Hotel Review: Hyatt Place Dulles South Chantilly, VA

We have stayed in this area while we visit with my friend Leigh several times, this is, however, the first time we have stayed at the Hyatt Place. Let me say first, it is a lovely hotel,  the lobby is a stunner. 

It isn't just the building that is lovely, it is the staff. I would be remiss if I didn't give kudos to the beautiful Heidi at the check-in desk. She is the one who solved our room issue, made me a cappuccino and was just so friendly every time we passed through the lobby. 

When we arrived on Thursday, the wind was blowing very hard. In our first room, 618 we could hear the wind whistling through our window, it would have made sleep difficult. Heidi found us another room, 611 and we had a great 4-day

stay. 

#hyattplacechantillyvirginia

I love the rooms at the Hyatt Place, we stayed at one in Buffalo last year and loved it. It is two rooms, not really a suite since there is only a half wall separation between the rooms but the sectional sofa and the ottoman are a great addition. 

The room includes a desk and free internet, fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. The bathroom has only a shower and the sink is located outside the bathroom. A closet is offered in that nook. 

The bed was large and comfortable. I love the charging station located on the nightstand. 

Breakfast is included and is a step up from most. The yogurt is Greek, the hot offerings change we had waffles scrambled eggs and homefries with sausage the first day and bacon pancakes and scrambled eggs the second. Donuts were also available day two and the fresh fruit had the addition of blueberries and blackberries. 

Cold boiled eggs, cereal, oatmeal, and fixings as well as toast and muffins and juice. On day one there was also bananas foster compote which was delicious in the yogurt!! 

The pool is outdoors. 

Food and Starbucks coffee are available 24/7 if you need a snack and I can tell you the cookies were very good!!

We had a lovely stay here and they do allow pets so I suspect we will be back here pretty much every year.  

Hotel review: Springhill Suites Greensboro, NC

Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this particular Springhill Suites. When we arrived the lobby had a line to check people in and two more people came out to the desk to make sure check-in was quick and friendly. 

Our room was on the 4th floor since I always request a high floor and was two rooms, a parlor area and a bedroom. There is a not a full wall between the rooms and one TV is shared by the two rooms. 

When you walk in the door you see the bar ahead of you with a small sink, microwave, fridge and coffee pot. Love that the coffee pot isn't in the bathroom. 

The parlor has a desk, sofa, coffee table and lots of lighting. The TV has the option to watch Youtube and Netflix. We had a king bed and it was very comfortable, too high for Al, he prefers a lower bed but I loved it. 

The bathroom has the sink area outside the area where the toilet and shower. My one complaint was that the fan in the bathroom was loud, really loud and annoying. So much so that we could not leave the light on when we closed the door to give us a clear sightline. 

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, they have a Manager's Reception. We were there on Wednesday and they offer two types of pasta, one white with chicken and one pink and wine, beer and soda. Seriously, we did not need to go out to dinner, it was our dinner. 

Breakfast was also a very plentiful affair with make-your-own waffles, scrambled eggs, and sausage, boiled eggs, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, fresh fruit, including beautiful huge strawberries and blueberries. Lots of things to toast including bagels, English muffins, and bread. But beyond that there were croissants. We do a lot of these buffet breakfasts and this was one of the better ones. 

The Springhill Suites includes an indoor pool and a gym, no hot tub, however. 

If you are going to be in the Greensboro NC area, we can recommend this hotel with confidence. You won't be disappointed. The area is very quiet, but that also means it will be a little drive to find a nice restaurant if you don't happen to visit early in the week. But not nearly as far as I thought you just have to leave the parking lot and go right. 

We have two small complaints, first only two large towels (they are nice and big) in the bathroom, no small towels or facecloths. They were located outside the bathroom. I use two towels, one for my hair and so Al doesn't get a fresh towel and only two coffee pods, one regular one decaf. I am not sure that Springhill Suites really has more single room people than doubles but seriously, I should not have to go ask for more coffee just so that we can each have one. 

These complaints are very minor and compared to the wonderful manager's reception and the friendly staff, easily forgivable. 

Hotel Review: Best Western Windsor Hotel Americus, Ga.

I stayed in Americus because of the historic Best Western Windsor Hotel. It is more than a hundred twenty years old. Of course, it is also well located to visit the Jimmy Carter Historic Site and Andersonville Confederate Prison. One thing I need to warn you about, don't stay here on a Sunday night, the two restaurants in the hotel are both closed, as well as just about every good restaurant in town. 

We were lucky enough to find a parking spot in front of the hotel. All parking is free in town and if you don't get a spot in front, there is a lot down the first street on the left past the hotel. 

