What's better: a glamping dome in the woods, or a five-star hotel on the boardwalk? Travel journalist and certified sommelier Darla Hoffmann didn't have to choose — she did both, fifty minutes apart, in Nova Scotia.
On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Darla takes us inside Nalu Retreat, a geodesic dome on the North Shore with a hot tub, a fire pit, and a chef-prepared dinner waiting in the fridge, before heading into Halifax for the total opposite: Muir, a five-star hotel in the Queen's Marque District with a hidden speakeasy you have to knock to enter, an on-site restaurant called Drift, and boardwalk views from every room.
Along the way, we talk Nova Scotia wine (crisp Tidal Bay whites, a standout red from the Lucie Kuhlmann grape), local food (buttery Wolffish, a proper Halifax donair), and the city's history, from Citadel Hill to the 1917 Halifax Explosion.
Darla also shares how a career in wine led her into travel writing, what she's working on next, and news on her upcoming book — a multi-year project pairing one wine with one signature dish from all fifty U.S. states.
READ DARLA'S HALIFAX ARTICLES:
- Salt Air, Scenic Hikes, and a Vibrant Food Scene:
https://fwtmagazine.com/salt-air-scenic-hikes-and-a-vibrant-food-scene-halifax-nova-scotia/
- Nalu Retreat: Your Next Serene Getaway Awaits
https://luxebeatmag.com/nova-scotias-glamping-escape-into-nature-nalu-retreat/
RESOURCE LINKS:
- More About Darla: https://www.aboutwineinaz.com
- Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/
- Follow the Food, Wine & Travel Podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/
- Big Blend Radio's "Travel Food & Wine: Digital Podcast Magazine:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1
