Summertime: BBQs & Road Trips

​Summertime makes me thinks of BBQs and road trips! 

I am not a chef or travel blogger, but thought you may be interested in one of my favorite easy BBQ recipes and one of my favorite places to visit in the summer.

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Simple & Delicious Grilled Buffalo Wings

Here’s a quick recipe for some delicious buffalo wings.
 
3 simple Ingredients

• About 12-15 wings (already split drumsticks and wings)
• 1 Tablespoon of butter
• 1/3 cup of Frank’s Red Hot

 
 
3 easy steps (Prep 5 min, Cook 20 min, Ready in 25 min)

1. Light /Pre-heat Grill to Medium Heat (about 350-400 degrees)
2. After grill is preheated, cook wings for about 10-12 minutes on each side.  (I like to get them a little bit charred on each side.)
3. Take wings off grill and put into a large mixing bowl.  Add butter and Frank’s Red Hot.  Place a lid/plate overtop the mixing bowl and shake the bowl to mix around the sauce & butter with the wings.  (This can get a little messy if you don't have an airtight lid, so shake bowl over the sink.)

 
Serve with your choice of dipping sauce (Bleu Cheese or Ranch).  Or to be a little healthier, eat them without dipping…  ENJOY!

​As you probably know, chicken wings are not the healthiest meal/snack so I don't recommend indulging too often in wings.  :-)

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Our Favorite Roadtrip Destination: Newport, Rhode Island

Sip a pre-meal (or post-meal) drink on the lawn of Castle Hill Inn.

Living in NJ, my family and I enjoy going to places further north in the summer time to get a little break from the humidity and heat (I realize NJ is not as hot as other areas further south, but it still gets pretty hot & humid in NJ). 
 
One of our favorite road trips is to Newport, RI.  It’s a great walking town with lots of fabulous restaurants, shops, and scenery. The Cliff walk, mansion tours, and sunset Sailboat trips are all great things to do.
 
Two of our favorite spots to eat are: the lawn of Castle Hill Inn and Mamma Luisa.  Castle Hill is a bit pricey (so I recommend going for lunch), but the views are unbeatable.   You have to sit outside on the lawn.  I recommend the fabulously meaty, Lobster rolls and deliciously spicy, Bloody Mary's.

Mama Luisa is a great upscale Italian restaurant with delicious home made pastas and Northern Italian cuisine.  
 
If you are looking for an affordable place to stay, we have had success with airbnb finding reasonable places near the famous Thames street.  Or if you prefer, there are some great Bed & Breakfasts to choose from as well!

If you are interested in other Newport recommendations - feel free to call me or email me for more info.

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Medicare coverage while traveling

What happens if you need medical attention while traveling?

(Well, you didn't think I could write a whole article without mention of Medicare... did you?)


Traveling in the United States:
If you are on Original Medicare (with or without a Medigap Plan), you can go to ANY doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare.

If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plans, most of these plans require you to use the doctors and hospitals within your service area (generally the counties surrounding your home address), and within the carrier network.  There are some Medicare Advantage Plans which are offering a PPO benefit which allows the consumer to use Out-of-Network providers, but they generally have a very high out of pocket exposure (like $10,000+ / year).   However, if you do have a medical emergency outside of your service area you are able to go to any hospital in the country and the insurance has to cover you as if you are in-network.

Traveling Internationally:
Medicare does not provide coverage outside of the U.S.  Read more here about our Medigap plans work internationally and some other options for International Coverage.


​Enjoy the rest of your summer!!

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