April Issue
Birthdays and Travel - the surprising connection
My birthday is in April. I’ve always felt kind of smug about that given that the grass is greening, trees are blossoming and leafing and pretty daffodils, hyacinths and tulips abound. It’s like my own little personal pretty party (not to be confused with personal pity party which I’ve had a few of over the years). While I won’t out and out tell you how old I’m turning, I will say that it’s double digits and one of them is a 2. That’s it. That’s all you get from me.
A lot of people, and I mean a LOT, dread their birthdays. Another year older and closer to, womp womp, death. Another year of shoulda’s and woulda’s and didn’t’s. I have had my share of those feelings but not anymore.
Instead, I am very grateful for every year of my life. I battled cancer four years ago and survived it well. As awful as it was, I became thankful for every day I was making it through, every month, every year. And I felt like it would be an insult to all of the people who contributed to my healing to complain about getting older. Now, when I hear people grumble about their birthdays, I almost want to yell at them and say “hey, would you rather have the alternative?!” Life and health aren’t guaranteed and both are a gift.
So what does all of this have to do with travel?
Every birthday reminds me of how fortunate I am to have made it another year. And, yes, as each passing day brings me closer to the end, it’s also a reminder of how much I want to get out of life. And for me, getting the most out of life must include travel. I get so much fulfillment out of seeing new places, being exposed to things I’m unfamiliar with, learning new things and meeting people who are going through their days like I am – but somewhere else completely. It’s a wonder!
Travel expands us (and I don’t just mean our waist measurements). It reminds us that we are all part of a whole, that we should be celebrating our differences while recognizing all the ways we are similar. Travel shows us that there is more to our world and our lives than our own existences. And all of that is without even talking about discovering food and drink that is new to us but commonplace elsewhere.
My birthday month helps me remember to not let my world get small. It helps me push to still travel even when the cost, fears, aches and pains and such want to tell me to just stay home and watch some TV. And so, in this something-second year I am beginning, I will continue to make plans to travel near and far and, like every day of life I’m given, be thankful for the opportunities.
-Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher of RealFoodTraveler.com and host of the Real Food Traveler Podcast
Springy things
Here’s a Pretty and Pink Negroni Recipe from Waterloo Gin - Real Food Traveler.
One of my favorite sources for common sense food talk is Mark Bittman who shared his tips for “angeled” eggs here on Substack (Get it? Opposite of deviled?), just in time for Easter. His technique means no more yolk scooping-mixing-piping for deviled eggs. This way is much easier and, we just know, truly delicious.
Two delightfully springy desserts on our site may just be too tempting to not make. So give in to temptation, my friends! One is Spinach Smash Cake that is actually made with spinach but tastes like deliciousness. The other is a Simple Carrot Cake. Who knew vegetables could be so yummy?
Our paid subscribers are getting my finally-nailed-it recipe for Honey Glazed Ham with exotic spices. It’s easy, makes your home smell amazing and it’s delicious.
Have you ever met someone when traveling and become fast friends? That magical bubble of coming together from separate places and separate lives in someplace wonderful turns strangers into friends. That’s what happened with Abbey Algiers of Substack’s What I’d Rather Be Talking About. We’ve interviewed each other and traveled together twice now. Abbey was kind enough to talk about our latest travel adventure, and repost our early conversation, in one of her recent newsletters. Thanks for the newsletter love, Abbey!
I’m going back to Spain in May. I was there two years ago, in Mallorca, and absolutely loved it. I especially loved discovering many of the local foods. Check out my Editor’s Pick article about 12 Favorite Foods in Mallorca (not just my favorites but those of the locals.) This time, I’m visiting Jerez de la Frontera, named the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy in 2026 and the birthplace of sherry. I’ll be sure to have some for you.
My favorite trip in 2025, that I still think about at least once a week, was to Europe for back-to-back river cruises with Viking. We sailed the Rhine River from Basel to Germany, France and Amsterdam. And then we sail the Rhone through southern France. It was two weeks of wonder-ful. While we were there in the heat of summer, spring, fall and winter are also great times to go for different reasons. If you’re thinking about taking an amazing vacation and are wondering about river cruising, this article that we wrote will be really helpful.
Our paid subscribers are getting an interesting article about what travel advisors are seeing when it comes to the cruise world in 2026. It might give you some inspiration to book yourself passage, either on your own, through the cruise line’s travel advisors or with an outside travel advisor, aka travel agent.
ICYMI on RealFoodTraveler.com
Colorado’s Grand Valley: Adventures Refined and Rough
Spa Spotlight: Mohonk Mountain House in New York
What to Know-Before-You-Go to the Park City Wine Festival April 9-11 (discount promo code included)
Why ordering Kansas City mail order steaks feels like eating local
That’s as far as we go for our free subscribers. We love ya but we’d also love it if you became a paid subscriber for $5/month or just $50 for the year. We give you exclusive content and our eternal gratitude.
