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Category Archives: Travel News

Lake Erie and Lake Chautauqua – Grape Arbors As Far As You Can See

www.americanpresstravelnews.com News.com – June 27th – Riding around the Lake Erie region of Chautauqua there are vineyards almost everywhere. 

To find out more about the business of grapes in this attractive area we visited The Cornell University Lake Erie Research Extension Laboratory. We learned that there are approximately 30,000 acres in the Lake Erie region of New York and Pennsylvania. 98.5% of these grapes are used for juice, jam and other fresh or fermented products. The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program consists of Extension Educators and research faculty/staff from Cornell University and Penn State University devoted to projects aimed at increasing yields, product quality, diversity and improvement of cultivars, efficiency of production, profitability and adoption of environmentally sound cultural and pest management strategies. To find out more take a look at their website: www.lergp.cce.cornell.edu/.

Our next stop was at the Johnson Estate Winery. This is oldest estate winery in the New York State, established in 1961.

Johnson Estates Wines

The Johnson’s Estate is a Story of Three Generations, beginning in 1877 with an English orphan named Frederick Johnson. In 1908 Johnson purchased this home circa – 1822 with the adjoining farm along the banks of Freelings Creek, in Westfield, N.Y. There is a full history on the website.

Today it is owned by Frederick Johnson Jr. with his wife Jennifer, former president of the Chautauqua – Lake Erie Wine Trail. They completed a renovation of the tasting room in 2011 for the winery’s 50th anniversary celebration. This building has been beautifully renovated complementing the old with the new. They have a full side viewing window with the full size stainless steel tanks.

Wine tastings and pairings are popular at this winery, with a large selection of estate wines and gifts.  They have group tours by

Grape Vineyard

appointment. Also, they have many summer events that a space can be reserved online. Check out their website: www.JohnsonWinery.com or call (716) 326-2191.

Also call: 1-800-374-6569

 

 

 

The Great Tree Inn – Mayville, N.Y. – A feeling that you have come home

www.americanpresstravelnews.com – June 24th. When we arrived at The Great Tree Inn, we were welcomed by Innkeepers Mark and Shelia. This Inn is a 1850’s farmhouse and barn on 10 acres, in a beautiful country setting. Very private, yet just a couple of minutes to the town of Mayville. After we settled in to our room, we toured the other rooms and found that they are all furnished attractively and have private bathrooms. If you like farm animals, this is your B&B. From horses to pigs, ducks and chickens {their fresh eggs fed us our omelettes) and all manner of critters in between, this is a real down to earth spot for you.

After settling in, we decided to explore Mayville. It is situated at the northwest end of Chautauqua Lake and is the closest town to the Chautauqua Institution. The steamboat, Chautauqua Bell was parked on the lake which still operates out of Mayville and runs between Point Chautauqua, the Chautauqua Institution and the vessel’s home port in Mayville.

Mark and Sheila have a large selection of magazines, anytime coffee pot with home made goodies (great cookies) and a very comfortable living room to relax any time of the day. We enjoyed sitting outside in the cool evening chatting with touring couples who biked all over the area.

In the morning, we both were able to enjoy Mark’s creative, very tasty breakfasts that gave us a great headstart for the day ahead. The portions are extra-large, and all left overs are recycled by his many animals. Since Bob was leaving at 6:00 in the morning to go fishing, Mark insisted that he could not leave the Inn without one of his terrific breakfasts.  For more information the web site: www.greattreeinn.com or call: (716) 753-7989 or (1800) 421-0082

Cuisine of India At Nawab, Roanoke, Virginia A Lunch Buffet Extraordinaire

AmericanPressTravelNews-June 25th, Roanoke, VA.–Bob and Barb “On the Road Again” and “Stopping to Smell the Roses.” As we walked along Campbell Street past the street vendors and towards the building on Campbell St. tht housed the Pinball Museum, fresh and saltwater live fish display and much much more, we passed the Nawab Restaurant. Well, Barb is not a fan of spicy stuff, I am if its incredibly good and the aromas emanating from the opened door as diners entered, lifted my olfactory factory production facility to new heights. I couldn’t resist, and promised Barb there are non -spicy items in their buffet. We met the owner, and he invited us to taste his family’s recipes. Zowwie!!! The cherry bread, garlic flat breads, and unreal other bakery table pieces were all, on their own, a fine meal with the various oils and mezzes laid out on the table. With the likes of Lamb, mushroom coconut curry, Punjabi Chicken Tikka, Konkoni Prawn curry, all kinds of incredible dips and sauces (go online to see them all at nawabrestaurant.com) The tastes of curry, spices with tumeric, and baby onions, garlic and rosemary-the veggies, that alone would make a great meal, and all things by way of a taste of India were so savory!! Nawab is located at 118-A Campbell Ave., SE Roanoke, VA phone: 540345-5150 email: info@nawabrestaurant.com

La Mezzaluna Cafe in Charles Town Best Food Almost Anywhere America

Best mussels ever! This chef owner knows seafood. And for that matter true Sicilian fare as well! What an appetizer!!!Delicious plus!
Calamari to call home about! Special seasonings and just the right amount of butter. Terrific!
Bow tie pasta and shrimp in a custom sauce creation. You just couldn’t stop eating this creation!!!
Veal Marsala was beyond great! Mushrooms, and sauce created to perfection. The meat was tender and not stringy and tough-just freaking delicious (gained 5-pounds at the place)

AmericanPressTravelNews-June 22, Charles Town, W.VA-Bob & Barb “On the Road Again” and “Stopping to Taste Great Foods.” This time we went to lunch from the Carriage Inn on Donn’s recommendation to La Mezzaluna Cafe. WOW! The offerings were all especially great!! We hit the garlic knot rolls (real garlic, not powder) first and we did the “dipsy doo” in the sauces from the mussels, then the bowtie pasta and shrimps sauces and finally the incredible veal marsala. This place was incredible and then all the law enforcement locals came in. Most were salivating before they even saw the well used menus. Only wish they were in my city in TN. probably have to wait on line, though!!!  La Mezzaluna Cafe “bringing delicacies from all the regions of Italy to your table.”  304-728-0700