Hotel Review: Boston Marriott Newton

If you are doing something in the suburbs of Boston, this is a very nice hotel to choose. It is easy on and off  I 90 - The Massachusetts Turnpike and offers all the amenities you would expect in a Marriott. 

I was here for a genealogy conference, it is also a conference hotel. Parking is free which is one of the real benefits of staying in the Boston burbs rather than in the city where nightly parking runs in excess of $40. 

I was sharing the room with my friend Kathy so we had a two queen bedded room and it was spacious. We had a small fridge and a coffee maker. We used the WiFi frequently and it was strong and never let us down. We also had a large screen TV with a good variety of channels. 

The beds had lots of pillows and were very comfortable. We ate breakfast and lunch at the conference which was their catering menu not what was served in their restaurant. We did eat in the bar one evening and they had the best virgin bloody mary that I have ever had in my life. I had the onion soup and it was very good, we were pleased with our snack.

We had to drive quite a distance to find another restaurant for dinner but it was worth the drive and we loved Comellas in Wellesley Hills. 

I was very pleased with the hotel and would love to be able to stay here again.  

A Holiday Visit to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, Lennox, MA.

I love to visit houses decorated for Christmas during the holidays. This year I chose Lennox, Massachusetts. I was looking for places that are an easy drive but also have interesting places to stay and good restaurants. I found the perfect combination with Ventfort Hall Mansion. I didn't end up staying in Lennox however, we chose Lee which is right next door.

The house that stands on these grounds today is not the original home which was built for New Yorkers Ogden and Elizabeth Haggerty in 1853. That original house, an Italianate villa, was moved across the street when Sarah Morgan (the sister of J.P.) and her husband George bought the property and decided to replace the house with the mansion that exists today. It was Elizabeth who named it Vent Fort which is French for strong wind. Sarah made it into the one-word name Ventfort it has today. 

During the Gilded Age, there were upwards of 70 summer cottages in Lennox. The arts and authors were what drew millionaires to the Berkshires, not much has changed on that front into the current day. The Boston firm of Rotch and Tilden was hired to create the magnificent Jacobean Revival mansion that you see today. It had 50 rooms, 17 bathrooms and all the latest amenities of the time period. It was originally set in 26 acres of which 17 are still surrounding the house. 

The family came for the summer of 1893 but Sarah died only 3 years later. She left the home to their three adult children with George having the right to use it. When George died in 1911, the children sold the content and rented the house out. George had been a very enthusiastic gardener and I imagine at some future date, they will try to restore some of his gardens. 

It went through several owners until finally being abandoned in 1991. A developer purchased the property and intended to raze the house and build a nursing home. The Ventfort Hall Association was formed in 1994 and soon thereafter Ventford was designated a National Historic Landmark. After purchasing the building, the business of restoration began.

What you see today, is a house in process of restoration. The house was in pretty rough shape when it was saved and it has taken an immense amount of work and money to bring it back. Photos are shown throughout the house of the progress that has been made. The house is lovely and you feel quite grateful that someone cared enough to save it. The most recent addition is an elevator. 

We, however, went up the gorgeous staircase and it is a beauty. All in all, the guided tour took about an hour and we loved every minute of it. The cost is not inexpensive but I was happy to feel as if I was in my small way, contributing to the preservation and restoration of this gem. I made sure to purchase a few things from the gift store as well. 

Keep in mind that this isn't just a beautiful house, it is a museum to show you what life was like in the Gilded Age and it does it very well. 

I highly recommend coming up and seeing this lovely and unique property. For more details check out their website. 

Aer Lingus: Just When You Think It Can't Get Worse It Can

After my last experience with Aer Lingus, I pretty much swore I would never use them again. They lost my luggage on a direct flight from Boston to Dublin and then took 3 days to get it to me. In the meantime they were uncommunicative and when they did tell me something it was a lie. I swore I was finished with them and then they offered rates from Hartford that were irresistible. For $458 I was suckered in again.

One thing I will say about Aer Lingus, they never disappoint when it comes to being a big disappointment. This time our flight was delayed but they refused to tell us for how long, their website was totally useless and after waiting 30 minutes on the phone, their staff was even less helpful.

When we arrived at the airport, the board said our flight was on time but when we checked our bag we were told to be at the gate at 8:30 p.m. Since our flight was scheduled for a 5:10 departure this seemed incomprehensible. The desk staff talked to me like I was a child with a total lack of understanding when I questioned them. We were never told what caused the delay. 

Once we boarded our very full flight we found out how very bad the actual condition of the plane was. I didn't get headphones and had to ask for them. I was given the wrong meal which is irrelevant since they are all disgusting and the bathroom stunk almost from the moment we took off.

On the way home, I kept getting hit in the head with drops of water, the seat in from of me was broken and in my face,  Irene's overhead light kept blinking, Pete's seat cushion was not attached and the bathrooms still stank. The food was equally as disgusting as the previous flight, the Kerrygold butter was the highlight.  When I told the stewardess about the drops of water she offered me a tissue!! Really!!

