New Orleans’s Best Hidden Gem Restaurants

There’s no doubt about it: New Orleans is one of the top cities in America when it comes to cuisine. The Big Easy is world-renowned for its blend of cultures, fabulous music, and diet-busting food. While there are the touristy spots — including crowd-pleasers Café Du Monde, Commander’s Palace, and Brennan’s — New Orleans is also home to lesser-known eateries well worth checking out.

Here are some of the Big Easy’s culinary hidden gems.

Jacques-Imo’s Café

With its festive, quirky atmosphere and incredible menu, Jacques-Imo’s Café is worth a visit (or even two) during your time in New Orleans. Located on Oak Street in the city’s Uptown neighborhood, this place is a local favorite, so you’ll want to arrive early. Even then, prepare to wait a while for a table. The bar opens into the dining room, and often, you’ll be escorted through the bustling kitchen to your table. We’ve seen this place so packed that the owner pulled his pickup truck up to the sidewalk, threw a plastic table in its bed, and served four customers a full meal there! We’re not sure if that was up to code — or even legal — but it gives you an idea of just how tasty the dishes are, and how laid-back the service is.

From alligator cheesecake (not a dessert!) to fried grits, po’boys, and, of course, gumbo, you’ll get a true taste of southern Louisiana at this spot. Wash it all down with an Abita beer or two, and you’ll have a dining experience you won’t soon forget.

Cooter Brown’s

Sometimes, even when you’re on vacation, all you want is a spot to settle in, grab some beers and pub grub, and watch the big game. If this is the case, go where the locals hang out: Cooter Brown’s. This neighborhood watering hole, located in the Black Pearl area near the Riverbend, features more than 80 beers on tap, a good menu, and a laid-back vibe. But it’s really known for its raw bar. That’s where freshly harvested Louisiana Gulf oysters are popped open right in front of you, plopped on a tray of ice, and are ready for eating within minutes. Dress these delicious, briny treats with fresh lemon, mix your own cocktail sauce to optimum spice with horseradish, and slurp away!

Taqueria Corona

To get your taco fix in New Orleans, head to Taqueria Corona on Magazine Street. This is the perfect place to go after exploring Magazine’s many shops and boutiques. The neighborhood taqueria is lauded for its fantastic fish tacos and top-shelf margaritas, and everything is made fresh to order. While Taqueria Corona has grown since its founding in 1988 to include two other locations, it retains its commitment to both quality and service — and its homey feel. The prices are quite reasonable, and a stop at Taqueria Corona will leave you full and ready for the rest of your day’s adventures.

N7

The French- and Japanese-inspired N7, located in the Bywater neighborhood, is a true hidden gem. Tucked away in an industrial cul-de-sac behind a tall wooden privacy fence, the restaurant is barely marked. Once you’re in, though, the magic happens.

N7 — named for the Nationale 7 highway that once ran from Paris to the Italian border — is a delight. Its wine list is focused on smaller European winemakers; there is indoor, outdoor, and garden seating; and the fabulous menu features savory tartines, house-made charcuterie, and a number of vegetable-forward dishes. For a special Francophile treat, order a can of imported seafood including sardines or escargot; the restaurant calls this “can-to-table service.” Meals are served tapas-style, so be sure to hang on to a menu in case you decide to order another round.

Nine Roses Café

As we mentioned before, New Orleans is a melting pot. Large groups of Vietnamese people came to the city after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and have left their culinary mark on the Big Easy. To sample some of their best dishes, head to Nine Roses Café in the French Quarter.

At Nine Roses, the salads, rice and noodle entrées, and traditional pho (Vietnamese beef broth) are menu favorites. The first location in Gretna was founded by Tu Nguyen more than 25 years ago. Her children have since taken up the mantle and opened a sister café in the Quarter, but every once in a while, Mama Tu will show up in the kitchen. This is a place where family traditions and love for good food are nearly palpable. When you’re ready for a break from gumbo, this is the perfect place to visit.

Killer PoBoys

You simply must try po’boys while you’re in New Orleans. These massive sandwiches, served on crusty white bread and usually featuring fried seafood, are as popular as gumbo, étouffée, and dirty rice. For a contemporary twist on these gut-busting classics, head to Killer PoBoys on Dauphine Street or its smaller pop-up version inside the Erin Rose Bar. Both are located in the Quarter. Fillings for these fancier po’boys include roasted sweet potatoes, seared shrimp, pork belly, and house-made chorizo. Trust us — this is the best place to eat after a late night out!

High Hat Café

To get a true taste of the Mississippi Delta and southern Louisiana, head to High Hat Café in Uptown. This unassuming but amazing neighborhood spot features authentic cuisine at reasonable prices. Don’t skip the shrimp remoulade or the fried chicken and catfish, and if you’re lucky enough to be there on a Monday, be sure to order the traditional red beans and rice. The Delta tamales and pimento cheese are surefire Southern crowd-pleasers as well.

High Hat also serves up a weekend brunch that includes chicken and waffles, corned beef hash, and cornmeal pancakes. There’s also a full bar and wine list — this is New Orleans, after all!

