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Five Best Burger and Craft Beer Bars in Las Vegas

5/20/2019

By John Roberts
Hundreds of high-end restaurants line The Strip and are nestled throughout Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. You can find steakhouses, French bistros, seafood houses and Asian-fusion eateries. Establishments that boast award-winning Japanese or Italian cuisine and partnerships with celebrity chefs.

The numerous mouth-watering dining options make Las Vegas a haven for foodies and travelers looking to celebrate a special occasion with a special meal. But I've always possessed a rather simple palate, with a taste for a good old-fashioned juicy cheeseburger and a craft brew. In a place where you can lose your money fast, a delicious burger and a beer in a lively environment is always a winning combination.

I know many others have similar cravings, so here I offer our list of the five best burger and craft beer bars in Las Vegas.

Along with delicious burgers, Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen and Bar features 16 craft beers.

Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen and Bar
The celebrity chef's burger restaurant offers 200 seats in a 6,500 square-foot space located at the LINQ Hotel and Casino, right next to Carnaval Court at Harrah's Hotel and Casino. It offers a big outdoor patio with panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip.

The spot is great for people watching and has a festive atmosphere and attentive service. Menu items include wings, tacos, small bites and shareable food items, along with an extensive variety of juicy signature Guy Fieri burgers. Try the Bacon Mac 'N' Cheese Burger, Prime Time American Kobe Burger or Tatted Up Turkey Burger, all loaded with cheese, toppings and sauces.

The bar also features 16 craft beers, a selection of Sonoma County wines and frozen shots.

LVB Burgers and Bar is located in The Mirage.

LVB Burgers and Bar
This restaurant is located in The Mirage Hotel and Casino mid-strip on Las Vegas Boulevard. LVB Burgers and Bar has a selection of gourmet burgers alongside options like the Impossible Vegan Burger, turkey burgers and chicken and fish sandwiches, as well as salads and sides.

The restaurant is also known for its decadent milkshakes.

Craft beer choices include a favorite of ours, the Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. Other crafts on draft: Joseph James Pale Ale and Four Peaks Kilt Lifter.

Umami Burger, Beer Garden and Sports Book has outdoor seating overlooking The Strip.

Umami Burger, Beer Garden and Sports Book
Umami Burger serves up award-winning burgers from its home at the SLS Casino (2535 Las Vegas Boulevard South). Umami Burger features a beer garden that overlooks the Strip and a sports book so you can place a bet and watch your games as you nosh on gourmet burgers, creative shareable sides (like pork belly bao, loaded barbacoa nachos, salted Bavarian pretzel and ahi poke nachos) and wash it all down with a fine selection of beers.

Try the namesake Umami Burger (with shiitake mushroom, roasted tomato, caramelized onions and umami ketchup), Truffle Burger or Spicy Jalapeno Burger. Tasty craft beers include Goose Island IPA, Four Peaks Peach Ale, Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout and Elysian Space Dust IPA.

595 Craft and Kitchen in Las Vegas is a gem for lovers of craft beer and comfort food.

595 Craft and Kitchen
This placed opened in 2017 at 4950 Rainbow Boulevard. It's a true microbrewery that appeals to beer nerds like me. The open-garage-style decor gives the place a relaxed and welcoming feel, and the bar offers 24 craft beers on tap. This is also a great place to catch the game on TV.

The restaurant offers an Asian-fusion menu, playing on owner Van-Alan Nguyen's Vietnamese heritage. Aside from the chili cheese burger, pork belly burger and Furikake tuna burger, you can bite into assorted bahn mi sandwiches and innovative sides like fried deviled eggs and Thai cashew hummus.

Beer flavors include Wasatch Blueberry Hefeweizen, Big Dog's Hopical Storm, Oskar Blues Guns 'n' Rose and Founders Blushing Monk.

You won't leave hungry after a meal at Holsteins.

Holsteins
This bustling spot at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South) offers great-tasting -- if quite expensive -- hand-crafted burgers, a wide menu of shareable apps and snacks, cool alcohol-infused shakes and TVs showing sports. This is a restaurant has a high-energy and fun vibe with funky artistic decor.

Holsteins' menu features 12 different hand-crafted burgers like the Forager with a wagyu beef-mushroom patty, fried egg, marmalade onions and Swiss cheese. Or you can try the Billionaire burger with foie gras, frisee and truffle mayo or the Mangalitsa burger with a pork patty, kimchi and bulgogi.

Each burger comes with a recommended craft beer pairing, using varieties like Big Dog's Las Vegas American Ale, Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale or Joseph James Hop Box Imperial IPA.

What's your favorite Las Vegas burger joint? Where do you go for your craft brews in Sin City? We're always looking for new hot spots. Let us know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading,
JR

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Multi-Sport Adventure Cruise in New Zealand is a Backroads' Gem

5/14/2019

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After a morning bike ride, we settled into kayaks and found this secluded wonderland during our port stop in Tauranga.