I know they say you get what you pay for but this is really not acceptable. The only positive I have to say is that the entertainment system if you can get your headphones to work without having to hold the plug in, is excellent and has a great variety of options. And my luggage arrived on time in both directions. 

Bed and Breakfast review: Chambery Inn Lee, MA

The Chambery Inn is a unique place to stay in Lee. The former Old St Mary's School has been converted into a beautiful bed and breakfast. We had one of the schoolhouse suites which was huge. Our room, 202 L'Aubusson, had 13-foot ceilings, and a king-sized canopy bed which seemed dwarfed given the size of the room!! I loved this room since the second floor is the entrance floor and we didn't have to climb any stairs, always a good thing. I also loved the hot apple cider that was available in the lobby.

The inn has 10 rooms in five categories, the majority of the rooms are schoolhouse suites or deluxe schoolhouse suites.  One room has two queen beds, the rest have either queen or king except the room that is called the smallest room in the Berkshires.

We loved sitting in front of the gas fireplace and watching Tv and eating breakfast. The breakfast is delivered in a basket to your door. You pick what you prefer and put the card out on the doorknob before 8 p.m. It is delivered at the time you prefer.

The bed had lots of pillows and was very comfortable. A soft throw was available if you just want to lay on the bed and not get under the covers. In the closet, are two robes if you want to just get comfortable. I loved the fact that there were two suitcase racks as well, most couples do come with two!!

A huge rolltop desk as located on one wall and it had a game box so if you want to play checkers or chess, it is there for you. On the desk, by the bed, there is a charger for your electronics. Wifi was fast and worked great and the TV is a smart TV.  A small fridge and coffee pot are on the wall with the blackboard.

My only disappointment was that the details for our room stated that we would have a Keurig coffee maker and so I brought some of my own pods and we didn't have a Keurig and I had to be satisfied with Folgers Coffee made in a small pot. It was a small thing really and when I mentioned it to the owners they told me that next time, it won't be an issue. I loved the fact that they really care.

The bathroom had a single jetted tub and shower. Plenty of pressure and nice shampoo. The bathroom was even decorated for Christmas.

Our room was located on the back of the building, we heard a train at one point, the tracks are very close, I suspect the front of the house would be quieter. We could hear the people above us walking in their room and I would guess the people below us could hear us. It was not an issue, it is an old building and the floors creak.

The location is perfect, we were able to walk out to dinner at Chez Nous and there are several other options all within just a few blocks.

We loved this Inn, it is charming and has great amenities. I highly recommend it and we will definitely be returning.

Belgium: Maagdenhuis Museum Antwerp

Down the street from the Mayer Van den Bergh Museum, the Maagdenhuis Museum is small but is a poignant testimony to the fate of orphaned and abandoned children in Antwerp.

Founded in 1552, the Maagdenhuis girls orphanage remained open until 1882, when the children were moved to a more modern facility. It originally was built near a refuge for women who were in need of help or who were homeless.

Today, the original building houses an interesting collection of art and applied arts. These pieces of artwork were donated by wealthy patrons over the years and when the girls were moved to the new facility, the gifts remained in the old building and are now displayed to the public.

We came here to see the Van Dyke and the Rubens paintings that the Maagdenhuis owns. This might in and of itself be enough to make the museum worthy of a visit, but what would make me want to come back are the many souvenirs and mementos of the children who passed through the doors of this building when it was the Maagdenhuis.

This is a small museum; you get to visit several rooms that have the paintings and some beautiful furniture. What you don’t get to see are the rooms where the children would have been housed. That is a shame since that would have been interesting. You can’t really get a feel for what you are shown what their lives would have been like and what happened to them when they grew up.

The chapel has been converted into a museum to house the mementos of the actual orphanage. One case has 203 foundling tokens. These are often playing cards or religious images that have been given a jagged-cut edge. One half was kept by the mother and the other half was left with the baby. This way the mother could come back and if they cards fit together, they could identify their child. How many were able to come back we will never know, but at least 203 didn’t. Other cases show the typical uniforms worn by the foundlings. Amid all these very emotional souvenirs, a beautiful case of faience seems almost out of place. It was lovely none the less.

Entrance to the Maagdenhuis Museum was 3.00 Euros when we visited. I had a very mixed reaction to this museum. First, you see the obvious wealth of those who ran the home and then you see how very Spartan the lives of the foundlings were. A sad contrast indeed but very true to life as it was.

National Museum of Ireland Collins Barrack Dublin Ireland

For more than 200 years, the Collins Barracks was an Army Base. The imposing granite buildings were completed in 1704 and played a part in both the Rebellion of 1798 and the Easter Uprising of 1916. The barracks are named for the legendary Irish leader Michael Collins. The initial construction of the building was overseen by Thomas Burgh Originally known as the Royal Barracks they were designed to house 1500 men as well as stables for horses. 