Brigtsen’s Restaurant

For classic Creole cuisine with modern flair, Brigtsen’s Restaurant in Uptown can’t be beat. Tucked away in a Victorian cottage, the restaurant has won dozens of awards since it opened in 1986. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the seafood here really shines, as do the game dishes like rabbit and duck. Most items are locally sourced from nearby farms and waters. The restaurant’s offerings include classic bread pudding, pecan pie with caramel sauce, and lemon icebox crème brûlée, so make sure to save plenty of room for dessert!

North Broad Seafood

Have your heart set on a boiled crawfish feast? North Broad Seafood has got you covered. It’s a grab-and-go place in Mid-City that offers a selection of boiled seafood plus side dishes like corn and potatoes, gumbo, grits, and red beans and rice. It also offers a variety of beers and sodas, and you’ll pay for your seafood by the pound. Keep in mind that there’s no table service, but the food is terrific, and North Broad is a hands-down favorite with the locals. Don’t forget to grab wipes to clean up your hands after your meal. Ask for them at the counter.

Bittersweet Confections

Sometimes you just need to satisfy your sweet tooth, and Bittersweet Confections on Magazine Street in the Warehouse District is the perfect place to do just that. While the bakery does quite a bit of custom-cake business, it also offers truffles, chocolates, cupcakes, cookies, and tarts. During Carnival season, Bittersweet also cranks out king cakes, a New Orleans favorite. Grab a few pastries to go, or stay for a cup of coffee and savor your sweet treat in the shop. Either way, you’ll enjoy some of the best dessert the city has to offer. These are vacation calories, after all — they don’t count!

Headed to New Orleans? Check out these eight little-known attractions and these 12 totally free things to do in the city. If you want to hear some great jazz music while you’re there, be sure to stop by some of these venues.

A Moment In Time: Walking My Menorca Footsteps 40 Years Later

Menorca, Spain, is a jewel — a Balearic island emerging from the waters of the Mediterranean about eight hours by ferry from Barcelona. There are numerous reasons for visiting the island. It is a quiet and serene place, largely protected from development since being named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993. It is easier to navigate and less frenetic than its famous (and much larger) neighbor, Majorca. Menorca’s culture is purely Catalan, but all across the island you feel the remnants and ghosts of its Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic past.

But Menorca’s beauty, history, and unique topography were not the main reasons for my return there, some 40 years after I had originally visited.

I returned to Menorca in order to revisit a time, a place, and a person — and to share an experience that fueled my love of exploring the world with my 27-year-old daughter, a budding traveler herself.

Barbara in Sa Mesquida in the early 1980s. — Barbara Winard

Finding My Travel Guru

I first met Joy about 50 years ago, when I started a job as a writer for New York City’s public television station. Joy was about 15 years older than I was, and she fit the bill for a dear mother/friend. Joy had done it all and seen it all, and she was enthusiastic about my journey, too. She and her husband had traveled the world from the 1940s on, and they did it the hard way: cheaply and ruggedly.

Her one immovable overseas destination was a house that she and her husband had built in the 1960s on the island of Menorca. A photograph of that house — a one-story stone building perched on a cliff next to the ruins of an ancient tower — held a place of honor in her New York City home.

In the early 1980s Joy invited me to visit her in Menorca, and I flew from Barcelona to the island without telling her exactly when I was arriving. I headed for a phone booth to ask her to pick me up at the airport. But it turned out that there was no phone book or, as I soon learned, even a phone. I didn’t have her address, so I wandered the streets of Menorca’s capital city, Mahon, until I figured out what to do.

Eventually I convinced a taxi driver to drive to the small town where she lived, and I recognized her house from the photograph on her New York City wall. I walked into a festive party, and the rest of my time there was filled with Joy’s warmth and a houseful of her friends. I remember exploring the megalithic monuments dotting the roads, hanging out at a bar in Mahon where we drank and sang, taking motorcycle rides through the countryside, and walking down the hill to a pristine beach.

Almost four decades have passed since then. About a year ago, my daughter and I talked about traveling to a Spanish-speaking country so she could practice her Spanish. All at once I knew that I would take her to Menorca.

Jana and her mother, Barbara, near Joy’s house in 2018. — Barbara Winard

Traveling To Plumb The Past

We rented rooms above a restaurant overlooking the port in Mahon and wandered the streets of the city. In the mornings we studied Spanish (most of the 93,000 people who live there speak both Catalan and Spanish). In the afternoons, we headed out to explore ruins, beaches, and towns in Menorca’s interior and on the coasts.

My kid loved the island immediately. Things had changed; there were more tourists and expats than I remembered, more vacation homes and new buildings. But what Menorca was had not changed. Its standing stones still stand; the pine-studded cliffs still overlook the beaches; the 13th-century church in the Old Town of Ciutadella still looms; the ruins from Menorca’s diverse past still dot the island.

Because of the efforts to preserve its natural beauty and diversity, the ponds, lagoons, marshes, and dunes of the island are home to thousands of species of birds and plants. Also preserved are mysterious burial sites called talayots and navetas from the Bronze Age and earlier. Trepuco, near Mahon, contains the largest and best-preserved taula (stone monuments, from the Catalan word for “table”) in the Balearic islands. As opposed to visiting the archaeological sites of other countries, we could examine these ruins up close with no barriers.

