West View Restaurant - Windermere, UK

Last meal in Windermere, and we're looking for a not-so-English takeaway. The chef here is Chinese and can cook just about any Asian food. 

Starters include crunchy little Spring Rolls, and the menu splits into sections for all the entrees and sides. They have Korean classics like this slightly spicy Bibimbap, with a well-proportioned mix of beef, veg, and all the pickles. There's a deboned, quite-fried Crispy Roasted Duck with all the fixins including those tissue-thin pancakes and cucumbers with hoisin sauce. 

Carbs consist of fried noodles and fried rice, and the Green Pepper and Beef Stir-fries has tender beef and veggies done well. Fried Chicken Wings are super crispy, chili sauce packed separately so they aren't so quick to sog. 

A generically satisfying meal, including all the Asian classics so they hit the craving in the craw. A good option if you're seeking it - you'll go to bed happy at the end of the day.

Brown Horse Inn - Windermere, UK

A traditional English dinner awaits us at a pub that pretends to be more casual than it is. The decor has a hunting theme, and the beautiful wooden tables pretend to be rustic, while servers scurry with hot plates of food and pints of various ales. 

I'm too tired to drink and never too full to eat so my Steak & Ale Pie is the best of both worlds. The crust is flaky though a hair thicker and denser than I'd prefer, the inside tender shredded beef. Potatoes and green beans are bland, the pan gravy is pretty good. 

The Gammon Steak is a new one for us, and I guess the Hawaiians didn't do ham and pineapple first. The ham steak is covered in a warm pineapple chutney, a bit more sugary than I'd want, and a side of breaded, fried egg with an oozing yolk. Chips come with almost every plate in the UK, and these are unapologetically thick, a bold reminder of how much we love the taste of pure potato. 

A really cool pub with quality food and style. Better for a sit-down dinner than for slamming pints, good fun for a nicer, quieter meal. 

Windermere 7/31 - Day 7

The first day's frustrations are immediately forgotten as the warmth of family ousts the damp Causeway cold. 

The kids gel immediately, and there's laughter and peace, help and support. 

Today we take off for a touristy jaunt starting with a peaceful boat ride across Lake Windermere on the historic Swan. 

The ride moves at a luxuriously slow pace as we sip our morning cappuccinos from real ceramic cups.

We pass a lot of sites, but the narration is hard to hear. 

I think that’s Wray Castle, 

And whatever these houses are, I'd gladly buy any of them. 

The cruise ends at the Lakeside stop, the beginning of the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, a round-trip steam train cruise across the countryside. 

The Haverthwaite side is a Victorian train station with some attractions to make you less eager to hurry back. 

The train station tea room serves a simple lunch, and I am loving this Halloumi and Mushroom burger. What is not fantastic about a chewy patty of fried cheese with a pile of mushrooms and pepper jam with a sweet kick?

The playground has an epic zipline, and big girl is obsessed. This alone is why she loves this country. 

It's a different boat that takes us back, and I believe it was the MV Swift. A more modern vessel with both decks are sheltered by clear glass on all sides. A bit stuffy on top, but with all the amenities of the previous including coffee and ice cream.