By John Roberts

New Zealand is an outdoors wonderland, and the people who live there embrace an active and healthy lifestyle.

With miles and miles of beautiful coastline along the oceans and into stunning fjords as well as hiking trails that snake across the entire country, there is so much to explore. The kiwis have known this long before the rest of the world became infatuated with New Zealand after seeing it in large scale through the lens of director Peter Jackson and his "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movie epics.

So, as I made plans to go to New Zealand for my very first visit, I wanted to make sure to do it right. For me, that meant it would be as part of a Backroads active cruise. Backroads has been a leader in active travel for more than 40 years, and I was happy to find out that the company's recent expansion into cruise travel added trips around New Zealand using Ponant's luxury expedition yacht Le Laperouse as a home base.

I have previously traveled with Backroads on the company's active Danube River cruises in partnership with AmaWaterways. These were thrilling hiking- and biking-focused trips that I thoroughly enjoyed. I knew that the concept of bringing adventure travel to the small-ship cruise experience was a winner.

7 Things About a Backroads Biking Trip with AmaWaterways

This time, I was going to get the Backroads take on a New Zealand adventure on the 184-passenger Le Laperouse. Our group of 24 Backroads travelers and three guides, Max, Katie and Brandon, had nine days to explore the diverse natural beauty of New Zealand. It was not nearly enough time, but we made the most of it.

Here is a photo report highlighting all that we did:

Auckland

In Auckland, we went over to Waiheke Island for a hike before getting on the ship later in the day to start our cruise.

Waiheke Island has a beautiful coast trail and is known for its dozens of vineyards.

We had a delicious lunch at Cable Bay Vineyards after our hike.

Tauranga

In Tauranga, it was a multi-sport day, starting with a challenging ride of about 20 miles.

After lunch, we put the bikes away and got into kayaks to paddle around McLaren Lake. Backroads guide Brandon did all the work while I played with my cameras.

All my new friends. I love meeting fellow travelers who enjoy the outdoors. This is what makes a Backroads trip special.

Napier

In Napier, we biked along the coast and through farmlands, covering more than 22 miles.

Along the way, we stopped capture some of the magical moments.

We refueled with lunch and some fine wines at Black Barn Vineyards.

White Island

We visited the active volcano on White Island, reachable via zodiacs from our ship, Le Laperouse.

A short hike took us to the crater. The sulfur mists made it difficult to breathe at times.

The landscape gave the surreal feel of being on a distant planet.

The White Island is located off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. Its continuous activity makes it an attractive site for scientists.

Wellington

Wellington is the country's capital city, and we had a variety of options ashore. We started with a brisk hike in a nearby park.

Then, many in our group stopped by the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa.

Later on, I ventured out into the city to try some of the craft breweries that are rising in popularity.

Picton

In Picton, Brandon explained the day's hiking options and how the rest of the week's activities would play out.

The Queen Charlotte Track offered the most scenic hiking of the journey.

We covered more than nine miles and had brilliant views of the sound along the way.

The 184-passenger Le Laperouse sits in the bay in Picton on a sunny day awaiting our return after another series of adventures.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is actually a fjord, and it sits within Fjordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

We had a fun day in the fjord. After a rainy morning, the sun came out as we went kayaking.

Max, Liz and Robert joined me on the zodiac ride back to our ship. This was the last big day of activity off the ship.

While ashore, we were able to see several kea. These alpine parrots are know for being pesky little troublemakers. This juvenile kea was pecking away at the roof of a vehicle.

Luxury and Adventure

Backroads support team Ryan and Laura handled our bikes and offered a few laughs during our trip.

You're always well fed on these trips. The "Snackroads" treats are a welcome sight on a break during long bike rides.

Le Laperouse features a heated infinity pool at the back of the ship.

Another gorgeous New Zealand sunset.

Aside from all the outdoors adventure, we reveled in the luxury experience onboard Ponant's cruise ship. Dinners were gourmet meals featuring French cuisine and free-flowing wines. (I chose the craft brews.) We also shared time on the dance floor, playing games and learning about the Maori culture through enrichment talks and performances organized or led by Katie, Brandon and Max. This included a song and dance performance, a group viewing of the movie "Hunt for the Wilderpeople," and a honey tasting.

15 Things to Know Before You Travel to New Zealand

Le Laperouse is a luxury ship, so of course it has a fine spa where you can get massage treatments and a relaxing sauna. Ponant is a French cruise line, and its sailings are inclusive, with all drinks and dining as part of your cruise fare. The ship also has an innovative Blue Eye underwater lounge, a cool place to relax and look out of the large portholes to see the world below the surface. Whale sounds also are piped in through special speakers. You can enjoy a drink down there or just close your eyes for a multi-sensory experience.

Our time in New Zealand left me energized and excited to return. Most of the people in my group had traveled with Backroads before, some on numerous trips, from 10 to 20 times. If you are interested in traveling with Backroads, you can find all kinds of active travel options on the company's website.