#NationalmuseumofIreland

We visited on a rainy November Saturday morning and we were certainly not the only ones who thought this would be a great place to visit. What you will find here today is an extensive collection of decorative arts combined with military history. 

We took a cab to get here, we knew where it was located from our travels on the hop on hop off bus. The Luas has a station right outside the barracks so if you want that would certainly be an easy way to get here. We have not quite figured out the Luas but I full intend to learn all about it next time we visit here. It does not go near the Pembroke Townhouse, at least I have never seen it in the area. 

 There is an excellent collection of coins. Some ancient ones as well as newer ones. 

While not quite a costume museum, there is a nice collection of clothing. This particular dress was designed by the famous Worth of Paris. 

Silver lovers are in for a treat. I particularly like these snuff boxes but the collection is much more extensive than these and includes tea pots, candelabra and a magnificent epergne just to name a few.  

The military aspects of the museum are of particular interest. It covers hundreds of years from ancient Ireland to the current day. 

Entrance is free however, you are encouraged to donate 5 euros. A smallish gift shop is located near the entrance desk but it closes for an hour at lunch time so we had five minutes to look around. I highly recommend a visit to the National Museum of Ireland. 

Visiting Ben Lomond Historic Site Manassas, VA.

Ben Lomond is a historic site located in Manassas, Va. It was originally part of the land holdings of Robert “Councillor” Carter III who was the grandson of Robert “King” Carter. At his death, his massive holdings were divided among his heirs, one of whom was his grandson, Benjamin Tasker Chinn. Guests who have visited the Manassas Battlefield will recognize the name Chinn as one of the hills that the battle took place on.

#benlomond

When Robert Carter III owned the property, it was used to grow tobacco. It was named Cancer Plantation, he named his plantations after the signs of the zodiac. Oakland Plantation was originally called Leo. Robert Carter III freed his slaves in a document he filed with the Northumberland District Court.

When Benjamin Chinn inherited, he decided to build a house on the property, which is the house that stands today, well sort of. The original house was covered in stucco and had a two-two-story over the entire front. His wife did not like the name of the property and to please his wife, Benjamin changed the name to Ben Lomond after a property that had been the ancestral home of her family.



With only ten slaves, tobacco was out of the question, instead, the plantation raised merino sheep.



Today, an original slave cabin stands on the property and is the only one extant in the county and one of only a few in the area. It was divided into two apartments and was big enough to provide space for all the slaves. Made of stone, each of the sides has a fireplace making it nicer than the homes most small farmers would have had. The entire building was moved from the other side of the property to its current location when the modern world began encroaching on it.

The tour of the grounds is self-guided except for the slave quarters. The tour begins in the gift shop and moves outside to the front of the house. It then moves to the slave cabin and you are welcome to go inside.



By the time of the Battle of Manassas, the Chinn family had moved to a bigger, newer home on Chinn Hill. Ben Lomond was being leased to the Pringle family. The house sits adjacent to the road that Stonewall Jackson brought his troops along to the battle. After the battle, the Confederates took possession of the house and turned it into a field hospital. Ben Lomond remained in their hands until the end of August 1961.




In 1862 when the Union occupied the area they came to the house and destroyed all the furniture and left graffiti on the walls, which survives to this day. They had heard that the Pringles were Confederate sympathizers.

The house that is seen today is set up as it would have been at the time right after the First Battle of Manassas, as a field hospital. A lot of information is imparted about what the patients endured and the medicine and procedures they were forced to endure.

This was a very interesting place to visit. The tour was excellent and it is the perfect place to visit to coordinate with a visit to the battlefield.



The rose garden was not in bloom in October but visitors can enter the smokehouse and the dairy. The stone outline of the kitchen is also visible in the yard. In the early 20th century, President Theodore Roosevelt was a frequent visitor to the house. It has been in the possession of Prince William County since the 1980s. There is a small fee to visit.

Hill of Tara County Meath Ireland

We visited the Hill of Tara with our guide Gerry as part of our tour with of the Boyne Valley. Gerry didn't actually walk up the hill with us but rather drove us there and dropped us off. We didn't have any idea about what to look for since this had not been something we were prepared to do. Sadly, in early November, the visitor center was not open so other than knowing that the Stone of Destiny was at the top and if we hugged it we would see our destiny, we didn't have a whole lot to go on. Signage was literally nonexistent.

#hillof tara  #stoneofdestiny

My knees had been acting up so the other three in my party went ahead without me. I was quite a lot behind, since as I exited the restaurant I decided that I had enough knees left to give it a go.

I walked through the gate and up past the statue of St. Patrick, no explanation of why he was there is provided. It seems St Patrick lit a Paschal fire on the hilltop in defiance of the Pagan king of Tara.

I walked past the visitor center, all locked up, through the cemetery and out into the field. WARNING: the field is loaded, and I do mean loaded with sheep doo, you need to watch every step that you take. It was also wet and muddy when we were there and extremely slippery.

