Spur of the moment getaway destinations on the East Coast

When it comes to spur-of-the-moment travel, the usual criteria is that the destination is either easily accessible to you and/or the price for the trip is absolutely irresistible. Sometimes it is even a combination of the two. What this means is that you may look at an email telling you that there are $100 flights to a destination that you are dying to visit or you may just be in need of a quick getaway that you can drive to.

If you live on the east coast of the United States, there are lots of great cities that are perfect for spur-of-the-moment travel. New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC are all great options for the simple fact that they have a multitude of hotels and bed and breakfasts. That means it should not be too difficult to find a place to stay on short notice, unless, of course, it is a time when a special event is going on. Trying to get a hotel room during Inauguration time in Washington will be difficult, and New Year’s Eve in New York City needs to be booked a year in advance.

If you enjoy a little slower pace, Charleston, Savannah, Raleigh-Durham, or Nashville are all great places to get away at a moment’s notice. Nashville especially has lots of choices of places to stay, and none is more all-inclusive than the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. It is a destination on its own and if you just want to arrive and rest or stay onsite you can do that. There are a variety of restaurants and things to do to make your getaway interesting.

Farther south, the opportunities in Florida start at Jacksonville and continue all the way to Key West. You can stop almost anywhere along the way and find places to stay and things to do.

Maybe you prefer a getaway in the country? New England is packed with charming towns and villages that offer a bucolic way of life, including shopping in small local shops, dining on organic and locally sourced food, and just letting all the stress of everyday life disappear.

The Middle Atlantic States offer their own variety of country life from the wonderful beaches in the offseason to the charm and history of the university towns. Virginia is packed with Civil War sites as well as stunning mountain views. Those mountain views continue into North and South Carolina and northern Georgia.

The eastern coast of the United States offers so many options to spur-of-the-moment travelers that you may find it hard to decide where to go. The best option is to travel often and get to know this great part of the country well. It could take you years to run out of places of interest.

Quebec: The Shrine of St Anne de Beaupre

Saint Anne de Beaupre is probably the most famous shrine in North America; certainly, it is the most famous in Canada. It began as a simple sailor’s chapel dedicated to Ste. Anne and has grown into a magnificent basilica that is visited by the faithful from around the world. 

I have to admit that I have always had a fascination with Ste. Anne, even before I realized that I am related to three recipients of miracles at the shrine. Actually, the first miracle was given to Louis Guimont and the best translation calls it a terrible pain in his back. He was totally cured as he placed 3 stones into the foundation of the chapel as it was being built. This was in 1658, unfortunately, his cure didn’t stop him from being killed by the Iroquois in 1661.

The Present Basilica is the fifth church to be built here. It is a magnificent sight as you drive up along the river and I was even more impressed when I viewed it at a distance from the Ile d'Orleans. It dwarfs everything else in the neighborhood. The twin spires frame a statue of Ste. Anne that was salvaged from the previous church, which was lost to fire in 1922. What you notice first about the interior of the Basilica are all the crutches that are hung on the wall in mute testimony to the many cures that have occurred here. Mass goes on almost unceasingly here, mostly in French and there are thousands of candles burning in supplication. I had a hard time finding a spot to place mine.

There is a memorial chapel to the side of the basilica and there are lots of memorial plaques, I dragged my family through the two chapels to read the names of all of our relatives. On the hill, there are life-size stations of the cross and the truly devote climb up the stairs to them on their knees. That part is optional. The Redemptorists took over the care of the Basilica over 100 years ago and there is always someone available to hear confession or just to talk. They are in a small building close to the parking lot.

It goes without saying that they have a fabulous gift shop. It isn’t just the religious items that draw people here (though they have a wide and high-quality selection). People come to the gift shop to buy genealogy books. The series Nos Ancetres (Our Ancestors) is published in Ste. Anne and the latest volume is usually available here in both French and English. Be warned the English version is about twice as expensive. I have all 30 volumes in French.

Ste. Anne de Beaupre is about 22 miles east of Quebec and an easy drive from the city. If you want to come for lunch or dinner there are plenty of restaurants.

Washington DC: Visiting Hillwood

Hillwood Museum is an amazing house and garden and if you are going to be visiting Washington, D.C. it is worthwhile to plan to visit, call ahead and make a reservation. A limited number of visitors are allowed each day. We called several months in advance. Access to the grounds is controlled; you will be asked if you have reservations. A note here: there are no children under six allowed in the house. When you see how it is set up you will understand why. You cannot carry your purse, a water bottle and in my case, I had to take off my leather blazer.

