Tag: 10best

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Enjoy a bit of Edo period nostalgia less than one hour from Tokyo

Just 30 minutes by train from the hustle and modernity of Tokyo, Kawagoe offers visitors a glimpse into Edo-era Japan.

While many candy alleys throughout Japan have been swallowed up by inevitable change, the one in Kawagoe is still a major tourist attraction and meeting point for locals. Here are 10 stops you won’t want to miss.

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Zaumon

If you start your journey along Kashiya Yokocho (known in English as candy alley) from the main road (Honmachi Dori), Zaumon will be the first confectionery store on your right.

They bake their own manju in house, and the most popular variety comes stuffed with red bean paste and sweet potato. Careful attention goes into each bite-sized manju coming out in the shape of a traditional Kawagoe storefront. On the boxes, you can see a hand-drawn image of the storefronts, which are still omnipresent in the area to this day.

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Confectionery Umon Tokinokane

Sweet potato fries are the specialty at Umon Tokinokane and they come coated with salt, sesame or sugar. If you’re trying to save room for the more than a dozen other stops along Kawagoe’s candy alley, you can try a free sample of their hard, crunchy fries. If you approve, get a bag to go.

According to their staff, they’ll stay fresh for at least two months if you don’t open the bag, so they can make an excellent gift to take home as they’ll still taste the same regardless of whether or not they get crushed in transit.

Sticking with the sweet potato theme which is omnipresent throughout Kashiya Yokocho, Umon sells soft sweet potato ice cream in the adjacent stall.

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Lemonade by Lemonica

Lemonade by Lemonica offers a touch of modernity mixed in with the pre-internet nostalgia of Kashiya Yokocho. In this over-sized lemonade stand, the young staff of mostly twenty-somethings scoop lemonade out of an old-fashioned lemonade jar for their hip clientele.

While anyone over 30 might feel old inside this place, that’s no reason to skip it. After all, what’s more refreshing than a cup of fruit-infused lemonade in between sampling different sweet and salty Japanese candies?

Lemonade by Lemonica offers twenty different variations of the 700-year-old Mongolian refreshment. Lemonade soda is their most popular drink, followed by original. Other variations include coca-cola, cream cheese and fruit-infused.

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Matsuriku Confectionery

When you see stacked bags of fugashi bread for 500 yen, you’ll know you’re at Matsuriku. They also make their own hard candies in-house; cinnamon, mint, orange, and strawberry are their most popular flavors.

As the Sayama cola plant is near Kawagoe, Matsuriku sells bottles of green Sayama brand cha cola, which is a carbonated matcha drink. Like Umon, they also sell sweet potato ice cream from an adjacent stand.

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Yoshiokaya

While Lemonade by Lemonica attracts a younger crowd, Yoshiokaya tends to attract an older crowd, who are nostalgic for the candy stores of their childhood. Of all the places in this list, Yoshiokaya is the most quaint, charming and unpretentious.

They sell vintage mini sours, candy cigarettes and even fake beer powder. Yes, Japanese children used to mix this powder with water and pretend they were drinking beer with dad! If you buy something here, you’ll have to leave your credit card in your pocket, forget about Apple Pay and pay cash which will be deposited into their 1970’s Casio cash register.

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Matsumoto

Matsumoto is easily identifiable by large 100 million yen squid sheets they have on sale in front of the store. The staff claim that they are best paired with Asahi beer. They also sell fugashi bread and various flavored pop rice cakes.

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Hokuhoku

Hokuhoku marks the southernmost point of candy alley. They sell four different varieties of sweet potato pies, ranging from crunchy to more delicate. There’s a small garden/outdoor dining area connected to Rakuraku, which is their sister store across the street.

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Raku Raku

If you started your journey at the intersection of Kashiya Yokocho and Honmachi Dori, you may be looking for some respite from all things sweet potato by the time you reach Raku Raku. If so, you’ll be in luck.

Raku Raku looks, smells and feels more like a European-style bakery. But that doesn’t mean that you need to limit yourself to a croissant with strawberry jam and butter. Instead, try the miso bread – it’s their most popular item.

If you ask the staff what to try, they’ll likely tell you that there’s a miso brewery in nearby Chichibu and that you need to try their miso bread. The bread is delicate with a hint of sweetness.

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Doces Edoya de Kawagoe

Edoya is the largest of the stores along candy alley. They’re also unique in that they sell toys and children’s masks. The store sells candy by the gram, whereas the other shops along Kashiya Yokocho sell their sweets prepackaged. You can mix and match gummy bears, chocolate rocks, candy hearts, etc. as you wish. They also sell various dried fruit and fish.

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Tamariki Seika

Part candy store, part medicine shop, Tamariki Seika makes their own medicinal candies behind the storefront. Cough drops made of Japanese mint and medicinal herbs are their most popular confection.

They offer free samples, and you can watch and even smell the process through the transparent window behind the counter.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

Cruising is quickly becoming among the most popular ways to see the world. Unpack once and take in the sights of the world’s rivers and seas from your floating hotel.

More than 30 million people were expected to cruise in 2019, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, and that number is likely to grow year over year. More than 50 cruise lines set sail in all seven regions of the globe, and more than a dozen new vessels are introduced each year. The sheer variety of cruises can be overwhelming.

We asked our readers to vote for their favorite cruise lines and ships in 2019, and the winners are in.

Click on each category below to see the full list of winners.

Best Adventure Cruise Line: Adventure Canada

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While Adventure Canada does indeed lead small ship adventures through the rivers, icy fjords and secluded waterways of Canada, this expedition cruise company also takes travelers to experience landscapes and cultures further afield; places like Scotland, Iceland, Ireland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

The company shines with an always stellar lineup of onboard experts and guides.

Full list of winners: Best Adventure Cruise Line »

Best Boutique Cruise Line: Windstar Cruises

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With fewer than 350 guests per sailing, Windstar Cruises promises passengers a cruising experience free of lines and waiting. Since the six boutique ships are smaller than a typical cruise ship, they can sail into small European villages, off-the-beaten-path harbors and hidden coves, giving guests the opportunity to visit both major capitals and smaller ports.

Windstar’s award-winning shore excursions offer guests the opportunity to immerse themselves into the local culture and cuisines of these special ports of call.

Full list of winners: Best Boutique Cruise Line »

Best Cruise Ship for Dining: Viking Sea – Viking Ocean Cruises

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All meals are free of charge aboard Viking Sea, even at specialty restaurants. The star of the ship, Manfredi’s, serves a menu of hearty Italian fare in a homey setting. The Chef’s Table is themed to a different region of the world each night, while The World Cafe serves global specialties buffet-style.

