Go Postal With All Things Coastal

My Aunt told me once that the reason why some of us are so drawn to the ocean is because everything and everyone was born from it. An interesting thought. There is something magical about being near the sea, which is why many of us choose to inhabit there. For those interested in all things seaside, Coastal Living is the perfect magazine to subscribe to. The issues not only cover home decorating tips and travel advice, but contain numerous articles on health, beauty, food and green-friendly tips.

You can check out their website here for interesting top ten lists and even more on coastal communities. Being a seafood junkie, I was so pleased to find a top ten list for Seafood and Wine Festivals all over the U.S.

The September issue of Coastal Living hits the stands August 25! The issue will include top ten road trips, a guide to oysters (!!), what to bring in your beach bag an so much more. Here are some examples of articles you will find in the September issue. Enjoy!


"BEAUTY AND THE BEACH: Bikini Bootcamp – Melissa Perlman, owner of Amansala resort in Tulum, Mexico and author of Bikini Bootcamp: Two Weeks to Your Ultimate Beach Body, gave Coastal Living the skinny on feeling your best at the beach. Some tips include: changing up your workouts, keeping your skin fresh, and working towards a toned core. (pg. 32)"

"Escape to a Beach Cottage – Debbie and Brad Weitz, owners of a home-furnishings and gift boutique in Atlanta, took us inside their beach cottage on St. Simons Island, where they escape for weekends of all play, no work. Built with a simple design and outdoor living space, this shanty is just one block from the beach. Steal some of their decorating tips so you can have a calm oasis like this for you and your family. (pg.74)"

"L.A.’s Best Day Trip – Contributing editor Carolynn Carreño takes us on a low-key “daycation” of strolling canals, bohemian shops, and gourmet cafes in her favorite local neighborhood, Venice Beach. Explore on foot or rent a bike to visit Venice Beach’s hot spots and take delight in the entertaining street performers. (pg. 60)"

"FOOD: Oysters 101 – Coastal Living shares everything you ever wanted to know about these sexy shellfish, from harvesting and shucking to top-rated recipes and wine pairings. Discover how to distinguish between the 5 most popular species, see where to buy the best oyster knives, and learn from Oyster connoisseur and author, Robb Walsh, about his infatuation with these succulent aphrodisiacs. (pg. 80; recipes pg. 104)"

Western Mass - Still the land before time

Western Massachusetts - Home of Tanglewood, Jacobs Pillow dance festival, endless miles of woodland, scenic lakes, mountains and the town of Otis. Founded in 1810, Otis, Mass was built up around the idea of community, the outdoors and the hills of Berkshire county. A visit here is sure to bring you beautiful sights, wonderful people, little to no cell phone reception and no high speed internet. It has captured the beauty of life and the lack of the new high tech society. Otis was also featured on the front page of the New York Times travel section in the article In the Berkshires: Turning back the clock. Below is a snippet for you to enjoy:

DURING a broadcast of “A Prairie Home Companion” from Tanglewood last summer, Garrison Keillor called the Berkshires a "beautiful place - New England towns where people come to enjoy a way of life that’s practically vanished.”

Mr. Keillor’s description perfectly captures Otis, Mass., just 20 miles from Tanglewood, which is in Lenox. Known for its lakes, modest tree-covered mountains, outdoor recreation and a slightly dated lifestyle, Otis does feel like the kind of place where Ozzie and Harriet or the Cleavers would have bought a second home decades ago.

One of Otis’s biggest draws, in terms of recreation and real estate, is the Otis Reservoir, referred to locally as “the lake.” It used to be that most cottages on the reservoir were summer homes, shuttered in winter. But increasingly, second-home owners have turned their cottages into year-round getaways, adding skiing (downhill and cross-country), snowmobiling, ice fishing and ice-skating to their menu of outdoor sports.

There are two general stores in East Otis, Katie’s Country Store and Hall’s General Store, across the street from each other. Hall’s has a working soda fountain, serving up ice cream and floats at the counter in summer. Katie’s is a rustic collection of sunken shelves heavy with groceries that serves as something of a town water cooler.

Otis is about 13 miles north of the Connecticut border, 140 miles from New York and 117 miles from Boston.

For this and many other articles, please visit The New York Times