Trip with me and my husband on our adventures together!

A travel guide to help you with tips, places to visit, good global eats and anything else that comes with taking a trip away…. let’s start the trippin’!

For the love of B-R-O-O-K-L-Y-N❤️

New York, especially Brooklyn, will always have a piece of my heart. Plus, it’s where my hubby is from, so it is extra special to me. I lived in Brooklyn, in Williamsburg to be exact, for about two years and I absolutely loved it. You get city living with that suburban feel….IMO, the best of both worlds. And since moving up to MA ten years ago, any chance we get to go back, we jump on it. Every time I go back to Williamsburg, I fall more and more in love with it. I always tell my hubby that I am not done with NY especially in the 11211 area code. Who knows? Maybe in the near future, we will move back there. We will see. But for now, a quick little 4 hr. getaway is what I will take. 

This past July, since our vacation plans were put on the cancellation list due to CV-19, we decided to take a trip to the good ole south side of Brooklyn to enjoy some time with the fam. If you are in the WillyB area, Domino Park is a MUST go-to https://www.dominopark.com/. Reconstructed and redone from the Domino Sugar Factory, you get breathtaking views of  NYC overlooking the East River. In the distance, you can see the Statue of Liberty.

The perfect spot to chill with friends on the makeshift grass or on one of the many lounge chairs they provide; take a stroll around the whole park, or just sit on a variety of benches and enjoy the gorgeous view. They have a food stand within the park called Tacocina, https://www.heytacocina.com/ , if you get hungry. Serving up, you guessed it, tacos, beer and cocktails on the go. That’s always one option for food. Or you can bring your own from any of the surrounding restaurants.

Have a sweet tooth while enjoying the park? Grab an ice cream at the ice cream truck right outside the park’s perimeter. Overpriced, but that’s an option as well.

At Domino Park, you get the view, the laidback atmosphere, the chill ambiance, the relaxation, the serenity, and the fun all at your fingertips. An unforgettable experience. Side note: During this (CV-19) time, they had checkpoints to enter and exit the park with security, checking bags. Not sure how strict they are with what you bring into the park especially in the present times we are living in, but be weary about that.

Need some W & S? What I call walking and shopping. Then literally take a walk down Bedford Avenue from the north/south side (you can legit walk from one side to the other) and I guarantee you, you will find something to fit your fancy. Many options from cute boutiques to fun and quirky shops that will have you wanting to buy something. If you are on the north side, check out Pema on North 7th & Bedford https://pemany.com/.  A little bit of everything from clothing to shoes, to accessories.

In the mood to venture off the main road and wanting to find more of a variety of fun clothing for the curvier girl? Check out Plus BKLYN https://plusbklyn.com/  on Metropolitan Ave. Vintagey & thrifty, you can find something to add to your closet.  An added plus to this store, is that you can actually sell your clothes to them and get money. A beneficial way to swap and make money with reusable fashion. A win win in my book!

Need a coffee break & maybe a little sumthin’ sweet from all that walking? Then you NEED to go to  Martha’s Country Kitchen  https://marthascountrybakery.com/location/williamsburg/. OH-MY-GOD, we were staying on the south side and we walked down to North 1st and Bedford every night to get an iced latte and a lil sweet treat. You wanna talk about a dessert lover’s dream…you get anything in here from pies, to cookies, to cakes, to gelato, to actually anything you can think of that is SWEET. The ultimate bakery that will not disappoint. For reals tho. And their portions are just as big as their selection. 

Hungry for food food? Check out Patrizia’s (35 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn) https://www.patrizias.com/location/patrizias-williamsburg/.  You will not be disappointed! Serving up homemade Italian dishes just the way Grandma Maria used to make them. I have been there several times and I always leave full and happy. That says a lot since I come from an Italian family who owns Italian restaurants and people like that are usually biased. I’ve had their appetizers like the Burrata & Fried Calamari, to their pasta dishes like Fettuccine Carbonara to their Linguine with White Clam Sauce, to their Chicken Pecora and Lamb Chops Special over Broccoli Rabe.

Their portions are just as generous as the staff so you will most likely be taking a doggy bag home. But definitely leave room for their delicious dessert like their homemade Tiramisu and Cannolis. Those cannolis are pretty damn good. They have a praline crunch to them that makes you wanting more than just a single bite. Accompany either of those with a cappuccino or espresso, and you are in heaven. 

I have never had any of their brick oven pizzas (yet), but I heard they are just as delicious as their dishes, so def worth a try. 

They offer indoor as well as outdoor (weather permitting) dining as well. We have been inside to eat and it reminds me as if I was sitting at my grandma’s table with my whole family for Sunday dinner….loud, busy, and packed, but in a familiar and endearing familial way.  It made me feel like I was right at home. And I loved that. Eating outside is just as nice, sipping on a glass of wine, people watching while we ate our food. 

They are open from Tuesday-Sunday, CLOSED on MONDAYS, so take note. 

If you want a more romantic ambiance with great cocktails and food, check out Aurora on Grand St.  https://aurorabk.com/. My husband actually took me here for my birthday and I fell in love with the scenery as soon as we got there. An open patio (the only available seating because of Covid times) covered in bright green ivy, made it feel like you were stepping foot into the forbidden secret garden. It was so cute and sexy all at the same time. 

The scenery was perfect for my birthday dinner. And even though it was bustling in there, we were sat at a table close to the back of the patio and semi private which made it feel like it was just me and my hubby in the room with little background noise.

We started off with some drinks, (I mean it was my birthday, how could I not have a glass of wine or a Basil Hayden on the rox) and some delectable appetizers like the Prosciutto di Parma plate served with creamy Burrata and Charred Octopus, which was cooked to perfection. I had the Branzino, which was served with artichokes and fennel pureé. My husband had the Skirt Steak served with crispy potatoes and broccoli rabe. We licked our plates clean, needless to say, so definitely a 5 star restaurant in our book. And even though we were stuffed to the gills, we enjoyed the atmosphere while sipping on our frothy cappuccinos and nibbling on our Peaches Amaretto Tart that they stuck a candle in for me. A really nice touch since we were celebrating. The waiter was very friendly and hospitable and made my night at Aurora a pleasurable one. Definitely need to go back to this little hidden gem when we visit BK again. 

Feeling adventurous and have some time? Take a walk from Williamsburg to the Lower East Side (Delancey St.) in Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge (enter through Berry Street b/w S 5th and S 6th Sts.) Even though I have lived in NYC for five years, with two years residing in Williamsburg, I’ve never walked the bridge until this past July. And we only walked half of it because it was 90+ degrees out and we were H O T.  I would love to try it again, maybe on a cooler day.

Taking a nice stroll over it is really pretty with views of the city and the East River. Plus you get tons of exercise within an hour span. You can’t go wrong with that! Views, exercise, and peace sounds like a win-win situation to me! 

Lots of people walking and biking to and from the city this way due to the beauty around them. Walking the Williamsburg Bridge is like ‘An oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city.’  Perfect way to describe it! Exactly, how I felt when I walked it even after half the distance. I would suggest you put on your walking shoes and take the trek to the city this way!

All in all, I love NYC and Brooklyn. What can I say? I’m a city girl at heart and this city will always have a piece of mine. 

Thank you for checking this post out! I hope you found it helpful and enjoyable! 

Until the next trip with us on  Trippin’ It With the Vegas’!!