For an extra cost, guests can sign up for The Kitchen Table, part restaurant and part shore excursion into a local market to pick out ingredients for dinner.

Full list of winners: Best Cruise Ship for Dining »

Best Cruise Ship for Families: MSC Seaside – MSC Cruises

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MSC Seaside brings loads of family-friendly amenities to the fleet, including family suites, an expanded kids club in partnership with LEGO and Chicco, multi-story water park with four slides, two full-size bowling lanes, a teens club and a high-tech theater.

Full list of winners: Best Cruise Ship for Families »

Best Large Cruise Ship: MSC Meraviglia – MSC Cruises

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Introduced in 2017, the 4,500-passenger MSC Meraviglia has quickly become known for its family-friendly modular staterooms, private access MSC Yacht Club and loads of onboard entertainment.

The ship is home to the first custom-built Cirque du Soleil theater at sea, a dozen different dining venues, the longest LED dome at sea, a beautiful Mediterranean-style promenade, water park and five kids’ clubs.

Full list of winners: Best Large Cruise Ship »

Best Mid-Sized Cruise Ship: Koningsdam – Holland America Line

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The 2,650-guest Koningsdam keeps passengers entertained with a two-story World Stage to Music Walk, as well as a handful of other live music venues. Passengers can learn about destinations at Explorations Central, try a new recipe at America’s Test Kitchen, explore the wilds with BBC Earth Experiences or create unique cocktails at Blend.

Other amenities include a glass-roofed Lido Deck for under-the-stars movies, family cabins and two pools.

Full list of winners: Best Mid-Sized Cruise Ship »

Best Small Cruise Ship: Viking Sky – Viking Ocean Cruises

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The 930-passenger Viking Sky feels more like a resort than a cruise ship, thanks to its all-veranda staterooms, tasteful decorations and elegant public spaces for reading, relaxing or socializing. Little extras, like numerous USB ports, ocean-facing lounge chairs on the pool deck and floor-to-ceiling windows in most venues, make for a comfortable sailing experience.

Full list of winners: Best Small Cruise Ship »

Best Ocean Cruise Line: Viking Ocean Cruises

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Viking Cruises earned its reputation through its affordable, destination-focused river cruises. With the debut of Viking Star in April 2015, the line made a grand entrance into the world of ocean cruising. Now the line has six ocean vessels (with a seventh on the way).

All cabins come with balconies and are notably larger than the industry average, and while the ships lack a casino and kids club, they offer the same destination-intensive programming that made river cruising so popular.

Full list of winners: Best Ocean Cruise Line »

Best River Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises

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Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising.

These all-inclusive cruises feature outside staterooms, Wi-Fi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and Viking’s signature Culture Curriculum program.

Full list of winners: Best River Cruise Line »

Best River Cruise Ship: AmaMagna – AmaWaterways

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The pet project of AmaWaterways’ co-founder, co-owner and president, Rudi Schreiner, AmaMagna ranks among the biggest river ships – twice as wide of its competitors. Guests enjoy suites with balconies, and the choice of four onboard restaurants, all included. The Zen Wellness Studio features a spacious fitness center with daily wellness programming.

Full list of winners: Best River Cruise Ship »

Congratulations to all these winning cruise lines and ships!

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

Hangover cures should be considered part of folklore – they’re anecdotal, they’re traditions passed down by word of mouth, and they’re somewhat regional. A common thread that connects many popular hangover cures is how greasy fried foods seem to magically alleviate the self-induced ails of too much drinking.

It might seem like a bad idea to eat a big plate of fatty foods on a drunken stomach, but there is scientific research that backs up this hangover “cure.” Some scientists claim that eating certain foods can help decrease the toxic chemical “acetaldehyde” that contributes to many hangover symptoms, aiding the body in metabolizing alcohol.

In layman’s terms, eat, drink and be merry with these regional dishes.

Cincinnati chili

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This heaping helping of spaghetti topped with a brown chili sauce and shredded cheddar is not the most photogenic meal. In fact, Deadpan once called it “the worst regional foodstuff in America.” But to Cincinnati locals who have had too much to drink, this dish is a welcoming sight.

Inspired by Greek immigrants who brought with them their tradition of spicy stewed meats, this local dish combines carbs, protein and grease to create the perfect antidote to hangovers.

Read more: How Cincinnati fell in love with one of America’s weirdest dishes »

Garbage Plate

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Is it a mess or a masterpiece? The Garbage Plate, which hails from the Rochester, New York area, is a plate of seemingly random side dishes that you’d never imagine working together to make something delicious. A Garbage Plate consists of two cheeseburger patties drenched in meat sauce on top of home fries and macaroni salad, topped with onions, ketchup and mustard (baked beans are also an option).

It was a dish created nearly 100 years ago when the chef of Nick Tahou Hots wanted to create a cheap and filling meal for workers coming off the third shift. Legend has it that the name came from a local college student who ordered “a plate with all the garbage on it.”

Read more: This is a Garbage Plate, and it might cure your hangover »

Buffalo wings

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There are plenty of ways to enjoy wings, but when you’re in Buffalo, the secret is in the sauce. The simple recipe is one part butter mixed with one part Frank’s RedHot sauce.

The combo is a spicy, fatty condiment that sticks to your fingers as well as it sticks to your gut. The sauce is then liberally added to fried chicken wings. Together, this spicy, fatty, meaty dish can help cure even the roughest of hangovers.

Read more: Where did the Buffalo wing actually come from? »

Louisville Hot Brown

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Louisville is known for bourbon and beer (check out the Brewgrass trail), and if you’ve enjoyed too much of either, you should try the Hot Brown. This famous dish consists of Texas toast topped with sliced turkey breast, Mornay sauce and bacon.

Read more: The Hot Brown is the culinary crown jewel of Louisville »

Sonoran hot dog

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These aren’t just any hot dogs. The Sonoran hot dog is the signature street food of Tucson, America’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. It’s a bacon-wrapped hot dog stuffed in a bolillo roll, topped with pinto beans and a variety of condiments ranging from onions and jalapeños to mustard and mayonnaise.

It’s the perfect handheld dish for anyone who needs to deal with a hangover on the go.

Read more: Bacon-wrapped Sonoran hot dogs might be America’s greatest street food »

Poutine

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Poutine is the Holy Trinity of Canadian cuisine. Fries, gravy and cheese curds collide to make a delicious mess. In fact, the word “poutine” is French Canadian for “mess.” The dish is perfection in its classic form, but some restaurants, especially ones in Quebec, jazz up their poutine with other ingredients like lobster and even foie gras.

