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Have you ever attended a bachelor party without a plan, intent on keeping things spontaneous? Ever found yourself unable to secure a table for dinner? Unable to reserve a hotel room at the last minute? Unsure how much the night is going to cost you? Annoyed with the other partygoers because no one can agree on *anything*? Every successful bachelor party needs some framework. Our recommendations will keep you engaged and entertained, while also helping you stick to a budget and allowing room for flexibility. Your home base for the weekend is Ocean Casino Resort. Like the bride-to-be, it’s the prettiest girl on the boardwalk, yet somehow still attainable. If your crew is down to gamble all night, you’ll love it for the 12,000 square foot sports book, almost 2,000 slot machines, and 125 table games. If you’re just looking for a place to rest your weary head after a couple (dozen) beers, the rooms here are extra comfy, have amazing views, and are within walking or quick rideshare distance from all the destinations on our itinerary. About half a mile from Ocean, on Baltic Avenue, is a one-stop pregame shop. There’s always that one guy who’s chronically late, even to his own wedding. We’ll call him Scott. While you’re waiting for Scott to show up, pick up some truly remarkable beers from The Seed: A Living Beer Project and take them next door to Westecunk Axe Throwing. Once a champion has been declared, walk to Little Water Distillery for a tour, a tasting, a cocktail, or all of the above. There is something for everyone here: whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin. You’ll see their spirits atop the shelves of bars all over the city, and for good reason. It’s time to soak up some of that liquor with a delicious meal in a fun atmosphere. Scott said he’ll meet you over there. One of our favorite restaurants in the city is Dock’s Oyster House. It’s an upscale seafood restaurant, but it’s not even close to being pretentious. Flat screen TVs line the wall behind the bar, the piano plays 80’s Joel and not Mozart, the menu appeals to even the pickiest palates, and all at a reasonable price point, especially during happy hour. We recommend ordering several appetizers for the table: fried calamari, a chilled shellfish sampler, and both raw Cape May Salt and fried oysters. The cocktail program here is always evolving with the next big thing, and our current favorites are the Whole Lotta Love Negroni, 1897 Manhattan, Heavy Waters, and the Seasonal Old Fashioned. Dock’s Seafood Fry is a timeless classic, on the menu since their doors opened over 125 years ago. It comes with panko breaded shrimp, flounder, and a crab cake and is served with fries. For a lighter option, the pan roasted bronzino is served alongside quinoa and haricot vert with fresh herbs and a lemon beurre blanc. Our final entree suggestion is the seared sea scallops with mashed potatoes, broccoli rabe, and roasted tomatoes with a lemon vinaigrette. After dinner, it’s time to check out the boardwalk bar scene, starting with Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall. With 40 beers on draft, 60 canned and bottled selections, indoor/outdoor seating, fire pits, games, and live music, it’s the perfect place to get your party going. When you’re ready to move on, you can take a beer to-go and walk down to The Yard at Bally’s, another indoor/outdoor venue. The Yard has an extensive cocktail menu, including draft cocktails, 33oz yard drinks, and, just what every bachelor party needs: specialty shots. There is live entertainment every Friday and Saturday with a really energetic vibe that will make you want to hang out until last call. Lucky for you, there is no last call at Tony’s Baltimore Grill. This dive bar off the boardwalk is an AC institution. Come for the clams casino pizza, stay for the jukebox and cheap beers. TBG is an ideal hang when you’re just not ready to call it a night. We assume that you’ll want to sleep in, rolling out of bed just shy of the 11:00am checkout time to make the 2 minute drive to Tony Boloney’s. This place is a hungover bachelor’s paradise. Think of the Fat Sandwiches from the Grease Trucks… on steroids, then add pizzas, fries, wings, and pasta to the mix. One of our favorite items is the Shitfaced 3000 sub: beer battered chicken, honey stout bbq sauce, smoked bacon, aged mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and Fritos. The portions are generous here, so sharing is ideal. A sandwich, fries, and 2 slices of pizza will easily feed two people. After a reanimating lunch, you’ll suit up for a thrilling afternoon at Gear Up Paintball, about 45 minutes outside of the city, in Hammonton. Admission is $39 per person and includes 500 paintballs, all day air, and all day play. Rental equipment is an additional $15. Extra balls and other gear can be purchased a la carte. Gear Up has a great environment for all skill levels. You’ll end your trip on an adrenaline rush, probably with a few sick battle scars and memories to last a lifetime. BACK TO ESCAPE PLAN https://www.theescapeplans.com/post/atlantic-city-bachelor-party Please remember to drink and play responsibly.

Do you have the post-holiday icks? The magic of the season has dissipated, Santa has come and gone, the celebratory champagne flutes are packed away, and all we're left with is cold, gray monotony. This winter doesn't even have the decency to bring us any snow. We have the antidote for what ails you: a toasty and tasty weekend escape to Atlantic City. With Valentine's Day and President's Day on the horizon, you might want to plan your visit to coincide with the holiday or to avoid it altogether. Whatever your preference, you'll want to make your hotel and dining reservations sooner rather than later. Our itinerary includes some popular restaurants that tend to book up quickly, and we don't want you to miss out on any of the fun we've mapped out for you. Cut out of work a little early on a Friday and check yourself into the Ocean Casino Resort. It's too blustery for a beach day, but it's the perfect weather to enjoy the floor-to-ceiling ocean views from your hotel room. Ocean is as high-energy and exciting as it is conveniently located. It is, at most, a short Uber ride from the other destinations on this itinerary. You'll begin your evening downstairs at Ocean, with cocktails at American Cut. A Smoke on the Water (Woodford Reserve, orange bitters, cedar smoke), will remind you of sitting by a cozy campfire. We’re big fans of a tableside preparation. After all, if a cocktail costs $22, it really should come with a show. The Roxanne invokes a different kind of warmth. If the combination of tequila and cognac doesn’t make you feel fiery, the spicy heat of jalapeno sure will. You'll be here during "Cut Hour," if you also want to enjoy discounted appetizers or items from the raw bar. We suggest keeping it light, as both the options and portion sizes for dinner will be plentiful. Bundle up for a quick 2 mile drive to Café 2825. The intimate dining room can be a tough-to-get reservation, and requires a $100 minimum spend, per guest. The indoor garden seating offers the same menu without a check minimum and has no shortage of ambience. Since we're escaping the winter blah's on this trip, we'd opt to sit in the garden and dream of warmer, greener days ahead. The menu at Café 2825 is scratch Italian and includes many unique tableside experiences. Order