Larry Swingen

Chelan, Wash., on Lake Chelan Photo 1 of 3 Everywhere you look in Chelan, some ruddy-cheeked soul is kayaking, swimming, fishing, or windsurfing on the 50-mile-long glacier-fed lake (kayak rental, lakeridersports.com, from $40). The Stillwater Inn, a butter-yellow 1906 house just a block from the beach, makes an ideal home base, thanks in part to the fortifying breakfasts of fresh-baked goods and fruit served each day (509/682-3500, thestillwaterinn.com, from $135). Two miles down the road, in downtown, the one-screen Ruby Theatre has been entertaining families since 1914, and these days it doubles as a community meeting place that hosts benefit concerts, dance recitals, and school plays (509/682-5016, rubytheatre.com, $8). Don't leave without taking a ferry up the lake—the fjord-like gorges make for stunning scenery, with the slopes of the North Cascades dropping dramatically into the deep-blue water. Most ferries make a stop in Stehekin, population 95, where the local organic garden sells fresh vegetables, goat cheese, and yogurt for an off-the-beaten-path afternoon picnic. (ladyofthelake.com, round trip from $39). Grand Marais, Minn., on Lake Superior Photo 1 of 3 Lake Superior begins at the edge of town, and the Boundary Waters—a series of connecting lakes that offer 1,500 miles of canoe routes—is just 25 miles southwest. Fishing for prime trout and salmon has improved in recent years owing to a massive restocking program. Before you set out for a day of activities on the lake (try Bear Track Outfitting Co., 800/795-8068, bear-track.com, rentals from $35), fuel up at World's Best Donuts. The name sounds like hyperbole until you taste the confections: The simple cake doughnut, with a dense, chewy inside and a golden, just-crisp-enough outside, is a thing of beauty (worldsbestdonutsmn.com, from 70¢). For dinner, head to the Angry Trout Cafe at sunset and ask for a table outside. The combination of simply prepared, freshly caught fish, a light evening breeze, and sunlight reflecting off the lake is enough to make you consider investing in a summer cabin (218/387-1265, angrytroutcafe.com, entrées from $10). East Bay Suites has rooms with lake views, kitchenettes, and balconies (21 Wisconsin St., 800/414-2807, eastbaysuites.com, from $129). Dillon, Colo., on Lake Dillon Photo 1 of 3 Lake adventures in this Summit County town—within 15 miles of ski-season hotspots Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain—start at the Dillon Marina, with weekend sailing regattas, boat rentals, and meet-ups for guided Saturday-morning hikes and kid-friendly wildflower walks (boat/kayak rental from $105, nature hikes free). Find locals at the Tiki Bar, an island-inspired lakeside watering hole where the signature drink, the rum runner, is so popular (and so potent) that the owners instituted a two-rum-runner limit per person (151 Marina Dr., 970/262-6309). From the marina, head two blocks to downtown for the Friday farmers market, where more than 90 vendors sell fresh produce and folk-rock musicians entertain the crowd (Buffalo St., June 11–Sept. 24, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.). For some good old-fashioned fun, spend an afternoon at 18-lane Lakeside Bowl, the only bowling alley in the county (970/468-6257, $3.50 per game). The rooms at the Best Western Ptarmigan Lodge are nothing to write home about, but the lakeside location just a block from the marina is hard to beat. Rooms with decks and lake views are available (ptarmiganlodge.com, from $85). Forest Grove, Ore., near Hagg Lake Photo 1 of 2 Just 25 miles west of Portland, Forest Grove is quintessential Oregon: laid-back and outdoorsy with a healthy dose of quirk. The historic downtown is lined with old-fashioned ironwork street lamps, sophisticated wine bars, and boutique gift shops. Institutions like Joe's Ice Cream & Deli will take you back to an America you thought was long gone—get the black-licorice ice cream, a townie favorite (2001 Main St., 503/357-3077). The 1,100-acre Hagg Lake is an easy nine miles away and sits at the base of Oregon's coastal mountain range, surrounded by picnic areas, two boat launches, and 15 miles of hiking trails. Serious fishermen appreciate that the lake is well-stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and yellow perch, and waterskiing and kayaking opportunities are easy to find, too (503/927-5489, $10 per hour/$40 