Joy’s house in Sa Mesquida in 2018. — Barbara Winard

But I saved the best for the sunniest and clearest day. We drove to Sa Mesquida to visit Joy’s house. As we approached, I spotted it — right past the old tower, on the cliff. The house was a different color but was instantly recognizable.

I suddenly felt caught in a time warp: at once suffused with memories of the past but also seeing with new eyes, aware that I now had a different life and a suitcase packed with four decades of experience. We parked the car and stood and gazed at the house for a long time — quietly. Then we hiked down to the sea. There were just a few people on the beach. My daughter and I walked on the hot sand, appreciating the solitude and the breeze. She stopped to hug me, saying nothing. We stood that way for a very long time.

The beach at Sa Mesquida in 2018. — Barbara Winard

Travel As A Continuum

It became clear to me that this journey provided a direct link between my young self and the person I’ve become. It also forged new connections with my daughter. Not only did I share my life experiences with her; the journey also provided her with her own stories to share with her future family. We have traveled together several times since our Menorca journey, and I can see that her travel wings have taken hold.

Travel, for me — and I believe for her, too — is so much more than seeing the sights and adding stamps to our passports. Travel is also paying respect to the past and to the people we have loved. I had mistakenly believed that, since there are so many places to see in the world, there was no reason to return to those visited in the past. I was wrong. It now seems to me that by setting off on a road already traveled, there is the possibility that we may come to better understand where we have started and how far we have come.

Pining for the coast of Spain? These are the best things to see and do in nearby Palma de Mallorca.

The Best Things To See And Do In Fargo, North Dakota

Chances are you’ve heard of Fargo, North Dakota. North Dakota’s largest city was made famous around the country in 1996 when it served as the setting for the eponymous Coen Brothers movie that earned Frances McDormand her first Oscar.

But even before its cinematic debut, Fargo played an important role in the Midwest. It’s a historic frontier town that once served as a fur-trading post, and it earns 50 percent of the credit for Wells Fargo Bank.

A thriving, artsy city steeped in Nordic, Native American, and pioneer traditions, Fargo is a delightful stop in the Sioux State that ought not to be overlooked.

Explore The Downtown Area

Every trip to Fargo should begin in the city’s trendy, vibrant, revitalized downtown area, the place where the frontier town was born. Fargo’s main artery is undoubtedly Broadway. The thoroughfare served as the commercial heart of the city for years, and today it is a diner’s and shopper’s paradise lined with boutique shops, cafés, bars, and more. Much of the city’s downtown revitalization efforts have focused on Broadway and Main Avenue.

If you like street art, the area offers tons of it, all produced by local artists. Fargo is covered in art, from gorgeous street murals to decorated electrical boxes. Don’t miss Art Alley, or First Avenue North between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

The Fargo Theater in Fargo, North Dakota. — David Harmantas / Shutterstock

Enjoy An Evening At The Theater

While you’re on Broadway, don’t miss one of the city’s iconic gems — the Fargo Theatre, an Art Deco movie theater that was constructed in 1926. If you look at a photo of downtown Fargo, chances are the marquee of the theater will be somewhere in the background. The theater was built for cinema and vaudeville, but today, it offers independent and foreign films. The venue also hosts a concert series and other events. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a treat to take in.

Note that the only way to see the inside of the theater is to purchase a ticket, so be sure to check the calendar of events before your next trip to Fargo — there is so much to choose from! Matinees cost $7.50, while evening showings cost $9.50. Special events have different pricing.

Get Artsy

The Plains Art Museum in Fargo features a cross-section of artistic styles, from American Modernist to traditional and contemporary Native American. The permanent collection features about 4,000 works of art from around the world, including traditional Native American works of art and artifacts, contemporary art, photography, and more. Be sure to check out the visiting exhibits, including Brad Kahlhamer’s A Nation of One, which will be on display through the end of January.

The museum, which is located in a renovated historic warehouse, is also home to the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity, a multipurpose arts facility that offers classes for the community as well as a space for learning and discussion.

The best part about the museum? Admission is completely free.

Inside the Fargo Air Museum in Fargo, North Dakota. — Fargo Air Museum

Hit New Heights

The Fargo Air Museum is Heaven on Earth for airplane aficionados. The sky’s the limit at the museum, which hosts a rotating exhibit of historic, flyable planes. You’ll see a North American P-51 Mustang outfitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and best known as a World War II fighter plane. You’ll also see Duggy, a Douglas DC-3 built in 1939 that served in World War II. A replica of the Wright Flyer is also on display. The museum showcases military memorabilia and is home to one of the largest aviation libraries in the Midwest. Admission starts at $8 for adults.

Bonanzaville in Fargo, North Dakota. — Bonanzaville

Take A Step Back In Time

History buffs will love the glimpse into the past that Bonanzaville provides. The 12-acre living history museum brings to life the time when bonanza farms were scattered across the North Dakota prairie in the late 19th century. It includes nearly every type of structure and business that would have existed in the region at the time, from blacksmith shops to log cabins, general stores, banks, and barbershops. Tickets start at $12 for adults. Keep in mind that the museum and village are open only during the spring and summer months, from May through September.

