Van Wyck Homestead Fishkill, NY

Traveling east or west on I-84 in New York, take exit 13 for the Van Wyck Homestead in Fishkill. Fishkill has a long history and was the location of a supply depot in the Revolutionary War. At the center of this was the Van Wyck Homestead which became the headquarters of the complex. It is likely that it was a tavern before that. Wine corks have been found that say Cornelius Van Wyck -1732 which seem to indicate that this was indeed a tavern.

During the Revolutionary War, many famous people were known to have been in the area and the house including George Washington, Israel Putnam, The Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.

Cornelius was a farmer, he was also a surveyor and came here to survey the land for the original owner. He then purchased the farm and moved here with his wife and seven children. It was his grandson Isaac, who owned the farm at the time of the Revolutionary War.

There is no entrance fee to tour the house, donations are welcome, but it is visited on a guided tour. The house is open on Saturday and Sunday, June through October from 1-4 p.m. We arrived at about 3 p.m. on a Sunday in July and were the only ones there.

Our first stop was the Military Room, housing the original survey map of the property as well as lots of military information about what was going on in Fishkill during the War of Independence. Our docent was very knowledgeable and was able to field questions with ease. You can pretty much determine how much or how little information is imparted to you.

When you are done in the military room, you cross the hall into the original 1732 part of the house. It is pretty much just a walk through with any questions answered that you have. When you are done with the interior, you can take your tour outside on your own. A number map takes you to different plaques around the property giving lots of additional information.

For history buffs or those who enjoy historic properties, this is an interesting place to spend an hour or so.

Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast, Chester Heights, Penn.

Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast is located just a short drive off of the Baltimore Pike/Route 1 in Chester Heights, Penn. It has a commanding position on the top of a hill and there are extensive grounds surrounding the beautiful stone building. As impressive as the exterior is, it in no way prepares you for the warm and lovely interior. There is a very English feel to the décor and you will be transported to an English country home. There is a good reason for this, be sure to engage Ashley or Glenn in a conversation about England and ask about the Tower of London.

Glenn was a gracious host, especially since there was a misunderstanding and he was not expecting to provide us breakfast before our tour of the bed and breakfast. He was able to serve a lovely breakfast for two while filling us in on all the amenities that the inn has to offer. A billiard room on the first floor is something most bed and breakfast don’t provide. A parlor which available to guests is also very inviting.

If you are looking for a special getaway, the Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast offers themed cooking schools several times a year. Check out their website for when the next one is being offered. In the past, they have offered The Last Meal on the Titanic and Hooray for Hollywood.

Accommodations In the house consists of five rooms and two suites. Additionally, two cottages that can be rented by the week, with or without the bed and breakfast option, are available. This bed and breakfast prides itself on being dog-friendly, well-behaved and groomed pets are welcome, subject to rules of course.

The name of this bed and breakfast intrigued me since I am from Connecticut and Hamanassett is a state park on Long Island Sound. The family that built this house had the last name of Meigs. They can trace their roots back to the area of Connecticut where Meigs Point at Hamanassett Beach State Park is located. It seemed like kismet when I was asked to visit here.

If you are looking for someplace very special to stay, the Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast is the perfect place in the Brandywine Valley to do just that. The house and grounds are beautiful, the rooms are plush and the owners are friendly and accommodating. What more could you want? Great food, well you will get that too.

Charming Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainsville, Fl.

Visitors to Gainesville, Fl. owe it to themselves to visit the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. It is a local favorite and residents from the entire area drive here to enjoy the peace and beauty of the gardens. The garden consists of 24 collections spread over 62 acres. The walkway through the garden is a mile and a half long and accessible for most of the way. You don’t need to do the whole mile and a half, the garden is in two parts a mile on one side and half a mile on the other.

Both sides are gorgeous but if distance is an issue, the very romantic bridge, bulb garden, rose garden, children’s garden, and butterfly garden are on the shorter route.