the handmade, warm burrata-style fresh mozzarella to be prepared right at your table. It’s on par with the excitement of sizzling fajitas being presented to your table at Chili’s. The spicy stuffed calamari, filled with breadcrumbs and crabmeat in spicy marinara will take the chill off, and the warm, cozy theme will continue with your entrees. The chicken parmigiana Bolognese ala vodka fra diavolo sounds like what Mouth would order from Ma Fratelli in the Goonies, a little bit of all the essentials: chicken parm, Bolognese, vodka sauce, and make it spicy. The Sunday gravy is ideal for purists, but also the indecisive, with its holy trinity of meatballs, pork braciole, and Italian sausage. The wine program here is outstanding. We suggest sharing a bottle, as there is a price and varietal for every budget and taste. The servers are very knowledgeable and personable; and can help you select the perfect bottle to complement your meal. Ask to see Joe's dessert specials, and keep your eye out for the Italian or coconut cheesecakes. After dinner, choose from 40 craft beers on tap at Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, curl up in an adirondack chair, and relax by the fire pit in the outdoor beer garden. You'll forget you're in the midst of a Northeast winter, with the laidback summer cookout vibes. Less than 100 feet away, head indoors to Bar 32 for a nightcap. The intoxicating scent of bean-to-bar chocolate will welcome you at the door. Enjoy decadent dessert drinks from the snuggly sofa seating, cozy up to a coffee table book, and take in the relaxed, artsy atmosphere. While the cocktail menu highlights Bar 32's signature chocolate confections, the drinks are boozy and not overly sweet. With espresso martinis being the big thing right now, we recommend the Stromfather 2.0, a coffee and cacao infused riff on a Godfather, and its cold brew liqueur variation, Late Night at Bimbo's 365. If you didn't have dessert earlier, or if you just can't resist the mouthwatering chocolate aromas, check out the awe-inspiring dessert menu. On Saturday, you’ll have a window between 8am and 1pm to grab a hot drink to-go from Hayday Coffee. The epitome of a neighborhood coffee shop, even out-of-towners will feel right at home at Hayday. The French toast latte is like a hug in a mug, with all of the familiar flavors from Saturday mornings as a child. All that’s missing are the cartoons. The loaded chai is another must-try if you need a high-octane, but smooth and comfy, pick-me-up. From there, you’ll make your way to a low-key quick service breakfast at Hot Bagels and More, a true hidden gem of Atlantic City. As the name suggests, their fresh, hand-rolled bagels are the main event, but you can order all of your morning faves: a wide variety of breakfast sandwiches, eggs, omelets, pancakes, home fries, muffins, and (pun intended) more. There are plenty of activities available to you back at Ocean. Whether you enjoy slots, table games, or sports betting, you’ll find a game to pass the time on the sprawling casino floor. If you’re longing for summer, take a swim in the indoor pool. If you really want to feel cozy, take in the amenities at Exhale Spa: saunas, a steam room, jacuzzi, and even a Himalayan salt grotto. Saturday brunch at Rhythm & Spirits is an amazing deal with equally amazing food and drinks. $40 will get you an entrée and unlimited mimosas, frose’, aperol spritzes, or bloody Mary’s. We like to order one sweet and one savory entrée to get the best of both worlds. They’re known for their fried chicken, which you can order on a pizza (!!!) or as a sandwich. Our other choice is the Italian American waffle: the lovechild of a cannoli and a Belgian sugar pearl waffle. After a walk on the world famous Atlantic City boardwalk or some more time exploring the expansive Ocean Casino Resort, take a tour of Little Water Distillery, sample their whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin, and take a seat at the bar for the best cocktails in the 48 blocks of the city. The menu is seasonally inspired, constantly rotating, and unbelievably creative. At the moment, we’re obsessing over Colonel Mustard in the Lobby with a Jalapeno. Just what the doctor ordered: Little Water’s own Whitecap Whiskey, pickled jalapeno, sweet and spicy mustard, agave, and ginger beer will clear your sinuses and scare the seasonal affective disorder right out of you. Following drinks, you’ll dine at our favorite restaurant in the city: Dock’s Oyster House. Our first visit was on New Year’s Day 2010, and we have returned at least a few times a year, ever since. We’ve celebrated countless birthdays, anniversaries, our engagement, a pregnancy and eventual birth of our daughter, promotions, and our first home here. Essentially every milestone of our adult lives has brought us to Dock’s to toast 2 flutes of prosecco over a chilled seafood tower. Tradition dictates that we arrive for our reservation early enough to enjoy a round of expertly crafted drinks at the bar, while we wait for our table. Go to our free itinerary to see what we’d order while we bask in the lobby buzzing with eager anticipation, greetings between friends, and delightful live piano melodies. We’ve tried the entire menu over the years, and with the exception of soft shell season, we tend to order exactly the same items over and over. The aforementioned chilled seafood tower for two, with an additional half dozen Cape May Salts, is the perfect start, year-round. In the colder months, you’ll appreciate hot appetizers like the fried calamari and steamed clams in spicy tomato broth (save your dinner roll for dipping). We used to hang onto our server’s every word as they recited the specials, praying that we’d hear them utter the magic words “oysters marinara.” Lucky for us, this item has become a permanent menu fixture that we can, and do, order every time we’re at Dock’s. After so many starters, we like to share an entree, and the crab meat au gratin is our go-to. A myriad of molten cheeses and jumbo lump crab meat are ideal for turning an otherwise dreary winter evening into something special. End your meal with the dessert that sealed the deal for us on that fateful January 1st. Joe’s cheese pie is not quite a cheesecake, not quite a pie, but it IS incredible. After a Waterboy packet, perhaps some in-room bacon, egg, and cheese, or a stop at Caffeccino in the lobby, we always end our trip by picking up takeout from Tony Boloney’s. The menu reads like a mad scientist’s composition book. The pizza, subs, and fries each have never-seen-before ingredient combinations. For first timers, we think the Ducktown Melt (ribeye cheesesteak) and Diving Buffalo (breaded buffalo chicken) subs are total crowd-pleasers. The handcut, triple-fried french fries could be a meal on their own, with toppings like elote, stout barbecue and Fritos, and coconut curry tikka masala, just to name a few. We can’t see the display case without grabbing at least a couple slices. The Pinky (pink vodka, smoked cup pepperoni, smoked mozzarella) and Adios Mio (chipotle mac and cheese) fit the bill to complete this cozy weekend escape. Atlantic City isn’t just for summer. You’re not bound to the casino. It’s rich in both history and innovation. It has a soul and it enriches both of ours. It just plain doesn’t suck. Subscribe to our mailing list to follow us on more adventures to this underrated destination. We’ll show you the very best it has to offer.