per day). The area's most unique lodging option comes from the McMenamin brothers, famous in the Northwest for converting old buildings into hotels and bars. In 2000, they restored a late 20th-century Masonic home and opened McMenamins Grand Lodge, a 77-room hotel. On rainy days, hang out at the lodge and watch a second-run movie at the Compass Room Theater with a burger and fries; there's also a heated outdoor saltwater soaking pool for post-waterskiing recuperation (mcmenamins.com, king with private bath $115). Rangeley, Maine, on Rangeley Lakes Photo 1 of 3 Maine is home to more undeveloped land than any other state in the country, so keep an eye peeled for herons, eagles, and, of course, moose—maybe while sailing Rangeley Lake on a guided boat tour led by Sam-O-Set Four Seasons and Dockside Sports Center. The company can also set you up with anything from a basic canoe to a 20-foot speedboat (207/864-5137, samosetfourseasons.com, tours $25 per person, canoe rental from $25, speedboat from $200). Back in town, browse the quilt and antiques shops downtown, like Threads Galore, a quilter's paradise with close to 1,000 bolts of fabric, plus classes where you can meet locals (27 Pleasant St., threadsgalore.com, classes from $20). Then head south about five miles to Edelheid Road, where you'll find the Maine Mountain Maple plantation. Take a tour of the sugar shack, where locally tapped sticky sap is made into sugary syrup, and one free taste later, you'll never buy the generic stuff again (50 Edelheid Rd., mainemountainmaple.com). Rest your head at North Country Inn Bed & Breakfast. It's a bit like visiting your favorite great-aunt—if she served you quiche or pancakes topped with fresh fruit every morning (northcountrybb.com, from $99). Leland, Mich., on Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau Photo 1 of 3 Leland rests on a peninsula between Lake Michigan and petite Lake Leelanau. Families who've been spending the summer here for generations often arrive by boat and never set foot in a car during their stay. The town's roots as a fishing village aren't hard to spot—the main attraction here is Fishtown, a cluster of old shanties converted into shops and restaurants, now a lakeside historic district. Locals love the pretzel-bread sandwiches at the Village Cheese Shanty (199 E. River Rd., villagecheeseshanty.com), and kids never let parents walk by the Dam Candy Store without stopping for an ice cream cone or chocolate-covered cherries (197 W. River Rd.). The 107-year-old Riverside Inn and Restaurant, one block from downtown, has a homey feel but is classy enough to offer an extensive international wine list and dining on the deck with views of the Leland River (302 River St., theriverside231/256-9971, 231/256-9971, 231/256-9971, -inn.com, from $100). If you do bring a car, make time to explore the wineries of northern Michigan. The pinot noir from Chateau Fontaine, just three miles outside Leland, has a vibrant berry flavor—it's the perfect summer wine (2290 S. French Rd., 231/256-0000, chateaufontaine.com). Truckee, Calif., near Donner Lake Photo 1 of 2 This year, skip Lake Tahoe and head 16 miles north to Donner Lake's warmer water temperatures and small-town atmosphere. Originally an Old West town (you can still visit the original 1875 jailhouse), Truckee is a great base for exploring the lake's many outdoor activities—lately, stand-up paddleboarding is the sport of choice (Truckee Sports Exchange, 530/582-4510, truckeesportsexchange.com, boards $60 per day, kayaks $40 per day). Truckee also has a growing local art scene—a slew of new galleries has opened recently, including Riverside Studios, which sells pottery, jewelry, and clothing made by a collective of area artists (10374 Donner Pass Rd., 530/587-3789, riversideartstudios.com), and Carmel Gallery, home to Olof and Elizabeth Carmel's impressionistic prints and photographs (9940 Donner Pass Rd., 888/482-4632, thecarmelgallery.com). Whatever your plans, carb up first with the All Day Addiction, a concoction of hash browns, avocado, Canadian bacon, and two eggs, at 1940s-style diner Jax at the Tracks (10144 W. River St., 530/550-7450, jaxtruckee.com, Addiction $10). Later, you can relive your adventures over a Base Camp Golden Ale at Fifty Fifty Brewing Co., where all the beers are brewed in-house (530/587-2337, fiftyfiftybrewing.com, beers from $4.50), and watch the sun set over the water