The first thing I saw was the burial site, there is a small sign there so I knew it was called the Mound of the Hostages.  It is a 3000-year-old passage tomb. 

Walking past it to the next hill, you come to the Stone of Destiny. The views from the top of the hill are quite stunning and it does seem like a perfect spot for the King of Tara to be crowned.

I would suggest that visiting the Hill of Tara during the season might be much more interesting when the visitor center is open to provide a little background and guidance. 

We did have lunch here at McGuires which had excellent soup and we really wished we had time to visit the cluster of small and very interesting looking shops at the bottom of the hill.

#stoneofdestiny 
#hilloftara

Hotel review: The Kendall Hotel, Cambridge, Mass.

#kendallhotelcambridge

The Kendall Hotel - You really do know this is something special as soon as you walk into the lobby. It doesn't remotely resemble most hotel lobbies. It is small, intimate really. You pull up in front of the hotel and there is parking available under the hotel. Be sure to reserve it before you arrive, it will be less expensive that way.

It was a couple weeks before Christmas and a fire was going in the fireplace and comfortable places to sit were offered by the Christmas tree. The Black Sheep Restaurant and Bar also shares the lobby. We were given room 413 and our friends 412. It was a comedy of errors, their key didn't work, it is the electronic kind and after a few false starts, they too got to cozy up in their room.

You can choose to have a queen bed, a king bed or a suite. We chose the king bedded rooms which were slightly more expensive because the rooms are also larger. It is a lovely room. It had a king sized bed with a beautiful carved headboard. The bed had six pillows of varying size making it looks very comfy cozy. The walls are painted a very soft and relaxing green.

An upholstered chair with a pole lamp, a desk and chair and a flat screen TV with 100 channels round out the decor. This hotel is everything you could want and more. An antique trunk with a mirror over it and an antique Empire dresser add some historic flair. The bed has a neutral cover and a patchwork comforter, a very comfortable bed it is too.



Just walking in the halls is interesting, antiques and additional trunks everywhere. No two rooms are identical, the furniture is individual and the quilts are too. Our friends had a red comforter in their room.

On the main floor off of the hall, there is a business center with a computer, there is also one on the seventh floor in the lounge. It is a very pretty room on the seventh floor where they have a reception Monday -Thursday. It has one wall that is all glass and offers interesting views of the city. All the rooms have high-speed internet as well as WiFi.




The bathroom is surprisingly large with a pedestal sink, tub and shower combination and an oriental design small cabinet. Charming is the word that comes to mind. A water and soda machine are located on the first floor as well as a candy machine. Coffee is available in the breakfast room early in the morning. Breakfast is included in your room rate.


The lobby and the restaurant are located in the historic Victorian firehouse Engine Company #7. The firehouse closed in the early 1990's and had fallen into disrepair. It was rescued and turned into a boutique hotel which opened in 2002. The Kendall is the only boutique hotel in Cambridge. If you are visiting MIT this hotel is located perfectly adjacent to the campus. A Legal Seafood Restaurant is located right across the street or you can eat in the hotel.

Hotel review: Hotel Corinthia Lisbon

The Hotel Corinthia Lisbon is part of the Corinthia Hotel Group and it is listed as a five-star hotel. I would give it more if I was able. They have the most helpful and friendly staff, absolutely everyone we met in the hotel was delightful. The desk was ever helpful; the lady who ran the store was a gem and the restaurant staff as well. You were always treated as if your comfort was of the utmost importance to them.

The lobby is a marvel of marble, orchids, intimate seating groups and almost medieval lighting. It is a stunner. You will be assisted from your taxi by the helpful staff and it is only going to get better from here. The elevators are small, that is the only remotely negative thing I can say about this place. But on the upside, there are plenty of them and they are fast.

Rooms are comfortable, not huge but by European standards very roomy. On the wall as you walk in is a very modern looking set of cabinets which includes a closet, minibar and safe, There are three phones including one in the bathroom. To have electricity in the room you must place your room card in the holder by the light switch near the door.

The room is very comfortable with two nightstands and a glass table, a desk and a chair and also a club chair. The bed has extra pillows and the closet has even more. As usual, a twin is two beds a double one. The bedding was gorgeous. The bathroom is all tiled; it has a deep tub and shower with great pressure and plenty of hot water, a marble top vanity, and a bidet. The TV is a large flat screen.

Internet (Ethernet) was 9 Euros an hour or 18 for 24 hours, for 25 Euros you get movies on demand included. You can use the computer with the TV or connect your own laptop.

The hotel has two restaurants and a bar in addition to a lovely outdoor dining area at the breakfast buffet restaurant. You want to have a breakfast included. This is probably the best breakfast buffet I have ever seen and I have seen a lot. You could have an omelet made or a waffle.