Every area has a lot to see. The bamboo is particularly impressive and it should be since it is the largest display of bamboo in the state. If you think bamboo is bamboo you are very mistaken, there are many different types and of particular interest to this writer were the black bamboo and the striped bamboo.

While March is not the prime time for color in the gardens, there was enough to see to make for a fascinating walk with abundant photo opportunities. Camellias, roses, butterflies, azaleas, lilies and more filled the air with fragrance and were a feast for the eyes.

Whether you want to see the sink holes, the herb garden, the hummingbird garden, the butterfly garden or the spring blooms, you will not be disappointed.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is the site of events year round. It is a perfect wedding venue both indoors and out and many other events take place there as well. The Spring Garden Festival and Moonlight Walk are particularly popular. June through September are the months when the gardens are at their most glorious but honestly, there is no bad time to visit.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens took almost 10 years to create and opened to the public on October 16, 1987. It is located on the shore of Lake Kanapaha. Kanahapa is a combination of words in the Timucua Indian language and refers to the thatched huts that natives built along the shores of this lake.

You will receive a map of the gardens with your entrance fee but if you prefer, you can come on the first Saturday of the month for a docent-led tour at 10:00 a.m. Allow two hours for the guided tour.

To find out all the events that are available throughout the year check Kanapaha’s website. 

They do have a gift shop which had very few locally sourced items which was disappointing but that certainly was the only disappointment experienced during this writers visit.

Flashback Thursday: Dublin City Sightseeing Tour

Taking a hop on hop off bus tour can be one of the easiest ways to get to know any city. Dublin in no exception. We purchased a two-day pass at our hotel and the first thing we did was to take the entire trip, we then got off at Dublin Castle.

#dublincastle

We found after two days that we learned something new on every trip we took. Some buses have live tour guides other have recorded but somehow different things were highlighted at least to our minds.

The tours begin on O’Connell Street but you can get on at any one of the stops and you get a discount for a two-day ticket. We actually bought ours at our hotel for one Euro less than face value. We got on the first day at Merrion Square which was the closest stop to our hotel.

The tour travels both sides of the Liffey and now parks right in front of Kilmainham Goal. We took the red bus tour, there is a green and a yellow as well. The route has been changed since we last took it and it is much improved if I have to say so myself.

You will learn all sorts of fun facts about Dublin. One thing I did notice is that we never saw Molly Malone, the tart with a cart or the trollop with the scallop, which is sad. We did, however, learn about the whore (pronounced hewer) in the sewer, the bride in the tide and the floozy in the Jacuzzi. Also the rod to God, the light in the night and stiffy by the Liffey.

We did have some issues with the bus. On the 
second afternoon the bus dropped everyone at the Dublin Art Gallery and told us to wait for the next bus. No other explanation was offered. The next bus passed the stop without stopping, why? We have no idea. We waited about 30 minutes to get on and be dumped off again on O’Connell Street. Annoying to be sure. Especially since we had no idea why.

Overall, however, it was a lot of fun and we certainly enjoyed it. The first day we braved the top to really enjoy the views by the second day we were using it strictly as transportation. I highly recommend City Sightseeing. 

Fall events in greater Charlottesville

AUTUMN IS THE PERFECT TIME TO “FALL” FOR CHARLOTTESVILLE & ALBEMARLE COUNTY A season full of music, festivals, and exciting events! CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (September 13, 2016) – The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB) invites visitors and locals alike to enjoy a multitude of festivals and other fun events in our area this fall.


Music lovers will not want to miss the 17th season of the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, which runs from September 8 - 22. This fine festival presents the music of classical composers Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven and many others, played by a very diverse group of internationally-acclaimed musicians. Concerts will be played at two of Charlottesville’s most historic venues – The Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall and Old Cabell Hall at The University of Virginia. There will also be concerts taking place at Live Arts and Piedmont Virginia Community College. For the complete list of concerts and artists, visit www.cvillechambermusic.org.

On September 17, the Charlottesville Pride Community Network will present the 5th annual Cville Pride Festival. This festival aims to create a vibrant, visible and unified LGBTQ community presence in Charlottesville and the surrounding areas. Events take place all week long, culminating in the Pride Festival on Saturday, September 17 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Lee Park. Highlights include music, dancing, a beer garden, food trucks and much more. For additional information, visit www.cvillepride.org.