Read more: Almost everything you need to know about poutine »

Pepperoni rolls

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According to the author of “The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll,” Candace Nelson, “the stromboli or the calzone might be cousins to the pepperoni roll, but the pepperoni roll is unique because of its strong ties to our culture, and because of its simplicity.”

The pepperoni roll, West Virginia’s unofficial state food, is bread with pepperoni – that’s it. It’s a dish born from frugality and the need for a food hat was simple and portable, as it was a popular meal among coal miners.

Read more: Pepperoni rolls are more than a meal – they’re WV state heritage »

Scrapple

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Scrapple might just be one of the Philadelphia’s region’s favorite breakfast staples. It’s the stewed bits of meat that butchers couldn’t use in other products, mixed with cornmeal and spices and then formed into a loaf. Once fried, the deliciously salty and fatty scrapple is the perfect accompaniment to the classic breakfast of eggs and home fries.

Read more: How Pennsylvania fell in love with scrapple »

Chicken fried steak

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Throughout the South and parts of the West, the chicken fried steak is a comfort food that can halt any hangover. Reminiscent of the German schnitzel, the chicken fried steak isn’t actually chicken – it’s cheap cuts of beef, thinly sliced and fried using the same methods one would use if they were frying chicken.

The crispy breaded cuts of fried beef are then topped with brown gravy or white peppercorn.

Read more: Almost everything you want to know about chicken fried steak »

Panzarottis

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Though it contains all of the elements of a pizza, the South Jersey panzarotti is not just a pizza turnover or a giant Totino’s pizza roll. It’s a perfect blend of cheese and sauce contained in a deep-fried pocket of dough. It can be enjoyed during any time of day and for any occasion, but it’s most satisfying after a long night of drinking.

Read more: The story of panzarottis, South Jersey’s beloved fried pizza pocket »

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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At 2 a.m. on Saturday, in the dead of winter, when all the bars in your college town have just closed down, there’s really only one proper way to cap off a night: find the closest establishment that serves hot, greasy drunk food and dig in.

At SUNY Brockport, outside Rochester, New York, that means eating your way through what is affectionately known as the “Garbage Plate.”

I had my first plate at a place called Jimmy Z’s. A friend went to order for me, and minutes later returned with a large styrofoam takeout container with an ungodly amount of food – two bunless cheeseburger patties slathered in a mysterious, oily meat sauce, topped with raw onions, ketchup and mustard, nestled lovingly on top of a pile of home fries and macaroni salad.

Being the kind of person who never let two different foods touch on one plate, I found the mess in front of me troubling, but was willing to try anything to keep the impending hangover at bay.

I gingerly jabbed some home fries onto my fork, and before I knew it, my friend swiped the utensil out of my hand with a growl, shoveled a heap of everything from the container onto it and jammed it in front of my face.

“This is how you eat a Garbage Plate,” she said.

Ladies and Gents, the Garbage Plate!
#relivingmychildhood #nicktahous

A post shared by Patrick Cappiello (@patrickwine) on Dec 27, 2015 at 6:37pm PST

Explaining a Garbage Plate to someone from outside of the Rochester area is a challenge, because before you even get to the components and myriad number of combinations, people balk at the word “garbage” – it’s admittedly not exactly the most appetizingly named dish.

The Garbage Plate has a history dating back nearly 100 years to a little place called Nick Tahou Hots. The dish – originally referred to as “hots and potatoes” – started out as a “kitchen sink” sort of menu item, beloved by those coming off of the third shift or anyone looking for a filling meal on the cheap.

As per local lore, years after its creation, some local college kids were in Nick Tahou’s and one of them said, “I’ll have a plate with all the garbage on it,” and thus the Garbage Plate earned its name. According to What’s Cooking America, the dish rapidly became even more popular with the college crowd, and by 1992, the term “Garbage Plate” was trademarked by the restaurant.

The home of The Garbage Plate. Nick’s Tahou, Rochester NY. Two Hot Dogs, One Cheeseburger, Home Fries, Macaroni Salad, chopped onions, all smothered in Chili. #95/100. ..Haven’t eaten in a day and a half (as of this post). Still not hungry. Worth it. #garbageplate

A post shared by Jarrett McGovern (@jarrettmcgovern) on Jan 19, 2018 at 5:19pm PST

While you can only get a true Garbage Plate at Nick Tahou’s, thanks to that trademark, there are homages to it all around the city and the outskirts. They almost all signal they’re of that same lineage using “plate” in whatever inventive name they choose to call their own version.

From the “5-Star Plate” at Jimmy Z’s in Brockport to the “Trash Plate” at Empire Hots in Webster, the core of the Plate is built upon a base of at least two starchy sides, topped with a protein, and finished with that oily, brownish red, seasoned meat sauce – which each restaurant makes a little differently.

At Nick Tahou’s, the traditional Garbage Plate consists of two sides (usually home fries and macaroni salad, with options of baked beans or French fries) and a protein – either two burgers or hot dogs (white hots or red hots – more local food that confuses anyone outside of western New York).

But the menu has 10 options ranging from chicken to fish to fried ham to grilled cheese. And third-generation owner Alexander Tahou tells Great Big Story the restaurant has even gone as far as creating a sardine Garbage Plate at one point. Whichever version you choose, don’t forget the hot sauce.

For Rochester expats, it’s common to find yourself hunting down one of these establishments to get your fix of what is considered one of the most calorie-laden and fattiest foods in the state as soon as you enter the 585. A few years ago during a trip back up to Rochester with a friend, we stopped into Rohrbach Brewing Company’s brewpub.

While my friend ordered the brewpub’s version of the plate, called the “Rohrbach Plate,” I simply sat back and smirked, enjoying my sandwich. I sadistically watched as he tried to tackle a heaping platter. He ended the day chewing antacids, clutching his bulging gut and moaning.

I learned a long time ago that when you tackle anything akin to a Garbage Plate, you never win, and while Rochesterians may love them, they know their limits.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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Cheers to the Caribbean

Nothing beats discovering rum on its home turf. Crafting unrivaled sips and shots, distilleries in the Caribbean run the gamut from small batch to ultra-modern that churn out thousands of bottles each year.

For a liquid history lesson worth its sea salt, check out the Best Caribbean Rum Distilleries as voted in the 2019 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

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1. Topper’s Rhum | Sint Maarten

With legions of loyal fans, it’s no surprise Topper’s Rhum (French spelling for rum) in Sint Maarten was voted Best Caribbean Rum Distillery in 2019. Producing yummy flavors in pretty reusable glass bottles, rummy riffs on old-school favorites fly off the shelves like Banana Vanilla Cinnamon, White Chocolate Raspberry , tongue-tingling Strawberry Jalapeno and the whimsical love child of peanut butter, bananas and rum aptly named Elvis.