How to get there

You can take the Metro to the Van Ness stop and walk but it is a good hike and the road is not flat. We took a cab but be sure your driver knows how to get to Hillwood. Have the address with you and make sure the driver can find it; even taking all precautions it is not an easy place to find. When you leave there is a courtesy phone to a cab company who will come and pick you up, they know where it is.

Allow at least three or four hours for your visit. A 12-minute video is offered that is worth viewing before you tour the house. The audio tour for the house takes 90 minutes, and there is another tour of the gardens. While you are there you may want to have lunch or tea at the cafe and there is a wonderful gift store.

Why visit Hillwood

In order to understand Hillwood, you need to know who Marjorie Merriweather Post is. She is the heiress to the Postum Cereal fortune. Her father invented Post Grapenuts, and that alone made her a very wealthy woman. Beyond that she was an extraordinary collector, with an excellent eye which was further trained by the curator she hired. She developed a lifelong love of all things Russian while living there in the 1930s with her third husband who was the U.S. Ambassador. 

You will see a fabulous collection of Russian art, Faberge, and icons. The Faberge alone is worth the price of admission. The Lusupov music box is beyond stunning, it is beyond description and there are two imperial Easter eggs as well.


Limiting the description to just that, does the house a disservice, but the collection is so vast and varied that you really need to see it yourself. We were befriended by one of the docents, Rebecca Perl, and she seemed to be in every room that we visited, giving lots of extra details and information. She loves this house and it shows. On the second floor, you will visit the private rooms and get a more personal look at Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Gardens

When you have finished touring the house, be sure to visit the gardens and greenhouses. The 3,000 orchids in the greenhouses are gorgeous and so exotic. The audio tour is 60 minutes.

We also booked afternoon tea. It was a very enjoyable meal after the wonders that we had seen in the house.

If you are going to be in Washington, D.C. and want to do something beyond just the monuments and museums, Hillwood is a breath of fresh air in the city.

Visiting Scotchtown: Patriot Patrick Henry's Home

Scotchtown is located less than 20 miles from Richmond and was the home of Patrick Henry and his family from 1771 until 1778. It was during this time that he made his impassioned speech ‘Give me Liberty or Give Me Death”. The house itself was built around 1720 by Charles Chiswell.

You have to be quite determined to visit this house. It is still very much in the country but by all means, do make the effort, it is well worth it.

The house is small and simple in comparison to some of Patrick Henry’s contemporaries, you will not be seeing another Monticello. It is very much a family home. That is who you will meet here, Patrick Henry the man, not the politician or the patriot.

Patrick Henry was a man of the people and was as popular in his day as George Washington. He was more than six feet tall and had red hair and blue eyes. He purchased this house and 960 acres of land and grew tobacco. His wife gave birth to their 6th child here and after more than 20 years of marriage seems to have had some sort of mental breakdown. It may have been post-partum depression but she never recovered and had to be moved to confinement in the basement where she died in 1775 only about a month before Henry made his famous speech.

His second wife, Dorothea Dandridge, was a relative of Martha Washington and she had 11 additional children. Patrick Henry was elected the first governor of Virginia in 1777 and moved into the Governor’s Palace. He sold the house shortly after and later in life moved to Red Hill near Lynchburg, Va.

Henry did not support the Constitution and that may have led to his being much less well known than his contemporaries. He was offered the position of Secretary of State and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by Washington and Ambassador to Spain by Adams but he refused them all because he was not a supporter of the new form of government.

This and more you will learn on your tour of Scotchtown. In addition to a guided tour of the house and basement, there are reconstructed outbuildings. A small garden and some heritage sheep are also kept here by a local 4H group. Inside the house, it is furnished as a family home. A few pieces that belonged to the family are on display but the rest is to the period. The floor in the great hall is original and you will be walking on the same wood as the great man tread.

A very nice gift shop which focuses heavily on locally produced items is where the tour begins. Be sure to check it out.