Spend Some Time In The Great Outdoors

When the weather is right in Fargo, getting outside to experience the wide-open, blue-skied prairie is a must. Lindenwood Park is Fargo’s largest park, complete with landscaped campgrounds, bike and kayak rentals, walking paths, and picnic shelters. The park sits on the banks of the Red River, which separates North Dakota from Minnesota. In the winter the park becomes a popular place for activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Eating In Fargo

If you’ve come to Fargo for the food, you’ve done well. Foodies passing through Fargo are in for a real treat, from old-school favorites to modern-day delights. Fargo’s kitchens and craft breweries are always cooking up something new and exciting (or nostalgic and comforting, if that’s your thing).

Sandy’s Donuts & Coffee Shop

Satisfy that sweet tooth at one of Fargo’s favorites. The story behind Sandy’s Donuts & Coffee Shop is a true American comeback tale. In 1983, Sandy Ostlund lost his job running a trucking company. He was 55 years old and decided to start over, this time opening and running a donut shop. Today, Sandy’s Donuts is more than a simple donut shop — it’s a donut empire with four locations across Fargo. The company even delivers! Go with a classic dark chocolate iced donut, or try something more unusual like the red velvet cake donut.

BernBaum’s

If you prefer your breakfast on the savory side, head to BernBaum’s for the city’s best bagels. The New York-style bagels with Scandinavian flair (a nod to North Dakota’s Northern European heritage) are made fresh daily. There are even gluten-free and vegan options. The Iceland bagel plate comes with lox, gravlax, and cucumber with a chèvre schmear. There are also sandwiches and small plates like knishes, latkes, and blini.

Mezzaluna

Elegant cocktails, black linen tablecloths, dark wood, and an industrial brick exterior set the tone at the fine-dining restaurant Mezzaluna. The restaurant lives in the 1917 Smith, Follett & Crowl building and retains its original wood floors, beams, and ceiling. Known as one of the best restaurants in North Dakota, Mezzaluna offers elevated American cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Think bone-in pork chops, cumin-roasted garlic risotto, bacon-wrapped bison meatloaf, chive fettuccine, truffle fries, and more.

Craft Breweries

Fargo’s beverage of choice is most certainly beer. Believe it or not, there are 10 breweries located within the city. Craft beer has become quite the Fargo tradition, and the best places to sample the local brews are the breweries themselves. Drekker Brewing Company, for example, is set in a large hall, a nod to the Norse roots of the region. Drumconrath Brewing Company adds an Irish flair to its eight-beer tap list. Live music, food trucks, and trivia round out the offerings.

Shopping In Fargo

Fargo loves its boutique shops. This is the city to visit if you’re after one-of-a-kind mementos and crafts.

Start at Zandbroz Variety. A quirky hodgepodge of books, gifts, scented soaps, coffee mugs, and wrapping paper, this is the best spot for cute gifts and souvenirs.

Broadway is a major thoroughfare for clothing shops such as Kindred People. Kindred People is known for its women’s clothing, accessories, shoes, beauty products, and gifts. Most jewelry and gift items in the store are designed by local or regional artists.

Indulge in all things vinyl at Vinyl Giant Records, which sells new and used vinyl across all genres. It also offers vinyl accessories, new and used turntables, speakers, and home cinema gear.

In the summer, Fargo bursts with color, especially at the farmers markets that pop up throughout the community. Red River Market is the largest, and it offers local food, fresh produce, gifts, and more every Saturday.

Finally, if you’re feeling the call of the Old Country, visit Stabo Scandinavian Imports, which features unique items from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Stock up on candy, jewelry, and even the iconic Norwegian troll dolls.

10 Types Of Fruit You Should Try In Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for its lush jungles, 500,000 different species of animals, and some of the most delectable and nutritious fruit in the world. Wander the farmers markets of this tiny Central American paradise, and you’ll find a rainbow of luscious fruit.

Fully embrace the local philosophy of pura vida, or pure life, by sampling these 10 Costa Rican delicacies.

A bowl of pitahayas from Costa Rica. — naluwan / Shutterstock

1. Pitahayas

The pitahaya is the Central American version of dragon fruit. But while the creamy white or purple flesh of dragon fruit is cloaked in bright pink skin, the pitahaya has a vibrant yellow or red exterior. Both types of fruit, as well as tunas, are part of the cactus family.

You can find pitahayas at virtually any farmers market or supermarket in Costa Rica. Simply look for the signature red or yellow rind. You can tell whether or not the fruit is ripe by checking out the exterior. The pitahaya should be firm to the touch, brightly colored, and free of visible spots or soft areas.

The easiest way to eat pitahaya is to slice it in half and scoop out the soft white interior with a spoon. You can also slice it up and add it to a fruit salad or toss it into a smoothie. The taste is light and slightly reminiscent of the taste of a sweet kiwi.