A family affair for Topper and Melanie Daboul who also own the popular Topper’s Restaurant, the distillery is open for sampling and shopping 7 days a week with tours every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that include an opportunity to create your own unique flavor.

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2. Brugal Rum | Dominican Republic

In Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, Brugal Rum has been distilling since 1888. The robust rum is aged in warehouses that are positioned north to south making the most of the Dominican sun.

Tours are offered Monday to Saturday and include tastings of the extra-smooth signature rums.

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3. Casa Bacardi | Puerto Rico

Billed as the ”largest family-owned spirits company in the world,” Puerto Rico’s Casa Bacardi is the rock star of Caribbean rum. The full-bodied blend has come a long way since its humble beginnings in Cuba in 1862.

In San Juan, Casa Bacardi offers tours of the distillery and classes that teach the fine art of muddling a minty mojito.

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4. Cruzan Rum Distillery | St. Croix

Cruzan Rum is the only still functioning historic distillery in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A family affair in St. Croix for 8 generations, a unique five-column distillation process that uses cane molasses and rainwater keeps aficionados in high spirits.

Popular bottles include Estate Diamond Dark Rum named after the original sugar mill estate, Cruzan 9 referring to the 9 districts in St. Croix and a cornucopia of cocktail pick-me-uppers. Distillery tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, Monday through Friday, and the gift shop is well-stocked with souvenirs and bottles.

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5. The Cadushy Distillery | Bonaire

The only distillery in Bonaire, Cadushy Distillery is also the only one in the world making liqueur from cactus plants. Founded in 2009, cactus is the star attraction in their green citrus-tinged Cadushy of Bonaire, while Captain Don’s Whisky is made with tobacco leaves imported from Cuba. Free tours include samples in the shady courtyard.

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6. Clarke’s Court Rum | Grenada

Clarke’s Court Rum is the largest distillery in Grenada, situated on the southern side of the island. Spirits snobs go for the Pure White distilled from molasses and sipped slowly with a dash of bitters. Clarke’s Court Lemon is a lighter rum poured neat or on the rocks. If you’re considering a visit, they’re busiest from January to September, and free tours are offered.

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7. John Watling’s Distillery | Nassau, Bahamas

Named for a 17th century swashbuckler who sailed the Bahamian seas, John Watling’s Distillery produces small batches of his namesake rum. Aged in white oak barrels, Buena Vista is popular for its whiffs of nutty vanilla.

Close to the cruise ship port in Nassau, tours of the Buena Vista Estate are offered daily. Linger awhile in the Red Turtle Tavern for a shot of Rum Dum, invented 42 years ago, and a tasty bowl of local conch chowder.

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8. River Antoine Rum Distillery | Grenada

Not much has changed at the River Antoine Rum Distillery since 1785 when the Caribbean’s oldest functioning water-powered distillery first produced their potent hooch. So potent, the 150-proof rum cannot be transported home on an airplane.

Tours include a look-see at the process from cane harvesting to bottling and includes samples of the wickedly strong firewater.

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9. St. Nicholas Abbey | Barbados

The only distillery in Barbados producing rum from sugar cane, rather than from molasses, St. Nicholas Abbey sits pretty next to Cherry Tree Hill in the parish of St. Peter. On a plantation that dates to 1658, rum is aged in oak casks and distilled in custom-made pots (think: no modern machines).

Signature sips include see-through white rum with a sweet marshmallow taste and an 18-year old amber with notes of peaches, currants and orange. Barrel-to-bottle tours include plenty of samples.

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10. Mount Gay Rum | Barbados

Also in Barbados, Mount Gay’s storied past starts in the centuries-old distillery where overproof rum was once called ‘Kill-Devil.’ Tours explore the original well, molasses house and distillation process.

In Bridgetown, Mount Gay’s Visitor Center invites serious sippers to a lunchtime tour that includes a bottomless rum punch station. Peruse the gift shop where 1703 Master Select, named for the year the distillery opened, is a guaranteed fan favorite aged in charred whiskey casks.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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Taking the reins at a newly-reinvented restaurant was another great adventure in the life of chef Isabelle “Bella” Toland, who loves blending flavors and creating imaginative dishes. In early 2019, she took on the role as Executive Chef at the Banyan Tree restaurant, a stunning destination located in the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui.

Here, she combines cultures and inspiring ingredients, serving beautifully-presented specialties in this open-air restaurant that overlooks the Pacific Ocean on the Hawaiian island’s northwestern shore.

Just months ago, while in the midst of a complete refurbishment from top to bottom, including most of the design and décor, Toland joined this legendary eatery with enthusiasm. And she began to work with the team to redesign the menu to match the ambiance of this restaurant with exceptional ocean and beach views.

This visually impressive indoor-outdoor, casual-yet-refined restaurant features seating for over 100 guests, a lanai, fire pits and poolside dining. In addition, the full bar serves up craft cocktails and features an extensive wine list.

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Toland’s career has been on an upswing from the start. Although she’s in her early 30s, she’s had a great deal of experience working in a number of locations across the United States.

After graduating from the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) in Hyde Park, New York in 2007, she honed her culinary skills at several noteworthy establishments, including the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group (in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Maui). She was also the executive chef at Travaasa, a luxury resort in the town of Hana on Maui, until last year.

She explained, “It’s significant to be chosen as chef of the newly-redesigned Banyan Tree because we’re changing everyone’s perception of what a restaurant should be, and creating an experience that can change and be molded into anything. We have plans to really dig deeper and allow ourselves to create and play with ingredients.”

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At Banyan Tree, she spent the first few months tirelessly developing the menu, making dishes again and again for testing. She revealed, “At first, we came up with a menu that was double the size it is now and then we worked as a team to narrow it down to the favorites.”

The result? The new menu at Banyan Tree showcases the flavors of Hawaii, as well as other cultures found on the islands, such as Japanese and Filipino. Some of these creations are unique twists on dishes that chef Toland enjoyed while growing up.

Although she’s lived in Hawaii for over ten years, she was born in Bordeaux, France and raised in Manila in the Philippines, which influenced her French-Filipino cooking style. As a teen, she spent a great deal of time on the Big Island of Hawaii, as her father settled there.

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Toland believes in life balance and has a host of hobbies outside of the kitchen. As an avid diver and ocean-lover, she is drawn to adventure. In fact, she and her husband trekked to Mount Everest’s base camp a few years ago. So, when creating dishes for the new menu, she intended for the recipes to have a somewhat adventurous spirit.