We chose a chamber room, it was located on the third floor and while there is an elevator, we still had to go both up and down a small stairway. If you don't or can't do the stairs, go the opposite direction that the signs tell you to go to the room, ours was 322 so go the direction for the lower number rooms. Of course, we didn't find this out until we left. 

Another issue was the fact that I got the breakfast rate. Unfortunately, when I booked online it defaults to the one person in the room so we had one free breakfast. It was my own fault, but annoying none the less. 

The room was pretty, the door was gorgeous. We had a queen bed and there was an armoire, a desk, a fridge, and microwave. The coffee pot, which is a Keurig,  was in the bathroom, however, the coffee and cups are in the room??? Not my favorite place to have it, even though this was a very large bathroom. Internet was good and the TV had plenty of channels. 

Also, the towels are small, plush enough but not oversized in the least. I did, however, love the shampoo that was provided. 

Our breakfast was good, the selection isn't huge but it has enough options. Al had an omelet, I had scrambled eggs. The bacon was particularly good. I was rather surprised in a white tablecloth restaurant to be given individual Smucker's strawberry jam packs, not what I would have expected. 

I took lots of pictures inside the hotel, the lobby is stunning and it is just so pretty all over. The staff was very friendly and everything was clean and in good repair. I had a little problem with the blow dryer but it was my own fault again, the cord pulls out, I didn't realize that and thought it was just so short. lol

If you are looking for a beautiful historic hotel to stay at while visiting historic sites in the part of Georgia, you will be hard-pressed to find anything to compare to the Best Western Windsor Hotel.

Best honeymoon destinations in Vermont

Vermont is a wonderful destination for a honeymoon. It is a four-season state that has something to offer any time of year. Here are some of the best honeymoon destinations in Vermont.

Equinox Resort

Manchester, Vt. is the location of the Equinox Resort and Spa. It has undergone a multi-million dollar restoration and has been restored to its former glory. The resort is spread over four distinctive buildings and includes rooms from superior to suites.

For a honeymoon, the deluxe rooms would be a good choice. They are more spacious and include a king-size bed and excellent views of either the village, Equinox mountain or the resort gardens.

The resort has an online concierge, you are asked to send them your requests at least 48 hours before your arrival so that they can guarantee that your visit will be as pleasurable as possible.

You can book your spa treatments, a golf tee-time, archery lessons, a land rover driving lesson or a scenic trip, falconry lessons, a day of fly fishing school, or a reservation at one of the restaurants. You will be able to have a wonderfully unique honeymoon in a gorgeous resort that offers lots of unusual amenities.

You can swim in the 75-foot indoor pool or lounge in the outdoor hot tub. If you are a fitness buff, you can take a class or just enjoy the state of the art equipment. In the winter, there is skiing in the area and during every season you can enjoy shopping in Manchester Village. You can be as active as you like or just relax in your room, enjoying the views of the area and your new spouse.

Twin Farms

If you are looking for an exceptionally romantic vacation in Vermont, Twin Farms is the perfect place to fulfill that wish. They have received five stars from Mobil and many awards. Everyone from Conde Nast to the Robb Report finds them outstanding. They offer a chance for a private retreat in one of their 10 cabins or one of their 10 other suites scattered across three buildings.

You can relax in front of your private fireplace, or enjoy the great outdoors on their 300 acres of woodlands and lakes. Partake in a variety of activities including fishing, kayaking, hiking, skiing in season and snowshoeing. You can wander to nearby Woodstock Village for shopping. There is an on-site spa available and you can schedule an in-room couple’s massage. Food is included in the rate and they have an exceptional wine cellar. The rate for this amount of luxury is high, but a honeymoon is a very special event.

Vermont is an ideal place to spend your honeymoon. Whether you want an outstanding resort or a romantic bed and breakfast, the allure of Vermont has been calling newlyweds for years. No matter the season, the Green Mountain State is the perfect place to spend some time with your new spouse.

For more information:

Equinox Resort

Places in England to visit by train

England is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for American tourists. The language is easy to understand and culturally it is very similar to the U.S. When it comes to getting around, however, not all visitors feel comfortable renting a car. Driving in a foreign country can be stressful but the thought of driving on the left can be daunting. If driving isn't in the cards for you then what are your options?

Spending your entire vacation in London is always an option and certainly, there are enough things to keep anyone entertained for weeks. A favorite choice of the locals is the train. Using the trains to get from one end of England to the other is both easy and when compared with the price of a rental car and gas, reasonably priced. Most areas of the English countryside are accessible by trains. Not every village and hamlet of course but most places that visitors would want to visit can be accessed on the train. The exception is Stonehenge, and this is best done on an organized bus tour from London.

