Where to Find the Best Pizza in Rome

Browsing the results of Zagat's 2013 Top Food In NYC survey is just a bit like strolling down a Manhattan street on a still-warm October evening: You may catch the aromas of garlic, lemongrass, and grilled meats from bustling kitchens, the bouquet of freshly uncorked reds and whites at sidewalk tables—but you ain't got the time or the money to sit down and order a nice dinner for yourself. In a nutshell, New York's best restaurants are mind-blowingly expensive. Don't get me wrong. I'm a native New Yorker and I'm as proud as the next guy (well, unless the next guy happens to be Eric Ripert) that our restaurants are as innovative, diverse, and uncompromising as the five boroughs themselves. But geez, can a father of two on a magazine editor's salary catch a break? Well, yeah. As a matter of fact, some of the chefs whose eateries top this year's Zagat survey are enterprising and forward-thinking enough to have launched affordable spinoffs of their restaurants. Not ready, willing, or able to lavish $300+ per person on a single meal any time soon? Check out these tasty NYC alternatives, where the creativity of top chefs is plated daily for a fraction of the flagship prices: Bouchon Bakery. Thomas Keller's French restaurant Per Se ranked number three on this year's Zagat survey, and it comes with a price tag to match that honor—topping $300 per person. But Keller's awesome Bouchon Bakery, with locations at NYC's Columbus Circle and Rockefeller Center (not to mention Yountville, Calif., Beverly Hills, and the Venetian in Las Vegas) serves up luxurious quiches, delicate croissants, and its namesake bouchons (cork-shaped brownie-like treats), among other peerless baked goods at only slightly higher than average bakery prices. Bar Boulud. At number four on the Zagat survey, Daniel Boulud's eponymous Daniel serves some of the finest French cuisine in the the city, but you can't really get out of there for less than, say, $140 or so. Meet Bar Boulud, near Lincoln Center for the Peforming Arts on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Offering innovative riffs on corn soup, roasted chicken, and ravioli, this comfortable joint has a prix fixe lunch for $29 and dinner for two for $74. Spice Market. Alsatian star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Jean-Georges is number six on the Zagat survey, but for those a little antsy about the $150+ price tag, there's Spice Market, a gem in New York's meatpacking district. A $25 prix fixe lunch on weekdays and reasonably priced south Asia-inspired dishes like Thai noodles, vindaloo, and other, yes, spicy favorites allow you to experience Vongerichten's breathtaking imagination at a down-to-earth price.

The Car-Free Traveler, Lauren Matison, co-founder and editor of offMetro.com. The last time I woke to the sounds of cock-a-doodle-doo, I was in a farmhouse in the south of France, very far from home in Manhattan. While I haven't set my alarm ringtone to "rooster" since that trip four years ago, I do miss omelets with freshly laid eggs and the buzz of bees in the lavender bushes. On a recent morning that finally smelled like autumn in New York, I found myself wondering where a car-less New Yorker can wake up on a farm without having to drive or fly? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are over 129,850 farms in the Northeast, but most do not offer farmcations or easily accessible roads. Not to be deterred, and hungry for a little peace and quiet—and those freshly laid eggs—I unearthed five outstanding spots celebrating a new farm to table to bed movement. The Homestead at Seven Arrows East   Sustainable Slumber: Though just a 45-minute ferry ride from Manhattan, this year-round yoga retreat, education studio, and CSA farm could not feel farther away from the city. Perched on 20 acres of land on the banks of the Navesink River in Monmouth County, New Jersey, The Homestead is lovingly looked after by former Brooklyn farmers Meg, Michael, and Neil and their Maremma Sheep Dogs, trained livestock guardians that live with the goats, which you're welcome to milk. Nestled near 700-acre Hartshorne Woods and Sandy Hook, this sustainable sanctuary thrives on sharing its organic produce and pearls of agronomic wisdom while inviting city folk to roam free, read under an apple tree, and reboot. In addition to the monthly yoga retreats, The Homestead offers classes ranging from beekeeping to soup and bread making to growing and foraging edible mushrooms. If you want to check out the place before spending the night in their cozy, minimalist digs, attend one of their new BYOB vegan farm dinners (http://veganfarmtotabledinner-eorg.eventbrite.com/, $75), featuring a five course menu that, "we feel, demonstrates how luxuriously one can eat from one's own field." (Hartshorne Road, Locust, NJ, http://sevenarrowseast.com/, dorm room for $400, private room for $650 for a three-day retreat, which includes lodging, meals, and workshops.) Get There: Seven Arrows is 45 minutes from Manhattan and reachable via Seastreak Ferry to Atlantic Highlands. Chebeague Island Inn Sustainable Slumber: On the