She focused on including unfamiliar ingredients to encourage guests to try something new and different. A few of these include annatto seed, Palabok noodles (thick cornstarch noodles) and fermented black beans.

Although she uses as many local ingredients as possible and enjoys working with the island’s farmers, she was able to harness a few flavors that inspired her from Nepal, as she became fascinated by the nuanced spices that can transform the same dish.

She explained, “While in Nepal for over twenty days, we ate the same dish every day – and it tasted completely different and was so delicious. That’s because every family makes their curry differently – and every tea house makes their tea differently.”

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This philosophy is apparent in her chimichurri, in which she adds grilled herbs. “Most chimichurri dishes are made with parsley, onion, garlic and red wine vinegar,” she says. “Ours is slightly different and features green onions, tarragon, lemon, orange and some vinegar.”

The Banyan Tree menu showcases a wide array of options, including island-style ceviche, mahi-mahi and meat dishes as well.

A few of Toland’s personal Banyan Tree menu favorites include the braised octopus salad, accompanied by pounded taro root, carrots, radish and finger limes; tomato salad, made with house ricotta cheese from the local Surfing Goat Dairy, as well as avocado, papaya, Maui onion, basil and lemon; and the seafood pot (for two). This features spicy-coconut broth, with the fresh catch of the day, lobster, shrimp, Bihon noodles and fresh herbs.

Although she admits she’s a big fan of Filipino street food, she says that her cooking has evolved into a rustic style over the years. “I want our guests to really taste the vegetables that they eat. I want them to imagine where it’s from and how it ended up on the plate.”

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For dessert, her moist and chewy bibingka cake has quickly become a fan favorite. She also created a distinctive tea that was inspired by her Nepalese travels, made with ginger, turmeric, mint, honey and lemon.

When asked about her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she simply replied, “I’ve always had a hard time answering that question. As proud I am to be a woman, I’m just a chef. Today, it’s all about the equality. Women can hustle – and we can do anything.”

Not one to turn down a challenge, she’s always seeking to introduce guests to new flavors and tastes. She explained, “I’m most proud when I can create a dish that changes someone’s views on food. I am most motivated, for example, if you told me that you hate mushrooms. I will then create a dish that will make you love mushrooms. I believe that all food is great when prepared properly.”

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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Winter truffles have arrived

Truffle season has begun and will last all winter, with the most pungent Périgord black truffles and Alba white truffles commanding top dollar. Here are ten restaurants around the country where you’re sure to find a steady supply of redolent fungi, if you’re willing to pay the price.

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Spiaggia | Chicago, Illinois

Last winter, Spiaggia spent $70,000 purchasing truffles from Giacomo Marinello’s family estate in Umbria. Chicago‘s only Michelin-starred Italian restaurant offers fresh truffles shaved tableside ($85 for 5 grams) to complement earthy mushroom soup ($20) with pine nuts and pesto or perfectly al dente caramelle pasta ($27) stuffed with a blend of pumpkin and foie gras.

Then there’s Spiaggia’s signature white truffle gnocchi ($80) drenched in the silkiest ricotta and parmesan cream sauce – a classic dish that’s been on the menu since opening. Chef Eric Lees handpicks each truffle and gets first pick before Marinello’s other restaurant clients.

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Rider | Seattle, Washington

You might not know that you can find truffles in North America, but the Pacific Northwest has a bounty of indigenous white and black truffles that local chefs love. At Rider in Seattle‘s Hotel Theodore, chef Dan Mallahan works closely with truffle hunter Sunny Diaz and her dog Stella to serve fresh local truffles all winter.

“The flavor and aroma is so complex in the native truffle,” he says. “For me, there are hints of pineapple and passion fruit, very tropical on the nose. Then the flavor is super earthy and savory.” These truffles are found at the base of Douglas fir trees and Diaz says overgrown Christmas tree stands in Oregon are perfect hunting grounds. The season begins in October or November and can last through March or April depending on annual rainfall and temperatures.

Mallahan likes shaving fresh truffles to finish dishes, using olive oil and sea salt to help accentuate their flavor and bring out the natural oils of the truffle. “Truffles love fat and salt,” he says. “The aroma intensifies when slight heat rises through the truffle from underneath.”

Some of his favorite food pairings with truffles include eggs, risotto and earthy beets. Last year, his charred carrot pasta with brandied French Perigord truffles and fresh Oregon black truffles was a hit.

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Masseria | Washington, DC

The innovative Italian tasting menus at Masseria earned chef/owner Nicholas Stefanelli a Michelin star. Stefanelli’s cooking is inspired by his Italian roots and suburban Maryland upbringing, offering a warm but elegant ambiance.

For winter, his Truffle & Game tasting menu ($250) includes dishes like Scottish wood pigeon ravioli with foie gras and Alba white truffle, and a paw paw semifreddo dessert with truffle honey. You can also order an off-menu foie-noli – foie gras-filled cannoli shell bookended with slices of shaved black truffle.

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Jean-Georges | New York, New York

Fat molecules absorb truffle aroma, so most truffle dishes are prepared with dairy or fatty protein to enhance their potent flavor, but vegans will rejoice in the steamed silken tofu at Jean-Georges, topped with shaved truffle and served with crackling yuba.

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten pioneered a lighter, brighter interpretation of French haute cuisine, and this dish from his vegetarian tasting menu (10 courses, $228) perfectly encapsulates his culinary ethos.

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auburn | Los Angeles, California

Pastry chef Dyan Ng serves an ingenious white truffle risotto ($52) dessert on the bar menu at auburn. “We use the classic technique to make a risotto but swapped out the savory ingredients with white chocolate and vanilla beans,” Ng explains. “We end up with a dessert that visually and texturally looks like the traditional savory white truffle risotto but is actually sweet.”

Towards the end of the cooking process, she folds in white chocolate, hazelnut milk and mascarpone. “Then it’s topped off with a layer of rice milk skin and shaved hazelnuts with white truffles shaved table-side.”

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Eataly LA | Los Angeles, California

Purchase fresh truffles from Urbani Truffles to take home from all Eataly locations, and at Eataly LA, you can add white truffles shaved tableside to any dish of your choosing for $45 per four grams at rooftop restaurant Terra.

Earthy truffle aromas are especially prominent over smoked butternut squash risotto and slow-braised Wagyu short rib in a rich Barolo wine reduction with creamy wood-fired polenta.

If you’re feeling especially adventurous, try a sweet and savory combination of fresh truffle shaved over fior di latte gelato from the roaming gelato cart, topped with roasted hazelnuts, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.

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La Toque | Napa, California

Chef Ken Frank is obsessed with truffles. He was the first American chef invited to participate in the Fiera Internazionale Tartufo Biano D’Alba, the world-renowned Annual White Truffle Fair in Alba, Italy.