The house is opened limited hours but if you want to visit when it is closed, a cell phone tour that you can take of the exterior is quite good. Do try, however, to come when the buildings are open, the guides are very knowledgeable and it is obvious that they love the house and their jobs. You will learn a great deal about this less than well-known man who contributed so much to the formation of our country

Virginia: Patrick Henry's Red Hill

It takes real determination to visit Patrick Henry's Red Hill Estate. Every five miles for at least twenty minutes I said to my husband “What was wrong with this man, was he anti-social?” Shortly after we left Appomattox Court House we started seeing signs for Red Hill. I give them a lot of credit for a superior advertisement campaign. We followed those signs through every back road in Virginia and about halfway through I was ready to give up but I am very glad that we persevered. It is by the way 26 miles.

We arrived at 4:15 p.m. and the property is scheduled to close at 5 p.m. The woman in charge told us to go ahead and watch the 15-minute video and to visit the museum and she would keep the buildings open until we had visited them. It was a wonderful Southern hospitality. The museum is really a must; they have many items that belong to Mr. Henry, an ink bottle, his violin and flute, a Chippendale document cabinet, and most importantly his writing desk. There are also letters and other documents both original and copies. Especially interesting are the portraits including a copy of the Thomas Sully portrait.

Having been to Richmond before we visited here, we had learned a lot about Patrick Henry at St John Church where he made his famous "Give me Liberty or give me death" speech. The video basically brings you up to speed on Patrick Henry 101. In our day, this is pretty much the extent that most of us know about him. In his own time, he was the most powerful and important man in Virginia. George Washington said of him "Patrick Henry has only to say this is law and it is law." He was known as the Homer of Orators.

Red Hill was his final and favorite home. The Henry family graveyard is located on the property. The main house is a reproduction, the original burned to the ground in 1919. Philanthropist Eugene B. Casey stepped in and in 1957 the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation rebuilt Red Hill on the original foundation. The only original building on the property is the law office. When you consider that it is a wooden structure it is pretty amazing that it still survives.

Allow about an hour to an hour and a half for your visit here. We used a full hour. Be sure to show your AAA card you will get a discount.

Red Hill is a simple home, not a fancy mansion. You get to see a spare bedroom, a parlor, and his bedroom on the first floor. The kitchen as was the custom is in an outbuilding. A smokehouse and the cook’s cabin are also featured. The views from the backyard are amazing; it makes you understand what he loved about this property.

A Visit to the Amazing Derby Art Museum

Unfortunately, even a photo permit couldn’t help me here, you are not allowed to publish the photos so for my own use only. It is too bad because this is a great little museum and there are lots of things that I think would have made excellent subjects.

I began my visit in the Origins of Derby Exhibit. The first few cases have to do with the Bronze Age. There are several cases of items such as knives, ax heads, and spearheads. Most of them were found in rivers and marshes. It is not known why these valuable metal items would have been deposited in the Rivers but it may have been part of a ritual.

There are also items found in a Bronze Age barrow. The Bronze Age is 4200-2200BC. People were buried in log coffins and there is a whole display of pottery from this period. Many of these pieces of pottery are from Stanton Moor and others are from Stoney Middleton Dale.

The next section is the Roman period. Jars were used to hold beans and it was the beans that were the important part in this time period. I liked a very pretty Simian Bowl with a hunting scene from the 2nd century CE. The remains of the graves of two children have been preserved; there are two bronze bangle bracelets and a bronze finger ring. 

An interesting find was people in this period were buried with shoes on. These are followed by a case showing a Romano-British kitchen and one with Roman and Medieval Coins.

I personally was fascinated by the bust of a Viking whose grave was discovered outside St Wystan's Church. The artist used the skull to give us a very good idea of what this warrior would have looked like. He died in 873-874. Repton was a mass grave with at least 249 people of which only 5 are women; there are no evident injuries so it was a disease that took their lives.

An Anglo-Saxon gravesite reveals lots of information about the lives of these people, an amber necklace, an iron knife, silver finger ring and bronze buckle.

The Repton Stone dominates this portion of the Museum; it is what remains of an 8th Century Anglo Saxon Cross. One of the figures on the cross may be Aethalbald, King of Mercia who was murdered and buried at Repton.

One of the most amazing exhibits is in the next room. The Hanson Longboat. This is a Bronze Age Longboat that was discovered in a quarry at Shardlow. It is 3500 years old. Also in this room are several works by George Turner called the Derbyshire Constable.

