Lemon's mix: June 2014

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Weekend Look


Top: Harlowe & Graham // Pants: similar here // Bag: Rimen & Co  // Flats: Salvatore Ferragamo // Sunnies: Valentino

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Massachusetts State House

A lot of the first time vistors in Boston wonder about this beautiful building with the golden dome next to the Boston Common. It's the Massachusetts State House which is also known as the house of government and the general court. And although it is a government building where people are working, during the week it is also open to the public and really worth a visit. Marble-floored corridors, amazing wall paintings and a free tour with interesting insights. I explored almost all parts of the building and really loved it!

Massachusetts State House © Lemon's mix

Hall of Flags © Lemon's mix

House of Representatives Chamber © Lemon's mix

 Senate Reading Room © Lemon's mix

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Lately on Instagram


Harborwalk, Boston © Lemon's mix
  Nespresso Botique  Bar, Boston © Lemon's mix
Lauren by Ralph Lauren Sandals © Lemon's mix
Courtyard, Boston Public Library © Lemon's mix

Friday, June 20, 2014

Sardinia

The first day of summer is coming and if you still have no idea where to go on your summer vacation, I surely can recommend a place: Sardinia!

Sardinia is an island in the Mediterranean Sea with beautiful sandy beaches, crystal clear water and magnificent landscapes. It's a perfect destination for families with children, for lovebirds, for sports enthusiasts and for friends; You just have to choose carefully the right area and accommodation for your needs ;-).

In our case we had a hotel in the northwest of the island but half the time we explored Sardinia by car or by boat. 

The most beautiful beaches we saw can only be reached by boat and are Cala Goloritze, Cala Mariolu and Cala Luna at "Parco Nationale dei Gennargentu" in the eastern part of the island.

Cala Luna © Lemon's mix
 
Nearby is also the fascinating "Grotta del Bue Marino" which is really a wonder of nature. And if you don't like to drive a boat on your own, you can also book a boat tour from Cala Gonone which takes you to this places!

 Grotta del Bue Marino © Lemon's mix

Another great trip we did by boat was the "Maddalena Archipelago" which included the lovely town of Maddalena and the amazing island Spargi. (For Spargi pictures click here.)

La Maddalena © Lemon's mix
 
And then we visited La Pelosa which shocked me first because of the perfect postcard view and second because of the crowd. Truly, I've never seen anything like this before!

  La Pelosa © Lemon's mix

  La Pelosa © Lemon's mix

  La Pelosa © Lemon's mix

We stayed in Sardinia for only two weeks and unfortunately hadn't enough time to explore more places. But someday we will definitely come back and visit the rest of Sardinia.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Postcards from Spargi

Spargi is a very small uninhabited island and part of the Maddalena Archipelago at the North-eastern corner of Sardinia. The only way to get there is by boat and once there, you will see a beautiful landscape with perfect white beaches. Truly a piece of paradise!

 Spargi © Lemon's mix

 Spargi © Lemon's mix

Spargi © Lemon's mix

Friday, June 13, 2014

Niagara Falls

Even as a child I had a desire to see once the world-famous Niagara Falls. And last August when we moved to Boston, it was finally the right time to visit this natural wonder. 

We started our trip on a Sunday morning and after an 8 hour drive, we arrived at the Niagara Falls State Park on the American side. From the Terrapin Point, we overlooked the falls and were really impressed by the Niagara Falls Illumination with the city in the background. Very beautiful!

Panorama of  Horseshoe Falls from Terrapin Point, USA © Lemon's mix

But the best view we had definitely the next day on the Canadian side. Simply breathtaking! So if you ever have the chance, go and see it from the Canadian side. You're gonna love it!

Panorama of  Horseshoe Falls from Canadian side © Lemon's mix

View of  Horseshoe Falls from Canadian side © Lemon's mix

Certainly it would be also a great experience to watch one of the firework shows over the Niagara Falls during summer. For the 2014 Schedule you can visit www.niagaraparks.com or click here.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

New York City for First Timers

There are just a few weeks left until I'll be back in the most amazing city on earth: New York! And accumulate, I have already spent several weeks in this great city and really seen a lot. So that's why I decided to post the most common must-see's and must-do's if you are visiting for the first time the "Big Apple". 