The Tom Tom Founders Festival returns this fall with a free two-day event from September 23-24 – the Fall Block Party Tomtoberfest at Lee Park in downtown Charlottesville. This event brings great bands, public art, a dozen local food trucks and a giant New Belgium beer garden. The Block Party also celebrates innovators, artists, and community leaders who create great things in Charlottesville by featuring their profiles on lamppost banners across the Downtown Mall. More information is available at www.tomtomfest.com/tomtoberfest.


The annual Foxfield Fall Races will take place on Sunday, September 25. This iconic Charlottesville event kicks off with gates opening at 10:00 a.m. and Jack Russell Terrier races starting at noon. The first horse races will follow shortly thereafter at 1:30 p.m. This family-friendly event features many activities for all ages including pony rides, face painting and much more. For additional details, visit www.foxfieldraces.com/fall.


Fall will bring an array of notable performers to Charlottesville, including Carrie Underwood, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, and Beck. With awesome venues such as the Sprint Pavilion, the John Paul Jones Arena, the Paramount Theater and the Jefferson Theater, these shows promise to provide a memorable experience for all! For a complete list of events, travel information, packages and hotel room reservations, please visit the official destination website for Charlottesville and Albemarle County www.visitcharlottesville.org.

Boar's Head Inn Charlottesville, Va.

Located in Charlottesville, Va., the Boar's Head Inn is the official hotel of the University of Virginia. What this means to you as a traveler is that you should plan ahead and book early so that you won’t be disappointed. If you aren’t able to get a room here, you will be disappointed. Staying at the Boar’s Head Inn is an experience that you will not only enjoy; you will remember it for years to come.

Tthe ambiance and hsitory is evident from the moment that the door is opened for you as you walk up. Even if you are not staying in the most expensive suite, you will be treated as if you are. The staff is exceptionally friendly and your welcome will be immediate and warm.

The Rooms

A variety of different rooms are available at the Boar’s Head and they are located in different buildings. You can have a suite, a room with a balcony or patio or a historic room in the original mill building. We were in the original mill building and loved it. Because it is a historic building, not all rooms will be identical and you may find original beams at totally different locations than where ours were.

Our room

While the building and room is historic, it has all the modern amenities including a work desk with a lamp and comfortable chair. Two wall plugs guarantee that charging your phone, tablet, or laptop won’t be an issue. A club chair with ottoman, pole lamp and side table are located adjacent to the desk. The dresser houses the coffee pot and mini fridge, the TV is on top and there is a blanket and an extra pillow in the drawers. An overhead light in the middle of the room and two bedside lamps make the lighting good throughout the room.

Our room had two recessed windows overlooking the lake. Our friend’s room across the hall overlooked the front entrance. The bedding is done in white and the walls are also white. The coordinating colors are a soft green with light green carpeting. It is all very peaceful and low key.

The Bed

The king size bed in the mill building is to die for. I sleep in a lot of beds; it is part of my job as a travel writer. This bed is one of the most luxurious I have ever slept in. It has a magnificent pillow top, so cushy that when I climb into bed it didn’t hurt my knee. I have no cartilage in my knee so putting my knee onto a mattress to climb in hurts. It didn’t hurt here. I was stunned. Even with that much softness, there was an underlying firmness that makes for a great sleeping bed. The sheets are so soft too, just lovely. I don’t impress easily and I was impressed.

Another thing I really liked is the original beams that frame the bed, great touch. Another original beam comes up through the floor in the bathroom.

The Bathroom

I loved the sliding door entrance to the bathroom and the original beam going from ceiling to floor. The bathroom was spacious and immaculately clean. The grout in the tiles on the floor was noticeably pristine. The amenities are from Gilchrist and Soames and are generous in size. 