tiny turtle-shaped island of Chebeaugue (that's shuh-Beeg, meaning 'isle of many springs') off the coast of Portland, Maine, this grand hilltop hotel dating back to the 1920s is the kind of hidden gem travelers want but rarely make the effort to find. The journey, which takes you from a scenic train trip to the Old Port to a ferry, is half the fun of the getaway and worth every step. Once you've arrived, there is golf, tennis, boating, bocce ball, free bikes, and plenty of secluded rocky coves reminiscent of a Hopper painting (visit Deer Point and Bennett Cove), but the draw for adventurous foodies will be the Farm to Table package (available late May—October 7). The special includes a two-night stay, daily gourmet breakfast, a box lunch and local bottle of Oyster River Wine, a guided tour of Second Wind Farm, and a three-course dinner for two using produce from the farm. The package requires a $100 donation towards the farm, where much of the Inn's menu is sourced. After learning about Second Wind, island farming and the deep-rooted relationship the hotel has with local farmers and fishermen, join Executive Chef Rowe as he creates your farm-to-table meal. (61 South Road, Chebeague Island, http://www.chebeagueislandinn.com, from $180/night, add on $100 for the Farm to Table package and call 207/846-5155 to book it.) Get There: Take Amtrak to Portland. Hop a taxi or take the 5 Bus to the Metro Pulse station, and walk 10 minutes to the port for the leisurely 90-minute Casco Bay Ferry ride ($11.05 for a round-trip ride). Make arrangements prior to arrival and the Inn will send a complimentary van to pick you up. Sprout Creek Inn Sustainable Slumber: When you open the front door to your cottage, there won't be concrete or rushed pedestrians or cabs, and the only honks you'll hear will be from ducks. You'll want to greet the neighbors-chickens, goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and their babies-who you'll soon get to know on a first name basis. You never thought you'd feel at home on the range, but here, surrounded by green pastures, happy animals, and a private outdoor garden, the farm life suits you-if just for the weekend. Stock your cottage pantry with artisanal cheese, charcuterie, eggs, produce, pasta, and baked goods at the Sprout Creek Farm market, then roll up your sleeves to milk the cows, feed the sheep or gather eggs. In between a hot air balloon ride (that lifts off from the farm) and a cheese-making workshop, you'll discover this is the easiest place to unplug. Chef Mark Fredette can prepare lunch or dinner, which comes with a complimentary bottle of wine and a cheese plate, so you won't have to dine elsewhere and leave the farm-except for that aerial tour of the Hudson Valley. The next time you're in Whole Foods, pick up Sprout Creek's new Kinkead or Batch 35 cheese and remember how you spent a weekend on a farm two hours north of New York City. When was the last time you thought of cheese as something more than what goes on a cracker? (34 Lauer Road, Poughkeepsie, http://www.sproutcreekfarm.org, the Country Cottage Getaway at Sprout Creek Farm is $475 for a two-night stay for up to five people. To make a reservation, call Andrea 845/485-8438 or email andrea@sproutcreekfarm.org.) Get There: Take Metro-North Hudson line to Poughkeepsie, then a Del Ray taxi, 845/452-1222, for the 15-minute ride to the farm. Ocean House  Sustainable Slumber: Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk, and Block Island, the Ocean House on Watch Hill originally opened in 1868 and comprises 13 acres of oceanfront landscape and a 650-foot private white-sand beach, where you'll spend nights listening to crashing waves and a crackling bonfire. On any given day, complimentary resort activities might include tai chi, a croquet clinic, juicing and cocktail classes, art workshops and movie screenings, and sitting on a plush couch doing nothing but enjoying live jazz. Although there are many reasons to stay here, it's the Farm + Vine series that the Ocean House is most proud of. Every week, the program offers free classes led by a food forager or chef in Seasons restaurant's open exhibition kitchen or community farm. In addition to on-site cooking demonstrations and wine tastings, guests are invited to visit local farms, wineries and fishing docks to select the ingredients for that evening's meal. The monthly Farm + Vine dinner ($95/pp) brings the best New England chefs to prepare hors d'oeuvres and a three-course, wine-paired dinner. The monthly In the Kitchen Culinary Education series will send you home feeling inspired to cook using local, in-season fare after learning some secrets from the resort's chefs. (1 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill, http://www.oceanhouseri.com/, $400/night. Receive 20% off the best available room rate when you enjoy a Farm+Vine dinner. Call 401/584-7000 for rates and availability.) Get There: Take the three-hour Amtrak ride to Westerly, RI. The resort will send a Mercedes to shuttle you the short drive back and forth; just let them know when you reserve. Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa Sustainable Slumber: Green travelers and the city weary will find this 75-acre refuge on the Hudson River the best place near home to eat good food, reconnect with nature, and just be. You'll start the morning with farm fresh eggs, peach-topped buttermilk pancakes, homemade scones and fair trade coffee. Then you'll stroll a short distance across Swan Pond to visit the heritage chickens, honey bees, angora goats, donkeys, peacocks, and rescued llamas at the Inn's 40-acre organic Millstone Farm. After picking berries and apples in the orchard and eating them above the eponymous waterfall, you'll lie by the pool, looking through floor to ceiling windows that face lush grounds and the Hudson, never feeling more relaxed-and that's before a visit to the spa. Here in Poughkeepsie, you can have your farm and leave it, too. After tennis and a drink by the wood-burning fireplace in your room, you'll head to Henry's Farm to Table for dinner, where you'll smile at the food on your plate, knowing well, perhaps for the first time at a restaurant, just where it came from. (220 North Road, Milton, http://www.buttermilkfallsinn.com, from $300-$400 off peak, $350-$450 peak for two people) Get There: Take the 90-minute Metro-North or Amtrak train ride to Poughkeepsie station. Take a 12-minute Del Ray taxi ride (845/452-1222) to the Inn. offMetro.com promotes a “greener” lifestyle through inspiring day trips and weekend jaunts that are easily accessible via alternative modes of transportation, be it by bike, bus, subway, or boat. Visit offMetro.com for more vacation ideas.

Sophie Gackowski writes for HomeAway UK Before the Romans ever set foot on British soil, our unassuming island was well-scarred by warring tribes; yet these were no barbarians. On the contrary, our fertile land was alive with thriving settlements, sophisticated cultures and incredible feats of human ingenuity as early as 5,000 years ago. If you're planning a trip to the United Kingdom, you'll find hundreds of historical settings; from stone circles and hill forts to preserved villages and brochs. But before you book your flights and pencil in your historical itinerary, take a glimpse into the past with seven fascinating ancient sites. Castell Henllys, Pembrokeshire. With four replica Iron Age roundhouses, Castell Henllys is an incredible site for ancient history buffs. Situated in the Wales' Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (a fantastic destination in its own right), it's been built on top of an existing hill fort, some 2,400 years old. Excavated remains have provided architects with an authentic portrait of how the Celts really lived, so today, you can grind flour and make bread just like the Celts did, before exploring the area's beautiful beaches. Head to Ceibwr, an inlet of rocks backed by dramatic cliffs, to spot porpoise. Skara Brae, Orkney. Skara Brae—an ancient village sitting on the white sands of Bay o' Skaill, Orkney—is possibly the most famous of our archaeological sites. Offering an unparalleled glimpse into Scottish life during the late Neolithic period, it's composed of eight separate dwellings, connected by a number of low, winding passages. Amongst the stone beds, seats and shelves, budding historians can glimpse everyday life 5,000 years ago in amazing detail; precious artefacts, including jewellery, gaming dice and religious idols, are displayed in the excellent visitor centre. Chysauster Ancient Village, Cornwall. First occupied some 2,000 years ago, Chysauster Ancient Village has some distinctly Cornish features. Although a late Iron Age settlement, its dwellings are now known as 'Courtyard Houses'; they consisted of an open area (due in no small part to Cornwall's favourable climate!), surrounded by several thatched rooms. You'll also find the remains of a 'fogou' here, an underground passage still shrouded in mystery: whether used for storage, religious ceremonies or refuge is unknown. Travel to the area during spring to admire the beautiful bluebell carpets. Tre'r Ceiri Hill-Fort, Gwynedd. Tre'r Ceiri, or 'Town of the Giants', is thought to be one of the finest Iron Age sites in Wales. Not only does it house the remains of some 150 huts (this is one of our more expansive sites!), but also offers outstanding views to Ireland from its hilltop location, on the eastern peak of Yr Eifl. The roundhouses—some of which are actually rectangular or square—sit alongside well-preserved ramparts and gateways, with walls still four metres high in places. For keen hikers and walkers, it's an absolute must while exploring the stunning scenery of Gywnedd. Dun Carloway, Lewis. It's one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland, and situated on the spectacular Isle of Lewis: Dun Carloway's a must when visiting the Outer Hebrides. But "what exactly is a broch?" I hear you ask. Well, brochs are fortifications found all over the north and west of Scotland, first built some 2,300 years ago. It's thought that they were the dwellings of tribal leaders, imposing and expansive as they were. Indeed, Dun Carloway still sits nine metres tall in places, but also has a great series of underground