf. I have eaten the surf and turf and it is well worth it. The regular buffet however, had what appeared to be frozen Chicken Kiev and instant mashed potatoes. I did very much enjoy the desserts, but they are also hit or miss, and I believe none are actually made on premises.

Despite Turtle Lake’s buffet, I do enjoy visiting and I loved the hotel room we stayed in. The whirlpool was quiet and very relaxing. The view of the pool from our room was a fun addition. I will definitely go back and stay again sometime soon.

For more information on Turtle Lake Casino, please visit: https://turtlelake.stcroixcasino.com/