Sweet Inn-dulgence: Valentine's Day B&B Romance Packages

Finding a Valentine’s getaway just got easier. Travelers can now explore a selection of romance packages and specials available at North America inns by visiting Select Registry’s new website, http://www.selectregistry.com/valentines. Browse by inn location, package type, or amenities - such as a spa or culinary experience. 

Select Registry B&Bs offer luxurious drive-to escapes in scenic locales across the United States and Canada. Rendezvous without the costs or romance-busters of air travel, rental cars and hasty breakfasts. Romantic ambiance, one-of-a-kind amenities and delicious breakfasts are all part of the package.

For couples seeking a one-of-a-kind retreat this Valentine’s Day and beyond, here are a few of the romance packages available: 

Honor Mansion - Healdsburg, California

Escape to a romantic three-night retreat in the heart of California’s renowned Sonoma Wine Country. Honor Mansion’s Valentine’s Day Package pampers with candle-lit rose petal turndown upon arrival (or at another time upon request); handcrafted chocolates; local sparkling wine with keepsake flutes; and a romantic movie to enjoy in-room with popcorn and as a take-home gift. Guests choose from thirteen spacious guestrooms, private cottages and luxurious suites, all spread over four landscaped acres. Amenities include romantic sleigh and canopy beds, hand-carved fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, iPod radios, and private terraces with outdoor spa tub for two. This package is offered complimentary with any three-night stay, starting any time, Feb. 10 – 15, 2011. 

Click to read more ...

Two Newport, RI Luxury Inns - Francis Malbone House & Hilltop

Francis Malbone House is located on Thames Street in Newport, RI’s historic harborfront district.Known for its distinctive wealth and nautical history, it’s no surprise  that Newport’s renowned mansions are a must-do for anyone visiting the town.  The quieter delight, however, are the beautifully restored mansions-turned-luxury inns, with equally impressive legacies in this harborside town.  Just an hour outside of Boston and within easy getaway distance from anywhere in New England, Newport offers a lively historic yet sophisticated maritime getaway, especially in the quieter spring season.

Two of Newport’s most sophisticated inns are owned by Will Dewey, a gifted innkeeper and owner of the Francis Malbone House and Hilltop Inn,  Both perfect examples of historic preservation done well, each is within easy walking distance to all of Newport’s distinctive restaurants, shopping and harborfront attractions.  Enter either one of these inns and you’re transported to a tranquility that quickly helps to shake off the stresses that precipitated your getaway.  I was lucky to explore both of Will Dewey’s inns on a recent trip to Newport. Read on for to learn more about these fabulous inns and view a gallery of photos.

Fun For Foodies Vacations

Gourmet Getaways: Select Registry Serves Up Fun For Foodies Vacations

You may not cook like Julia Child, but you can wine and dine like her.

The Hartstone Inn, Camden, ME, hosted the culinary icon’s 89th birthday party, as one of her preferred summer dining destinations. Today, this celebrated seaside retreat is one of six Select RegistryTM inns offering Fun for Foodies Vacations of New England. Now in its sixth year, this unique program of gourmet getaways is available at fine lodgings throughout the region: Hartstone Inn as well as Captain Lord Mansion, Kennebunkport, ME; Stone Hill Inn, Stowe, VT; Hancock Inn, Hancock, NH; Birchwood Inn, Lenox, MA; and Historic Jacob Hill Inn, Providence, RI.

Select Registry’s Fun For Foodies Vacations is a mix of awarding-winning inns, picturesque settings and culinary adventures with local flair. Food enthusiasts share Julia Child’s delight in food – not just the eating of it, but the preparing of it too – with hands-on experiences like these:

— Artisan Cheese Maker for a Day – Make farmstead cheeses at a Vermont sheep dairy. Meet the animals, prepare a batch of cheese and package the product for market. A wheel of the cheese you helped create will be shipped to you after ripening.

— Chocolatier For A Day – Master the art of chocolate making in a candy shop during a day of hand-dipping and cooking. Or, travel to the heart of the Berkshires for a private tasting with an acclaimed chocolatier, ranked by Saveur magazine among the nation’s Top Ten.

— Canoe Trip and Winery Tour – Take in the lush Green Mountains, while canoeing down a gentle river. Then discover the joys of winemaking at the Boyden Valley Winery, part of a fourth-generation farm producing more than a dozen award-winning, international wines.

Click to read more ...