Category Archives: Dining – Elegant
How to Find the Perfect 19th Century Connecticut Inn
The scenic Litchfield Hills in northwest Connecticut is home to several historic inns and restaurants. One of the very best is the Hopkins Inn. Overlooking the northern shore of beautiful Lake Waramaug and the Berkshire Mountain foothills, the Inn was opened as the Hopkins Place, a summer boarding house, in 1847. It operated as such …
Best Places to Stay Along the Oregon Coast: Heceta Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast
Who doesn’t like a lighthouse? Artistic sentinels of the past and present that conjure up thoughts of tumultuous seas and shipwrecks along craggy coasts. For some, a lighthouse may bring visions of a peaceful life with the siren call of gulls and foghorns. Adventure to some, serenity to others. Who lived such a life and …
A Five-Star Experience at the Hayfield Manor in Cork, Ireland
Hayfield Manor is an elegant boutique hotel near the city center of Cork. When you combine a spectacular attraction like Blarney Castle with an extraordinary hotel like Hayfield Manor, you have brewed up a “must do” itinerary while visiting the Emerald Isle. “Leave the hectic pace of city life and enter the tranquil country garden setting …
Best Places to Stay Along the Northern California Coast: The Unrivaled Inn at Newport Ranch
The latest subject in our series of articles about luxuriously uncommon coastal lodgings in Northern California is unique in many respects. This coastal cattle ranch covers 2000 remote acres chock-full of forests and plains. It’s the perfect location for a wedding, corporate gathering, or a romantic getaway. The property stretches along a mile of picturesque …
A Vacation in Mexico Where Much of the Fun is Getting There
It’s been a rainy winter at our home on the Oregon coast, so we decided to hunt for some sun and sand on the western coast of Mexico. There’s a lot of ways to get to the famous Mexican Riviera. We decided on a Princess Cruise, and we are so glad we did. Our cruise …
Best Places to Stay Along the Northern California Coast: The Historic Benbow Inn is an Oasis of Comfort and Luxury Among the Giant Redwoods
Wherever you decide to stay, a drive along the northern California coast is visually breathtaking, and if you find a comfortable inn to lay your head, so much the better. The Benbow Historic Inn is just such a place. It is also as interesting an auberge as you will find anywhere along the great and …
Princess Cruise Ships: What Makes Them Sparkle
We recently took a Princess cruise to the Mexican Riviera on the Grand Princess. This was our third sailing on the Grand since she was commissioned in 1998. You might wonder, after 20 years of service and tens of thousands of passengers, how does Princess keep her looking fresh and appealing to prospective guests. We …
Best Places to Stay Along the Northern California Coast: Scopa at the Sea
Preface Lodging preferences are so personal. With the advent of the internet, travel magazine advertisements have given way to lodging websites and individual reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp. Of course, lodging websites are no more objective than print ads – which leaves us to depend on personal reviews to help us decide on the best …
Notes to Self: On Becoming Lighthouse Innkeepers
There are certain jobs that people dream about. A frequent fancy in a troubled world is being a lighthouse innkeeper where one can enjoy the peace and serenity of the ocean and abundant sea life. We wanted to see if the lifestyle of a lighthouse innkeeper might be in our future. We arranged for a visit …
Don’t Miss the Luau at the Royal Hawaiian
Aha’aina – is a Royal Celebration. We were anxious to experience this renowned oceanfront luau on Waikiki Beach with its spectacular views, excellent food, and top-notch entertainment. We were not disappointed. During our luau celebration at the famous “Pink Palace,” we were treated to a few minutes of Hawaii’s famous liquid-sunshine. It did not dampen …
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