from the redwood deck at Loch Leven Lodge (lochlevenlodge.com, rooms from $120). Oakland, Md., on Deep Creek Lake Photo 1 of 2 At the southern end of Deep Creek Lake, Oakland is home to Lakeside Creamery, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor dishing out 90 flavors to flocks of visitors. The peach ice cream, made from fresh local fruit and milk sourced from area dairy farms, is a perennial summer favorite. Right next door, Copper Kettle Popcorn sells the standard sweet-salty version and regional specialties like popcorn sprinkled with Old Bay, plus homemade fudge and chocolate-dipped pretzels (both shops at 20282 Garrett Hwy., 301/387-5655, ice cream from $2, popcorn from $5). You can get to both by car, but it's more fun to arrive by water and pull up to the boat slips. Deep Creek Marina rents everything from canoes to powerboats, plus kid-friendly toys like water trampolines (301/387-0732, trampoline rentals from $150). If it's swimming you're after, try the mile of shoreline at Deep Creek Lake State Park. Naturalists often lead free nature hikes and evening campfire talks centered around the area's black bear population (Discovery Center, 301/387-7067). Rest your head at the Lodges at Sunset Village, tucked deep in the woods about eight miles from Oakland. The cabins sleep four to 10 people and have working fireplaces, rustic knotty-pine furniture, and kitchenettes (rentals.deepcreek.com, two-bedroom cabins from $185). Want more lake towns? See the 2009 or 2008 edition of this list.

Barbecue is what brings people to Madangsui, the city's most critically acclaimed Korean restaurant. The long spartan room fills with diners who brown thin cuts of pork belly and boneless and butterflied beef short ribs on the tableside gas grill, and then wrap the meat in crisp lettuce. Every order comes with unlimited refills of banchan (kimchi, bean sprouts, and other side dishes). Seafood pancakes and traditional entrées like yook-hwe (shredded raw beef in sesame oil with egg yolk) round out the menu. 35 W. 35th St., 212/564-9333, madangsui.com, entrées from $11, lunch items all under $14. Smaller and cozier than many of its peers, Kunjip emphasizes barbecue but presents worthy alternatives, such as soothing sulungtang (beef soup) and budae chigae, a casserole of beef, sausage, bacon, vegetables, and a spicy red sauce. Waitresses hustle between closely situated tables to deliver steaming bowls of food. Bibimbob—a bowl of sticky rice, steamed vegetables, and ground beef topped with a fried egg—makes a great lunch deal, accompanied with a side of deonjang chige (bean curd casserole), for $13. 9 W. 32nd St., 212/216-9487, kunjip.net, entrées from $6, open 24/7. In Korean, mandoo means dumplings, and they're the main attraction at Mandoo Bar, a friendly little café that draws big lunchtime crowds. One wall is painted lime green, a vibrant touch in an otherwise understated room with wood tables and waiters dressed all in black. Steamed or fried multicolored dumplings (about $1 each) are stuffed with savory fillings, including pickled radish and cabbage, vegetables, and pork. Through the glass front of the restaurant, you can watch one or two women as they craft the mandoo by hand. 2 W. 32nd St., 212/279-3075. An oasis hidden on the fifth floor of a nondescript building, Juvenex Spa wows arrivals with its ginseng-and-sake-filled soaking ponds and detoxifying igloo-shaped sauna made of semiprecious jade. A Basic Purification Program includes the vigorous Korean Salt Glow Scrub, plus access to the sauna and soaking tubs, and nourishing treatments for the hair, face, and body ($115). Open around the clock, Juvenex has been known to attract Broadway performers in need of a postshow rubdown. 25 W. 32nd St., 5th Fl., 646/733-1330, juvenexspa.com, women-only 7 a.m.–5 p.m., couples 5 p.m.