They say you should never meet your heroes, but “they” probably aren’t craft beer enthusiasts who got to talk about all things beer with the man behind the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival. We reached out to Jon Henderson, the Founder/CEO/Executive Producer of Good Time Tricycle Productions, hoping to get his best tip for navigating the festival. Much to our surprise, and unbridled excitement, Jon made a very generous offer to call and chat with us. In our 15 times attending the event, and through much trial and error, we’ve established several expert strategies for maximizing our experience. After speaking to Jon, we feel confident that we’ve developed what is quite possibly the most comprehensive survival guide (to our knowledge, it’s also the only of its kind) for the AC Beer and Music Festival. PHASE ONE: Decide which session(s) you want to attend, and buy your ticket. PHASE TWO: Find and reserve a place to stay. PHASE THREE: And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?” PHASE FOUR: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. PHASE FIVE: An ounce of prevention is worth a pint of cure. PHASE SIX: Plan for pre- and post-festival fun. PHASE ONE: Decide which session(s) you want to attend, and buy your ticket. Tickets are facilitated by www.universe.com. If you prefer a paper ticket to a digital one, or if you want to avoid service fees, tickets are also available at Buy Rite Wine and Liquor in Williamstown, West Deptford, and Hammonton, NJ. Additional information about what is included with General Admission, VIP Admission, Jitney packages (more to come on that, below), Designated Driver tickets, and Group Sales can be found at www.acbeerfest.com/tickets. Pop-up ticket sales are happening at points of interest in the South Jersey area, check out @acbeerfest on Instagram for announcements. While the breweries, beer selections, vendors, food offerings, and activities are largely the same across both sessions, the main difference between them is the headlining band. Dropkick Murphys will play session #1 on Saturday, June 3, and 311 will perform at session #2 on Sunday, June 4. Supporting acts for both sessions are still TBD. PHASE TWO: Find and reserve a place to stay. If you’re local to the city, or have a designated driver accompanying you to the fest, this might not apply to you. If you need a place to stay, there is no shortage of options. The AC Beer Fest is being presented, yet again, by Ocean Casino Resort. If you’ve been following us, you know this is our favorite boardwalk resort, and our recommendation for lodging. The event holders also recommend several other casino hotels, as well as the Sheraton at the AC Convention Center, and Cozy CoHost Airbnb. You can find booking links specific to the event at www.acbeerfest.com/hotels. Of course, if none of these fit your specific needs, there are plenty of other hotels, motels, and vacation rentals (e.g. Airbnb and Vrbo) throughout the city. PHASE THREE: And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?” You have several options for transportation to and from the event. There is parking at Bader Field for $20. It goes without saying that you should not drink and drive, and we can’t think of a reason anyone without a DD would utilize this lot. Jon recommends purchasing a Jitney package, which includes pick up at a location within 50 miles of the festival, drop off at Bader Field and back to your original location, 13 General Admission tickets, and seating for up to 13 passengers. We travel to and from Bader Field via rideshare. As VIP ticketholders, we have early admission, and we show up 30-45 minutes before doors to secure a good spot in line and to avoid demand-related delays/surge pricing. There is a Jitney/rideshare loop at the back of the event space for drop off and pick up. Look out for signage, if you haven’t used it before. PHASE FOUR: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Both sessions run 4 hours each (Saturday, June 3, from 2-6pm, and Sunday, June 4, from 12-4pm), with early entry 30 minutes prior for VIP ticketholders. We assure you that you’ll be able to sample as much as your little heart desires, so long as you don’t have aspirations to try all 400+ beers being tapped. This isn’t your 21st birthday (unless it is, in which case, go off, fam), and it’s important to pace yourself. You can easily pound a bunch of 2oz beers with very little wait in between, and go from 0 to hammered at record speed. As late 30-somethings who appreciate beer and go to festivals to discover and enjoy new ones, this approach just isn’t for us. We each have a strategy that prevents us from drinking too much, too fast, and improves our overall experience. TJ likes to transition from lighter beers, like lagers and hefeweizens, to dark beers such as stouts, brown ales, and double IPAs. Andrea tries to stick to one or two similar styles of beer, unless something else really piques her interest. Since the festival moved from a spring event, indoors at the Convention Center, to a summer event, outdoors at Bader Field, she’s been focused on trying sours and saisons. They’re seasonal styles, and also less plentiful options throughout the fest, which helps with pacing. Taking your time and being selective with your samples also helps you avoid palate fatigue (it’s a real thing, Jon Henderson told us so), which occurs when tasting a large number of the same types of things. When you take breaks between tastings, you essentially clear your brain’s browser history and reboot your tastebuds. Jon likes to look for beers and breweries he’s never seen before, try those out first, and then go back to visit “old friends.” PHASE FIVE: An ounce of prevention is worth a pint of cure. Hydrate before the fest. Hydrate throughout. Hydrate after. Buy some Waterboy packets from our Amazon store and add them to your water bottle, for an extra boost. Guests are permitted to bring 1 sealed water bottle or an empty refillable water bottle. Don’t show up on an empty stomach. We like to put down a base of Vietnamese pho from Noodles of the World at Borgata an hour or two in advance. Our research shows high water content foods, as well as starches, set the stomach up for success. Jon prefers a slice of pizza beforehand. We all agree that it’s best to have a light meal and then snack around at the festival. Some of the best restaurants in the city set up shop on Bader Field for the weekend, and the wide variety of options are an experience in and of themselves. Wear sunscreen (also consider SPF lip balm also in our store), sunglasses, and comfortable shoes. This one is self-explanatory. Cash is king, although cards and electronic payments are sometimes accepted. This is at the discretion of the vendor, and also hinges on the reliability of the Internet. With tens of thousands of people all trying to use their phones at once, we’ve had issues with Internet service, in the past. There are ATMs on site, for your convenience. While we’re on the topic of cell phones and Internet, we suggest having a designated meeting place for your group, should you get separated. Ours is the sandcastle. You’re welcome. PHASE SIX: Plan for pre- and post-festival fun. In addition to the Swing Oil Mini-Golf Classic at North Beach Mini Golf on Friday, June 2, and the Hops Trot 5k Run on Sunday, June 4, there will be several pre- and post-fest events announced next month. Follow us @the.escape.plans on Instagram for all the latest updates. After 4+ hours of sampling, walking, and building up an appetite, check out one of our favorite spots for dinner. Tony’s Baltimore Grill and Bill’s Gyro & Souvlaki have some of the best food in the city at affordable prices, and both are open 24 hours. White House Subs makes the most perfect Italian hoagies we’ve ever had, and they have locations on Arctic Avenue and at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (open late). If you haven’t had enough craft beer, or if you want to sample a variety of wing sauces instead, Wingcraft is a great option for both. Now, for the dreaded morning after. Caffeinate at Hayday Coffee. Grab a breakfast sandwich from Hot Bagels and More. Order any combination of loaded fries, pizza, and insanely innovative sandwiches from Tony Boloney’s, bring your haul home, reheat, and enjoy while you comfort watch Ted Lasso. In talking to Jon, it was evident that the AC Beer and Music Festival was built on key elements of his personality. It caters to curiosity, open-mindedness, and good vibes. When we asked Jon what he wants people to take away from this survival guide, it was this: “Come out and have a good time. Make new friends over common ground. We’re all friends, chilling out, drinking beer.” If you have any questions that weren’t answered here, please send us an email or DM us on Instagram or Facebook. Cheers! Don't forget to check out all of our other FREE itineraries for great plans on how to spend your visit to Atlantic City! CLICK HERE!