The Blue Eye underwater lounge offers a multi-sensory experience and two large portholes to spy the underwater environment.

A Maori group came onboard and gave us song and dance performances and explained their importance in telling stories and preserving the culture of the indigenous people of New Zealand.

Crew on Le Laperouse made us feel welcome, ready with my favorite beverages each day after we came back from our activities.

I was happy to see the ship stocked up on a range of regional craft beers.

As one of our enrichment activities, the Backroads guides provided an in-depth talk and tasting of New Zealand honey.

Backroads and Bike Month
In recognition of May as National Bike Month, Backroads, celebrates its deep roots in biking with a collection of new biking trips. These include trips in Japan, Poland, Norway and Sweden, along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and several Active Ocean & River Cruises.

Backroads trips include the use of custom-designed titanium performance road bikes that offer a high-tech yet comfortable journey through the countryside. Backroads also offers touring Bikes and electric-assist bikes. With tours for avid cyclists, newcomers, leisure riders and everyone in between, Backroads combines meticulously researched routes with expert and friendly trip leaders to make your travel experience memorable.

"I founded Backroads on the belief that the best way to see the world is by adventuring actively," Backroads founder and president Tom Hale said. "We're proud to offer best-in-class bikes and options for every type of rider."

Founded in 1979 as a bike-tour travel company, the first Backroads trips included tours to California Wine Country, the California Coast, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, the Canadian Rockies and San Juan Islands. Backroads now offers more than 130 biking itineraries throughout the United States and across almost 60 countries and five continents. Backroads has scheduled more than 1,600 dedicated bike tour departures in 2019. Biking is also a featured activity on more than 1,000 Backroads multi-adventure trips.

New Backroads Bike Trips in 2019
Columbia River Gorge & Willamette Valley -- Oregon's Waterfalls & Wine Country
Japan -- The Noto Peninsula to Kyoto
Kentucky -- The Legendary Bourbon Trail, Louisville to Lexington
Norway & Sweden -- Seaside Scandinavia, Waterways & Spas South of Oslo
Poland -- Rich Heritage & Inspiring Nature from Krakow to Warsaw

Backroads Most Popular Bike Tours for 2019
Croatia -- Dalmatian Coast Adventures on the Adriatic
Danube River Cruise -- The Blue Danube, Prague to Budapest
Netherlands & Belgium -- Windmills & Canals from Amsterdam to Bruges
Portugal -- From Lisbon to Vineyards, Castles & Beaches

Thanks for reading,
JR

See you again soon, New Zealand!

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Carnival to Can and Keg Craft Beers Onboard Cruise Ships

5/1/2019

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By John Roberts

How about this craft beer fans?

Carnival is expanding on its breakthrough idea to brew craft beers at sea, the first such line to do so. Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama have beer-brewing facilities onboard, and now Carnival has partnered with Lakeland, Fla.-based Brew Hub to become the first cruise line to can and keg its varieties. The in-house brewery team aboard Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista will produce the cans and kegs so cruisers can enjoy the beers on all Carnival Cruise ships -- and even be able to take home the flavors.

The agreement is the first of its kind between a craft beer manufacturer and a major cruise line.

"With the success of our breweries on Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon the obvious next step was to let all of our guests fleetwide enjoy our refreshing craft beers, and that's where our partnership with Brew Hub began," said Edward Allen, Carnival's vice president of beverage operations. "To be the first cruise line to ever scale up its beverage operations by canning and kegging their own beer is unprecedented.

"My hope is that our guests will take a four-pack home with them to share with family and friends as a refreshing and memorable reminder of their cruise."

Three of the Carnival beers, which are based on recipes developed in-house by Carnival's brewery team, are now available in 16-ounce cans and on tap across all 26 ships, as well as at all private destinations.

ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat is an unfiltered wheat beer with flavors of orange and spices.

ParchedPig West Coast IPA is in the style of a traditional West Coast India Pale Ale, with a hoppy, intense flavor loaded with bitterness. It has a bright flavor profile and an aroma of citrus and pine.

ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale is highlighted by its rich amber color and notes of toasted caramel and biscuit. This is a well-balanced and smooth brew.

Since introducing the first North American brewery at sea in 2016, Carnival has served nearly 300,000 pints of its private label craft beers. Much like breweries on land, Carnival's brewery team has also taken advantage of seasonal products to create innovative varieties like a Miami Guava Wheat and Pumpkin Spice Ale. A brewery will also be featured aboard Carnival Panorama when it debuts in California in December 2019.

Carnival Vista is home to the Red Frog Pub & Brewery, and Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama feature Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse.

Cheers to this news!

What flavors are you taking home?

JR

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Five Best Burger and Craft Beer Bars in Las Vegas

More Las Vegas Tips and Guides

Multi-Sport Adventure Cruise in New Zealand is a Backroads' Gem

Auckland

Tauranga

Napier

White Island

Wellington

Picton

Milford Sound

Luxury and Adventure

Carnival to Can and Keg Craft Beers Onboard Cruise Ships

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