They offer a choice of sliced bread which you toast, bacon, sausage, potatoes, cold cereal, tons of fresh fruit, cheeses, meats, vegetables, pastries and rolls, juices the list goes on and on. You can have tea coffee or hot chocolate to go with it. Really if you can't find something here to eat, you won't find it anywhere.

The main restaurant Tipico is a gem offering international and local cuisine in a beautiful setting. The food is perfectly prepared and presented.

I can't recommend the Hotel Corinthia Lisbon highly enough. It is located away from the downtown near the Gulbenkian Museum and so is quiet and peaceful. There are always cabs available and buses go right by as well.

If you are looking for a hotel that offers a very high standard of service at a price that is if not inexpensive at least affordable then this is the one that I recommend. They have a business center and an outdoor pool which only add to just how perfect they are.

Best clothes for traveling

The best clothes for traveling are those that make you feel and look good. Outfits should be practical and provide a comfortable day in the air, the car or on the train. Keeping in mind both the temperature at your destination and departure points. 

Dressing in layers can help to keep you warm in the north and allows you to remove layers as you travel south. It can get chilly in airplane cabins and in air-conditioned cars, making a top with long sleeves or a hoodie a good travel option. If you are traveling for business, your suit, sports jacket or blazer will be sufficient to keep you comfortable if there is a chill in the air.

Be prepared if you are traveling by airplane to remove any outerwear or sweaters as well as your shoes at the TSA checkpoint. Choosing shoes that are easy to remove and put back on as well as comfortable for long walks through the airport are a good choice. You can always pack your stylish shoes in your carry-on bag.

You want to arrive at your destination looking fresh and wrinkle-free.  Dressing in fabrics that wrinkle excessively a bad choice. I personally avoid linen. Choosing dark colors is more practical because they hide a multitude of sins. Things get spilled and it is easy to end up with a smudge on your beautiful white skirt or pants. Save them for when you arrive at your destination. A top with a pattern is also a good idea for the same reason; if during your day of travel anything gets spilled on you. It won't show nearly as much.

The outfit you choose for traveling day will be determined by not only your mode of travel but by the reason for your travel. When you are traveling for pleasure you can feel free to wear your favorite pair of jeans or sweats. If you are traveling for business that isn't going to be an option. You will probably not be going to your hotel before you are expected at a meeting. Choosing a wrinkle-free fabric will help you to arrive looking professional.

No matter what the reason for your travel you will need to keep your ID and personal items safe. For men, the inside pocket of your jacket or at the very least your front pants pocket offer some protection.  Pouches which go around your neck or around your waist are an option but they can be bulky and hard to get to. These are only needed if you are traveling to a place with a very high record of theft or pickpockets.

For women, a small bag with a strap that can be worn across the body or a large bag that can be tucked under your arm is best. Just remember to keep your mind on your belongings at all times and don't lose track of your purse for even a minute. A distracted traveler is an easy target for a thief.

The basic rules to keep in mind when choosing your clothes for traveling are safety, comfort, and practicality. Choose darker colors, materials that won't wrinkle, shoes that are easy to remove and put back on and practical for walking long distances. If you keep all of these in mind, you will arrive at your destination looking good and ready to get down to business or to having fun.

Rhode Island: Visiting Chateau sur Mer Newport

Chateau sur Mer is that very rare creature, a mansion without a gift shop, a shocking statement but true. If any of the houses could be said to feel like a cottage, Chateau Sur Mer has perhaps the most livable atmosphere. This is a house where you can almost imagine yourself residing. It has a warm and lived in feel that is very obviously missing in the other mansions.

The Wetmore family, who built this home, can trace their hometown roots to my hometown. A street called Wetmore Place is located in Middletown, Conn. and the genealogy chart on the wall of the waiting area makes the connection between the two families very clear.

Chateau Sur Mer (House on the Sea) must be visited on a guided tour. My husband and I, along with another couple, made up the tour with Barbara Caldwell as guide. Seth Bradford built the original house between 1851-52 for William Wetmore. Mr. Wetmore made his money in the China trade. Constructed of granite from Fall River, Mass., in the Italianate style, it was the grandest house in Newport. In 1856, he hosted a grand party, 3,000 were invited and the President of the United States received one of the invitations.

George Peabody Wetmore hired architect Richard Hunt to update the mansion and the High Victorian French Chateau design was created. The Wetmores took a decade-long European honeymoon while the update was going on. Hunt experimented on this home using Eastlake Style for the Great Hall and Arts and Crafts Style in the tiles of the fireplaces. In the gentlemen’s library, the ceiling is coffered and the fireplace is carved wood done in the Renaissance Style. 

Never has such a mixture of styles made such a lovely whole. The stunning stairway is one of the finest Hunt ever created and he played visual tricks to make the 45-foot central hall appear taller. Until 1894, it was year-round home.

Most of the furniture is not original to the house but the library table is. It now belongs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and is on loan at Chateau Sur Mer. Visitors get to enjoy a fine collection of rose medallion china, Amari, rose Canton and rose Mandarin which is on display. William Morris and Eastlake created the wallpaper for Mrs. Wetmore’s bedroom. 