Up a short set of stairs is the Wright Gallery and it won’t disappoint. Joseph Wright has an amazing way with light and there is a room full of his works, some portraits, and some landscapes. I loved “Cottage on Fire” and Grotto in the Gulf of Salerno.

Hotel Stays in the Time of Covid-19

After a two-month delay returning north from Florida, we decided to head home on June 10. Not the perfect timing since the Coronavirus is spiking all over the place as things open up but it a pretty much now or never. We know that many other people will be considering a road trip this summer. Hotel stays in the time of Covid-19 scared the heck out of me. I did a lot of research and had to change my thinking about hotels as I did my research.

Best Western

They had the best explanation on their website of how Covid-19 was changing their operation. They talked about their new cleaning procedures and also explained how they would deal with breakfast which none of the other chains I checked did. Here is a link to their new cleaning procedures and procedures.

How did they implement them?
No brochures were in the lobby however the rack was right around the corner near the elevator.
The bed still had a decorative pillow and throw.
The book of hotel amenities was right on the desk in the room.

The desk did have plexiglass but the evening clerk was not wearing a mask and he wasn't after when he was sitting out in the room playing with his phone. So, I am not quite sure how to grade them, Right now, C- perhaps. The morning clerk did have a mask hanging on his neck.

Also when I went out at 8:30 am there was no sign of a clerk or a grab and go breakfast and the business section right on the lobby was being used and I suspect not sanitized after as was the help yourself coffee and cold water. I saw only one bottle of sanitizer and it wasn't near the communal ice machine. I asked about breakfast and one was put together for me. Muffins, granola bar, and a bottle of water.

Fairfield Inn and Suites (Marriott)

A very helpful young lady at the desk welcomed us. No mask, no hand sanitizer in sight. I was asked for my license and credit card, no sanitation of cards. Visions of Covid-19 flashed through my head. 

The lobby was clean but everything seemed normal except the breakfast room was blocked off and no breakfast of any type was offered. The sign in the elevator says to maintain a 6-foot distance and if not possible wait for the next elevator. 

I found a lamp behind the couch with a thick layer of dust that was undisturbed so evidently, the switch had not been sanitized and the thermostat had dust on it as well.  Here are Marriott's cleanliness guidelines. 

In the morning I asked about masks, the morning clerk had a mask, she said they were required. I asked about sanitizer, and she said they were waiting for the machines which are hard to find and take longer to get. I don't see why a pump bottle of sanitizer could not be put out but .... it is what it is. I rate Marriott a D in handling coronavirus.

Hyatt Place

Masks on but not pulled up, plexiglass separating the desk clerk, no sanitizer in the lobby or at the elevator. The room seemed clean but there are throw pillows on the sofa and a card with the channels near the TV. They still have a coffee station in the lobby. Talked to the general manager, not able to get the products they need. They are waiting But where does that leave customers?  Hyatt's commitment. 

Hyatt does offer a superior breakfast even at this time. Jimmy Dean egg and ham sandwiches, Oikos Greek yogurt, cold cereal, oatmeal fruit cup, boiled eggs, and juice. For that reason, I am giving them a C but just barely. 

In the lobby, signs tell you not to sit on the furniture for now in this time of coronavirus. 

After three stops at three different brands, I have to say that they talk the talk but they are not walking the walk. Corporate has issued statements but has not provided the help getting the necessary products to make sure you can be safe. I think you have to think long and hard about just what risk level feels comfortable to you. This may not be the best time to take a road trip. 

I chose to stay in rooms as simple as possible to cut down on the amount of cleaning that I would have to do. 

Did I feel safe? No, not really, I brought all my own cleaning products and completely disinfected the room. I brought my own pillows and I sanitized and washed my hands a lot. I sanitized the luggage cart, the door handles, and every surface in the room that we might touch, and I sprayed the bed and pillows. 

Would I travel again anytime soon? Not unless I really had to. Hotel stays in the time of Covid -19 are risky at best. Maybe in a few months when hotels have had the time to get things right it will be better but as of early June 2020, no it isn't there yet. 

Touring Historic Hanover Tavern Hanover, VA.

Hanover Tavern is located across the street from Hanover Courthouse. It was the place where the litigants and their attorneys would have gone to get a little sustenance during a trial. The tavern that sits here today is a combination of a family home and the 1800s tavern connected with a hyphen. The original tavern which was built in the early 18th century was razed and a new one put in its place so while Patrick Henry would not have dinned in the current tavern he might well have visited the Thilman family in their home.