Atlantic City has been linked to our traditions as a couple for many years. We visit during the Christmas season to take in the festive displays and try the holiday pop-up bars. We attend the AC Beer and Music Festival each year. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries there. We have an annual summer bucket list. Since we’ve become parents, we’ve been on the lookout for the best family-friendly activities in Atlantic City. One of our favorite family traditions is our annual Father’s Day trip to Atlantic City. Traditions are meant to be shared and carried on, and we’re happy to share the best spots for a Father’s Day getaway in Atlantic City with you! From the boardwalk, to the beach (and beach bar), to Bass Pro Shops, to the best Italian hoagies, to the blueberry capital of the world… this Escape Plan covers all the best Atlantic City attractions for dads. You’ll want to revisit our Father’s Day celebration ideas in Atlantic City again and again! Kickstart your Father’s Day morning with a scenic drive from the Philadelphia area to Atlantic City. Once you arrive, park at Hard Rock (or Ocean if you want to park for free with your player’s card) and take a leisurely walk along the world-famous boardwalk. The mid-morning stroll offers a tranquil setting, with shops starting to open and crowds yet to form. Fuel up for the day ahead with delicious food at Bill’s Gyro and Souvlaki, just north of Bally’s and a ½ mile walk from the parking garage. Although no longer open 24/7, this iconic diner adorned with dollar bills opens at 10am. Indulge in a classic bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel, the quintessential, portable Jersey breakfast to savor on the beach. For a tasty alternative, their French toast platter is a delightful to-go option and remains intact in its clamshell container. Complete your order with a couple of iced coffees, and you’re ready to claim your spot on the beach. Atlantic City is one of the best beach destinations for Father’s Day. All of the beaches are free, clean, and beautiful. Each has its own special appeal, but Bally’s beach is our pick for this day trip, since it’s centrally located (about ⅓ mile from Bill’s and ¾ mile from Steel Pier), and they have rental chairs and umbrellas. We want to spend our time on the beach and boards having fun, not hauling furniture. The Bally’s beach bar opens at 11am, so you can enjoy one of their signature cocktails, frozen drinks, 32oz rum buckets, or mocktails and listen to live music; snack on Philly cheesesteak egg rolls and wings; have a casual lunch from their selection of handhelds; or bring a beverage back to your beach chair. Kids are allowed at the beach bar until 7pm. Tennessee Avenue Tobacco has their mobile car parked in front of The Yard, the courtyard outside Bally’s, if the dad in your party is a cigar enthusiast. There are endless options for beachside relaxation in Atlantic City! Subscribe to our mailing list to read more about Bally’s Beach Bar as part of our upcoming blog about our DIY summer boardwalk bar crawl Escape Plan. After you’ve enjoyed the sun, surf, and sea, you’ll see the sights at Steel Pier. This landmark is synonymous with summer fun in Atlantic City. There are tons of rides and carnival games. Single tickets are $2, a book of 50 tickets is $65, and a book of 80 tickets is $85. The carousel and other kiddie rides (teacups, bumper cars, etc) are 4 tickets each. Rides for bigger kids and adults, like the swinging carousel and Flying Dutchman, are 5-6 tickets. Thrill rides are 7-8 tickets. There is special pricing for the slingshot ($32.50/person), helicopter rides ($75 for shoreline tour, $150 for city tour), and the Wheel ($9.99/rider). Every year, we make a point to ride the carousel and the Wheel, which is the enclosed Ferris Wheel with views of the entire beach and boardwalk. See pricing/ticketing info here. Last year, we sat for a family caricature, which was a fun experience and a tangible memory we’ll have forever. You have one more ride before you go back to the parking garage: a boardwalk rickshaw or the tram. It’s a must-do Atlantic City experience, at least once. Before you leave the city, stop at Bass Pro Shops in the outlets to let the father you’re celebrating pick a little gift for himself. It’s a sight to be seen, with a 2 story Delaware Water gap waterfall, a replica of the largest striped bass ever caught off a jetty in Atlantic City, and a 13,000 gallon freshwater fish tank containing fish native to New Jersey. It’s an enormous one-stop shop for all of dad’s outdoor recreation needs, whatever his hobby. Leave your car at the pro shops parking lot (the 1st hour is free, and you can park for up to 4 hours with a $30 in-store purchase) and pick up your mobile order of a whole White House Special, across the street at White House subs. We recommend dining in for the full nostalgic experience, if you’re a first-timer. However, you’ll be taking your food to-go this time. You’ll be having a picnic lunch at DiMeo blueberry farm, near Atlantic City, in Hammonton, before you partake in a little pick-your-own action. The picnic table grove is fully shaded by the beautiful Pine Barrens, but there is little to no shade while you’re picking. We suggest reapplying sunscreen and using some sort of bug repellent while on the farm. You can find a kid-safe spray *here*. U-Pick organic heirloom blueberries is by appointment only (call 609-561-5905 to reserve). DiMeo is cash only, with a 12 pint minimum ($30). It’s difficult to eat 12 pints of berries while they’re still fresh, so we freeze our surplus and use them in pancakes and smoothies for months to come. There is free parking on-site, the farm is pet friendly, and there are other activities like kayaking ($20 includes kayak rental, lifejacket, and gear) and nature trails. You can also take home your own blueberry bush, red raspberry and thornless blackberry plants, and other organic berry plants. While you’re in the blueberry capital of the world, you’ll finish your Father’s Day with a stop at Royale Crown Homemade Ice Cream shop in Hammonton. They’ve been considered the town’s best kept secret for 70 years. Their Hammonton blueberry and blueberry cheesecake flavors contain real Hammonton berries. However, they have a rotating menu full of classic and creative flavors, if you’ve already met your blueberry quota for the day. If you’re a father or you want to spend a special day with a father figure in your life, this Escape Plan is your ultimate Atlantic City travel guide for families. This itinerary will work any day of the week during the summer months, if you can’t make it to Atlantic City Father’s Day weekend and still want to enjoy some family fun at the Jersey Shore. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date on our latest Escape Plans. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more great Father’s Day celebration ideas in Atlantic City!