2. Breadfruit

Breadfruit gets its name from its starchy composition and unique flavor. It’s filling, hearty, and decidedly more savory than sweet. Breadfruit is best roasted or fried and makes a great alternative to potatoes. It stands up to strong sauces and is a creative and appetizing choice in heavy soups or stir-fries.

You’re most likely to encounter breadfruit on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. When searching for the perfect piece, look for yellow-colored breadfruit with some brown spots. These spots usually indicate that an item is past its prime, but that’s not so with breadfruit.

The amazing taste is not the only reason you should scoop up some breadfruit on your next trip to Costa Rica. Breadfruit is absolutely bursting with nutrients and antioxidants!

Fresh mangoes on a tree in Costa Rica. — patdu photography / Shutterstock

3. Mangoes

Fresh Costa Rican mangoes will put the commercially harvested supermarket varieties you’re used to to shame. These dazzling orange morsels are available at virtually every market, and you should eat as many as humanly possible.

Although mango season is technically between March and June, you can find this fabulous fruit all year long. Ripe mangoes are relatively firm but not completely rigid. If one is squishy, it’s overripe. To eat, slice the mango in half and scoop out the delicious flesh with a spoon.

Like many tropical fruits, mangoes are rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

4. Granadillas

The granadilla is a type of passion fruit, and it contains many of the same nutrients. The difference mostly comes down to taste: While passion fruit is sour, granadillas are sweet. The hard-shelled portable fruit is a favorite in Costa Rica, and when you try it, you’ll understand why.

The granadilla has a tough exterior that’s generally deep orange in color. The edible parts are the gelatinous interior and crunchy seeds. Test for ripeness by gently shaking your granadilla. You should hear the sac moving around, but not too much. If your granadilla rattles, it’s not ripe yet.

Granadillas are fabulous for traveling. Their sturdy outsides make them great candidates for hiking trips or long bus journeys. To eat one, simply pry open the shell and gently open the interior sac.

Papayas at a farmers market in Costa Rica. — Jorge A. Russell / Shutterstock

5. Papayas

Papayas grow to astounding sizes in Costa Rica, and these jewel-toned tropical fruits are available year-round. Not only will you find massive papayas in the farmers markets and supermarkets, but you’ll also be treated to countless variations on the fruit.

Papayas are extraordinarily healthy, so incorporating copious amounts of this fruit into your diet will make your body happy. Fortunately, in Costa Rica, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh cubes of papaya, papaya smoothies, and papaya salsas.

Ripe papayas are greenish-yellow and soft to the touch. To enjoy, slice your papaya lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. The flesh should be velvety enough to remove with a spoon. Drizzle with fresh lime juice and sprinkle with salt for a refreshing treat.

6. Guanabanas

Guanabana is one of the most popular smoothie flavors in Costa Rica. This delicate white-fleshed fruit has the flavor profile of a pear with just a touch of pineapple or strawberry. It’s refreshing, subtle, and highly nutritious.

Guanabanas are quite large, so you’re most likely to see them in smoothie form, but the fruit is also served sliced or whole in some larger farmers markets. The flesh is soft and studded with large black inedible seeds. When the exterior is yellowish-green, your guanabana is perfectly ripe and ready to be eaten.

You’ll occasionally spot guanabana ice cream — it’s a fabulous local treat that you should certainly sample.

Rambutans for sale in Costa Rica. — JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock

7. Rambutans

The rambutan is a Southeast Asian import that has caught on like mad in Costa Rica. Don’t let the strange exterior put you off — beneath the soft spikes is a translucent fruit that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and sour. Rambutans can be scooped up virtually anywhere during the rainy season, which runs from May through November.

Rambutans are particularly high in vitamin C. They’re freshest when their exteriors are deep red with bright green spikes.

8. Guabas

Easily one of the most interesting types of fruit in the world, the guaba is a white fuzzy fruit that tastes remarkably like vanilla ice cream, earning it the nickname “the ice cream bean.” This candied fruit is also very good for you and comes in a long seed pod that you slice open to eat.

You can find guabas at plenty of markets in Costa Rica. They grow quickly and are fairly hearty, so there’s an abundance of this sweet treat all over the country.

Once you crack or slice open the pod, you’ll find sections of airy white fruit covering black seeds. The seeds are not edible, but the fruit can be sucked off of each individual seed. Eating guabas properly requires a little bit of effort, but the decadent vanilla taste is definitely worth it.

Noni growing on a tree in Costa Rica. — Damsea / Shutterstock

9. Noni

To say that noni is an acquired taste is an understatement, but this savory and distinct fruit is one you should try in Costa Rica, if only once. Noni is predominantly served in juice form, the health benefits of which range from heart health to arthritis relief.

Noni has long been used as a medicinal fruit by coastal communities. Its smell and taste border on aggressive, with strong cheesy, funky notes. Still, the fruit is revered for its health benefits, so you should sip a fresh glass of noni juice if you have the chance.

10. Mangosteens

Not to be confused with the mango, the mangosteen is a phenomenal white-fleshed fruit that is widely praised for being an antioxidant powerhouse as well as a scrumptious treat. Mangosteens are usually available in the late fall or early winter, and you’ll recognize them by their deep purple rinds.