Attractions in Downtown / Lower Manhattan 
(1-2 days) 

  • Visit Battery Park and take the Ferry to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island which was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station for years. Alternatively, you can also take the free Staten Island Ferry (South Ferry Station) and enjoy (more or less) the "close-up view" of the Statue of Liberty.
  • Stop at the Charging Bull in Bowling Green Park. It is one of the key symbols for the New York Stock Exchange.
  • Go to Wall Street. You can't miss the home of the New York Stock Exchange!
  • Spend some time at the 9/11 Memorial. The Memorial honors the people who lost their lives back in 2001 and features two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pool. Very moving!
  • Across the street from the 9/11 Memorial & One World Trade Center is also the department store "Century 21", where you can make great deals on designer clothes!
  • The South Street Seaport and Pier 17 has a very nice view of the water and the Brooklyn Bridge. Right now it is under renovation but soon there will be a new shopping mall with a large rooftop. (For a picture back in  2009 click here).
  • Go to the Brooklyn Bridge! And if you have some time left, walk across the bridge to Brooklyn and enjoy a little bit the Brooklyn Bridge Park. (For a picture click here).
  • Take a walk through Chinatown (just to have seen it once).
  • Take a walk through Little Italy. As a matter of course, you will find there italian restaurants (mainly on Mulberry Street) and nearby a very lovely cupcake shop called "Little Cupcake Bakeshop" (in Nolita).  It's one of my favorites!
  • Visit Soho, a  fashionable neighborhood with art galleries and boutiques. I love it!
  • Relax at Washington Square Park and watch musicians, artists, dancers and sometimes just weird people!
  • If you still have time left, take a walk through West Village (& Greenwich Village). It's a calm and very beautiful neighborhood.

Attractions Lower Manhattan © Lemon's mix

Attractions in Midtown
(1-2 days)

  • Discover the Highline Park on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets and if you're already there, visit also the crowded but quite interesting Chelsea Market.
  • Definitely a must do is walking along the 5th Avenue. So why not first take a look at the iconic Flatiron Building and then just walk uptown toward the Empire State Building?!
  • Another must do is: Looking at the city from the top! And here you can choose between the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at the Rockefeller Center. I went to both of them and as you can see, the view is different!

View from the Empire State Building (December 2013) © Lemon's mix

View from Rockefeller Center (May 2013) © Lemon's mix

  • Only one block from the Empire State Building you will find Macy's, the world's largest store until 2009. You can shop there clothes, cosmetics, accessories, bedroom essentials and so much more.
  • Also don't miss to enter the Grand Central Terminal where 750.000 visitors pass through daily!
  • Buy yourself lunch (for example downstairs at Gand Central Terminal) and enjoy it at Bryant Park which is pretty much the backyard of the Public Library. Afterwards you can explore the library.
  • Go after dark to Times Square and enjoy the "Zoo"! (And if you enjoy the Broadway, get your reduced price tickets at the TKTS Discount Booths).
  • If you love Art, visit the MoMA at 5th Avenue and start your museum tour from the top.

Attractions Midtown © Lemon's mix

Attractions in Uptown
(1-2 days)

  •  Enjoy a ride with the aerial tramway to Roosevelt Island (after dark it's even nicer).
  •  Fashion Lovers shouldn't miss the Bergdorf Goodman experience (department store for luxury goods).
  • Go to the Central Park and walk at least until the Bethesda Fountain / Bethesda Terrace.
  • Visit the Metropolitan Opera on Upper West Side.
  • If you love Art, stop at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Both museums are located on Upper East Side. And keep in mind, that the 25 USD admission fee for the Metropolitan Museum of Art is just a suggestion what means, you can also enter for 5 USD or without paying at all. 

Attractions Uptown © Lemon's mix

So this is pretty much it with the must-see's and must-do's for first timers (as far as I know). But perhaps I should also mention for sports fans the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (New York Yankees, MLB), 
the Madison Square Garden in Midtown (New York Knicks, NBA & New York Rangers, NHL) and
the Barclays Center in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Nets, NBA).

The MetLife Stadium (New York Giants & New York Jets, NFL) is unfortunately outside the city but still worth to go there because of the whole American Football experience (incl. tailgate party). 

The best time to watch all four sports in New York City could be end of October if the Yankees make it to the finals. Otherwise you have definitely November and December to watch the regular season of NBA, NHL and NFL. 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

On the Coast







Sweater: Pink Rose via Macy's / Shorts: Forever 21 / Ballet Flats: ASOS / XL Bag: H&M / Sunnies: Valentino

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Russell Orchards Farm and Winery

While exploring the New England Coast beginning of June, my husband and I also took the opportunity and stopped at the lovely family farm called Russel Orchards. 

This farm and winery is just a short distance from Crane’s Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts and has quite a few nice things to do, to see and to try. For example, from May thru November you can come here on weekends for tasting events and enjoy many award winning fruit wines. During the summer months, you can stop by and pick your own fruits (strawberries, raspberries, etc.), take a hay ride and shop baked goods and wines made with the fruits from the orchard. And in fall, you can come here for apple picking, yummy apple cider donuts and of course for pumpkin patches. I also enjoyed the farm animals and the lovely details at the grounds. It's such a nice place!

 Russell Orchards Farm and Winery © Lemon's mix

 Russell Orchards Farm and Winery © Lemon's mix


 Russell Orchards Farm and Winery © Lemon's mix

Russell Orchards Farm and Winery © Lemon's mix

Russell Orchards Farm and Winery © Lemon's mix