Las Vegas often serves as the backdrop for movies about a group of friends looking for the ultimate good time. It’s depicted as larger than life: a land of excess, extremes, and extravagance. While it’s unlikely your trip will serve as a cautionary tale to future bachelors (e.g. The Hangover), you will have an unforgettable Vegas bachelor weekend, if you stick to our Escape Plan. You have a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time, and our efficient strategy will help you experience the best places to visit in Las Vegas, without wasting precious time or money. Your bachelor party is a once in a lifetime occasion, and we’re here to help you do it right. Arriving in Las Vegas Ridesharing is the quickest, cheapest way to get from Harry Reid International to the Flamingo. There is signage throughout the airport that will direct you to the pickup location on level 1 of the terminal building. The pickup area will either be in a parking garage or outside on the ground level, depending on your terminal. Don’t be intimidated by a potential crowd, the wait is fast, and your driver will help you find them. 15 minutes later, you’ll arrive at the iconic Flamingo, a centerpiece of Las Vegas history and the oldest casino on the Strip at 77 years old (here’s your sign to put $10 on 7 at the roulette table). It’s also located near a lot of other Las Vegas hotels, making your trip much more walkable and keeping transportation costs low. Since your flight lands late, we’ve come up with the best way to maximize your time during your first night on the Las Vegas Strip. After you check in, you’ll walk right outside to the Promenade at the Linq. If you’re hungry after your flight, In-N-Out is an absolute must-do for us on any trip to Vegas. We drop our bags at the hotel and immediately head out for a double double animal style with well done fries and a Neopolitan shake. Post-burger binge (or in lieu of one), you’ll go on a DIY bar crawl at the Promenade. Each of the following bars is open until at least 2am on Friday nights, so you’ll have plenty of time to kick off your party before last call. Minus5 ICEBAR is the kind of place that screams Vegas. The space is kept at 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 Celsius, hence the name), quite the contrast from the 100+ degree outdoor temperature. The bar itself, as well as the furniture, much of the decor, and even the drinking glasses, are made of ice. $49 admission gets you use of gloves and a parka, as well as 2 cocktails from the winter-themed menu. Keeping with the frosty theme, Breeze Daiquiri Bar serves over a dozen flavors of frozen cocktails in a variety of sizes. You can stop here for one drink or stroll around the Strip with a 100 ounce pina colada. Ready to switch to beer? O’Shea’s Pub has 8 of those on tap and boasts beer pong and other table games, making it an ideal stop for bachelor bar-hopping. Still standing after closing time? The casino is always open, and their drinks are on the house. DAY 1 You’ll start your first full day the only way you can in the summer heat: at the Go Pool. This pool is for guests 21+, offers lagoons, a waterfall, a waterslide, 3 full-service bars, food and cocktail service, poolside spa treatments, outdoor gaming tables, daily DJ, dance contests, and additional weekend promotions. You can opt for a grab-and-go breakfast (think bagels, pastries, croissant sandwiches) on your way to the Go Pool, with a quick stop at The Nook, or order a breakfast burrito or sandwich right at the pool. Once you’ve snagged your lounge chair in poolside paradise, grab yourself a drink from the impressive and extensive menu. We’d go for the frozen and tropical Vegas Vice, to get fully immersed in the vacation vibe. The desert sun is harsh, so be sure to use sunscreen and SPF lip balm (trust us on this one). It goes without saying that the desert is dry, but what you might not know is that the dry air can cause cold/allergy-like symptoms and nosebleeds. You might want to get a small portable humidifier for your room, or a more practical remedy is saline nose spray. We also like to bring back some snacks and Waterboy packets to help with hangovers (or visit our Amazon store to stock up in advance). If you want to leave the pool for lunch, Maxie’s at the Promenade is serving up out-of-the-box diner-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They’re famous for their Benedict boxes (classic, guac and chorizo, bbq pork, Denver, and California in a brioche loaf), we’d pair one of these with an order of Fruity or Cocoa Pebble French toast so we could enjoy a sweet and savory brunch. From there, you’ll make a supply run at CVS. A tip we like is to bring an empty rolling suitcase to transport your haul. You’ll be doing a lot of walking and drinking, and it’s really easy to get dehydrated, even in the air conditioning. Buy yourself some cases of water to keep in your room, it’ll save you a ton of money. Tourist destinations, especially casino gift shops, are notorious for inflated price tags. It’s better to make a short detour to a free-standing store so you can allocate your budget towards fun instead of marked up sunscreen. Now that you’re stocked up, it’s time to load up and mount up at a popular Las Vegas shooting range. You can book a free Humvee pickup by a Veteran of the US military to transport you from Flamingo to Battlefield Vegas and back. Battlefield Vegas offers a la carte pricing to create your own combination from a wide variety of firearms, as well as fan favorite packages like the Black Ops Gamer Experience, SWAT Experience, or Sniper Experience for $200 (there is a $20 charge to add an extra shooter, and shooters cannot share a single magazine). This shooting range is one of the most unique, adrenaline-pumping things to do in Las Vegas. Now, it’s time to stop back at your room to get ready for a high octane night on the town. Las Vegas Dinner Options-Night 2 You said that Senor Frog’s is at the top of your to-do list for this trip. It certainly has the party atmosphere that is synonymous with Las Vegas nightlife. You can come back later when the nightclub opens. $50 gets you entry and an open bar from 9pm to 2am. While we’ve never eaten here ourselves, the appetizer sampler, carne asada, and carnitas caught our attention and tend to be safe bets on any menu. If you’re willing to try more authentic Mexican Las Vegas restaurants, you might choose to forgo dinner at Senor Frog’s and stick to their late night party. Mas Por Favor is a one-of-a-kind, over-the-top Vegas experience in the form of a Mexican speakeasy parlor. Check out their Instagram for photos of their “Disco Shit” shot, so you can see just what we mean. We suggest ordering a variety of tacos, all of which are interesting in their own right, ranging from steak and mushroom with truffle oil to barbacoa. Their cocktails are just as inventive and match the fun, high energy ambience. Tacos el Gordo is another great, and very affordable, choice for dinner, with its authentic Tijuana style tacos with handmade corn tortillas and scratch condiments. It’s no wonder that it’s always busy (but the service is fast), as it’s a favorite among tourists and locals alike. During our last visit to Vegas, we finally got a chance to try this hidden gem, and it’s earned a permanent spot on our personal itinerary. From familiar options like pork and carne asada to more adventurous items like tripe and cabeza, their menu has something for everyone. You told us that a night on Fremont Street was another definite must-do for you. No trip to Vegas is complete without visiting the “old strip.” There are some tourist attractions, like ziplining over the street, or viewing the Viva Vision Light show on the massive overhead screen that stretches across the entire length of Fremont. The people watching is good here, as is the cheap gambling in historic Las Vegas casinos, like El Cortez, Golden Nugget, and Four Queens. Not everything is old here; the recently opened Circa casino provides a perfect blend of old and new to downtown Vegas. One of our favorite bars in Vegas is the extraordinary Legacy Club, the rooftop cocktail lounge offering awe-inspiring, panoramic city views, 60 floors above the street. Another personal favorite, Atomic Liquors is a downtown dive and the oldest freestanding bar in the city, about ½ a mile away from the Fremont Street Experience. You’ll want to rideshare here, as it’s safer than walking through downtown. Despite their dive status, they have a nice cocktail menu and a great selection of beers. A 5 minute rideshare away (across a highway, so walking isn’t possible), is one of the coolest night time tourist attractions in the city. The Neon Museum offers a combination 45 minute guided tour of retired neon signs in the “boneyard” and a 45 minute light show in the gallery. This is a unique-to-Vegas experience that you won’t want to miss. DAY 2 The next morning, you’ll have another classic Sin City moment during breakfast at the legendary Peppermill. It shows up on nearly every Las Vegas attractions guide, and rightly so. In its over 50 year history, the restaurant has appeared in hit movies (Casino, anyone?), hosted every celebrity from Dean Martin to Floyd Mayweather, and dazzled patrons with its retro neon lounge and oversized portions of breakfast favorites. The