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.

Florida : An afternoon on Premier Boat Tours Mt Dora

Premier Boat Tours has three pontoon boats that offer tours on Lake Dora and the Dora Canal. They offer tours on most days at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The tours last two hours. We decided to meet our friends there for the 2 p.m. tour. 

One of our favoroite day trips from Ocala and from Orlando has always been Mt Dora. It is about an hour from both locations. We have been visiting there for over 20 years. It is a pretty small town that has enough elevation to be able to use the word mount in its name. It has a pretty city green, also which has always name it seem more like home. It is a great place to poke around and have lunch. 

We have been meeting our friends Joanne and Tony there for years and actually, they introduced us to Mt  Dora as a great destination for antiquing. These days we are more likely to arts and craft shop. Taking the boat trip was a way to change up our usual visit. 

A few things to know about taking this tour. You do need a reservation, it is very popular. No discounts are offered for children or seniors. Dress for the weather, it can get cool on the water and showers do happen. If the weather is really bad ie thunder and lightening, the cruise will be cancelled. Parking is offered at the Lakeview Inn but not guaranteed, we got the last spot and we were there more than a half hour early.  Which brings up that you need to be on the dock 15 minutes before your tour. 

We all loved Premier Boat Tours. Captain Mary was very knowledgeable and made sure,  as much as it was in her ability to do so, that we got to see a snake, an alligator and lots and lots of birds including a bald eagle nest. Plenty of history was imparted about the Dora Canal and the Harris Chain of Lakes. 

Bring along a camera, you will get lots of opportunity to take great photos. You can bring food and drink and there is a chem toilet on the boat. I highly recommend this tour for families, seniors and just about anybody who wants to learn a little about the ecology of Central Florida. 

Child friendly accommodations near the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a destination that is very family friendly. You will notice that when you visit there, children are everywhere. The first thing you need to decide is whether you will be visiting the South Rim or the North Rim.

The South Rim is easiest to visit if you are traveling north from Prescott or Phoenix. You will then need to decide if you want to stay within the park or outside. The Park Department has accommodations; these range from rustic cabins all the way to luxury lodges. What you will need to do is decide well in advance where you would like to stay, we booked our cabin a full year in advance. We stayed in the rustic cabins and it is unbelievable to be this close to all that beauty. 

Rates at Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins run from $100 to over $250 depending on what you are looking for. The cabins are rustic but their location within feet of the rim making them very desirable.

El Tovar Lodge is also located on the South Rim and is the most luxurious of the accommodations. Rates start at about $197 and go to well over $400. These rates are for two adults, rates for children will depend on their ages.

If you are looking for accommodations close to but outside the park that are kid friendly there are plenty of choices.

Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn is located just two miles from the entrance to the Park. Rates begin at around $100 and include an extensive continental breakfast which kids will enjoy and it will also be a good budget option for parents. Hotels rooms offer cable TV, a game room and arcade and a seasonal outdoor pool are also on site.

Two restaurants are located at the Inn and the menu is very family friendly as are the prices. For the adults, there is a sports bar to chill out in after a hard day at the Canyon. Horseback riding is offered in the area and the hotel staff will be happy to help arrange any tours that you might be interested in.

The Holiday Inn Express at Canyon Village has a perfect location for families with children wanting to visit the Grand Canyon. They off kid suites which have bunk beds and lots of extra space for the younger set as well as all the amenities that you have come to expect from the Holiday Inn Express chain.

Wifi is free; there is an included buffet breakfast, an indoor pool, and hot tub area and a very kid friendly atmosphere. The fact that the rooms have a microwave and fridge allows for some eating to be done in the room and that, of course, cuts down on the overall expenses of the vacation.

One the north rim within the park you can choose from a variety of cabins from Western, Pioneer and Frontier with prices ranging from low to mid $100 range. There are also motel rooms available at slightly over $100.

When you are traveling with children, you need to find accommodations that are kid friendly. With a little planning, the Grand Canyon offers plenty of options both within and outside the park.

Grand Canyon Lodges

California: Sampling wine in North Lake Tahoe

When you think about North Lake Tahoe the first thing that comes to mind is water sports and skiing. Among the many other things of interest in the area north of Lake Tahoe are wineries.

This is an area as old as the continent itself. The valley where Truckee is located and Donner Pass were carved out by glaciers and its early occupants were nomadic tribes. Truckee was named after an Indian who helped early settlers find their way through the treacherous Sierra Mountain passes.

Truckee River Winery

For the last twenty years, this slightly cooler and higher area of California has been delivering a surprisingly good vintage of wine. Tastings are available every day except Tuesdays and right now they are producing a Pinot Noir, a Zinfandel, a Pinot Gris and a Sauvignon Blanc. The available bottles are limited so if you taste something you love, don’t hesitate to buy a bottle, if you wait, it may be too late.

Today, one of the most amazing things about Truckee is this winery.

Whispering Vine Wine Company

If you are in Reno and looking to taste a variety of local and not so local wines, Whispering Vines Wine Company offers the ability to taste wine every day of the week but they also have a calendar of events to attend for something extra special. Many of these special events will feature a variety of wines from a particular vintner.

Locals and regular visitors can set up their own wine club with regularly scheduled tastings. The selection is outstanding and the d by the glass or flight.

Nevada City Winery

Like many small wineries, Nevada City began in the garage of Alan Haley. Today it is still in a garage but a historic one that is located very close to where the original Winery was located in Nevada City over 100 years ago. As you can see, this is an area that is not new to the growing of grapes and the production of fine wines. The tasting room is open daily and if you would like a tour they take place on Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.

Several award-winning vintages on offer here. They have won many awards for the Syrah as well as their Merlot and Sangiovese. These are just of few of the wines that are offered here.

The next time you are in the North Tahoe area, stop by one of these three locations for a great opportunity to taste some of the local wines.

For more information:

Truckee River Winery
Nevada City Winery
Whispering Vines Wine Company