–7 a.m. Nearly all of the novels, cookbooks, and magazines are in Korean at Koryo Books, but the well-lit space is a fun place to browse, and it offers a quiet respite from the action outside. You'll also come across Korean-English dictionaries, cookbooks, and a quirky selection of gifts and souvenirs, such as small statues, vases, and colorful toys. 35 W. 32nd St., 212/564-1844. Chic young professionals flock to Third Floor Café for Tuesday-night happy hour, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., when $18 buys unlimited beer and food—not a high price to satisfy a craving for fried chicken or Korean specialties like flat fish cake and rice cake casserole smothered in spicy red sauce. A second wave crowds the lounge's plush banquettes come late night, when the views of twinkling 5th Avenue and the dim blue lighting above the bar create an alluring vibe. 315 5th Ave., 3rd Fl., 212/481-3669, open daily from 5 p.m. In typical Koreatown karaoke style, Grand Music Studio opens early and closes early—the next day. Enter from the street at WonJo, a Korean-Japanese restaurant, and head up to the third floor. Private rooms can accommodate large parties and are outfitted comfortably with couches, tables, colorful lights, and TV screens scrolling lyrics. Songbooks stocked with Korean and English pop tunes please casual crowds of 20-somethings looking to unwind after work and on weekends. A few rounds of soju, a Korean liquor similar to vodka, will bring out the karaoke in just about anyone. 23 W. 32nd St., 212/629-7171, open from 2 p.m. daily, $30 per hour for a group of up to four people, plus $5 for each additional person. TRENDINGKorean-style fried chicken—twice-fried with a choice of spicy glazes—is heating up. Two specialty fast-food joints opened in early 2010: Kyochon, a sleek franchise in the heart of K-town (319 5th Ave., from $7); and, about a 10-minute walk north, Bonchon, more of a lunch spot that draws mostly Midtown workers (207 W. 38th St., from $8).

Seven-month-old The Tar Pit, the latest installment from big-time L.A. restaurateur Mark Peel, takes its inspiration from the art deco age—the mirrored booths and wrought-iron palm fronds suggest the setting of a Howard Hughes flick. Mixologist Audrey Saunders, of New York's celebrated Pegu Club, developed cutting-edge drinks meant to be paired with sweet or savory small plates. The libations are separated into sours, aromatics, and champagne cocktails like the French 95 (bourbon, lemon, sugar, and champagne). Selections off the former two menus get more adventurous. There's the Bees Knees, a joint-tickling blend of gin, honey, and lemon, or the After Glow, mixed with aquavit, amaro, maraschino, and bianco vermouth. 609 N. La Brea Ave., 323/965-1300, tarpitbar.com, cocktails from $12. Listen up, fans of the smoky spirit mezcal, or the more popular Mexican export tequila—Las Perlas is the bar you've been waiting for. It's named for the bubbles that form when high-quality mezcal is shaken (the more perlas, or pearls, the better). A pool table and a jukebox lend a casual feel to Las Perlas, whose architecturally sophisticated interior is punctuated by custom woodwork and enormous 100-year-old Oaxacan mezcal bottles. Over at the bar, you can help yourself to complimentary snacks, including cacahuates (peanuts) and chicharrones (fried pork skins). Wash it all down with the likes of the Poblano Escobar (mezcal, poblano peppers, and pineapple) or the El Melón (mezcal, goji berries, cantaloupe foam, salt, and pepper). 107 E. 6th St., 213/988-8355, lasperlas.la, cocktails from $10. Chef José Andrés has racked up critical accolades and awards for the SLS Hotel's Bazaar, his 2-year-old shrine to molecular gastronomy. Another bragging right: It houses one of L.A.'s most-talked-about bars. Directly inside the Mid-City West hotel, guests are greeted by the quirky yet lavish interior of the Bazaar's Bar Centro. Filled to the brim most nights and barely navigable on the weekends, Bar Centro whips up concoctions so complex they're likely only offered at a handful of places around the globe. There are liquid-nitrogen cocktails in the form of potent caipirinhas and mojitos strained through cotton candy. With prices starting at $16, cocktails here are by no means affordable—or forgettable. 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., 310/246-5555, thebazaar.com, cocktails from $16. In the back room of Cole's restaurant, The Varnish is a speakeasy-themed cocktail joint from some of the biggest names in the business. Sasha Petraske (NYC's Milk & Honey, Dutch Kills, White Star), Eric Alperin (L.A.'s Osteria Mozza), and Cedd Moses (L.A.'s Broadway Bar, Golden Gopher, Seven Grand) teamed up to launch this oak-paneled, transporting one-room space in downtown L.A. With just a few seats at the bar, most patrons are relegated to about a dozen vintage booths salvaged from a graveyard of old trolley cars in New Orleans. While the bar serves plenty of classics, garnished with perfectly