kjackman - Kristin Jackman

Born & raised in southern Florida, though I've traversed the United States and have lived on both sides of the continent. I love to travel and explore different places and experience a new way of seeing things. I think cultural diversity is one of the most fascinating natural occurrences on Earth, and I plan to expose myself to as much of it as I possibly can. So, think of this blog as my ode to region-specific finds. No chains, no commercial advertising, and absolutely no generic stays & non-adventures. Every city has secrets and discoveries waiting to be explored, and I shall make every effort to try the local favorites and divulge on the delicious dishes that are out there waiting to be tasted.

New York, NY
September 4th 2009 -» September 8th 2009 Chicago, IL
October 10th 2009 -» October 12th 2009 Tampa, FL
October 15th 2009 -» October 20th 2009 Boston, MA
October 30th 2009 -» November 2nd 2009 San Francisco, CA
November 12th 2009 -» November 17th 2009 Portland, OR
February 16th 2010 -» February 20th 2010

Private Message Subscribe Blog Map

Trips Guestbook Search Blogs First Entry Latest Entry

Joined on: August 18th 2009
Last Login: November 12th 2009

Blog Entries: 13
Photos: 38

TB Code: [blogger=132751]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by kjackman, order by Date newest first.

By kjackman
November 12th 2009

Welcome Back North America » United States » California » San Francisco

Flight 605
View from 28,000 feet up

Well, I'm here. I've made it, and all it took was a sleepless night and eight hours of traveling across the country. I had forgotten how beautiful the the topographical map of the western portion of the US is. Even on a fog-filled morning and some jolting winds to knock you from any sleep you manage to catch on the plane, it's breathtaking. I may have actually flown over The Grand Canyon, but I can't be certain. And now, as if eating an overpriced, greasy quesadilla wasn't enough of a rendezvous with SFO, I'm forced to sit here and wait another [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
November 1st 2009

Samuel Adams would cheers to that! North America » United States » Massachusetts » Boston » Jamaica Plain

Sam Adams Tour
free glasses full of free Octoberfest brew

Yesterday was one of those days that began early and ended late, and not due to horrible costume malfunctions or a blurred evening full of 'black outs' and booze. Indeed, there was a beer or two present throughout the adventures of my Bostonian Halloween, but the walking and organist jam session overshadowed any underlying desire to be drunk along the streets of Beacon Hill. My introduction began as many do when visiting a new city: the subway/metro. Though there was an insistence that Boston's Orange Line was the "worst and most disgusting" transit route in the metro system, I would like [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
October 30th 2009

Flight 277 to Boston North America » United States » Massachusetts » Boston

Seat 17A Overlook
Flight 277 from Atlanta to Boston, overlooking wing from my window seat.

I have officially been awake for over 5 hours. It's 9:07 am (EST), and I'm on the second leg of my journey northward to city of the Sox (aka, Boston for those not familiar with MLB lingo). It's been such a long day so far, though surprisingly the experience of combating airport security, finding the right gate, checking luggage, and transferring to my final flight has gone through without a hitch thus far. I say "thus far" because I don't want to jinx myself and end up in Minnesota. It was dark when my flight from TPA to ATL left at [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
October 19th 2009

A Florida Fall North America » United States » Florida » Tampa

Kobe's Steakhouse
Our personal chef, Yuki. Amazing skills and delish food.

What does a pirate cruise, Japanese hibachi-style food, and a southern twist on a German festival have in common? Nothing really, other than geographic location. And that's exactly what discoveries I found this past weekend. My original itinerary out the window, I found myself enjoying the riches of local foodies and family-oriented tourists spots. No, there was no alone time with a costumed mouse, but I did have a beer or two with some costumed enthusiasts---good enough, right? So, without going into too much detail or squandering away the moments by detailing my adventures, I'll simply list [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
October 11th 2009

Chicago... and all that jazz! North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago

Chicago Theatre
Downtown Chicago

The Windy City. That, in itself, describes just a fraction of what Chicago is and means to the locals and visitors who stampede the streets of Michigan Ave, as well as grazing their frigid fingers along their reflexive bowed selves, thanks to an artist who mirrored a giant bean and placed it delicately in the midst of heavy foot traffic and downtown skytowers. I came, I saw, but I feel I didn't quite conquer. My 2-day trek through one of the most famous cities in North America ended quicker than it seemed to have began. It was abnormally cold, drizzly and [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
September 30th 2009

"508" isn't just a number... North America » United States » New York » New York » Manhattan

508 Restaurant & Bar
copyright www.508nyc.com

Yes, New York is known for its restaurants and late-night bars, but how often do people fall so easily into a meal that is hidden so far away from the mainstream of Manhattan, that they feel they're in a totally different area? How often do true New Yorkers venture outside their comfort zone and dine where they've never even taken a cab or gotten turned around on the metro? By the locations of some of the best meals I've ever eaten in the city, I'd say more often than not. My seemingly weekly catch-up session with JFK has given me the [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
September 16th 2009

Go Sox! North America » United States » Massachusetts » Boston

Boston Skyline
Borrowed from an online source since I haven't any Boston pics of my own just yet. Thank you!

I have traveled much of the United States, visiting some of the most recognizable cities in the country, if not the world, on more than one occasion. But, and I'm not completely sure why, I have never taken the chance to visit Boston---or Massachusetts for that matter. No, I'm not a Red Sox fan, nor do I know the burrows or the slang for ordering their local cuisine, but I am addicted to history and heritage, and have been told on numerous occasions that Boston is one of the most influentially historical cities in the Northeast, if not North America. So, [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
September 9th 2009

Bring on the newbies! North America » United States » California » San Francisco

San Fran Skyline
The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz & the San Francisco cityscape from the comforts of the Marin Headlands in Marin County.

My recent trek to NYC to visit good friends and eat delicious foods helped me realize that some people can travel the world, but never really know their own country. So, as I feel it is my necessary duty as a true friend, I've decided to play tour guide to someone close to me and convince him of San Francisco's culture, class and equally enthralling cuisines. A week long adventure mixing beautiful weather with hidden secrets should open his eyes to the tranquil beauty Northern California has to offer. Intended itinerary: Muir Woods, Twin Peaks, Coit Tower, Alcatraz (by passing Ferry [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
September 7th 2009

Accidentally Delicious North America » United States » New York » New York » Queens

Minni's Shabu!

SHABU SHABU…. IN QUEENS New York is known for many things, one of which being the amazing cuisine that comes mostly from the different varieties of cultures represented throughout the city and its burrows for as long as the Big Apple has been around. And, sometimes the most amazing food finds comes by accident, as I discovered while attempting to eat at a well-received Chinese restaurant planted deeply within the walls of Flushing (aka Queens). Of course, as is always a risk, the intended target of our gorging was closed for the day, so my companion and I decided to take [View Full Entry]

By kjackman
September 6th 2009

Brooklyn Bridge Waltz North America » United States » New York » New York » Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Bridge
view from south shore port and piers

Unlike many adventures that New York City can introduce, so often tourists forget the simple, free things that can make you appreciate a city pulsating with millions of individuals on any given day. I had visited Manhattan and a hand-full of its burrows several times previously, but had never taken the opportunity to walk the famous and historically significant bridge that mends Brooklyn’s deeply rich Italian heritage with the plethora of binding grids and Vegas-style lights that encompass some of the World’s most infamous streets. The approximate 2-mile stretch gives any avid phot [View Full Entry]

TravelBlog » kjackman

kjackman | Kristin Jackman | Travel Blog

kjackman - Kristin Jackman

Blogs & Travel Journals