Hotel Review: Augustus Zevely Inn Winston Salem, NC

Historic Salem, North Carolina is literally in the shadows of the skyscrapers in downtown Winston-Salem. It is an amazing sight to be standing on this historic Main Street and look down to the modern city such a short distance away. The Augustus T. Zevely Inn is a wonderful historic building right in the middle of the village. The history of this lovely house is available on the inn's website.

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We stayed here the last weekend of January and the weather was amazingly delightful. We arrived at around 3 p.m. on Sunday and since check-in is from 4-8 p.m. we had time to walk in the village before we checked in. This whole area is a photo op.

From the exterior, the building is impressively tall and brick. Parking is available in front of the building, on the side street and on the street behind the yellow house which is behind the inn. Our room which is the Master Suite was on the first floor in the front but on the second floor in the back. It was more convenient for us to park on the side street and walk up one flight of outdoor stairs. There are two levels of outdoor porches in the rear with chairs and benches so that you can sit and absorb all the history.

Linda, the Innkeeper, was there to greet us and to show us the ropes. We actually had two bedrooms with a little sitting room in between. They can be rented separately but we wanted them both. It is called the Winter Kitchen Suite, The Master Suite has a king size bed, a fireplace and a pair of wing chairs that face the fireplace. A TV can be found in the armoire and Wi-Fi is available, it is both fast and easy to access. The bathroom is spacious and includes a jetted tub.

The fireplace is gas and it adds a lot of heat and ambiance to the room. It was a really lovely room, we loved it. Our friend was in the Guest Room. He had a queen sized bed and his TV was in the little sitting-room between our bedrooms. When we got there the door between the rooms was locked, Linda opened it for us.

Your key also lets you into the main part of the house where there is a refrigerator with cold drinks and an ice maker. You are welcome to help yourself.

I was able to tour many of the other bedrooms and they are all charming. Some are more spacious than others and not all have a bathtub so be sure to let Linda know your preference. Two rooms also have two beds, a queen and a twin. You really can't make a bad choice.

Breakfast was served at 8:30 a.m. During the week it is a much expanded continental. We were greeted with coffee and juice and a very nice spread. Yogurt, a fresh fruit salad, muffins, boiled eggs, pecan sticky puns, Moravian sugar cake, bread to toast and sausage muffins were all offered. On the second morning, we had the option of oatmeal or granola and a biscuit with scrambled egg and bacon which was delicious. Needless to say, we did not leave the table hungry. On the weekends there are French toast on Saturday and egg casseroles on Sunday in addition.

I highly recommend a stay here, the house is lovely and very comfortable, the innkeeper is friendly and will offer you any assistance you might need and the location is perfect. What could be better than waking to the tweeting of the birds? On the other hand, if you are looking for lively entertainment and a wild time, this is not the place for you. Come here to enjoy the peace and quiet of a bygone age, you will be glad you did.

Maine: Traveling along scenic Route 1

Scenic Route 1 in Maine runs from Kittery all the way to the New Brunswick border at Calais and then north to Fort Kent, 734 miles in all. A variety of different attractions are located along the way and are sure to please every member of the family. Several beaches are worth a visit and located just slightly off of Route 1 including Old Orchard Beach which has a lot of attractions and Ogunquit Beach which is much quieter. Both are located in Southern Maine.

Kittery

Time was when Kittery was one of the major outlet destinations in the Northeast. It still has a lot of outlets but there is a lot more competition today. What they have over outlet areas like Westbrook and Clinton CT is lobster. What could be better than a day browsing through outlet stores or the Kittery Trading Post where even the most reluctant husband is happy to spend a few hours.

The Weathervane is one of several restaurants on Route 1 in Kittery where you can get a whole lobster, lobster pie, lazy mans lobster or a lobster roll. If lobster isn't your thing, there are plenty of other choices but in Maine, it is a lot easier to just love lobster.

Portland

While Maine is known more for spectacular scenery, there is also culture available. Portland has a wonderful art museum, the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House and enough entertainment at the old port to justify a full day or more.
Freeport

When everyone thinks of Maine one thing that doesn't usually come to mind is a desert. That is wrong, however, outside of Freeport off of Route 1 is The Desert of Maine. Freeport is also the home of LL Bean and for many people, the main reason to make the trip to Freeport.

Camden



Camden is the home of Camden Hill State Park. If you are into hiking this is a great place to stop on Route 1. There is a small fee involved but you can opt to hike the tallest of the coastal mountains. If hiking isn't your thing, you can still enjoy the spectacular views from Mount Battle at the lookout on top of the mountain which is drivable. Besides Mount Battle, Mount Megunticook offers hikes from easy to challenging.

Belfast

If you are into sea kayaking, Belfast is a great place to stop. There are kayak rentals as well as several tour companies offering a variety of options for kayaking in Penobscot Bay.
Calais

If you are looking for a place to play a little golf, Calais has a nine-hole course. If however, you want a better option, you will have to have your passport with you and cross over into New Brunswick where there are several options quite close.

Presque Isle

This is the home Aroonstook State Park where you can enjoy a picnic, swim in a crystal clear lake, boat, canoe and paddle boats are available to rent. This is a very family friendly place to visit.

Van Buren Maine

The home to the Acadian Village which celebrates the heritage of these displaced French Canadians who made their home here in northern Maine. Houses have been moved to the village from all over the area.If you are up for taking a vacation of more than 700 miles, a drive on Scenic Route 1 in Maine will offer these attractions and many more. Take the drive and make enough memories to last a lifetime and fill several vacations.