Mangosteens are roughly the size of small oranges and are very firm to the touch. They are ripe when their tough shells turn a dark purplish-red. Eating a mangosteen requires a bit of patience since the exterior is hard to break open. Once you do manage to get it open, prepare to get a purple stain on your fingers as you pry the opaque white fruit out of the rind. Mangosteen segments are small, and each one envelops a seed, so you’ll get less fruit than you want, but the fruit that you do get will be out of this world.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Costa Rica, and the sheer abundance of fruit is undoubtedly one of them. Make sure that you check out these farmers-market finds on your next trip to the Central American jewel.

Planning a trip to Costa Rica? Here are 15 things you shouldn’t miss while you’re there.

Planning Tips For A Nova Scotia Golf Adventure At Cabot Links

Far-flung golf destinations are all the rage. The more remote the location, the better, it seems. From Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania to La Paz Golf Club in Bolivia, the busiest golf destinations aren’t usually the most convenient to visit.

For an exotic golf destination a little closer to home, consider the Cabot Links Golf Resort in Nova Scotia, Canada. The course is a 3-hour drive from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, but a flight from New York City to Halifax takes less than 2 hours. With a 2-hour flight and a 3-hour drive, someone on the East Coast can leave in the morning and be golfing that afternoon.

Here are some tips for planning an amazing golf adventure in Nova Scotia.

View along the coast of Cabot Links. — Sunset Maven / Shutterstock

Consider Visiting During The Late Spring Or Early Fall

Cabot Links is only open from early May through late October. It’s located in Inverness, Nova Scotia, which is similar, weather-wise, to Duluth, Minnesota. That means that for at least four months of the year (and many times longer than that), the course is covered in snow.

So if you’re planning a trip to Cabot Links, you must travel there between late spring and early fall. And those two timeframes — late spring and early fall — are the easiest times to book a tee time and accommodations. As you might imagine, tee time and accommodations for the summer months are often booked well in advance.

Fly Through Newark Or JFK

The easiest connecting flights to Halifax from the United States are offered by United Airlines (through Newark, New Jersey) and Delta (through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City). There are also flights available from Boston (Air Canada) and Orlando (WestJet Airlines), but these are limited. Booking a connecting flight from your destination through Newark or JFK is the best choice.

During the summer months, there are a few direct flights from Chicago and Philadelphia to Halifax. But if you’re looking for domestic airlines in the United States with daily, year-round flights to Halifax, your choices are United and Delta.

There are also many flights from destinations in Canada, if that is your preference. WestJet, Air Canada, and Porter Airlines all offer flights to Halifax, but these flights route through Toronto, Montreal, or Ottawa.

Take The Cabot Links Shuttle From The Airport

While you can rent a car in Halifax, Cabot Links provides shuttle service for the 3-hour drive from Halifax to Inverness. Cabot Links owns a fleet of Sprinter vans that seat 11, and if you make arrangements through the resort, one can be waiting for you (and your clubs) when you land in Halifax.

For a bigger thrill (and a much bigger cost), Cabot Links can also arrange helicopter transportation from Halifax to the golf club.

Stay On The Property

There are bed and breakfasts in Inverness, but staying at the resort is by far the best choice. There are two options on the property — Cabot Links Lodge and the Golf Villas.

Cabot Links Lodge, which is less lodge than modern, sleek hotel, has 72 rooms. If you’re traveling in a group of four and looking to save on lodging, you can book a double and all stay in the same room. There are also king rooms at the lodge that will accommodate one or two people.

The other option is to book one of the Golf Villas. There are two types of villas: two-bedroom villas and the very luxurious four-bedroom villas. In the four-bedroom villas, you can stay with your group in one location while each of you gets your own bedroom; however, this option is very expensive. The four-bedroom villas start at $900 per night during the off-season and climb to $1,750 per night during the middle of the summer.

Start With The Links Course

There are two courses at Cabot Links: Cabot Links, the original course, and Cabot Cliffs, which opened a few years later. Both were designed in the true links style, which was the idea behind the entire golf resort. Links golf originated next to the sea in Scotland, and Inverness, Nova Scotia, is very similar to the Scottish Highlands in appearance. The Canadian community was even named for the famous Scottish city of Inverness.

Inverness, Nova Scotia, was once a mining town, but it’s now defined by its golf resort. Cabot Links is located directly above the former coal mines, and every hole offers sweeping views of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Five of the holes are located right on the beach.

In keeping with links golf tradition, there are no golf carts at Cabot Links or Cabot Cliffs. You can either rent a push cart and transport your clubs around the course yourself, or you can hire a caddy. The caddy will not only carry your bag but will guide you around the course they’ve walked hundreds of times before. Caddies are independent contractors, so they are paid directly by the golfers.

Play Cabot Cliffs Second

If you thought the views of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence were spectacular from Cabot Links, wait until you see Cabot Cliffs. The Cabot Links course is located directly along the water, almost at the same elevation as the beach. The Cabot Cliffs course, a mile north of Inverness, plays at the top of the cliffs along the sea. Designed by the world-famous golf architecture duo Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Cabot Cliffs opened in 2015 as the second course at Cabot. It quickly rose to prominence and was recently ranked the ninth-best golf course in the world by Golf Digest.