The tavern over its lifetime has had many famous guests including George Washington, General Cornwallis, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Edgar Allen Poe as well as any number of both Confederate and Union generals and soldiers.

You enter the tavern from the rear which is the side that used to face the original road, the road was moved to the other side with the arrival of the railroad in the mid-19th century. You purchase your ticket and you are given a map and an audio guide. The tour begins on the front porch. You will receive an introduction to not only the tavern but the court complex and stone jail across the street.

In the main hallway of the Thilman home, you will learn about Patrick Henry’s first famous case right across the street at Hanover Courthouse. The current exhibition in the Thilman dining room was being taken down and a new one about the architecture will be taking its place.

13 stops make up the tour and they included the former bar which was also the post office. The Washington Room has a lot of information about transportation and how it affected the tavern and also the refugees who stayed here during the Civil War. In the Thilman Parlor, there is a display that tells you about Gabriel’s Revolt. Some of the Thilman family slaves were involved in the revolt which is why it is featured here.

Today, Hanover Tavern has a dinner theatre, a restaurant, and of course a historic tour. It is a popular venue for events and weddings. A new building is going to be added behind the current one. Allow at least an hour for the tour, more is even better. Plan your visit so that you can have lunch or dinner here, you won’t regret it. Their gift shop has a nice selection of books and made-in Virginia items.

Other places to visit in the area. Patrick Henry's Scotchtown.

 

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Lewis Ginter was a businessman who lived in Richmond. During his lifetime he had many careers and earned and lost several fortunes. In 1884 he purchased this property and built the Lakeside Wheel Club as a destination for local bicyclists.

#lewisginterbotanicalgarden

In 1913 his niece, Grace Arents, purchased the Wheel Club from his estate. She renovated the house and opened it up to sick children as a place to convalesce. When it was no longer need she moved into the home with her companion Mary Garland Smith and willed it to her for her lifetime. Ms. Smith lived until 1968 at which time the property passed to the City of Richmond. Grace Arents' will stipulated that the property be turned into a botanical garden and named in honor of her late uncle.

In 1987, the Lewis Ginter Botantical Garden opened to the public. Located on 80 acres of land, 50 acres are cultivated. Today, the gardens are open year round and every month of the year offers flora to enjoy. Be sure to visit their website to see what is blooming when you plan to visit.

In October, the roses were still glorious. It is an amazing collection of old-world roses in a vast array of colors. More than 1800 roses bushes can be found in the Louise Cochrane Rose Garden, they are chosen for a variety of reasons but fragrance is one of them, the smell is delightful.

Children will enjoy the Children’s Garden and Activity Area, parents were enjoying the tranquility as well. A walk around the lake is an enjoyable way to spend time in the garden.

The conservatory is gorgeous. It dominates the view over the gardens and there is an outstanding collection of orchids inside as well as a palm house.

Two dining options are offered at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, the Tea House and the Garden Café. The Tea House is not open every day so be sure to check the days and times.

The gift shop is one of the best I have ever visited. An extensive selection of garden-related items as well as a whole lot more is offered. I purchased quite a few Christmas gifts that were unique. 

South Carolina: Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon Charleston

This was one of my favorite buildings in Charleston. This is not one of those beautiful, romantic houses of the rice or cotton barons. This building just reeks of history. Charleston was one of three walled cities in North America, along with Quebec and St. Augustine, Florida. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, the town quickly outgrew the original walls and they were torn down. One piece that still exists is in the lowest level of the Old Exchange. This is where your tour begins.

The first part of the tour is guided. Tours depart from the lobby every 20 minutes. A live guide, as well as animatronic guides, narrates the tour. Frankly, the animatronic figures are a lot more entertaining than the live guide. He seemed bored at best. Some of the animatronic figures are pirates. This is your opportunity to learn about the history of Charleston and how they finally rid themselves of the scourge of piracy. You will also get to meet Stede Bonnet the Gentleman Pirate. You will also find out how gunpowder was stored in the basement so well that the British never found it during their occupation.

