Who doesn’t love Brew Tours?? Especially at Carlsberg!

Posted in Denmark by Kristina @ Three Little Birds travel

I’ll admit loud and clear, that I’m a gal who loves her beer!! Stouts and Porters are definitely my go-to, but when I’m traveling I just want to taste the local refreshments and see what all the fuss is about. When I was in Ireland, it was the Guinness Storehouse and when I was in Prague, it was a 3-stop free beer tour. A few months ago in Copenhagen, my sister and I decided to check out Carlsberg Brewery.

Travel Tip: Take a cab! We took the Metro and got turned around a few times. Maybe too many beers??

When you first arrive at Carlsberg, head to the Elephant Gate. You’ll see a lot of these signs posted so just follow those and look for “Elefantporten.”

You really can’t miss it! It’s a very tall brick building and at the bottom, it appears as if it’s being supported by four elephants. Each elephant has an initial of Carl Jacobsen’s four children. Neat!

On to the beer tour! You need to find the main entrance/brand store building. Once you walk in, you’ll instantly be hypnotized by all the Carlsberg merchandise you can buy including clothing, magnets, soccer balls and glassware. They even sell the actual beer in ready-to-take cans! Walk up to the sales clerk and buy your ticket to the self-guided tour. They will hand you a fancy sticker and on you go!

Once inside the museum, you’ll see a fascinating timeline of the history of Carlsberg beer. You’ll also get a glimpse of the machinery, delivery vehicles, stables with the famous Jutland horses and even a miniature stature of the Little Mermaid! It’s quite extensive. For more pictures on this part, check out my Carlsberg Brewery Pinterest page.

By far, the most awe-dropping part about this tour was walking up the stairs to a whole floor dedicated to the “World’s Largest Collection of Unopened Beer Bottles.” Seriously people…this is massive!!! Right now, there are 22,346 bottles housed here for you to gawk at. I was even lucky to find a Guinness Stout!

The whole tour took us about 45 minutes, but that’s only because we spend 20 minutes salivating at all the beer bottles mentioned above! It’s fairly quick if you just run from room to room. I do recommend following the timeline and checking out every part of this museum. After the tour, it was time to relax over some delicious Carlsberg beers. You get two free beers with your tour ticket. If you’re lucky, they will have the famous Jutland horse out for you to enjoy!

What brew tours have you been to? Share your stories in the Comment field!

8Apr2014

Five things I love about Toronto!

Posted in Toronto by Kristina @ Three Little Birds travel

Last year my sister and I celebrated our 5th annual Sisters Trip in Toronto, Canada! To celebrate our 5th anniversary, I’m sharing five unique spots that I would definitely recommend to any traveler. Next time you head over to Toronto, make sure to check these off your list!

1. The Distillery District

The site that was once the Gooderham and Worts Distillery is now home to a brick lined pedestrian area filled with unique boutiques, restaurants and cafes. Make sure to stop by Mill Street Brewery for a beer flight and the Soma Chocolatemaker for a chocolate snack! Don’t forget to check out the events calendar to increase your chances of seeing an art show, festival or concert!

2. St. Lawrence Market

I don’t think you can find a better spot to buy all your local fruits, vegetables, spices, meats and bakery items in Toronto! This was a perfect place to stop for lunch, do a little shopping and most importantly….people watch! We even managed to buy one of my favorite travel souvenirs… maple leaf mittens!! On Saturday’s, visit the outdoor farmers market and make a point to grab some fresh flowers!

3. Open Air Books & Maps

Calling all fellow travelers!! If you’re in Toronto, you MUST visit this hidden bookstore. It’s FILLED, floor to ceiling, with travel books and maps. You could spend hours trying to find the perfect selection and you’ll leave feeling inspired to start your next journey! Can’t find a book? Ask the attendant (if you can find them buried under the pile)! The books are definitely overpriced, but it’s worth it to have a fun experience.

4. Fika Cafe on Kensingon Street

I’m not sure what makes Kensington Street so special, but it was in every travel book and article I read while preparing for this trip. I normally would say to skip it, but I know most of you won’t if it’s your first time to Toronto. So…carry on to Kensington street if you must, but promise me that you will stop in Fika Cafe! It’s. So. Yummy.

5. Dark Horse Expresso Bar

Queen Street was a “must visit” street according to just about every travel book, so we made sure to walk and shop during our weekend trip. After walking…and walking…and walking, we needed a coffee…BAD! Dark Horse came to the rescue and it was the perfect spot to enjoy a nice iced coffee and organic chocolate brownie!

Have you been to Toronto? What are some of your favorite spots?

2Apr2014

Michigan Travel Map! Adventures of an unexpected drinking tour (without the drinking)!

