Many of my fellow Coastal Living staffers naturally flocked to the coast during the 4th of July holiday, but I spent the long weekend hanging out with family in Washington D.C. While they may have come back raving about incredible seafood dives, but I was the only one who could claim to have eaten the absolute freshest food on the planet. Jealous? Don't be. Just head to D.C. and prepare for a feast.

Located downtown on Pennsylvania Ave., Founding Farmers commits to provide customers with products "from seed to harvest, and from farm-to-table," according to their Web site. They're owned by a collective of American family farmers and strive to also lead the green movement by being good stewards of natural resources down to the last detail of their building design. For more on their mission and philosophy visit wearefoundingfarmers.com.

Despite being in D.C. on one of the busiest weekends of the year, when my brother and I arrived for brunch we only had to wait 15 minutes. The customer service was excellent, and the food? Well, we still can't stop talking about it. We split the New Orleans Style French Toast and Skillet House Hash—crispy potatoes sautéed with your hash choice, with two eggs poached or scrambled, served with our house-made English muffin, fresh fruit preserves and choice of: country potatoes, farmer’s salad, fresh fruit or tomatoes. Everything from the fresh squeezed orange juice to the English muffin were absolutely worth every penny. And the knowledge that you're supporting American farmers, well, how patriotic is that?

Courtesy of Founding Farmers

As if the sweltering heat wasn't reason enough to cool down with a fruity drink, today is National Piña Colada Day! Celebrate by mixing up a pitcher of this great recipe.

Image courtesy of thebar.com

According to mypunchbowl.com, this tasty frozen beverage was first created in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The drink's name actually translates to strained pineapple—one of the main ingredients. I don't know about you, but I'm going to grab some supplies and start blending.

FYI: July is also National Ice Cream and Grilling month. So if a Piña Colada isn't enough to satisfy your summer appetite, try out some of these other favorite recipes.

If you've picked up our July/August issue (and if you haven't, get crackin'!), you may have read Dorothea Benton Frank's essay about her passion for the coast, specifically Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. Dottie is a prolific author, and during the editing process we just fell in love with her wit and wisdom. In short, as we say in the South, she's a hoot!

So I was excited when this announcement arrived in my inbox this morning:

For the interview site and call-in number, click here.

To order Return to Sullivan's Island, click here.

And to read a Coastal Living exclusive sneak peek—the first chapter of Dottie's new book—click here.

Many vacation spots are rolling out deals this summer. But here’s one that promises, sun, beaches, and bargains through October. Plus a bottle of rum.

For the INNtimate Treasures Promotion, just book a four-night stay or longer at a small inn or B&B on the U.S. Virgin Islands, and you’ll feel like a game show contestant. Goodies include a $50 dining certificate, $50 in coupons, a gift bag, t-shirt and the aforementioned bottle of Cruzan rum.  Rates at these inns can be as low as $100 a night. The deal is available through travel agents or when booking through the island’s tourism web site.

The U.S. Virgin Islands offers a fascinating blend of Caribbean and American cultures. For a look at how the islands celebrate the Fourth of July, check out this story.

Hotels on St. John participating in the promotion include: Coconut Coast Villas, Estate Concordia Preserve and Harmony Studios. On St. Croix, chose from Arawak Bay: The Inn at Salt River, Carrington's Inn, Club St. Croix and Colony Cove (Antilles Resorts), Company House Hotel, Frederiksted Hotel, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Holger Danske Hotel, Hotel Caravelle, Hotel on the Cay, King Christian Hotel, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Sand Castle on the Beach, Tamarind Reef Hotel and Villa Greenleaf.

And on St. Thomas, At Home in the Tropics Bed & Breakfast, Galleon House, The Green Iguana, The Inn at Villa Olga, Miller Manor Hotel & Guesthouse, Pavilions and Pools (Antilles Resorts), Pineapple Village Villas, Sapphire Village, Crystal Cove and Watergate on St. Thomas. Plus the Virgin Islands Campgrounds on Water Island.

Another promotion offers $300 off a vacation package, plus the fourth night free at your hotel. But that one, alas, doesn't include the rum.

Having just returned from vacation, I’m finding it a little challenging to get back to work. So why not turn work into play by sharing my coastal travels with you?

As one of the graphic designers at Coastal Living, I created the layouts for “Divine Providence” (June 2009) and “Inside Newport: Where the Sailors Go” (July/August 2009—on newsstands now!). Perfect timing! My mom and I had just booked a trip to Providence, Rhode Island, to visit family.

With magazines in hand and my own personal tour guides—thanks Aunt Susan and Uncle Dickie!—I experienced both Providence and Newport as the locals do. In Providence, we walked the riverfront, explored the RISD museum (I bought some really cool earrings—slices of nutmeg coated in a sparkling lacquer), and lunched on Federal Hill (you can never go wrong with pink vodka sauce). The following day landed us in Newport, touring stately mansions, shopping Bowen’s Wharf, and dining at the Black Pearl. My personal favorite: strolling Cliff Walk, where beautiful views of the ocean and summer homes abound.

Now, back in Alabama, I miss the coolness of the ocean breeze. But when I open the pages of the magazine, I smell salt in the air. I hope you do, too. —Tempy Segrest

Find us on Facebook to view photos from the upcoming issue and become a fan!

Get ready to walk with us along the coast of New Hampshire, grill out with easy recipes and tips from barbecue guru Steven Raichlen, view top spots to snorkel from coast to coast, and join designer Tracey Rapisardi as she shows how to get a classic nautical look in your home.

On newsstands June 30th! Click here to subscribe.

Is anyone else as ready for a vacation as I am? For our anniversary this summer, my husband and I decided we were going to travel back to where our relationship began, London, England. In honor of our trip abroad I thought I'd get in the mood by gleaning a little inspiration from our sister Brit mag, Homes & Gardens.

In case you haven't seen it yet I recently posted a story called Color It Coastal, which features eight sea-inspired palettes and how to incorporate them into your home. So, below I pulled some images from Homes & Gardens in the same color families. Check out the info from H&G below then surf over to Color It Coastal for more interior inspiration.

All text and images below courtesy of Homes & Gardens

Coastal Colors: Seaglass

Allow one strong monochrome pattern, such as this bold turquoise window dressing, to take the lead in a room and use complementary patterns in the same palette as restrained accents. Sofa, Sofa Workshop. Chair and table, Revival.


Nautical stripes in blues and greens give this Suffolk dining room a suitably coastal look.

Coastal Colors: Citrus

Be bold and mix orange and turquoise, rattan and cane furniture, along with cafe-style tables and chairs add to the relaxed feel. Sofa, The Conran Shop. Rattan table, Oka. Armchair, Marston & Langinger.


This contemporary staircase uses a reinforced glass panel to act as a balustrade whilst maximising light in this open-plan space. The mix of wood and white surfaces adds a classic touch and gives the kitchen a clean, fresh feel. Chairs from Mac and Mac Interiors, try Ikea for a white dining table.

Did you know that our oceans help feed us, regulate our climate, generate most of the oxygen we breathe, and more?!

We're recognizing these gifts by joining in the celebration of World Oceans Day. You should too! Do your part to help recognize the need to protect our oceans by spreading the word or toasting with ocean-friendly wine. For more on this wonderful achievement and how you can help, visit The Ocean Project's Web site.

Perhaps I'm an old soul, but I still love to write letters. With such a hectic schedule it seems there's not much time to practice this fine art, but summertime always causes me to slow down a bit. Here's some sweet stationary I hope to pick up next time I'm out and about.