At his Michelin-starred Napa Valley restaurant, La Toque, Frank serves an all-truffle menu for guests during winter and summer, alternating between French and Australian black truffles depending on the season.

For $250, diners will enjoy freshly shaved black truffles with every course. If you’re ordering a la carte, the grilled black truffle sandwich features a full ounce of fresh truffles, offered nightly for $120 – and it’s enough to feed four.

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OAK at fourteenth | Boulder, Colorado

OAK at fourteenth in Boulder, Colorado hosted their second annual truffle dinner in early December, featuring Burgundy and Perigord black truffles and Alba white truffles across an array of dishes. Best sellers from the truffle week menu will be available on the regular menu through January.

Chef/partner Steven Redzikowski offered an a la carte menu ($12-$42) of nine dishes from prime rib with white truffles and mushroom jus to 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano ice cream topped with olive oil and fresh truffles.

“I wanted to give our guests an opportunity to try truffles in a bunch of different applications and not be forced into a pricey tasting menu,” Redzikowski says. 

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Felidia | New York, New York

At this upscale, Northern Italian restaurant, chef Fortunato Nicotra loves working with truffles. He’ll be serving a white truffle menu (three courses and dessert, $320) at Felidia through December, where every course from grass-fed veal tenderloin with hazelnut fonduta to fresh, buttery tagliolini with parmigiano vacche rosso is topped with freshly shaved white truffle.

Starting in January, Nicotra will switch to using black truffles (three courses and dessert, $245) with individual dishes from both menus available to order a la carte.

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Joel Palmer House | Dayton, Oregon

Chef Christopher Czarnecki doesn’t use any European truffles at Joel Palmer House in the Willamette Valley, only Oregon black and white truffles. The menu most prominently features fresh truffles during peak season from January through March, but Czarnecki makes truffle oil to use year-round as well.

“Oregon truffles are to pinot noir as European truffles are to Cabernet,” Czarnecki explains. “Ours are subtle, yet complex and beguiling. Oregon truffles have their own unique aromas as compared to their French and Italian counterparts but without the brawniness.”

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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Northern Ireland’s troubled history has long cast a shadow on just how beautiful the region is, and how absolutely amazing the food scene is there. Farm to table is a way of life, with Northern Ireland’s abundant lands providing such a bounty of fresh ingredients to work with (and the butter there, oh my!).

Record numbers of visitors are now coming to Northern Ireland, in part due to movie and TV tourism – both “Game of Thrones” and “The Last Jedi” were filmed there, and the highly anticipated Game of Thrones prequel just wrapped filming there earlier this year.

And those who love to eat – and drink – are in for a real treat as the food scene is exploding with heart and talent. Here are 10 places that are well worth the trip across the Atlantic.

Brunel’s | Newcastle

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Eating dinner at Brunel’s in Newcastle was almost a religious experience. First came duck bon-bons, confit duck slow-cooked with five-spice and fried in panko with black cherry, charred spring onions and olive powder – so incredibly tasty and texturally wonderful.

This was followed by a juicy ribeye topped with Café de Paris butter, served with creamy mash and crisp tobacco onions. It would have been a sin to refuse dessert, and when I tried, the restaurant’s co-director, Fiona Davey told me flatly, “You’re not finished yet,” and brought out panna cotta with baked white chocolate and wood sorrel.

Chef Paul Cunningham takes the very best local ingredients to create impactful dishes, and I only hope that I get to eat his food again some day.

Bakehouse | Bellaghy

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Getting to actually make food with a local is always fun. And when you do one of Bronagh Duffin’s soda bread-making workshops, followed by a gourmet lunch in her home, you feel very lucky indeed.

Her cooking school, Bakehouse, is in her backyard, and is a warm and cozy space complete with open fire. You’ll learn her grandmother’s bread recipe (which includes the instruction to score a cross in the dough “to let the fairies out”) and be treated to a lunch made with local produce and delicious cheeses, accompanied by Duffin’s sparkling personality.

It’s a very cool experience indeed.

Long Meadow Farm | Portadown

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It is a glorious drive past the stonewall-divided farmlands of County Armagh to get to Long Meadow Cider in Portadown. Once there, one of the members of this family-owned cidery will happily take you on a tour of their orchards.

Tours culminate in a tasting of their ciders, both alcoholic and alcohol-free, under the apple trees, accompanied by a thick slab of apple tart made with the same sharp Bramley apples that go into their ciders.

Ardtara Country House | Upperlands

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Staying at grand Ardtara Country House is delightfully old-fashioned and eating in their restaurant is anything but, with plenty of modern flavors making it onto their game-heavy menu. I tried the wood pigeon with foie gras mousse, filberts and cherries to start, then moved on to partridge breast, accompanied by a bowl of beef suet fries.

The custard tart dessert ended my meal perfectly, so creamy and rich, with a dollop of the thickest and most delicious clotted cream I have ever encountered.

Harry’s Shack | Portstewart

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Right on the beach in pretty Portstewart, Harry’s Shack gets everything right, serving fish and chips alongside a range of other amazing fish and seafood dishes, along with delicious starters and a great menu of craft beers.

My fish and chips were especially perfect – crisp buttermilk batter caresses the impeccably cooked haddock fillet, the chips are cut fat and fried in beef suet, and the mushy peas are a sweet delight.

Bushmills Inn | Bushmills

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Walking into the Bushmills Inn, I worried that it was just going to be the usual upscale pub grub that you might expect to find in a tourist-trap town that’s home to the massive Bushmills Distillery. I was so wrong.

Every course was wonderful, from the fresh and bright local oysters, to the amazing brown bread that we spread with so much creamy butter, to lamb three ways (nut-crusted rump, crispy belly, slow-roasted shoulder with black olives). Finishing the meal off with a Guinness and milk chocolate tart did tip me over the edge, but it was so worthwhile.

Ursa Minor Bakehouse | Ballycastle

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Starting out selling their incredible sourdough at the local farmers’ market, Ursa Minor Bakehouse in Ballycastle grew into its current gorgeous space (light, airy, full of mismatched vintage furniture and china) complete with cafe, thanks in part to a crowd-funding campaign.

Locals love their breads, open-faced sandwiches and decadent pastries, and after sampling a thick slab of their tangy sourdough spread with feta, coconut bacon, cherry tomatoes and greens, I could see why the place was so busy. And their croissant-muffin hybrids stuffed with custard are heavenly.