After walking through the vignettes, your guide leads you back to several cases of artifacts mostly related to the pirates. You then take the elevator back up stairs to begin your self-guided tour. We, however, were lucky enough to meet Tony on the second floor. He was very knowledgeable about the history of this building, so we got a bit of a private tour. The Old Exchange is a very historically significant building. It was here that the Charleston patriot Isaac Haynes spent his last night, a prisoner of the British. 

The Royal Custom House was a goal during the British occupation of Charleston, and Cornwallis had his office here. In 1791, George Washington danced with the women of Charleston in the second floor Great Hall. Rumor has it that he danced with 200 ladies, not bad for a 61-year-old.

My favorite display though was The DAR Room, which is on the first floor Here you can learn the story of the Charleston heroine Rebecca Motte. The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution bears her name, and it is to them that the restoration of this building can be attributed. When it was scheduled for sale in 1912, they managed to acquire the deed and save the building.

South Carolina: Gibbes Museum of Art Charleston

This is a small and charming art museum. I am going to suggest that you stop here after you have learned a little about the history of Charleston. One of the things that I found of particular interest was seeing the portraits of some of the characters I had heard about at some of the other landmarks around town. There were portraits of Thomas Middleton, by Benjamin West, and General Charles Pickney, and an amazing portrait of Charleston’s favorite son, John C. Calhoun, by Rembrandt Peale. For a good idea of what Charleston looked like in 1846, look for Henry Jackson’s "A View of Charleston."

There is more to this museum than just local history. They have a very pretty "Angelika Kaufman," a luscious still-life with watermelon by Thomas Wightman and a Gilbert Stuart portrait of General John Fenwick. There is a very lovely pastel on paper by Henriette DeBeaulieu Dering Johnston. She was the first professional female artist in America. There are less than 40 works in the world attributed to her.

The Elizabeth Wallace Miniature Rooms has eight miniature rooms from historic houses in America and four rooms form around the world. These look like the most fantastic dollhouses I have ever seen. They have great detail, from the historic wallpaper to the pictures on the walls.

The museum has some beautiful sculpture - one in particular charmed me. It is the head of a woman with a gauzy covering. I can’t imagine how they can create this out of marble.

In a small room by themselves is the most amazing collection of miniature portraits I have ever seen outside of England. They date from the early 1700s to the 20th century.

The Oriental Gallery houses the collection of early Japanese block prints.

While looking at their collection of architectural prints, I was delighted to find that St. Finbars Cathedral was designed by P. C. Keely. He is the same architect who designed my home parish of St. John in Middletown, CT. Even more amazing, the brownstone from which St Finbars was constructed comes from our quarries in Portland, CT. It really is a small world.

In addition to highlighting their own collection, the museum has regular exhibits on loan from national and international collections. They have an ongoing series of lectures, seminars, and classes on many different aspects of art.

Even the building itself is a beautiful example of Beaux-Arts style. Dedicated to James Shoolbred Gibbes, it has been a Charleston institution for 100 years. Stop by the gift shop on your way out. They have a very nice collection of note cards and jewelry. If you become a museum member, you will receive a 10 percent discount.

South Carolina: Charleston's Manigault House

 Joseph and Gabriel Manigault were fourth-generation South Carolina Huguenots. Their great-grandfather Pierre came to South Carolina in about 1695. Their grandfather Gabriel became one of North America’s wealthiest merchants. He also heavily supported the bid for independence. He donated $200,000 to the government of South Carolina, and at age 75, joined the defenders of Charleston, along with his grandson Joseph. Educated in England, their father Peter was twice the speaker of the South Carolina Commons. The brothers were both wealthy and well connected.

It was originally built as a summerhouse for Joseph A Manigault, a rich rice planter. It was designed by his brother Gabriel, an amateur architect, who is credited with designing Charleston 's City Hall and the South Carolina Society Hall, as well as his own home. Gabriel had spent time in Europe and was influenced by the style of Robert Adams. Completed in 1803, it has one of the most graceful staircases in Charleston and is a prime example of Adams Federal Style. 

Joseph Manigault and his second wife Charlotte Drayton were the parents of eight children. The family lived here from May to October to escape the heat that made life upriver miserable in the summer. The style of the house is perfect for the climate in Charleston. It has high ceilings, lots of windows, and two-story porches. What surprised me about the house was that there were not any guest bedrooms. The docent explained that most of the friends and family of the Manigaults would have had their own houses in Charleston. Be sure to look for the copy of a Gilbert Stuart portrait of Joseph Manigault.