Everything is in a very grand style and yet not overwhelming, okay I personally do not have a Carrera Marble fireplaces but I would like to have one.

Unfortunately, the Wetmore daughters did an update of their own and a great deal of the wonderful design was covered by oil-based paint. The Preservation Society of Newport County has made it their purpose to restore these areas to the 1870s. The house remained in the family into the 1960s and most of the fine paintings were bequeathed to Yale University.

This is not one of the grandest of the Newport mansions, but it is one of the most interesting. Chateau sur Mer in Newport became a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Tickets for the mansion can be purchased from the Preservation Society, in combination with other mansions or a single ticket is available at the entrance.

If you plan to stay the night, I recommend the Hotel Viking, it is one of our favorites. 

Pennsylvania: Hiking Bushkill Falls

Bushkill Falls is known as “The Niagara of Pennsylvania” and while this may be a bit of an overstatement, it in no way diminishes the beauty and the appeal of this area. The drive to get there along the Delaware Water Gap is quite scenic.
Bushkill is a beautiful place to spend a relaxing day communing with nature. 

Communing does not come cheap, however, the entrance fee is $16.50 for adults and $8.50 for children 4-12. Some additional charges may apply depending on what you want to do while you are there. The official tour guide is $3.

You enter through a small museum, which tells you about the wildlife in the area. You go through displays of stuffed animals, flora and fauna. It’s a warm-up for what is to come.

The area is divided into colored hiking trails that offer varying degrees of difficulty. The most popular trail takes 45 minutes to hike and leads you past the Main Falls. 

The problem the day we were there was that a tree had fallen and blocked that path right past the falls, we walked to the falls on that trail and then had to backtrack to change to another trail. The trails that we took (green to yellow then red) are also the easiest route but be warned, going this way involves climbing many steep wooden stairs. If you want to see the falls, this is the only way.  

I have arthritic knees but I was able to navigate the area with a minimal amount of pain. The view at the falls certainly made it worthwhile. Don’t be fooled, however, Niagara Falls this isn’t. But the wonderful sylvan setting and the lack of immense crowds certainly made up for the lack of water volume.

If you are up for a more strenuous hike, take the blue or red trail to Bridal Veil Falls.

We spent about two hours wandering with the kids through the woods and along the streams. It was relaxing and enervating at the same time. Be warned, mid-week this place is quiet, on a weekend and especially a holiday weekend, you will not be able to find parking or even get into the park.

The roads in this area cannot accommodate the amount of traffic that this attraction generates and you can be stuck in traffic jams that will make you think you are still in the big city. Bushkill Falls is a very popular place with residents and visitors and I am confident you will enjoy it as well.

Hotel Review: Charming Red Lion in Long Compton, Warwickshire

Long Compton is a village that has little to offer a visitor other than the Rollright Stones. I chose to stay at the Red Lion in Long Compton because I was enticed by a fantastic website. Risky business that but the food just looked so good at this pub that I risked repeating an unhappy pub stay. The last time I had tried this we were kept up until 1 a.m. by rowdy clientele. It doesn't matter how comfortable your room is if you can sleep because of the noise.

Noise was not an issue at all at the Red Lion. Our room had very thick walls and we never heard a sound. This is a small inn with only five rooms. Keep in mind that a pub is a little different than a B&B or hotel when it comes to checking in. They usually close after lunch and don't reopen until close to dinner time. You will need to time your arrival perfectly. We didn't but the hour wait was not too difficult since it was quite a lovely January day.

Our room was on the first floor and our friend was on the second floor. We had to walk up a set of stairs with the luggage so keep it light and our friend had two sets. Our room was very close to the stairs. It was a very cozy room, small with a large bed. We had everything we could possibly want. A nice coffee/tea set up, a small closet, a window seat, a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall and one of the largest bathrooms we have ever had anywhere. It had a large tub and a window seat.
Our friend's room was the one that you see on the website with two beds and the red and white checked bedspreads.

Breakfast is included in the rate. You will find a menu on your bed and you just leave it with them at the bar when you are ordering your dinner. You will want to have dinner there at least one night. We chose to eat there every night of our three-night stay, it was that good.

We loved our breakfast. You tell them when you would like it ready and when we came down our table was set and waiting for us. We enjoy the full English breakfast with fresh juice and coffee. There are daily dinner specials in the pub and they offer everything from soups to delicious pasta dishes, Steaks, chicken and luscious desserts are all available.

This is not your old-time pub, this is a modern gastropub where cuisine is served not pub grub.

Everyone we met here was concerned with the quality of our service. We never wanted for anything. I can't recommend Red Lion in Long Compton highly enough. Good food, comfortable rooms and excellent service guarantee a pleasant stay.

The Red Lion is within an easy drive of Oxford, Blenheim, Chipping Norton and Moreton in the Marsh. For a Cotswolds visit, it is close to ideal.