The Muddlers Club | Belfast

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Tucked into a Belfast back alley is this super cool restaurant where chef and owner Gareth McCaughey decides what to feed you. This tasting menu is so good, that even though the idea of six courses seems a bit much going in, you never actually want the experience of eating there to end.

We ate silky and light chicken liver pate on a sliver of homemade cracker; sweet crab with pea and apple on phyllo pastry; lamb with Caesar sauce and lovage; wild halibut curry; a delicate beef dish with foie gras, chanterelles, chestnut and miso; a plum coconut and white chocolate pre-dessert; and then McCaughey’s take on tiramisu.

“We’re all about the big flavors,” chef told us, but that was just part of it – his attention-filled dishes were immaculately presented, texturally divine and every bite incredible.

The Muddlers Club was just awarded a Michelin star this past October (after I ate there).

St George’s Market | Belfast

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Running for more than a century, St George’s Market in Belfast is a treasure trove of local items. Head there for baked goods, local cheeses, seafood, fresh produce and all manner of delicious food that you can eat right there at the stands selling everything from traditional Irish foods to world flavors.

There’s often live music, and local artisans selling fun (non-edible) souvenirs too, so it is well worth a wander.

Mourne Trails and Ales tour | Mourne Mountains

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Just like pretty much everywhere else in the world, craft beer is definitely present in Northern Ireland, and Life Adventure Centre’s Mourne Trails and Ales tour is a super fun way to learn all about it without having to actually visit all the local breweries (I kinda feel like if you’ve seen one brewery, you’ve seen them all).

Instead, you whiz through the Mourne countryside on an e-bike stopping to sample different beers in beautiful places, sat before a stately castle or in the ruins of the Moorish Tower in beautiful Castlewellan Forest Park. They even provide snacks (as well as all the gear you need to enjoy your low-effort biking adventure).

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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For fans of fresh powder and pristine runs, Banff – and nearby Lake Louise – in Alberta, offer incredible skiing and snowboarding in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

There are plenty more reasons to head there though, from heavenly hot springs, art museums and cultural attractions to plenty more fun diversions such as dog sledding, ice climbing and other traditional winter pursuits.

What many people don’t realize is that there are amazing restaurants in the area, as well as breweries and a world-class distillery. Here are 10 food destinations for après ski – or just for the thrill of eating your heart out in one of the most spectacular destinations in the world.

Chuck’s Steakhouse | Banff

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Beef is a big deal in Alberta, and if you love steak, then you’ll never get a better one than at Chuck’s. It took two servers to bring out the boards of dry-aged steaks to choose from, and the Alberta-raised Wagyu bone-in ribeye that I selected was truly incredible, cooked to medium-rare perfection.

The sides at Chuck’s are also noteworthy – I don’t think I’ll ever get over the creamy corn crème brûlée, to be honest. And the pan fried mushrooms with garlic and beef jus were so tasty, as was the roasted broccoli with chilis and garlic. Attentive staff and a fun, vintage Western-inspired room made for a great night out.

The desserts looked fab, but the dinner portions were so big, I couldn’t even contemplate ordering one.

Sky Bistro | Banff

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The only way you can access the Sky Bistro is by taking the Banff Gondola 7,520 feet to the top of Sulphur Mountain, which is kind of essential when visiting Banff anyway. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer unparalleled views out over the mountaintops, and if you go at sunset like I did ,then it is absolutely magical.

Whatever you do, order the crispy duck wings to start (but the bison tartare was also excellent). For my main, I had a lamb stew with tender roasted lamb and a slab of perfectly fatty lamb belly, which was followed by a lemon mousse topped with candied thyme. Delicious.

Outside on the huge deck, before I made my way back down the mountain, we made s’mores over fire pits and looked at the stars. It was a pretty perfect way to spend an evening.

Wild Flour Bakery | Banff

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Ask any local where to find the best coffee in Banff, and they’ll send you to the Wild Flour Bakery.

This is also the best place for sweet treats, croissants and loaves of crusty bread. They do great soups and sandwiches, and have a bunch of grab-and-go meals and smoothies in the fridge, making them a great place to stop on your way up a mountain or out of town.

The Bison | Banff

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If you only had time to eat at one place in Banff, I’d send you to The Bison (though Chuck’s would be a close second). At this farm-to-table spot, every dish is imaginative and wonderful. We started with cured steelhead so soft that it melted in your mouth, complemented by sweet beet puree and crisp radish slices. We also tried the bison tataki with ponzu, enoki mushrooms, picked onions, and shaved almonds, which was absolutely perfect in both taste and texture.

The bison trio came with a little cast-iron pan of short rib so tender you needed to spoon it off the bone, Jack Daniels bison sausage and a massive tender steak, served with red wine jus, chimichurri and roasted vegetables.

Two of us struggled to finish the trio, but couldn’t turn down the deconstructed banana split for dessert – who could when it includes caramelized bananas, cherry gel, tonka bean Chantilly, candied pecans and locally made ice cream. Totally worth it.

Juniper Hotel Bistro | Banff

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I’d been told by a ski instructor I knew that the absolute best place in Banff to grab breakfast was the Juniper Hotel Bistro. Sitting before huge windows that looked out over mountains, a few deer hoofing at the snow in the foreground, I had the most spectacular of eggs Benedicts.

The Juniper Benny consists of the usual eggs and hollandaise, but these rest on braised rabbit and a bed of bannock (traditional Indigenous fry bread) with buffalo mozzarella, juniper berry glaze and brown butter hash browns. It was all so good that I would have licked the plate if manners had not prevailed.

Paired with excellent coffee, that feast set me up for my first ski lesson in many years.

High Rollers | Banff

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When you think bowling alley food, gourmet probably isn’t a term that springs to mind, but High Rollers Banff delivers just that. Chef Blake Mathewson describes his menu as elevated grab-and-go food, using local ingredients and a sourdough base for his pizza that took him six months to perfect.

The food at High Rollers hits a strike with every bite, from the sweet potato tater tots and mac and cheese bites to the amazing pizzas. The Canadian comes with maple sausage, bacon and cheese curds and is served with a bottle of maple syrup to drizzle over, while the vegetarian comes with a tasty hummus tomato base. Oh, and there are 48 craft beers on tap, too!

Banff Ave Brewing Co | Banff

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Besides brewing tasty beers (they usually have six to eight of their own on tap, plus a bunch of other local brews to sample), the Banff Ave Brewing Co serves up delicious and mostly carnivorous fare. I opted for the poutine with bison chili, which had big chunks of tender meat in a rich gravy that paired perfectly with the melted cheese curds and crisp fries it sat on.

My lunch mate went for a bison burger – massive, juicy and tasty – and we shared a plate of warm soft pretzels with honey mustard that paired perfectly with their Black Pilsner.