We all need to grateful to the ladies of Charleston who rescued Manigault House from demolition. The Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings recognized the need to make sure that modern development didn’t destroy all the old historic homes in Charleston. This house has survived some very hard times; it came close to being torn down in 1920. Step in the ladies. To preserve it, they had to sell some of the property and finally turned it into a tenement to pay for it. It was acquired by the Charleston Museum in 1933. 

During World War II, it served as the USO. It first opened to the public in 1949, and in 1974, it became a National Historic Landmark. Today, it is used as a showcase for some of the museum’s fine pieces of English and French furniture. There is only one piece of original furniture in the house - the secretary in the entrance hall. The Manigault House must be visited on a tour.

There are not a lot of grounds to visit, but be sure to check out the gatehouse. It is a beauty.

South Carolina: Nathaniel Russell House Charleston

 Charleston is a city with a plethora of homes to visit. The Nathaniel Russell House stands out as one of the finest. Built by the Rhode Island-born shipping magnet, Nathaniel Russell, it is now operated by the Historic Charleston Foundation. Russell became known as the King of the Yankees, a group of Northerners who had moved to Charleston to make their fortunes. 

He was one of the wealthiest men in the United States when he decided to build his home on Meeting Street very close to the docks where he had made his fortune. He had two daughters of the marrying age who needed to be shown off to their advantage. It must have worked because both of them made very fine marriages.

Nathaniel came south to Charleston in 1765 at the age of 27. At the age of 50, he married a wealthy Charleston heiress, Sarah Hopton. They had their first daughter a year later and a second daughter 3 years after that. The Russell’s and their 78 slaves moved into the Meeting Street House in 1808. When he died, the house passed to his wife, and at her death, to their younger daughter Sarah. At her death in 1857, the house was sold to the Allston family. The Russell House is one of the lucky ones, as it never has been neglected. After the Allston’s sold it, it became a Catholic girls school.

You must take a tour to visit this house. Though guests would have entered through the front door, we had to enter through the gift shop on the side. Our docent, Mary Ann, was very knowledgeable about the house and family. We learned that it is the best example of the Federal-style townhouse in Charleston. The oval rooms on each floor are the most important and done in the Adams style. All of the doors in the house are original, and they are made of pine and painted to look like mahogany and satinwood. This was a common practice of the time period.

The cantilever stairs are the real showcase of the home. They sweep effortlessly from the first-floor entrance up three floors with no visible support. The furniture in the house, though from the correct period, is not original to the house, except for one Windsor chair. The colors in the house are exceptionally bright, and the woodwork and crown molding are spectacular. The music room is done in a color called verditer blue, which is a very bright aqua, and the baseboard is painted to look like lapis - a striking contrast. As you ascend the stairs, look for the George Romney portrait on the stair landing.

Even in January, the gardens of the Nathaniel Russell House are beautiful and they have been returned to the form they would have had during the time the Russell’s lived in the house.

Country Inn and Suites by Radisson Huntersville NC

We usually stay in Mooresville NC on our third night on the road. One year we did stay in Davidson but usually, it is Mooresville. This year I wanted to use some of my Radisson points so I chose  Country Inn and Suites in Huntersville. It has a great location right off I-77 and it is surrounded by great restaurants, three of which are within walking distance which is a big plus for me. 

I chose a king one-bedroom suite. We were on the4th floor in room 408, strange last night was room 408 as well and Sunday night was 308 I see a pattern here!!

The hotel has a beautiful pool and spa which was closed for maintenance, what a bummer but they have lemon and cucumber water in the lobby, apples and oranges, 4 kinds of cookies and fresh popcorn, I forgive them. 

If you are not familiar with Country Inn and Suites, they have a very homey look, with stairs and a parlor in the lobby. You want to sit down and read a book. Breakfast is included and is served from 6 am to 9:30  am. 

Our room has a parlor with a chair, sofa, desk, two lamps, TV and then a hall with a fridge, microwave and coffee maker. The bathroom is modern and spacious. 

The bedroom does not have a door but it has a TV and a comfortable bed. Free internet is available and the bedroom TV is a smart TV.

My one gripe is the TVs. They are impossible to operate. I had to call the front desk twice and the TV for the living room ended up not working and with only one staff member on at the time I was not able to get it working. I am knowledgeable, I have smart TVs at home but nothing as absolutely confusing as these!! Really disappointing. The desk also has a handle that really sticks out in front, not a good design if you actually want to use the desk!!