Kent is known as the "Garden of England". It is gorgeous year round but in the spring with the fields of rape in full bloom, it is stunning. Rape is a horrible name for a flower but it is used to make the coloring that turns margarine that bright yellow color. Oust houses are also a familiar sight in the Kent countryside. You can enjoy a visit to Chartwell, Hever or Sissinghurst Gardens. These homes of Winston Churchill, Anne Boleyn, and Vita Sackville-West offer visitors plenty of beautiful houses to visit.

One of England most scenic castle Leeds Castles is located in Kent as well. Sevenoaks which is near all the attractions can be reached from London's Charing Cross Station or you can take the train from London Bridge to Hever. Either route will put you right in the midst of the Garden of England.

The Cotswolds are a favorite destination of both the British and the visitor. They offer historically rich cities and beautiful yellow stone building. All trains to the Cotswolds leave from London's Paddington Station. The train does not go to every village and town in the Cotswolds but it does go to Gloucester, Moreton in the Marsh, Bath, Stratford on Avon, Oxford and Cheltenham.

The moors described so vividly in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights are in the northwest of England. From London travel to the north leaves from Kings Cross Station. For Bronte country, you will need to take the train to Keighley. From there the ultimate trip would be on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway which is a historic steam train, certainly that will set the mood for visiting the home of Charlotte and Emily Bronte. Another option for getting from Keighley to Haworth is on a local bus. Whichever way you choose the scenery will be striking and you will get to enjoy views of the moors and the village of Haworth.

In the East, the Anglia Plus Pass Flexi Rover is downright cheap, for 34 pounds it allows you to travel for three days out of seven. This pass is a great choice if you want to spend a week in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. You need to purchase a return ticket to Cambridge from London and use Cambridge as your center. You can then choose to visit Norwich, Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth or Newmarket. East Anglia is an area that has an abundance of history and the Fens are an area of great natural beauty. You will wish that you could travel all seven days but Cambridge itself will occupy a day or two by itself.

Finding accommodations in any of the towns that are suggested will be easy with bed and breakfast, inns and hotels available. Local bus service and taxis can be arranged for anything that requires more than a short walk. Don't let the fact that you don't want to drive keep you from visiting the English countryside.

Whatever part of England you decide to visit there will be a train that can get you there. To learn more about train travel in England and to see all the rail passes available visit http://www.britrail.com/

History of the Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry is a live syndicated radio show heard on 650 WSM-AM in Nashville. Over 200 Country and Western radio stations across the country broadcast the show weekly. It is the longest-running radio show in the world.

George D. Hay was the announcer on a new show called "The WSM Barn Dance" on November 28, 1925. Uncle Jimmy Thompson a fiddle player who was 80 years old was the first guest performer. He knew he had found a good format; he just had no idea how good.

In 1928, Hay referred to the music as coming from the "Grand Ole Opry." The name stuck. The show had five homes before it finally landed at its sixth, the Ryman Auditorium. It remained there for 31 years.

In 1974, the new theater was opened to anchor the entertainment at the Opryland Resort. To keep the tradition going, a circle of wood was cut from the Ryman Auditorium and placed in the center of the new stage. Finally, they had a home that could hold the thousands of fans who to view the live weekly shows. The seating is done in two tiers and over 4000 people can attend any performance of the Opry.

Since this is a live radio show, it is quite different from a normal show experience. What you have is a performer doing two or three songs, the announcer doing a break, and the Opry Square Dancers coming out and doing their routine. Some comedy is thrown in and a star or two.

Even if you are far from the stage, it isn't hard to view everything. Four huge screens broadcast the performance. The acoustics here are great. This is a very enjoyable way to spend an evening. The seats look like church pews with cushions on them. You are seated on a bench, so you actually have a little more room than you normally would have.

Part of the recent renovations was the addition of a new store. It is huge and has lots of goodies for the die-hard fan. If you want a snack, there are vendors selling popcorn, candy, and all the usual show food. Seats can run anywhere from $27 to $47. You can get them from the box office, online or on the telephone.

One thing it is important to know is that the Grand Ole Opry refers only to the Saturday evening show. If you go to the Opry on Friday night, that's what it is, The Opry, not the Grand Ole Opry.

If you want to find out more about the stars who have performed at the Grand Ole Opry, a visit to the Ryman Auditorium is a must. You will see lots of memorabilia in cases and there are docent volunteers on each floor who will be more than happy to share their vast wealth of knowledge about the building, the music and the stars who performed there over the years and all the greats did.