The entire course is spectacular, but the final three holes have become legendary. The 16th hole is a par 3 over a rocky cliff jutting out into the sea. The 17th hole is a par 4 that can be shortened if you’re willing to hit over the craggy cliff. And the 18th hole is a par 5 that parallels the same cliff for 500 glorious yards.

The views at Cabot Cliffs have been compared to those at Cypress Point Club in Monterey, California, but Cypress Point is a private club, which means you have to be sponsored by a member to play the course. Cabot Cliffs has now joined Cypress Point as one of the top 10 golf courses in the world, but unlike Cypress Point, Cabot Cliffs is completely open to the public.

Grab A Post-Round Drink At The Cabot Bar

If you’re staying on the property, a shuttle will take you back to Cabot Links (where the lodging is located) from Cabot Cliffs. After either round, you can sit at the Cabot Bar and enjoy a drink overlooking the 18th hole at Cabot Links.

The Cabot Bar is also a great spot for a pre-round breakfast if you’re looking for something quick. The staff at Cabot knows that you’ll likely be joining them for every meal during your stay, so they’ve prepared many options for each meal. But of all the options, the post-round drink and snack at the Cabot Bar might be the best.

Dine At Panorama Restaurant

If it’s fine dining that you’re looking for, Cabot has got that as well. Panorama Restaurant, also overlooking the 18th hole of Cabot Links, offers the perfect place for dinner after your round. The restaurant is aware that you’re looking for the perfect meal (and perhaps the perfect glass of wine) to cap off your evening, and it certainly provides it, along with an amazing view of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Given that there are many fishing villages nearby, the best dishes at Panorama are the seafood dishes. Try the Nova Scotia lobster, Atlantic salmon, or seared local halibut.

Consider A Whale-Watching Tour

If you’re looking to get away from golf for a while, there are whale-watching tours available in Inverness during the summer months. During August and September, the whale-watching excursions depart from Inverness Harbour, but in June and July, you’ll have to make the 45-minute drive to the village of Chéticamp, Nova Scotia, to catch one of the whale-watching excursions from the harbor there.

You’ll likely see four types of whales (pilot, minke, humpback, and finback) as well as dolphins, porpoises, and seals. The views of the Nova Scotia coastline are incredible — after all, that’s the reason this location was chosen for the golf resort. Cliffs and beaches next to the sea provide a spectacular setting for one of the most amazing golf adventures in the world.

Can’t get enough of Nova Scotia? Here are nine other spots to visit in the stunning province.

Visiting Argentina: 6 Things To Know Before You Go

Argentina is one of my favorite places after a year and a half of world travel. In terms of land mass, it’s the eighth largest country in the world, but having recently spent about four months in the country, I can’t believe that one land has so much diversity.

I stood at the gateway to Antarctica, admired the beauty of Patagonia, hiked a glacier, drank fabulous wine, climbed rainbow-colored mountains, walked on salt flats, and was humbled by the convergence of nature in Iguazu.

While Argentina is an amazing place to visit, there are some surprising things you should prepare for if it’s on your bucket list. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Tourists admiring Iguazu Falls in Argentina. — Iguazu Falls / R.M. Nunes / Shutterstock

1. Inflation Will Impact You Differently Every Day

The value of the Argentine peso is a moving target. If you’re traveling with dollars or euros, food, lodging, and travel are cheap. The downside is that most people want to be paid in cash. This won’t bother you until you enter the financial rabbit hole at an ATM.

First, you’ll learn that national banks allow you to withdraw only 4,500 pesos per transaction; that’s less than $100 as of October 2019. Luckily, this has nothing to do with your daily maximum withdrawal amount. Unfortunately, you’ll pay a hefty fee for each withdrawal. Think a teller can help you? They told me to go back to the ATM and make multiple withdrawals. Picture the steam coming out of my ears. I also found that my U.S. bank card worked like a bullet in a round of Russian roulette. I had to try all the machines in a bank lobby to find one that would accept my card.

Foreign banks allow you to get up to 7,500 pesos at once. The fee is higher, but lower than what you’d pay to complete multiple 4,500-peso withdrawals. Once I realized how much money I lost getting cash, I decided to use credit cards. But I can’t tell you how many times restaurants and stores that had card machines told me their machine wasn’t working. I often wondered whether that was true.

I recommend you always have the equivalent of $100 in pesos. Especially in smaller towns, you may find that there’s only one bank and your card is declined, or that the machine isn’t working on a given day.

Argentinan meats at a street food market. — Alexandr Vorobev / Shutterstock

2. Ditch Your Diet

Whatever healthy eating habits you have should be put on the back burner before going to Argentina. The rumors that the best meat in the world is available here are true. I have high cholesterol. I went from eating meat once a month to eating it daily, sometimes twice a day. One of Argentina’s fantastic delicacies is the asad: a plate filled with a variety of grilled meats. Make sure to try at least one tenedor libre. This is a buffet where you go up to the grill and point to every sizzling piece of meat you want and eat as much as you want. Of course, you should pair this with red wine.

