This time of year I’ve got the white stuff on the brain. No, no. Not the Hollywood starlet kind of white stuff—I mean snow, of course. And so I begin to convince (some might say coerce) my friends to take a big ski trip with me.

But in every group there are always a few non-skiers. These poor souls get dragged to the mountain year after year by ski bums who care more about the inches of fresh powder than the amenities. This ski season, to tempt my favorite non-skiing compatriots, I looked up the best on-the-mountain bars. These watering holes are destinations unto their own, affording unmatched alpine views and elixirs to keep you toasty, and all are accessible without skis.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member captain oddsocks.

Read more»

Back to Main
Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Group & Companion, Parks & Outdoors, Ski & Sport, Watering Holes
Email this | Comments (3)

Deep in bluegrass country where horse-studded pastures alternate with woodsy hillsides and the only rest stop for miles around is at Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home, there lies a string of historic bourbon distilleries open for tours. Last weekend, when I was in the region, I stopped in at two of them: Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve.

Despite the alcohol in the name, you don’t go to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to get tipsy. First, there is a lot of driving involved on winding country lanes so a big bourbon buzz is a big no-no. Second, I know it’s a shocker (at least it was to me), but not all the distilleries give tastings. Third, a clear head is needed to navigate the rustic (and largely unmarked) backroads. But that’s part of the fun. Just when my friends and I thought we’d reached the middle of a beautiful nowhere, a sign popped up to show the way to the spirits.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member MilwVon.

Read more»

Back to Main
Posted in Educational & Historic, Scenic Drives, Watering Holes
Email this | Comments (7)

Growing up in New York City, I’m fully aware of its reputation for excess, including choking traffic and A/C-dependent office buildings. More and more in my travels, I’ve taken notice of some companies going green by, say, switching to wind power. It is especially nice to know—particularly for a beer nut like me—that the first NYC company to do so was a brewery. Located in Williamsburg, the Brooklyn Brewery prides itself on its sustainable energy source almost as much as it does its delicious craft brews.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member shaunandtrish.

Read more»

Back to Main
Posted in Green Travel, Watering Holes
Email this | Comments (6)

Born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I’m quite familiar with the unspoken rivalry between the two cities, which are separated only by a 35 miles stretch of highway. Dallasites turn their noses up at the prospect of venturing to the city known as Cowtown, and Fort Worth natives have probably been guilty at one time or another of calling their neighbors to the east snobs.

Read more»

Back to Main
Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Dallas/Fort Worth, Educational & Historic, Restaurants & Cafes, Shopping, Texas, Watering Holes
Email this | Comments (4)