Not only do you get the usual shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion, they include shower gel. For bathing there is a tub and shower combo. The shower had great pressure and plenty of hot water. The towels are more like bath sheets, no skimping on the towels here.

The closet

A large closet is located right inside the door and holds the iron and ironing board, the luggage rack and two plush robes. A safe is also located on the shelf in the closet.

Dining

There are several dining options at the Boar Head Inn. The Mill Room is an outstanding restaurant and the Bistro 1834 Grill is a lounge with top notch food. We dined there only because it is a little more casual and also they serve the Peanut Soup at dinner and I wanted the peanut soup. You can always order in room dining as well if you prefer to eat in your room.

The resort

There is more to the Boar’s head Inn than just a comfortable bed, there is golf, a spa a world class health facility and magnificent grounds. In January the grounds were not the big attraction but on a previous visit in early November the color was stunning.

Loads of activities are going on in the area and also at the resort. While we were there the Special Olympics were taking place. Dining week in Charlottesville was coming up late in January and the Boar’s Head participates. Be sure to check their website to see what will be happening during your visit.

Fall festivals and events in Boston

Fall is a wonderful time to visit Boston. The air is crisp with temperatures from the low fifties to the mid-seventies. The leaves are brilliant colors of gold, orange, and red. A simple walk along the Freedom Trail turns into a fall foliage tour. With so many fall activities and festivals in Boston, you will need to spend a few days in the area.

One of the best things about the fall in Boston is that the summer crowds have gone home and all the attractions will be less crowded. It is also still nice enough to really enjoy a few last weeks of the outdoors. Fall is the perfect season to walk the Freedom Trail, the weather will be cool, the trees will be bright and the crowds will be much smaller. Boston has plenty of festivals and activities every fall to entertain every member of the family.

September 

If you are visiting before the last day of October, you will be able to take the  Ghost and Graveyards Tour. This is a very entertaining tour and especially as you get closer to Halloween,  it is ever so much more fun as everyone really gets into the spirit.

Every year in September, on the last Saturday of the month, the Berklee College of Music produces an amazing Jazz festival known as the Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival.  

It is a day long, noon to 6 p.m. free outdoor festival on three stage with lots of additional activities available for the kids and there will be vendors selling items from around the world. To find out who will be performing, check their website.

September is also the time for the Boston Film Festival. 2018 is the 34th anniversary of the festival which takes place From September 20-23. You never know which famous stars are going to show up for this event which features mostly small independent films.  

October 

Boston's Columbus Day Parade

Italian heritage is an important part of Boston and this North End tradition features military units, colonial militia, entertainers, Duck Boat floats, marching bands and vintage cars with plenty of Italian American organizations represented. The parade is held the Sunday before Columbus Day. The route of the parade changes on odd and even years.

Halloween is a great time to visit the Boston area. There are lots of activities geared toward the children of the family. Head to the Prudential Center the weekend before Halloween for Pru Boo, it is the biggest Halloween Party for kids under 12 in the city with a price of $4.

The Shops at Prudential Center are the hosts and the proceeds go to a non-profit that benefits children. Dress your children in their costumes and bring them to the center for a safe place to enjoy costumed characters, concert, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, face painting, magic tricks, and much more. Adults will enjoy the opportunity to browse through the shops.

October 20-23th brings the 20th annual Boston International Fine Arts Show at the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The show and sale take place Fri 1-8, Sat 11-8, Sun 11-5 admission is $15 for every over 12. In addition to just enjoy what is being displayed, admittance allows guest to enjoy special guest speakers, panel discussions, special exhibitions, dealer booth talks and more. Check out their website for event dates and times.

November 

November brings The Boston Comedy Festival. The end of the month sees the beginning of the run of the Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker. As fall begins to wane you will find the Common awash in thousands of lights and Quincy Market will feature outdoor entertainment of the musical sort. It is the perfect way to end the fall doing your early Christmas shopping in Boston.

Boston is a great place to visit in any season and fall is no exception. Prices will be lower, there will be fewer other tourists and hopefully, the New England weather will be as magnificent as it can be, but that is never a guarantee. cooperate.