The Historic DuPont Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Louisville, Kentucky

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The DuPont Mansion in Louisville Kentucky was built late in the 19th century. This magnificent house has seen many incarnations from a family home to an apartment house. It became a labor of love for the current owners and it is evident in the bed and breakfast that they have created.

Today the DuPont Mansion Inn has six rooms and two suites and they are all stunningly beautiful and have every amenity to guarantee your comfort. Both the owners and the innkeeper love this house and are very willing to give you any additional information that you might like about the history of the mansion.

The Innkeeper will be there to greet you when you arrived and to take you on a tour of the public rooms. Mary is so much more than just the innkeeper, she will make your stay very special with her care and attention to detail not to mention those yummy breakfasts.



A favorite room is the Grover Cleveland. It has a king size bed flanked by two huge windows. The ceilings are tall, fifteen on the first floor and 12 and 14 on the second and third. This room has a two-sided fireplace. One side is in the bathroom. It is electric not wood or gas but it certainly does add wonderful ambiance. The tubs in all the rooms are jetted. The Carnegie Suite has a huge two person tub.

All of the rooms are beautifully decorated. The least expensive of the rooms is the JP Morgan and you will find that even though it may be a bit smaller there was nothing to complain about, it has all the luxury and amenities of the more expensive rooms. The website gives a very accurate picture of what the rooms look like.

Grover Cleveland is on the third floor. There is no elevator and those wonderful high ceilings mean that the stairs are long, very long; this isn't the place to carry in five large pieces of luggage. Consolidate your bags before you arrive, or use two small bags, you will be glad you did. There are no closets in the rooms but there are large armoires.

Somewhere in all the bedrooms, there will be a bowl of chocolate. You will find bowls of chocolate all over the house and they are not all the same kind of chocolate, it is a chocoholics dream. As a matter of fact, The DuPont Mansion Inn has a kitchen located on each of the floors. You will find a coffee maker, drinks in the fridge, snacks on the counter and fresh baked cookies. Yes, it is like being in the most perfect place you can imagine. If there is anything that you are missing the Innkeeper is right there to take care of it. The entire house is Wi-Fi and there is a TV in all the bedrooms.

The parlor downstairs is lovely. There is a player piano and sofas and chairs. Like most of the rooms in the house, it has a fireplace. The attention to detail is what you will notice both in the décor and just in the placement of the items, everything is thoughtfully done.

There are two dining rooms, one has a table that seats 8 and the other has tables that seat two. No matter which room you walk into you will be dazzled by the architecture, the décor, and the atmosphere. Everyone is more gracious and beautiful as the other. Even the halls on each floor are gorgeous.

Breakfast at the Inn is served at your pleasure anytime between 8am and 10am. Your day may begin with fresh fruit with yogurt and a sprinkle of granola. The second course could be mini banana nut muffins followed by a Mexican egg casserole served with salsa. This along with coffee, decaf¸ hot tea, and orange or cranberry juice make for a very satisfactory start to the day.

If you are coming to Louisville Kentucky for any reason, business or pleasure, the DuPont Mansion is a wonderful place to stay. It will certainly become your home away from home or at least the home you wished you lived in. If the DuPont Mansion Inn is unavailable you can always check out their sister inn, The Inn on the Park which is just about a block away.

Hotel Review: The Alexander Inn Philadelphia, PA

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The Alexander Inn in Philadelphia was built as a luxury hotel in the 1890s. It was called the Flanders Hotel and was a home away from home for many famous people in its heyday. Reminiscent of the luxury cruise ships of the 1940s, the hotel has 48 recently renovated rooms.

There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how much we loved this hotel. We were welcomed with a smile at 11 a.m. People were in the midst of checking out as we were checking in. If our room wasn’t ready, we were told that they would be more than happy to store our luggage. This is where we met Stephan, who we saw every day thereafter. He is Belgian and always made helping seem like a pleasure. He called a cab for us on several occasions and stored our luggage for us on Sunday. What is most amazing is that every other employee that we met was just as amusing, helpful, and friendly. Everyone seemed to be proud of their hotel and happy to be working there.



We had a double/double room on the 7th floor. I would describe the room size as European. It was compact but very comfortable. There were two upholstered chairs and a table in front of the bay windows. We had an Art Deco dresser and a very pretty mirror. One night stand is between the beds. The closet is open, and it is outside the bathroom door.

The bathroom is also petite. It has a tub and shower combination and a pedestal sink with a mirror. The window is recessed, so it makes a shelf, and there is a glass shelf with amenities on the wall. There is no waste of space. The walls and the floor are tiled with a neutral color. Everything was immaculate.

Breakfast is included in the rate. It is a nice continental breakfast with coffee and tea, cereal, Danish, croissant, English muffins, waffles, fresh bagels, and whole fruit. It is served in the parlor off the lobby. Fruit is available all day if you need a snack.

A small gym and machines for ice, drinks, and snacks as well, as a big rack of travel brochures are located in the basement.