oversize ice cubes, especially ambitious—or indecisive—drinkers can choose a base liquor and let a more-than-adept bartender surprise them. 118 E. 6th St., 213/622-9999, thevarnishbar.com, cocktails from $12. The Roger Room, tricked out with rust-colored mohair booths and murals of carnival performers, follows in the footsteps of speakeasy-themed predecessors like the Varnish. There's no sign outside; look for the bouncer and the barred windows. On any given night, celebrities from Gerard Butler to Jon Hamm can be seen rubbing shoulders—quite literally, as the space continuously flirts with exceeding capacity—with in-the-know Angelenos. Try the Grifter, best described as an absinthe mojito, or the Spiced Mule, an import from Paris that pairs Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and ginger juice with lime juice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and club soda. To avoid being turned away, arrive before 10 p.m. 370 N. La Cienega Blvd., 310/854-1300, cocktails from $12. The landmark 1923 Millennium Biltmore Hotel has appeared in many films, from Chinatown to Beverly Hills Cop to Wedding Crashers. But the hotel remains most notorious as the last reported location the Black Dahlia was seen alive. Pay tribute to the murder victim at the on-site Gallery Bar, where her namesake martini combines Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, Chambord, Kahlúa, and orange peel garnish.The wood-paneled interior is rarely too packed, making it perfect for chatting over a well-crafted cocktail, minus the see-and-be-seen crowd. Chandeliers and the painted Renaissance-esque ceiling lend an element of Old Hollywood. 506 S. Grand Ave., 213/624-1011, millenniumhotels.com, cocktails from $10. Hotelier André Balazs knows how to manufacture a scene, and the environment at Bar Marmont, one door down from its namesake, Chateau Marmont, is no different. As a secluded rendezvous point on the Sunset Strip for tabloid fixtures and those whose job it is to keep them famous, Bar Marmont is prime turf for people watching. Bide your time with a cocktail and decadent bites from the Spotted Pig's Carolynn Spence. Libations of choice at this watering hole are the Westside (citrus vodka with fresh lemon juice, a pinch of mint, and a splash of club soda) and the Dorothy Palmer (gin, fresh lime juice, and a splash of Chambord topped with a splash of champagne). 8171 W. Sunset Blvd., 323/650-0575, chateaumarmont.com, cocktails from $10.

Great local meal... Chapitô, in Lisbon's Alfama neighborhood. This unassuming alfresco restaurant doubles as a circus training school and has breathtaking views over the tiled rooftops of Lisbon. We ate here on our first night and enjoyed some of the best calamari and octopus [PHOTO] we've ever tasted, not to mention a whole grilled fish. Rua da Costa do Castelo 7. Wish we'd known that... Our Spanish would be absolutely useless! We're both proficient in Spanish, and we thought it would help. Not so! Portuguese is a language unto itself (disabuse yourself of any notions that it resembles other romance languages), and we completely botched it. Despite considering ourselves fairly savvy when it comes to communicating abroad, we found that we were better received when we expressed ourselves in English, bookended by many por favors and obrigados, of course. Our favorite part... The tram from downtown Lisbon to Belém. As with any vacation, it's hard to pick just one favorite part, but Belém, a historical harbor, was a great place to visit—plus, lots of attractions that usually require admission are free on Sundays. We walked along the waterfront, checked out a monument to the explorers [PHOTO], toured a 16th-century castle (Torre de Belém), strolled around the beautifully restored Jerónimos monastery [PHOTO], and surveyed the neighborhoods nearby, including a truly spectacular city garden. Afterward, we treated ourselves to the famous pastéis de Belém (custard tarts) and Super Bock beer. [PHOTO] What we should have packed... An extra bag to bring home souvenirs. Portugal was full of wonderful things to buy for friends and family: hand-painted ceramics and tiles, port wine aplenty, olive oil, things made from cork, things made from leather, traditional Portuguese linens, delicious chocolates filled with the national liquor made of fermented cherries (ginjinha), and anything you can imagine with the good-luck rooster Barcelos