History, Island Time & the Art of Traveling Well. There are destinations that feel endlessly inspiring, and Greece is certainly one of them. We recommend traveling during the fringe months to take advantage of the milder weather and fewer crowds. Spring break is a favorite time to visit — the weather is comfortable, so the packing is easier (see our travel style for the best tips), the crowds are lighter than summer, and the pace feels just right. For a trip that balances learning and leisure, we love splitting our time between historic Athens and the island beauty of Santorini. Together, they offer a thoughtful blend of culture, scenery, and true relaxation. This is the kind of trip that feels restorative rather than rushed — full days, long meals, and moments that invite you to linger. Athens: A Living History Lesson We like to begin our trip in Athens, where history and modern life coexist beautifully. For accommodations, we recommend the Hilton Adia Aluma Athens, a polished but comfortable home base that makes it easy to explore the city on foot. One of our best tips for Athens is to schedule a guided city tour early in your stay. It’s an excellent way to get oriented and gain a deeper appreciation for the city’s many layers — from ancient ruins to contemporary neighborhoods, public art, and striking modern architecture. Understanding how the city fits together makes wandering on your own far more meaningful. When it comes to sightseeing, timing matters. We recommend touring the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum in the afternoon, when the light softens and golden hour approaches. The views over the city as the sun begins to set are unforgettable and worth planning around. Athens is also a city meant for lingering meals. For authentic Greek dining, we recommend Ta Karamanlidika Tou Fani for traditional flavors and Klimataria, a long-standing favorite known for its warm atmosphere and classic dishes. After dark, Thissio View is a must — its nighttime view of the illuminated Acropolis is nothing short of magical. Santorini: Slow Down & Explore After the energy of Athens, Santorini offers the perfect contrast. The island’s dramatic cliffs, whitewashed buildings, and sweeping caldera views encourage a slower pace — especially in spring, when everything feels calmer and more approachable. We strongly recommend renting a car while on Santorini. It allows you to circumnavigate the island at your own pace, discover quieter corners, and experience more than just the postcard views. With a car, it’s easy to visit black sand beaches like Perivolos Beach or head to Akrotiri for sweeping coastal views and a glimpse into the island’s ancient past. For accommodations, we love staying in Oia, where the views are spectacular and mornings feel especially peaceful. There are wonderful hotel options like Santorini Secret Suites & Spa, part of Small Luxury Hotels, as well as unique cave-like apartments known as yposkafa. These historic dwellings, carved directly into the soft pumice rock of the caldera, feature barrel-shaped ceilings and whitewashed interiors. Many include private hot tubs or pools — ideal for truly relaxing away from the crowds of Fira and Imerovigli. Santorini’s dining scene is just as memorable. We recommend Lycabettus Restaurant for a refined experience with panoramic views and Ambrosia Restaurant, known for its romantic setting and classic island flavors. One of the quieter joys of Santorini is the abundance of cats wandering the island. They’re well cared for by locals and add to the relaxed, lived-in charm that makes the island feel welcoming rather than staged. Why This Spring Break Works So Well What makes this itinerary special is the balance. Athens engages your mind with history, architecture, and culture, while Santorini restores your energy with scenery, slow mornings, and long dinners. Spring temperatures make walking and exploring comfortable, and the lighter crowds allow you to experience both places more fully. This is travel that feels intentional — planned enough to be smooth, but open enough to savor each moment. Whether you’re traveling as a couple, with family, or on a girls’ trip, Greece in the fringe months offers depth, beauty, and ease in equal measure. Sometimes the best trips are the ones that let you learn, rest, and wander — all in the same journey.
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Sourdough Made Simple…
Building a Starter & Baking Parker House Rolls at Home There’s something deeply satisfying about baking with a sourdough starter. It’s part science, part ritual, and part intuition—and once you’ve worked with one, it’s easy to understand why people keep starters alive for decades. At Shookhill Secret, we’ve been baking bread with sourdough starters for over twenty years, and our current starter is more than six years old. It lives quietly in the refrigerator, gets fed regularly, and shows up whenever we’re in the mood to bake something comforting and familiar. That said, we’re also the first to say this: maintaining a sourdough starter is not for everyone—and that’s perfectly fine. Baking should feel enjoyable, not stressful. Whether you want to dive deep into sourdough or simply dabble, there’s room for both approaches. What Is a Sourdough Starter, Really? At its most basic, a sourdough starter is a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast from the environment. Over time, with regular feedings, it becomes active enough to leaven bread naturally—no commercial yeast required. The result is bread with more depth of flavor, better texture, and that subtle tang sourdough is known for. Starters are wonderfully forgiving. They don’t need perfection, just consistency. And once established, they can be incredibly resilient. Two Ways to Get Started If the idea of starting from scratch feels intimidating, here’s some good news: you don’t have to. Option One: Borrow a StarterThis is our favorite shortcut. If you know someone who bakes with sourdough, ask for 30–40 grams of their starter. That small amount is enough to get you going and often produces faster, more reliable results. We share ours with friends in the area all the time! Option Two: Make Your Own StarterIf you’d like to create one from scratch, it’s surprisingly simple. Basic Sourdough Starter Recipe Day 1: Mix 50g bread flour with 50g water in a larger glass jar with a lid. We use King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour. Stir, cover loosely, and let sit at room temperature. Days 2–5: Discard half the mixture each day. Feed with 50g flour + 50g water. Stir and loosely cover. By day 5–7, your starter should be bubbly, active, and slightly tangy-smelling. Once it reliably doubles within a few hours of feeding, it’s ready to bake with. Feeding & Maintaining Your Starter We keep things simple. If baking frequently, keep your starter at room temperature and feed daily. If baking occasionally, store it in the refrigerator and feed weekly. The goal is to keep it healthy—not perfect. And remember: if sourdough feels like too much work at any point, it’s okay to step back. You can still bake beautiful bread with commercial yeast. Our Favorite Way to Use a Starter: Parker House Rolls When it comes to gatherings (like our Superbowl slider sandwiches), holidays, or cozy dinners at home, Parker House rolls are a go-to. Soft, buttery, and comforting, they’re the kind of roll everyone reaches for twice. Using sourdough starter adds depth of flavor without making them overly tangy. Sourdough Parker House Rolls (Overview)These rolls are enriched with milk, butter, and eggs, making them tender and lightly sweet. The dough is folded before baking—classic Parker House style—which creates that signature soft center. We typically make the dough earlier in the day (or even the night before), let it rise slowly, shape the rolls, and bake just before serving. The aroma alone is worth it. Whether you use a long-loved starter, one borrowed from a friend, or a brand-new starter you made yourself, these rolls are a beautiful introduction to baking with sourdough. Why We Love Sourdough—Without the Pressure Sourdough baking doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can bake occasionally, feed your starter when it suits you, and still enjoy the process. And if today isn’t the season for starters, that’s okay too. Baking should feel grounding, not demanding. For us, sourdough is about slowing down, using simple ingredients, and sharing something warm with the people we love. And honestly, that’s what Parker House rolls, and baking bread in general, are all about.