Posted in Custom Maps, Michigan by Kristina @ Three Little Birds travel

For all those who read my last post – During my 40 days of sobriety, I went to a brewery, a distillery and two wineries! – you may be wondering if there is a handy map out there that you can follow for your own Michigan adventure.

Well, you’re in luck!!

Here’s the route we took from Chicago to Michigan, complete with the hotel we stayed at and each stop we made along the way! You can bet I’ll be using this map again when I make a trip back AFTER Lent! I can’t wait to actually try the assortment of drinks from Bell’s Brewery, St. Julian winery, Round Barn and Journeyman Distillery!

If you’d like to see a photo tour of the trip, make sure to check out my Pinterest Board – “Pure Michigan”

Happy travels!!

Michigan Map

31Mar2014

During my 40 days of sobriety, I went to a brewery, a distillery and two wineries!

Posted in Michigan, Travel Bites by Kristina @ Three Little Birds travel

‘Tis the season for the Christian observance of Lent! It’s the time of the year that, if you’re a Christian, you’re giving something up or proclaim that you’re going to be a better person in some way. I always find Lent entertaining because you’re always trying to one-up the other Christian in the group (to be God’s favorite of course). This year I gave up drinking. My sister gave up reading celebrity gossip. I honestly don’t know who won this battle ’cause it sure seems like we both lost!

I thought this Lent was going to be somewhat easy until I realized that I have two weddings to attend before Easter! The first wedding was in Plymouth, Michigan so three of us girls packed into a car and make the 4hr journey to celebrate with our close friend. What I didn’t realize was there was a number of wineries, a brewery and a distillery on the way to/from the wedding. Although I’m sober for Lent, I just HAD to make the numerous stops with my friends so they could taste all the yummy drinks!

The first stop on this epic road trip was Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, MI! We stopped here for a lunch on the way to the wedding and ate a delicious meal at the Eccentric Cafe. After requesting water at the bar, the bartender proclaimed that she gave up Lent for Lent. Genius. I may consider this for next year!

After lunch, we walked next door to the Bell’s General Store and stocked up on our favorite beer! I love stouts and porters so I took a chance that I would love Bell’s selection and grabbed a custom 6-pack. My friends did the same and then we hopped in the car and drove the rest of the way to the wedding. My 6-pack is currently sitting in my refrigerator, ready to be opened on Easter!

Wedding time!! Lots of eating, dancing and no drinking for me, but the party went all night and we had an amazing time at the Inn at St. Johns! Congrats to Lara and Jason!

We woke up early the next morning to get a jump start on the 4hr drive back to Chicago. About 3hrs in, we stopped at St. Julian Winery, one of the original wineries in Michigan. The girls filled out their tasting sheets as I roamed around the festive store (it was St. Patrick’s Day and they had made a wine tree for the holiday). Michigan is known for making fruit wine and St. Julian’s selection didn’t disappoint. They also make a unique Vodka distilled from 100% grape spirits! Of course I had to pick up a few things to save for my own after-Easter festivities!

Travel Tip: Don’t forget your wine skins! A cheap purchase to save your precious wine during transport!

Right next door to St. Julian is Round Barn Winery (it’s also a Brewery and Distillery) so obviously, we had to stop there too! The girls filled out their tasting sheets, gathered their tokens and enjoyed a variety of yummy drinks! During the visit, we were told about another local distillery, Journeyman Distillery. Did we have time for one more stop?? Yep!!

About 10 minutes later, we found a somewhat hidden building with a small logo indicating we had arrived at Journeyman Distillery (Journeyman story video). The outside of the building is intriguing and once you step inside, it’s incredibly enchanting. From the wood flooring to the iron seating, this place instantly makes you want to kick back and enjoy a fine whiskey, rum or gin. Although the whiskey flight was only $4, the girls were a bit tired, so we purchased a few items from the gift shop and promised to return on another adventure (aka, my birthday in August!). I really can’t express enough how much I was kicking myself for making such a ridiculous Lent resolution!! This place is truly amazing and it’s a must-see if you’re in the area!

Our last stop of the trip was to grab a must needed bite to eat! My friend Ali had recommended a fantastic place called The Stray Dog. She had been there on a previous trip and had a whole list of great things to say about it. We walked in and immediately fell in love! There was dog stuff everywhere! Dog pictures on the wall, dog push pin artwork, dog coat hooks, dog glasses and dog napkin holders! I was in puppy heaven! We grabbed a table and ordered food for a family of 12 that consisted of chips & guac, veggie tacos and two pizzas (’cause we couldn’t decide on just one). Food was delicious and a perfect meal before we had to hit the road again for the last hour of our trip.