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Most of the year, riding horses in Arizona sounds like a great way to get heat stroke. But just as the Northeast settles in for a long winter, temps in the Grand Canyon state are in the balmy 70s, making the choice to pull on jeans and boots seem less horrible. Spend Thanksgiving weekend letting someone else do the walking at the Grapevine Canyon Ranch in Pearce.
Ride through fields of cacti near this small town southeast of Tucson, then after you get back from the dusty trails--6 to 7 hours of riding a day are included--kick back in a hot tub in your villa before tucking into Thanksgiving dinner. No TV and no in-room phones means you can concentrate on... Well, whatever you do when you're not reading Jaunted. (We'll miss you, but you could use the break!)
Related Stories:
· Cruise, Ride, Fly, Eat and Relax This Thanksgiving: Last-Minute Deals and Discounts [Frommers.com]
· Horsing Around on Beautiful Back Roads [Jaunted]
· Thanksgiving coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: GCranch.com]]]>
Lost Girl Jennifer Baggett continues her Andros Field Trip...
It was the sixth day of my week-long Andros Island vacation when I realized that I had yet to set even one (bare) foot outside the 100 yard beach radius surrounding Small Hope Bay Lodge. Between all the amazing scuba diving trips, an abundance of hammocks and a self-serve beach bar, there wasn't a whole lot of incentive to leave . But considering there were miles of uninhabited and virtually untouched wilderness just beyond the lodge's borders, I figured a little DIY exploration was in order.]]>
News agencies with way more reporters in Washington, DC than we have are reporting that Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano could soon be named Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by President-elect Barack Obama. Though he's undoubtedly not involved in the decision making process, fellow Arizonan John McCain has already voiced his support for the pick.
While the transition team still hasn't said publicly that Napolitano will be picked--and she'll need Senate confirmation before serving--we've got a few suggestions for whoever takes over DHS and by extension, its sub-agency the Transportation Security Administration.]]>
One of the latest food trends to take over the West Coast is the emergence of Japanese izakayas, which have been spreading like wildfire from Vancouver Island to Venice Beach.
Izakayas are often referred to as Japanese tapas bars because they serve the same function in Japan as tapas bars do in Spain--providing a cheap, no-frills space for diners to hop in, grab a few small plates of snacks and hop out. Also just like tapas, izakayas are coming to America in the form of much fancier, much more expensive eateries--and the dishes aren't get any bigger.
But there are a few genuine (and cheap) izakayas if you know where to look. One of Seattle's best is Wann, which is actually an offshoot of a Japanese chain. The menu here ranges from traditional Japanese favorites like Kobe beef tongue and dried squid tempura, to off-the-wall comfort creations like a Kurobuta sausage corn dog and brie cheese tempura.
But despite their venture into fusion-y, trendy fare, Wann keeps it real with the small plate prices, which start as low as four bucks and don't venture into double digits.
Related Stories:
· Wann Izakaya [Official Site]
· Foodiest Food Truck Ever: Skillet Street Food [Jaunted]
· Recession Restaurants Map [Jaunted]
[Photo: Wann]]]>
Are you ready to expand your palate? Put down that steak and look beyond the salad plate at the world's best vegetarian restaurants.
On its website, Sable D'Or lists among its credits that the Pakistani and Sri Lankan national cricket teams eat there exclusively whenever they come to Tangier. Whether or not Sable D'Or is the only Indian restaurant in Tangier, it seems to be the best vegetarian option in a place where the word vegetarian often draws blank stares.
Named for a beach south of Rabat also known as Sid el Abed, Sable d'Or isn't wholly veggie--or wholly Indian for that matter. But where else are you going to go to watch European sports or listen to live Moroccan music with a side order of aloo dum? If you aren't too full, hit the attached bar afterwards for some dancing.
Want to see your favorite joint featured? Tip us off.
Related Stories:
· A Place In The Sun [TIME]
· Mash, No Bangers [Jaunted]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Sable D'Or]]]>
Lots of cities like to celebrate their sandwiches: Philly's got cheesesteaks and of course Sandwich, England, has the original. But no town could really celebrate a sandwich quite the way New Orelans does.
The sandwich in question is, of course, the po-boy, and the celebration is the New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival, which takes over five city blocks this Sunday.
Whether you think po-boys should be traditional (fried oysters), avant garde (seafood stuffed mushrooms) or just plain out there (alligator sausage), the po-boy preservation festival likely has some variety of fried-fish-on-a-roll you should be able to get on board with. There are also all kinds of live bands, art events and presentations about the history of the food. And to top it all off, the Golden Loaf award will bestowed on the one po-boy that's fit to rule them all.
Related Stories:
· New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival [Official Site]
· Mahoney's Po-Boy Shop [Jaunted]
· New Orleans travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival]]]>