Park Distillery Restaurant and Bar | Banff

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This super cool distillery with massive dining and drinking rooms is known for its exceptional gin, vodka and rye (all made with glacier water), as well as popular keg cocktails. The cuisine at Park Distillery is a blend of healthy options (there’s an entire plant-based menu), comfort foods and carnivorous classics, many of which are cooked over a wood fire.

“The concept is elevated campfire cookery,” explained Park’s master distiller Matt Hendriks, “And you have to try the rotisserie chicken, because we slow roast it for three and a half hours over mesquite, cherry and birch chips.”

I did. It was amazing, served with smashed baby Yukon gold potatoes, charred lemon, housemade coleslaw and the most decadent, rich gravy made from the drippings.

Alpine Social | Lake Louise

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The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is one of Canada’s poshest and stately hotels, sat on glorious Lake Louise, that turns into a skating rink and ice-sculptured playground once frozen over.

Alpine Social, in the hotel basement, is upmarket for sure, but not stuffy. It serves a great menu of steaks, and small and medium plates designed for sharing, as well as a large menu of craft beers, Canadian whiskies and bourbons. I went for the blow-your-head-off-hot smoked chicken wings with a habanero butter sauce, tuna ceviche and a tasty riff on a Cobb salad that came with pulled duck confit and boar bacon.

Lake Louise Railway Station and Restaurant | Lake Louise

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This historic log-built railway station turned warm and welcoming restaurant is a perfect place to hunker down on cold nights – and fill your belly with comforting dishes, especially if you snag a table by the roaring fire.

The Station Restaurant does have lots of non-beef and non-bison options, but if you’re a carnivore, you owe it to yourself to order the slow-braised Alberta bison ribs (so, so good) or the beef tenderloin with cabernet peppercorn sauce.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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If you’ve never been to Cleveland but follow professional basketball or football, you probably know it’s home to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Indians. Or perhaps you’ve heard of Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, chock full with the world’s largest collection of musical instruments, videos, album covers, funky concert digs and other rock and roll artifacts.

But did you know that inductees to the Hall of Fame become eligible only after their first commercial recording was released at least 25 years ago? Or that the most poignant experience at this tribute to rock and roll is probably “The Power of Rock,” an immersive film by Jonathan Demme that draws on more than 30 years of Hall of Fame induction ceremonies to showcase the most unforgettable live performances by new inductees?

The film concludes with Prince on guitar playing George Harrison’s “While my Guitar Gently Weeps” so beautifully and eloquently, that it’s you who might weep.

Here are 10 other things you might not know about Cleveland, even if you’ve been there.

Enjoy beaches and water sports

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Cleveland, including its downtown, sits on a lake – Lake Erie, that is. That means you can watch a sunset, sun and swim at beaches, hike lakefront trails, go fishing, rent a paddleboard or jet ski and take a cruise.

Edgewater Beach is the city’s most popular summer hangout, with a 2,400-foot beach, the open-air Edgewater Beach House with food and drinks and free Thursday concerts in summer.

It’s not that big

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Although Cleveland has a big reputation, it’s actually not Ohio’s largest city (that honor goes to capital Columbus, with more than 870,000 people). Rather, Cleveland has a population of 383,000, giving its downtown and vibrant neighborhoods an almost small-town feel.

Yet, in 1920, it was the fifth largest city in the United States, with a population of almost 800,000. More than 50 millionaires out of 80 nationwide had homes there.

So many downtown sports arenas

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All of Cleveland’s sports arenas are downtown. You can grab a meal in the city and then walk to Progressive Field to see the Cleveland Indians, then to the next-door Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to catch the Cavaliers, Cleveland Monsters hockey team or the AFL Cleveland Gladiators.

Or take a stroll to the waterfront FirstEnergy Stadium for an NFL Cleveland Browns game.

The largest Slovenian population in the United States

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Slovenians began immigrating to Cleveland in the 1880s to work in steel and other industries. By the 1990s, they numbered well over 50,000. People with and without Slovenian ancestry turn out for the annual Cleveland Kurentovanje, a Slovenian version of Mardi Gras that’s meant to chase away the blahs of winter and usher in spring.

Highlights include a parade down St. Clair Avenue, traditional music, Slovenian food and drink, and the Kurents, furry monsters with beaks and long red tongues whose job it is to scare the wits out of winter.

Breweries galore

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Cleveland has more than 30 breweries and Greater Cleveland has about 70, making it the fourth largest in the country in number of breweries. Pick up the free Cleveland Brewery Passport and get it stamped at eight, 20 or all 34 participating breweries and you’ll win free stuff.

Largest performance arts center outside New York City

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Only New York‘s Lincoln Center surpasses Cleveland’s Playhouse Square. With a massive outdoor chandelier serving as a beacon, Playhouse Square has 10 performance spaces, including five stages restored to their original 1920’s grandeur. This cultural gem hosts more than 1,000 annual events and attracts more than a million guests per year.

Most concentrated square mile of arts and culture in the country

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University Circle is home to the always-free Cleveland Museum of Art with works by Monet, Van Gogh and Warhol, as well as the Cleveland History Center, showcasing everything from more than 140 historic vehicles to LeBron James’ 2016 NBA Championship shoes.

You’ll also find the Cleveland Botanical Garden, with its stunning displays and 17,000-square-foot glasshouse, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. It contains the world’s most complete Haplocanthosaurus dinosaur, measuring 70 feet long and 14 feet high. All are within easy walking distance of each other.

“A Christmas Story” was filmed here

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The holiday classic “A Christmas Story” was partially filmed in an actual family’s home located in the blue-collar Tremont neighborhood (the owner moved out for the duration).

Now a museum, at A Christmas Story House you can join a tour to see Randy’s snowsuit and Ralphie’s Red Rider BB gun, buy your own Major Award leg lamp and, if you want, even spend the night.

Bonus trivia: winter snow scenes for the movie were created using instant mashed potatoes.

Home to one of the world’s best orchestras

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Cleveland Orchestra is consistently ranked one of the world’s best orchestras. In fact, Gramophone magazine ranked it seventh best in the world, behind only the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the U.S. (which ranked fifth).

Catch a performance at Severance Hall, or in summer, at Blossom Music Center, an outdoor amphitheater within the perimeter of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Their hot dog is like no other

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The Polish Boy is a Cleveland creation. It’s a meal in a bun, a kielbasa smothered with French fries, barbecue or hot sauce, and coleslaw. You can try it at Steve’s Diner, in business since 1953 in the Brooklyn neighborhood, or from food trucks Seti’s Polish Boys and River Dog Café.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.