on it. The list goes on and on.... Worth every penny... The Lisbon Oceanarium. [PHOTO] We ventured up to this newer part of town (the Parque das Naçõs) on our last day in Lisbon and were impressed with the state-of-the-art aquarium's conservation and sustainability work. In a country known the world over for its love of salt cod, it takes some guts to operate an aquarium dedicated to introducing people to more sustainable alternatives to the national favorite! The aquarium is divided into four parts (one for each of the oceans), which are united by a massive central column full of ocean life from around the globe. We were truly awestruck throughout our visit by the regal-looking puffins, the spirited penguins, the constantly grooming sea otters, and, of course, the thousands of fish. It was a true delight and one of the best aquariums we've ever visited. The surrounding neighborhood is also an architectural attraction unto itself, with plenty of great places to grab lunch or a beer after a morning at the oceanarium. Never again... Will we fly Iberia. We missed one connection on the way to Lisbon and nearly missed another on the way home for what appeared to be a general lackadaisical attitude toward schedules. Iberia also insists on booking closer connections than the average person can pull off—we ran from one end of the Madrid airport to the other, full-tilt, on two occasions, trying to make connections. Our bags did not make it home with us; they arrived (thankfully!) a few days later. Fun surprise... Touring the port cellars in Porto. We visited the Sandeman Cellars [PHOTO], and for a cool €4 ($5), we got a well-narrated tour by an English-speaking guide, dressed in the traditional black cloak and hat. Plus, a free tasting after the tour is included; we sipped on tawny and ruby ports. [PHOTO] The gift shop is also worth a stop. Total rip-off... The extra entry fee into Pena National Palace in Sintra. This isn't publicized well, but you don't need to pay admission to walk around the Pena gardens, which are delightful and well worth a stroll through. You can even walk right up to the palace and go to the gift shop without paying admission. The outside of the palace looks neat, but the inside is nothing special. As for sights that are worth the price of admission, we'd pick the National Palace in Sintra and the Moorish Castle [PHOTO], which rivals Belém as our favorite place we visited in Portugal. Moment when things got tense... Getting from the train to our hotel in Porto. After a long train ride up from Lisbon, we arrived in Porto—all our luggage in tow—but were determined to use public transportation. Let's just say it got the best of us. The Metro system is useless in downtown Porto; we got as close as we could to our hotel and still ended up walking about 15 minutes up and down steep hills and cobbled sidewalks in the hot afternoon sun. In the end, we gave up and took a cab—that circled the block and gave us the "gringo rate," so to speak. Learn from us: When you get tired of walking in Porto, TAKE A CAB. Overrated...The flea market near the Castelo in Lisbon—the Feira da Ladra. Despite receiving rave reviews online and in guidebooks, this was nothing more than a sprawling flea market with people selling their old clothes, random machinery parts, and bootleg CDs. There's far too much going on in Lisbon to waste your time here. We're still laughing about... How gosh darn CLEAN the public bathrooms were, everywhere we went. From retail shops to fast food restaurants—even the train station (!)—the bathrooms in Portugal were the cleanest, most well-tended facilities we've ever had the pleasure to use. Plus, they were always free. Sounds minor, but to have sanitary bathrooms nearby really put us at ease and let us focus on the things we came to see. Hotel we liked... Both the Zenit Lisboa in Lisbon and the Eurostars Das Artes in Porto were outstanding. The Zenit is near the Metro system, and the staff was courteous—we got a room with a Juliette balcony, perfect for enjoying alfresco snacks and vinho verde after a long day hitting the city streets. The Das Artes is in a great little arts district about 15 minutes from the riverfront in Porto, near excellent shopping and restaurants. We were newly engaged (and not afraid to announce it), so the staff sent up complimentary champagne and fruit on our first night. A touch of class never goes out of style!