Malbec is another reason to forget your diet. It’s excellent and it’s cheap, and you may end up drinking it three times a day. If you order it by the glass, they usually fill it to the top.

If you’re vegetarian, a trip to Argentina may be a challenge for you. Aside from meat, you may feel that carbohydrates are your only option since most other restaurants serve pizza, pasta, and empanadas.

If you tire of meat and carbs, river fish is an unexpected delicacy. As a native New Yorker, I balk at eating river fish because my mind goes to the East River. I wouldn’t want to touch anything that comes out of there, let alone eat it. In Argentina, however, pollution is minimal. Trout is available everywhere, but each city has another fish unique to its nearby river or rivers. One tip: Make sure to ask for the plain, grilled version. Otherwise you might find your fish smothered in melted cheese.

The only meal I found disappointing during my time in Argentina was breakfast. I felt like it was Halloween and they substituted candied apples with sucrose-laden bread and pastries. Even the cereal was sweet. The only escape from sugar was eggs or slices of ham and cheese. Did I mention I have high cholesterol?

I’m not sure how Argentinians survive past their teens. I can only presume it’s because of yerba mate.

The traditional Argentinian yerba mate drink. — Aneta_Gu / Shutterstock

Yerba mate is a drink. Yerba is a plant grown in the Misiones region of Argentina. The dried leaves are placed into a mate, or cup. Warm water is poured over them and sipped through a metal straw called a bombilla. Throughout Argentina you’ll see people carrying thermoses around and drinking it all day long. Yerba is reputed to lower cholesterol, and a recent study suggested it may delay the onset of Parkinson’s. The true magic of yerba mate, however, is connection.

If you can bring yourself to share a straw with a stranger, you’ll end up in fascinating discussions with potential new friends. My first sip of yerba mate was in El Calafate with two women from Buenos Aires. We stayed in touch, and when I visited Buenos Aires four months later, they traveled over an hour to spend the day with me.

On another occasion, a friend and I arrived in a small town with no place to stay. He left me to watch the bags while he sorted out accommodation. It was freezing, so I went into the nearest store. Within minutes I was sharing a mate with the shop owner. We spoke about life in the small town. When my friend returned, so did her husband. He drove us, and our bags, to our hostel!

Tourists in downtown Cordoba, Argentina. — Cordoba / saiko3p / Shutterstock

4. Learn Some Spanish

Even a few phrases is better than nothing. You may find yourself in places where little or no English is spoken. If you don’t have time or money to learn, watch TV. I met several foreigners who learned the language by watching Spanish soap operas!

Argentina has its own version of Spanish that stems from its Spanish colonization, its original inhabitants, and waves of European immigrants. Rest assured that if you speak any version of the language you’ll find your way!

An endearing part of Argentinian culture is its informality. Everyone will greet you with either tu or vos. The latter is unique to Argentina and is a substitute for tu. The result of this familiarity? I felt like every stranger was just a friend I hadn’t yet met.

Two dogs at a park in Buenos Aires, Argentina. — shu2260 / Shutterstock

5. Beware Of Dogs

Outside of big cities like Buenos Aires and Salta, dogs are everywhere. You’ll think they’re strays because they wander off-leash without collars.

In fact, most are well fed at home — and well fed by everyone else! They adopt a restaurant by day and go home in the evening. In between, if you’re a dog lover and you pet them, you’ll end up with a new friend. Be careful though, because they will often follow you. I once had three dogs follow me for an entire afternoon! They came on a hike with me and waited as I entered and exited shops. I was sad when they finally took off at dusk.

My favorite story was of a giant dog perched on the picnic table outside an asado restaurant. The owners explained that each day, when the dog was ready for dinner, he’d scratch his paw on the restaurant window and they’d bring him the day’s scraps!

A tourist hiking on a trail in El Chalten. — El Chalten / Pakawat Thongcharoen / Shutterstock

6. Understand Where The Beauty Lies

Argentina may be the only country I’ve visited where the majority of the interesting sites are outside the cities instead of the cities themselves.

Hiking the Perito Moreno glacier is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. (Note: They restrict the hike to people under 65.) It’s easily accessible from El Calafate, a small town with gnome monuments as its main attraction. If you enjoy hiking, you’ll want to go to El Chalten, which offers beautiful trails and views. The town itself, however, has only souvenir shops, restaurants, and places to sleep. The Iguazu waterfall is located a few kilometers from the town of Iguazu. Unfortunately, I couldn’t believe that a place with so much tourism could be so run down.

Argentina is one of the most fascinating and diverse places I’ve ever been. Like anyplace, it comes with a unique set of challenges. One of the greatest things about Argentina is its people. Even when traveling alone, I never felt lonely. This country is full of some of the most beautiful land and animals in the world and, more importantly, some of the most beautiful people you’ll ever meet.

Traveling South America? Here are eight reasons to add Santiago, Chile to your travel bucket list.

Read our top choices for hotels near Iguazu Falls.