I like this hotel a lot. Great location and amenities and I got it for $68 a night and 5,000 points, can't complain about that.  And I had a great night's sleep, a very comfortable bed!!

Hotel review: Fairfield Inn Harrisonburg VA

I love Harrisonburg, we stay here every year on our way to Florida and I have stayed here even when I'm not going to Florida, it's just a great college town. This trip we chose the Fairfield Inn. It is in an area of town that we are very familiar with. 

I was delighted with our room, we were given an upgrade to a king room studio which has a bedroom and a parlor so we get two TVs which I love. They also have a hot tub as well as a pool which I also love. Very relaxing after a long day of travel. They only had sugar cookies by the time I got down to get ours but hey a free cookie of any kind is a good thing. 

The room has plenty of space, the parlor part has a love seat, coffee table and the desk and chair, I am using the free internet right now and sitting at the desk. Al is in laying on the bed watching TV, lol though it looks to me like he is looking at his pillow!!

The room includes a small fridge, microwave and coffeemaker which is in the hall. The bathroom is spacious and it has a tub shower combo and fabulous pressure!! Seriously it literally blew the soap off my hair, it was great.

Breakfast is free and is served 6 to 9. A little early for my tastes but we will have to get up and go down or just skip it. 

I am very pleased with our stay here so far and I can highly recommend it to anyone traveling this direction. 

South Carolina: Charleston's Aiken Rhett House

The Aiken-Rhett House is located just a short walk from the Visitor Center, the Joseph Manigault House, and the Charleston Museum.  We rang the bell, and then I did the unthinkable—I took a photo inside the door and almost caused an incident but I refuse to apologize. I was warned that no photos are allowed inside, frankly, when one observes the condition it becomes more evident why, and then we were escorted to the basement where we purchased our tickets and received our headphone tours. The tours take about 45 minutes.

We are told that the house is owned by the Historic Charleston Foundation and that much of the inside is original; it is being preserved, not restored. Okay, I am as historically correct as the next person, but this gorgeous house is shabby and in terrible repair. You can call it preservation, but when the wallpaper is falling off the walls and everything could use a coat of paint, preserve it--don’t let it fall apart.

The house was built in 1817 for a Charleston merchant named John Robinson. It is what is known in Charleston as a double house, a central hallway with two rooms on either side. It has three floors with 12 rooms and a piazza on the front (a piazza in Charleston is a double porch). Mr. Robinson suffered financial reverses in 1825 and was forced to sell the house. 

William Aiken Sr. purchased the house, and it passed to his son at his death. Many renovations were done to the house—the front door was moved to the side. In 1857, an art gallery was added. This was my favorite part of the house; it still holds the collection that the Aikens acquired in Europe, and it has been kept up beautifully. It is where you finish your tour.

The tour begins in the warming kitchen. This is not where the food was prepared, as that was done outside the house; it is where the slaves garnished the food before serving it. The Aiken family had 80 slaves to maintain this property. It is basically an urban plantation. Part of the tour will include a visit to the kitchens and laundry, which have the slaves’ living quarters above them. 

It was very informative to see the places where the slaves lived—the rooms had fireplaces, and there were locks on the doors so that the rooms could be locked from within for privacy. They are family apartments, more or less. There had originally been an avenue of magnolias leading from the back gate but now two privies grace the back corners of the lot. 

Gov. Aiken supported the Union but gave financial support to the Confederacy. The house was looted by Union Soldiers in 1864.

The front of the house has double drawing rooms with pocket doors that separate them. Some photos show what the house looked like in 1918. The proportion of the rooms is grand. You can lift the windows and step out onto the piazza. The dining room is in an 1830 addition to the house, with a table that can seat 22 people. There is also a library with over 2,000 volumes.

The Aikens’ daughter married A.B. Rhett, and they ended up living in the house. The second-floor ballroom ended up being used as Henrietta’s bedroom after her husband’s death. You will have to use your imagination to picture the grandeur that it once saw. The Rhett family owned the house until 1975. The damage done by hurricane Hugo is evident throughout the house and, frankly, needs to be addressed soon. That withstanding, this is a very interesting house to visit, and the gift shop has some unusual offerings.