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Beat The Heat & Crowds With An Off-Season Virginia Getaway
September 7th, 2010 by Jane Leisteiner, under Vacations. No Comments
Summer is great, the weather is warm and the sun is shining and every day is a picnic. But, summer also means crowds, crowds, crowds. Taking a vacation after Labor Day is an ideal choice for Empty Nesters who want to have a little fun. Consider the historic hamlet of Orange, Virginia, for you next vacation adventure.
Not only is Orange a picture-perfect Virginia town, it offers a myriad of activities throughout the year. No matter what you love to do, you are sure to find it in or around this historic town.
History lovers could spend weeks in Orange and still not visit all of the historic attractions located in the area. Just three miles from Orange, you’ll find the home of President James Madison. Not only can you enjoy a tour of the house and grounds, there are special events and programs going on throughout the year. The homes of Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe are less than an hour away, as well. In addition, you will find plenty of museums and other historic attractions to enjoy.
Winery tours and tastings are popular local attractions; this is Virginia wine country and half a million people visit each year to savor some local vintages. Visiting local craft and art galleries, specialty boutiques and antique shops are other fun ways to pass the time. If you want some outdoor activities, Orange offers everything from hiking, biking and horseback riding to more unique offerings such as hot air balloon rides, skydiving and even bi-plane rides.
The Holladay House Bed & Breakfast is the perfect Virginia bed & breakfast. The restored historic home features six guest rooms and suites, each decorated individually in a romantic style in keeping with the home’s 19th-century roots. Several rooms include a fireplace or double whirlpool tub, and a few have a private patio.
Innkeepers Sam and Sharon Elswick pamper their guests with plenty of amenities, including a homemade, gourmet full breakfast each morning. Guest baths are stocked with luxury bath soaps and fluffy towels. The beds are topped with fine linens, and you’ll find soft robes in your guest room. The innkeepers also offer various specials to guests at this Virginia bed and breakfast, including passes to President Madison’s house and tickets to local wineries.
Some exciting local events are in the works and you can enjoy them all at this Virginia bed and breakfast. In September, you can head to Orange and enjoy the Steam and Gas Pasture Party. This event features exhibits of steam boilers and engines, antique and classic cars. Also during this time is the Orange Street Festival, featuring hundreds of different vendors. October brings with it several unique events, including the Civil War Museum Ghost Walk and the Piedmont Wine Festival. Also consider booking a stay for the Thanksgiving holiday and you’ll enjoy a gourmet feast, relaxing surroundings and no holiday hassles.
Jane Leisteiner likes writing and traveling. For more details about this Virginia bed and breakfast inn or further details about inns, check out the Holladay House or iLoveInns websites.
Celebrate the Inauguration at an historical Bed and Breakfast
January 16th, 2009 by Jane Leisteiner, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
The bed and breakfast inns in Washington, D.C., are sold out due to the celebration of President Obama’s inauguration. But don’t despair. You, too, can enjoy the festivities in one of the fantastic residences, open to the public, that are part of the original thirteen colonies. At iLoveInns.com, you will find a detailed list of these beautiful late 18th-century bed and breakfast inns. Like the White House, these luxurious inns enjoy the Roman and Greek-inspired Palladian influence and are tastefully and elegantly furnished. Enjoy watching this televised event among buffed mahogany paneling, gilded chairs and trim satin settees.
The Governor’s House Inn, an exquisite bed & breakfast situated in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina’s Historic District, is the former home of Governor Edward Rutledge, the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. This luxurious home boasts elegant drawing rooms, unbelievable staterooms and, of course, the traditional southern veranda porches. Enjoy a mint julep while you relax in the atmosphere of richly colored walls and furnishings or watch the festivities on TV while you recline on your canopied bed.
The elegant Devonfield Country Inn Bed & Breakfast, a gracious English-style house set on 32 acres of the rolling hills and green meadows of Lee, Massachusetts, is rumored to have been visited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 for a visit with Queen Wilhelmina of Holland. This lovely inn boasts spacious accommodations with private baths although a stay in the Roosevelt Room is a must if possible. Enjoy a bountiful gourmet breakfast with fine china and classical music.
For watching the inauguration on television in an authentic American historical district, you can’t do better than being a guest in A Williamsburg White House in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. This luxurious and spacious inn boasts period furnishings and memorabilia inspired by the great presidents, from Washington to Roosevelt. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, a visit to the nearby Busch Gardens or take a short drive to the unique and historical Jamestown Settlement.
On June 2, 1886, President Grover Cleveland and Frances Folsom descended the staircase into the Blue Room as the first and only president and first lady to be married in the White House. While the White House may never be available to the public as a wedding venue, Washington Plantation in Georgia provides a similarly elegant setting. Greeted by four columns resembling those of the First front porch, couples can exchange their vows outdoors in seven acres of landscaped gardens or opt for an intimate reception inside the house. For the honeymoon, the Planter’s Room has a 72-inch whirlpool bath built for two (or for one President Taft).
If you hesitate to fight the crowds for the 2012 inauguration in Washington, D.C., take the time to plan your inaugural celebration now at an elegant inn. Visit iLoveInns.com and browse through the 19,000 bed and breakfasts and country inns that specialize in other events and locations that may be of interest to you. Many of the above listed properties are included in the best selling bed and breakfast guidebook, Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns with a Buy-One-Get-One-Free-Night certificate. ILoveInns also offers gift certificates for their Bed & Breakfasts, a perfect solution for a special occasion.