I love touring. I love traveling to new cities and meeting new people at shows, it’s all so fun. This show in Burlington was great and so intimate compared to the bigger shows I play with my full band. During the day I get to hang and explore, but on show days I’m always really excited for the actual show to start! Arriving at the venue, sound checking, and beginning the set is always so exciting!
First Time To Vermont
Burlington was such a cool city! I’d never been to Vermont before and it wasn’t hard to fall in love with the state when this city was so beautiful and artistic. I spent time right in the downtown core and then went to this adorable breakfast spot the morning after my show! One of the coolest shops I discovered was Common Deer, where almost everything they stock is made by small vendors from all over America. I definitely indulged in some sweet treats as well with Ben and Jerry’s, because they were founded right in Burlington! Have you been to Vermont? If so, what was your favorite part?
Ferrying Through Fall
I’ve been on a ferry before, but it’s always been much longer than this one! This was a short jaunt across the waterway between New York And Vermont and it was so pretty to be able to see both states from a different perspective. It was my first time to Vermont and I really loved my time there! As soon as we crossed over the lake it felt different from upstate New York, and I already felt like it was somewhere I’d like to explore, which was great because I had about 24 hours to explore the city of Burlington! I’ll tell you all about Burlington Vermont in my next post!
Falling Into New York
I started a tour in September and it was such a fun experience! We went from Toronto, through New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and finished in New York City! My first stop was at Lyric Coffeehouse in Clayton New York. We had some time afterwards to walk around and explore the town and waterfront. I planned this tour through the Northeast at fall time to experience one of my favorite seasons while doing what I love! What are some places you’d like to visit in the fall?
Just Chil
My friend who introduced to some of the great local places to dine in London also recommended this frozen yogurt gem. Chil is a small dessert shop near the universities in London Ontario. This place was presented to me with a lot of hype, so my expectation were high…and it didn’t disappoint! I can’t eat dairy on the days that I sing, so I had to time my visit carefully, but this place was magical. I was told it was a frozen yogurt shop with greek yogurt as the base flavor for everything, along with some vegan options. The outside wasn’t anything remarkable, but the inside! It was so cute and the flavors were impressive, especially the super fruit and the original greek yogurt. They boast the largest available toppings of any frozen yogurt shop in Canada, and they don’t disappoint. They have everything from apple pie to golden oreos to warm white chocolate sauce and everything in between.
London by Local
I have a wonderful friend who went to school in London Ontario and she recommended to me some of the best local spots in London. Along with my own research I found my way to three places that are well kept secrets of London. Here are my top 3 spots to eat in London.
1. Thaifoon
This Thai restaurant is only open for late lunch and dinner, but it was worth the wait! With some great originals and a few fresh takes on traditional thai food, I’d definitely visit this spot again. It’s located downtown very close to Covent Garden Market, so it’s also convenient to get to!
- Early Bird
A restaurant with personality! This was featured on Food Network’s “You Gotta Eat Here” and once you walk in you can see why. It’s bright and colorful with band posters all over the walls, four elvis busts painted with KISS makeup, and a tiki bar in the back! I had the “Pancake Stack” and my friend had the “Toad in the Hole” and both had fun presentations and were creative interpretations of breakfast classics.
- The Salad Bowl
This spot is in Covent Garden Market, which seems to be a bit of a hub for activity in London. It has fantastic and highly customizable salads, with all sorts of variations for any diet restriction you may have. The staff was friendly and helpful and the final product was delicious and healthy; the latter of which isn’t always easy to find when traveling with a hectic schedule! Forgot to snap a picture by The Salad Bowl, but it’s not far from this Chocolate Factory stand!