Joe’s San Francisco Special and Maserati omelet are right on brand: crowd pleasers, generous portions, and a bit eccentric. After breakfast, you’ll take in more Vegas history at the Mob Museum. It can be a welcome break from drinking, or you can “press your luck” by touring the distillery or having a drink in the speakeasy. Whatever you decide, the museum’s interactive exhibits are fun to explore and provide a much-needed respite from the heat. As a beer enthusiast, you have to check out Brewery Row for another Las Vegas bar crawl. Nevada Brew Works has a wide variety of creative offerings. HUDL Brewing Company is home to Soulbelly BBQ, where you’ll be feasting on a smoked turkey club (self explanatory, but add thousand island dressing and slap it on Texas Toast) and The Belly of Soul, a big ‘ol brisket sandwich with pickled and crispy onions, cheese sauce, spicy BBQ sauce, and a fried egg, for good measure. You can’t have barbecue without mac and cheese, and, since you should probably have at least one vegetable this weekend: it might as well be the watermelon & cucumber salad with mint, lime, salt, and tajin. If time permits, try the amazing beer selections at any of the other breweries on Main Street: Beer District Brewing, CraftHaus Brewery, Hop Nuts Brewing Downtown, and Able Baker. Post lunch, you’ll post up at the Go Pool until the sun starts to retreat for the day. Once it gets dark, head to Happy Half Hour at the High Roller observation wheel. This is one of our all-time favorite Las Vegas tourist destinations. For 30 minutes, you will marvel at the 360 degree views of the bright city lights from 550 feet above the Strip while you partake in an open bar right inside the cabin. Las Vegas Steak Houses-Night 3 You requested a steakhouse dinner as part of your celebration. We have three options for you to choose from. We are admittedly not “steakhouse people,” but Bazaar Meat at Sahara converted us and is now the first reservation we make each time we’re planning a Vegas vacation. It takes the traditional steakhouse concept and reimagines it into something innovative and playful. The tasting menu is truly amazing. It is the most expensive of the three options, but well worth the splurge. It is worth noting that there is a monorail stop at Sahara, as well as Flamingo, making travel between the two properties speedy and inexpensive. Golden Steer consistently shows up on “best of” lists and earns excellent reviews. They opened in 1958, and some of their staff have been there for over 35 years. Add to that their popularity among celebrity patrons, and it’s easy to understand why they’re a Las Vegas steakhouse institution. Your final option for tonight’s dinner is steps away from the High Roller, right inside your hotel, at Bugsy and Meyer’s. It has some cool touches like a bakery “front” leading to the steakhouse dining room, yet another spin on the Las Vegas hidden bars trend, and an old-fashioned bar cart with an interactive tableside choose-your-own cocktail preparation. To wrap up the last night of your bachelor party, you’ll uncover the series of Las Vegas speakeasies within Cosmopolitan. The Ski Lodge looks like a bar at a winter resort, complete with falling snow through a window behind the bar. Next door is Ghost Donkey, specializing in margaritas and Mexican-inspired cocktails. They also have an extensive mezcal and tequila menu. “Finding” these hidden bars isn’t difficult, they are both located within the larger Superfrico restaurant. The casino itself is also a sight to be seen. The three level chandelier bar is one of the most jaw-dropping spots in all of Vegas. You can stick around at Cosmo to gamble or try your luck back at Flamingo, but be sure to walk on the Strip while it’s buzzing with that energy that can only be found in Vegas. Take in one last quintessential Vegas attraction on your way: the Bellagio Fountains. The shows run every 15 minutes at night, so you can catch it without much planning or waiting. On the morning of your departure, have the front desk attendant check your play on your Caesars Rewards card. Sometimes they will comp a portion of your room charge, if you spend enough in the casino. For this reason, it’s important to charge any food, drinks, etc. at other Caesars Rewards resorts (the Linq is a big one for you) to your room. Before you go to the airport, roll out of bed for a hearty hangover-helper of a breakfast at Hash-House-a-Go-Go at the Linq Promenade. A hickory smoked bacon, avocado, onion, and swiss scramble, churro waffle, and a traditional or BLT Mary are just what the doctor ordered to level you out before your return flight. We hope your Las Vegas bachelor party was a weekend you’ll never forget, and that we’ve made planning your trip as easy and exciting as possible. Thank you for trusting us to map out this momentous occasion. We can’t wait to hear everything you loved about your vacation and find out your favorite Las Vegas travel tips!

CLICK & FOLLOW Philadelphia fans don’t do anything halfway. So, it should come as no surprise that these two Eagles supporters would drive 75 miles down I-95 to Atlantic City when we saw Tony Boloney’s offering new menu items, just in time for Super Bowl LVII. Not wanting to spend over 2 hours in the car just to grab takeout, and having that aforementioned proclivity for taking things to extremes, booked a table at Rhythm & Spirits for brunch. After a long drive, and a long day still ahead of us, we stopped at Hayday Coffee for a pre-brunch pick-me-up. We watched the drizzling rain from inside the cozy cafe with the staple French toast latte and the seasonal special chocolate truffle latte. Our quick coffee break felt every bit of “easy like Sunday morning.” A block north on Tennessee Avenue, Rhythm & Spirits partners with the neighboring Bar32 Chocolate to offer a chocolate themed brunch. The menu has evolved since our last reservation, so we ordered a few items to share. We started with an Intense Orange Old Fashioned and a Warlock, as well as a brunch board scattered with meats, cheeses, berries, dried apricots, a very appropriate Philly soft pretzel, and melted Bar32 chocolate for dipping. Our entrees were so good, we were reluctant to share more than a bite with each other. Our daughter devoured the Bar32 waffle, towering with vanilla ice cream, all the components for s’mores, brown butter cookie crumbles, and brownie crumbs (for good measure). My husband and I enjoyed the creamy carbonara with glazed Nueske bacon and the perfectly juicy, crispy southern fried chicken sandwich. Although unsure how we’d manage to eat another meal later, and with just enough time to drive home and have a superstitious screening of Silver Linings Playbook before kickoff, we made our way to Tony Boloney’s to collect our ambitious takeout order. Mozzarella sticks have made their triumphant return to TB’s menu, and we opted for the sampler, which includes one each of original, flamin’ hot cheeto crusted, cacio e pepe, smoked mozzarella, and truffled sticks. Brand new, and what lured us to AC, are the stoner mac balls. The perfect, dorito-crusted delights come 5 to an order and ooze with ditalini, buffalo sauce, smoked bacon, and mozzarella. The flamin’ hot sticks and stoner balls both make an appearance alongside a potato chip chicken cutlet, cool ranch, and more bacon in the Yeah Man hot sub. No Super Bowl is complete without wings, and we picked two kinds of sauces: tikka masala and habanero hot h oney. Certain that we’ll be enjoying leftovers well into Monday, and unable to exit Tony Boloney’s without their triple-fried fries, we rounded out our order with the elote variety. This exercise in gluttony isn't exclusive to Superbowl Sunday, Sundays in general, or even game day. You can enjoy this quick escape any time you're feeling particularly snacky. We’re about to take some preventive Pepcid AC, change into the bootleg Eagles tees we purchased from a table in a parking lot at Frankford and Morrell, enjoy some of our deep-fried buffet, and hope for the best. Go birds. If you haven't already please Like, Follow and Subscribe to all of out social media!