tunnels and cells. Afterwards, why not visit the nearby Calanais stone circle? Stanwick Camp, Yorkshire. The Brigantes were the most important tribe in pre-Roman Britain, and first lived in the gargantuan Stanwick Camp. Once comprising five and a half miles of ramparts and over 700 acres of land, the site certainly grabs the imagination, if the stories haven't already: Iron Age swords and severed heads are just some of the excavated remains found here! Today, it's a great place for a peaceful stroll: start at the Church of St John (it houses carvings dating back to the 9th century), before making your way up Tofts Hill for great views of Yorkshire. Castlerigg, Cumbria. Located near Keswick, in the Lake District, Castlerigg is one of the earliest stone circles in Britain. Thought to have been raised some 5,000 years ago, its 38 radiating stones surround an inner rectangle of ten; this all points, of course, to significant astronomical alignment, but like so many ancient sites, its exact purpose remains unknown. With panoramic views across to Lonscale, Blencathra and Skiddaw Fell, it's an amazing vantage point. And located as it is just a short drive from Penrith, you can visit King Arthur's legendary Round Table, too. Follow Sophie Gackowski on Google+

Sophie Gackowski writes for HomeAway UK We may not share the sunshine that usually defines a trip to the beach, but here in the United Kingdom, we have some pretty spectacular shores. From quaint, cottage-lined quays to rugged and dramatic cliffs, and from traditional fishing villages to isolated, pristine sands, there's something for every seaside lover; and then some. So next time you're visiting our fair, sea-surrounded isle, why not make the most of our incredible coastline? Stretching for some 11,073 miles—and that's just around the main island—you're sure to fall in love with one of these quintessentially British seaside breaks. Brighton, England. Brighton is synonymous with the British seaside: tourists have been flocking here since the early 19th century. From its wonderful promenade overlooking the ocean, to its myriad shops selling buckets and spades—essential tools for the budding sandcastle builder‚this town was seemingly made to create happy childhood memories. Grab an ice cream and enjoy a donkey ride along the sand, or explore its history and heritage, admiring the extravagant architecture of the Royal Pavilion. Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Often described as Caribbean-style coastlines, the beaches of the Outer Hebrides are beautiful. White, powdery sands are lapped by bright, turquoise waves; indeed, the only thing that separates these Scottish shores is their distinct lack of palm trees (and, sadly, warm sunshine). A particular favorite is Bosta Beach, on the Isle of Lewis; a cove where heather-laden mountains loom over its lapping sea, as ancient Iron-age dwellings can be seen in the distance, it's a paradisaical place to spend the day. Cornwall, England. Cornwall, particularly its North Coast, has long been known as a surfing paradise: it has some of the best rollers in the United Kingdom. Situated in the far southwest of the country, however, it's also home to our most southerly point, Land's End, as well as some of the prettiest beaches in Europe. When you're here, don't miss out on quintessentially Cornish products: cream teas, ice cream and pasties are a must, but no evening is complete without sampling the delectable, local seafood. Lobster, anyone? Pembrokeshire, Wales. Head for the Pembrokeshire National Park, and you won't be disappointed: although Wales is often overlooked as a seaside destination, it's home to some of the United Kingdom's most stunning shores. Saundersfoot—a picturesque fishing village—comes highly recommended, strewn as it is with traditional fish and chip shops and pubs selling local ales. It also sits at the bottom of a deep, wooded valley, so you can combine coastal walks with countryside strolls, making the most of both worlds. Blackpool, England. Come rain or shine, Blackpool's a brilliant spot if you want to immerse yourself in the seaside atmosphere of Britain's past. Yet another destination where the Victorians chose to holiday, it's kept much of its old-world charm, particularly in its tower—essentially the Eiffel, in miniature! Famed for its Pleasure Beach, littered with roller-coasters, carousels and coconut stalls, Blackpool's also known for its striped sticks of rock (but watch your teeth on these sweet treats!), and the iconic, if somewhat politically incorrect puppet show, Punch and Judy. Stonehaven, Scotland. If the likes of Brighton and Blackpool all sound a bit too much, then head for the rugged, secluded shores of Stonehaven. With the coastal trail here running for some 150 miles, there's certainly no chance you'll run out of places to explore. A typically Scottish landscape of wind-battered rocks, ancient castles and swaying grasses, it's an ideal destination for the keen walkers among you; and, when you tire of trekking, you can book a tour of a whisky distillery to warm yourself up with a wee dram. Follow Sophie Gackowski on Google+