Architectural touches are evident throughout the building. From the fireplace in the lobby with stained-glass transoms to the beautiful brick exterior, it is visually pleasing. Every effort was made to preserve the original Art Deco beauty.

This is also a gay-friendly hotel in a gay-friendly neighborhood. Not that everyone here was gay - there were plenty of mature married couples and people from all over the world. One thing I didn’t see was any children but there was nothing child unfriendly about the hotel. I would come here again in a heartbeat and I highly recommend it.

Fairfield Inn Williamsburg, Virginia

Located on Richmond Road, the Fairfield Inn has an excellent location. Within about 5 minutes you can be in Colonial Williamsburg which is just a little over a mile away. It is equally convenient to Bypass Road and from there to the Colonial Parkway.

The hotel itself is big, it may be one of the biggest Fairfield Inns this writer has ever seen. It is two buildings that connect at the breakfast room and recreation area. One thing that is very good is that the breakfast room is appropriately sized for such a large hotel and can handle the number of customers it needs to even on the weekends.

The Fairfield Inn has regular rooms, studios and suites. The studio consists of two rooms, a parlor with a TV and a sleeper sofa and a bedroom with a TV and King bed but there is no door between so it may seem like dueling TVs at times. The suites include two bathrooms and two double beds and a sleeper sofa.

The room is spacious, in addition to the TV and sofa the living room has a desk, chair and coffee table. The bedroom is not as spacious but has a large closet and two nightstands. A bench serves as one suitcase holder and there is another suitcase rack in the closet which fits in the room on the window side of the TV stand.

Near the entrance to the room, are a small fridge, coffee pot and microwave.

The bathroom has a large granite counter top and a two-piece tub/shower. The shower pressure was very good and four large plush bath towels guarantee that you will not have a problem drying off.

The room was very clean and in good repair. Two large windows overlook the parking lot and the pizza restaurant across the way.

Breakfast is included and offers the usual items, yogurt, fruit juice, fresh fruit both cut up and whole, cold cereal and oatmeal, bread, bagels, muffins and Danish. Hot food is also offered scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage and make your own waffles. Cold boiled eggs are also offered. The coffee and tea bar is open 24/7 and has lots of good tea selections.

The gym is not large but offers several different machines. The pool area is quite nice as well. The pool is heated to 85 degrees and was very clean. The hot tub has no jets which are disappointing but it was pleasantly warm at 101 degrees.

The lobby has a new updated look and the staff, especially Kahlid, were so friendly and welcomed us as we came and went. We had a great 5-day stay and I feel very confidently highly recommending this location. The General Manager was very hands on and we got to know her long before we knew she was the general manager.

If you are going to Williamsburg, I highly recommend the Fairfield Inn for location, price and amenities.

Touring Yorktown Battlefield

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Yorktown Battlefield is operated by the National Park Service. Entrance is free if you have a Golden Pass or an active military pass. As you enter the Visitor Center, check the wall to the right, it has which houses are open and the times for the ranger tours of the battlefield. It makes planning a visit easier.

After getting a ticket, head to the theater to see the 16-minute film. Knowing that the film is a minute too long, rangers wait to begin the tour of the battlefield until the film ends. In order to enjoy the tour outside visitors need to be able to stand for long periods and walk over uneven ground.

The tour begins in an area where benches are provided and also shade if it is a particularly sunny warm day. Our ranger Jenny was very knowledgeable about the subject of the battle and what happened both before and after. The first thing that needs to be understood is that Yorktown was a siege, not a regular battle. The British were trapped here and pounded with artillery for eight days and nights without ceasing.

To save his men, General Cornwallis has no option other than surrender. The British were outmanned two to one and in a hopeless position. The terms were negotiated by a team from both sides at which neither Washington nor Cornwallis was present. The house where the agreement was reached still exists but was closed when we visited in November.

While Yorktown was the last significant battle of the war, it was another two years before the Peace Treaty of Paris was signed and the United States became a free nation.

Back inside the Visitor Center, there is a small museum to visit. While it is not large, it does hold some real treasures. There are two tents that belonged to and were used by George Washington. The condition of these tents is outstanding considering their age. They were purchased at auction after Martha Washington’s death by her grandson and came into the possession of Robert E Lee and his wife since she is a descendant. 

The tents were stored in the Custis Lee Mansion at Arlington during the Civil War. One of the servants there knew their value and informed the Union Army who was occupying the house thus guaranteeing their safety and preservation. Today, they are on display for visitors to see and appreciate.

Visitors can also walk inside a boat that has been built into the visitor center. The battle which took place in the Chesapeake Bay was crucial to the success of the Battle of Yorktown.

A driving tour is offered that you can take around the battlefield site. The monument to the Battle of Yorktown is nearby as well just outside of downtown.

While not nearly as showy as the Yorktown Victory Center, what Yorktown Battlefield has is the authentic location and that makes for a very enjoyable visit.

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