Valentine’s Day: the second busiest day of the year for restaurants. All hands are on deck, which means the potential for a third string server, B-list line cook, an all-too-familiar-these-days supply shortage, and any number of other debacles that could put a damper on your date. Further complicating things this year, the holiday falls on a Tuesday. Do you go out after work (and, ugh, on a work night)? Double down on back-to-back celebrations with an elaborate night out on the Saturday prior and overindulge yet again on Super Bowl Sunday? Postpone until President’s weekend? Sigh. I’m already frustrated and I haven’t even tried to find a table yet… or looked at all of the cookie cutter pre-fixe menus peddling the same, tired line-up we’ve been tolerating since 1992. If I never pay $150+ per person for some forgettable seafood starter, filet mignon with garlic mash and haricot verts, and a chocolate lava cake ever again, it will be too soon. If you ask me, Valentine’s Day is a date on a calendar. It’s nice to mark the occasion in a big way if the stars all align, but, really, a heart-shaped box of Russell Stover is more than enough acknowledgement for me. I’d prefer a night out on the town “just because,” that doesn’t need to be meticulously orchestrated, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in this escape plan. The first stop on your Philadelphia date night is the recently renovated and reopened tasting room at New Liberty Distillery. We fell in love with New Liberty during covid lockdowns when we became members of their Spirits Club. Each month, we’d receive a bottle (sometimes two!) of premium and specialty spirits, most often something yet-to-be released. The curated box also comes with New Liberty swag, members-only discounts/events, and other items related to the featured bottle. They offer tours and tastings at the distillery if you’re looking for a pre-dinner activity on a future visit. Candles, hardcover books, leather sofas, and whiskey barrel tables lend charm and whimsy to the space. The atmosphere is lively enough to be an exciting beginning to the evening, without taking away your ability to connect with your companion. The perfect drink to start your romantic outing is a rye milk punch, aptly named Heart Shaped Box. It looks like Valentine’s Day in a rocks glass, with its pretty (and potent) red wine float. Fans of rye will also enjoy the booze forward, bottled in bond Creole Cocktail. The American picon gives it a unique bitter orange flavor which is nicely balanced with honey and cola. If you’d like to transport yourself to a more temperate climate, away from a dreary Philly February, the Jungle Bird’s combination of rum and pineapple are the way to go. Those who have been following our travels know that our itineraries are heavy on the libations. For the sake of adequate hydration and research, we tried the Lucky Lavender mocktail (lavender simple, lemon, club) before we headed to the next stop on our itinerary, which was a light and refreshing change of pace. We tend to stick to one neighborhood (or neighboring hoods, at most), per Escape Plan, but we made an exception and took a 10 minute rideshare to try the James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Outstanding Bar: Le Caveau. Another recently renovated, upstairs bar, Le Caveau is a sultry and intimate hideaway located above The Good King Tavern. It’s ideal for cozying up together in the dimly lit, lounge-y setting to indulge in natural wine, fancy bar snacks, and a variety of spirits for sipping. I tried the Cremant de Bourgogne, a dry, sparkling white whose crisp, green apple and citrus notes paired wonderfully with the comte, camembert, and blue cheeses. My husband could not resist ordering one of the mezcal selections, the Nuestra Soledad el Lachuigi, and found its strong cedar and almost eucalyptus qualities to be a welcome alternative to his usual bourbon. We would definitely allow ourselves additional time to sample more of the menu on a future visit, but are happy we could stop in for a quick round and a snack before our reservation back in Fishtown. Even the outdoor patio at Wm. Mulherin’s Sons was completely booked on this frigid, late January evening, a testament to its excellence. Due to its popularity, we strongly advise securing a table well in advance of your visit. Our table was situated directly in front of the massive, roaring fireplace; the dining room feeling a bit like a ski lodge, ideal for savoring boozy cocktails and a variety of rustic Italian plates. We started with a Montresor’s Signature and Sister Francis, their respective rum and espresso, and rye and mole, flavors offering even more warmth. We shared the grilled scallop, with charred sunchoke reminiscent of the crackling fire a few feet away. We also enjoyed the foie gras parfait, which was more of a deconstructed mousse and apple mostarda with buttery toast than a composed, layered dish, but delicious nonetheless. We joked that its clean, classic presentation looked so picture-perfect, we could imagine Patrick Bateman ordering this exact appetizer (if you know, you know). Unable to decide between pizza and pasta, we opted to share one of each. The Spicy Jawn is a pillowy delight of a wood-fired dough covered in sheets of spicy meats and long hots. We saw a Lambrusco on the menu and knew it would complement the pizza beautifully. After much deliberation (and admittedly some googling of unfamiliar varietals), I selected a Nero D’avola from the impressive list of red wines. It reminded me of a fruity shiraz and was great on its own as well as with the beef cheek agnolotti. Dessert was another difficult choice, and, again, we ordered two: pistachio creme brulee with pistachio shortbread cookies and an almond tart with chestnut mousse. Both were decadent without being heavy. Along with the La Bomba espresso martinis, our desserts were a pleasant conclusion to a great experience. Philadelphia is close to home for us, but can still feel like a special getaway, with its endless options for adventurous eaters, unparalleled ambience, and rich history. We love having this amazing destination right in our backyard. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date on our blog posts. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more fun Philly content. Wanna see More about this? How much did it cost?

When I was a twenty-something, I loved going out for New Year's Eve (RIP Lucy's Hat Shop). My dad always referred to the holiday as "Amateur Night"- when those with little experience with alcohol go out and drink to excess. I'd shrug at him and excitedly leave the house dressed to the nines for a multi-course prix fixe dinner, ticketed open bar, or sometimes all of the above. While we’d be happy to plan this type of night out on the town for you, we're now thirty-somethings, no longer amateurs ourselves, and will be celebrating a bit differently this year. Tria has two wine bar locations in Center City Philadelphia that highlight smaller producers. While their focus is on wine, beer, and cheese, they also offer full dining and cocktail menus. While restaurants were closed for in-person dining in Philadelphia throughout much of 2020, Tria offered a variety of virtual wine and/or cheese classes via Zoom. We were passionate about supporting our favorite small businesses, particularly in the food service industry, during this time, and these classes were a great way to break up the monotony of stay-at-home orders and social distancing. Lauren Harris, Tria’s wine director, does an amazing job with her selections as well as her engaging presentations and guided tastings. These days, there is a lot of discussion about the habits people picked up during the height of covid that they'll be holding onto after a return to "before times," and this is one of ours. For us, it's a preferable alternative to Amateur Night at a packed bar (remember those?) or attempting to score a reservation to a costly, prepaid limited seating, followed by what is sure to be the most expensive Uber ride per mile in recorded history. “Tria’s Deliciously Decadent New Year’s Eve Wine and Cheese Tour” includes 6 beverage pairings (2 oz tasting portions of red and white wine, a beer, a full bottle of sparkling rose, and a half bottle of champagne), “an abundance of” cheese, snacks, and a sparkling wine stopper. The 90 minute course begins at 8:00pm and tickets are $200 for 2 guests. We’re looking forward to a special night in, now that most of our date nights take place outside the home, once again. We also can’t wait to see the syllabus of upcoming in-person courses, scheduled to resume in mid-January. However you choose to ring in 2023, we’re wishing you a happy, healthy escape and year ahead.

The Escape Plans are your ultimate guides to maximize your travel experience with expert recommendations; budgeting tools; and a wide variety of sample itineraries. By request, we will also curate custom itineraries catered to your specific needs. Whether you’re interested in a romantic getaway, bachelor(ette) party, beach weekend, or a seasonal retreat: we’ve got you covered with our detailed dining, menu, lodging, and activity suggestions. Our menu planning and budgeting tools help you decide where to go and what to order based on your individual budget. You can even calculate the cost per person if you’re planning for a group. We are a husband and wife team who have been visiting Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and Las Vegas for over 15 years. We have mastered the art of planning a seamless getaway to these cities and are so excited to assist you in planning your next escape! Please remember to drink and play responsibly.

If I had $1 for every time my husband wore a pair of slip-on Vans, fresh out of the box, sans socks, on a damp, sweltering summer day, which also happened to be our first day on vacation... well, I'd have about $8. Such experiences have reinforced my propensity for overpacking. "Always come prepared," I whisper to myself as I struggle with the zipper on my suitcase, praying it doesn't exceed the 50 lb weight limit. I've long emptied the contents of my entire medicine cabinet into my carry-on. There is nothing worse than waking up in a hotel, mid-holiday, with a violent case of the stomach flu; except having to leave said hotel to find the closest pharmacy. I'd much rather have Pepto Bismol on hand and not end up needing it, than to need it desperately and have to travel further than 10 feet to procure it. After many inconveniences, injuries, and illnesses away from home, and much trial and error, I consider myself an authority on packing for every possible scenario. I want to share some of my favorite products with you, so that your escape doesn't include a spontaneous trip to the hotel gift shop where you're sure to pay luxury prices for generic remedies. We tend to take short trips throughout the year, and a longer trip in August. No matter where you travel in North America during the month of August, it's going to be hot, and probably also humid. We've been to Las Vegas at 115 degrees, New Orleans in the high 90's at damn near 100% humidity, even Montreal was mildly uncomfortable during the daytime hours. Such conditions come with an array of physical discomforts. Friction can lead to the aforementioned blisters, for which we recommend All-Health brand Advanced Fast-Healing hydrocolloid gel bandages. They are waterproof, last up to 7 days, and help with both healing and pain relief. Friction can also cause chafing, especially if you're exploring your destination on foot. Body Glide is an anti-chafing balm that looks like a stick deodorant. You can apply it anywhere that you're prone to rubbing. It is long-lasting, but small enough to carry with you, should you need to reapply. While we all know that the summer sun can inflict a nasty sunburn, I'd venture to guess that you don't wear SPF lip balm, in addition to sunscreen. Someone recommended Sun Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen lip balm to us before our last trip to Vegas, and we're so grateful that they did. The sun in the desert is no joke, and you should take every precaution you can to protect your skin, lest you ruin the remainder of your trip with a record-setting burn. Sun Bum comes in a variety of fruit flavors, and is as light and comfortable as it is effective. Dehydration is yet another heat-induced malady, but it can occur in any climate, if you drink too much alcohol and not enough water. We don't even take a half-day trip to the Jersey Shore without a 6 pack of Glaceau SmartWater. It has added electrolytes which make it more palatable than other bottled waters, and, therefore easier to meet your hydration requirements. If you still find yourself dehydrated, or hungover, we swear by Waterboy hangover recovery powder packets. They're very convenient, as they can easily fit in your pocket until you're ready to mix it into 16 oz of water. It contains more than 3x the electrolytes than competing products, 20% of the calories, twice the vitamins, no sugar, and the added benefit of L-theanine for "hangxiety" and ginger for nausea. We've noticed a lot of hotels don't have refrigerators in the rooms. You'll need something to keep your SmartWater cold, and we recommend the TOURIT cooler backpack. It's lightweight and collapsible, with padded shoulder straps, so you won't mind carrying it around on your trip. It keeps its contents cool for 16 hours, even at the pool or beach, sitting directly in the sun. Now that you'll have the best portable cooler for a day at the beach, how about the best chair? The Tommy Bahama 5-position chair can be worn as a backpack or hand-carried, if you're already wearing your TOURIT cooler. It differs from your standard beach chair with its lay-flat option, towel bar, mesh storage pocket, cupholder, bottle opener, and 250 lb weight capacity: all at a very light 7.5 lbs. Links to all of these outstanding products can be found on Our Favorite Travel Supplies page. Check back for updates, as we discover more solutions for potential travel disasters. We hope your next escape is a healthy one. Subscribe to our mailing list and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more expert tips.

When you plan escapes as often as we do, you pick up some insider secrets along the way. We love to be in the loop, and we want to pass our favorite tips and tricks along to our readers. Everyone has preferences when they're traveling, and some predilections are more widely shared. When we're staying in a hotel, we want our accommodations to meet, if not, exceed our standards. We like our room to check off as many boxes as possible from our list of "nice-to-haves." You might assume that, aside from the room category you reserved, the specific room you check into is merely the luck of the draw. That notion is almost always incorrect. So, how do you get the room you want? You set yourself apart from the long line of other guests waiting to check in. Of course, you want to be patient, pleasant, and appreciative to those in the hospitality industry, always. Sadly, good old-fashioned manners will often make you stand out as a customer. We like to take this a step further, and we hand our front desk agent $20 along with our ID and credit card. A simple, "This is for you. We appreciate anything extra you can offer us today," will go a long way. Do you prefer a high or low floor? Close to the elevator or not? A room with a view of the city? A late check out? What about a complimentary upgrade? If a room that meets your specifications is available, that is where you'll be staying. Now that your hotel room is handled, we need to be sure that the rest of your escape caters to your particular proclivities. Of course, the obvious first step is to let us curate a custom itinerary for you. How do we know all the best establishments? Why do our friends and family come to us for recommendations? 1) We have decades of experience in food service, hospitality, customer service, and research. We have discerning palates, high standards, and reasonable expectations. 2) Trial and error. We've visited these cities time and time again. We have our tried and true spots that offer a consistent, high quality experience at a great value, and we're constantly looking for new ones to add to the repertoire. 3) Finally, our favorite strategy: Outsourcing. Ask your bartender, rideshare driver, server, seat neighbor, and/or concierge, "Where do you like to eat in the city? What's a popular spot right now? What's overrated?" If you poll enough people, you'll start to see patterns in their responses, and that will lead you in the right direction. You have the who, when, and where of your trip covered. Check out our Packing List page to see *what* items we never travel without. We tend to travel the most in August, and we have a remedy for every heat related issue you'll potentially face while on vacation. We've also tested every hangover cure, excuse me, "hydration powder packet" on the market and found the best one. Like the rest of our site, we'll be updating this page with our latest and greatest finds, so be sure to check back often. Thank you for sticking with us to the very end of this post. To show our gratitude, we'll offer you our guaranteed tip to ensure that your next escape is your best one yet. Subscribe to our site, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and, please, don't hesitate to reach out if we can develop a custom escape plan just for you.

"All right. Everybody upstairs. Get dressed. We're going out to eat," Old Man Parker declared in the 1983 classic A Christmas Story. After the Bumpus hounds devoured the family's Christmas turkey, the Parkers feasted on Peking duck, which Ralphie referred to as "Chinese turkey." Our family loves recreating this meal at Sang Kee Peking Duck House in Philadelphia's Chinatown. The Peking Duck Dinner for Four is the gift that keeps on giving, course after course. You'll start with the comforting wonton vegetable soup, followed by a whole Peking duck with your choice of mooshu pancakes or lotus leaf buns. The duck skin is perfectly crispy, separated from the tender meat by a rich, creamy layer. You'll enjoy sides of XO duck with string beans and mixed pork, as well as duck and pineapple fried rice. In addition to the main course, you'll also be served entree sized portions of chicken with eggplant in garlic sauce and honey-coated walnut shrimp. Each dish is absolutely incredible. You'll find yourself scraping the last remnants of sauces and meat off of the serving dish, so not to waste a single bite. You can walk off some of your supper in the quarter mile between Sang Kee and Franklin Square. One of Philadelphia's five original squares, Franklin Square caters to fun for the entire family. During the holiday season, it is home to the Electrical Spectacle light show, which runs every half an hour from 5pm until closing. This year, you can also partake in iceless "street curling," Chilly Philly miniature golf, fire pits, and, the year-round Parx Liberty Carousel. Inside a heated tent, Ben's Sweets and Treats is offering up hot chocolate and cider, cocktails, DIY s'mores, cookie decorating kits, chocolate dipped pretzels, and caramel drizzled apple cider donut bites. New York City gets all the credit for being a Christmas metropolis, but Philadelphia certainly shines during the holidays, if you just know where to look. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the full Escape Plan, including budgeting, Google maps link, menu recommendations, and more. Happy holidays to you and yours from all of us at The Escape Plans.