Celebrate the holiday season with our FREE “Light Up Your Life” Gift. All guests who stay at St. Francis Inn or Casa de Suenos for two consecutive weeknights (Sunday thru Thursday) from November 20, 2017 to January 31, 2018* will enjoy more than two million tiny white lights sparkling throughout the ancient streets, historic buildings, and local businesses of St. Augustine. Downtown St. Augustine is described by National Geographic as one of the “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights” in the world!
This special includes these FREE Holiday Gifts: · Free Holiday Old Town Trolley Evening Tour around St. Augustine, to enjoy the magical “Nights of Lights,” at 7:30pm · Free Chilled Champagne in your room on arrival · Free Chocolate Sampler Box from our local chocolatier Claude’s Chocolate · Coupon for Free Hot Chocolate or Mocha at Claude’s Chocolate This exclusive offer is available at NO EXTRA COST to our guests During January 2018, the Inn tour is the only evening Nights of Lights trolley tour being offered midweek, helping Inn guests to extend the joyous season. IMPORTANT: You must MENTION this special when you make your reservation. Based on double occupancy. * Not available during these holiday dates: December 26-29, 2017. NOT AVAILABLE WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS!
ST. FRANCIS INN 279 St. George Street ~ St. Augustine, Fl 32082
CASA DE SUENOS 20 Cordova Street ~ St. Augustine, Florida 32084 |
Why You Should Experience a Weekend in Wonderful Whistler, Canada!
Guest Post by Emma Grant
Whatever the time of year, there’s always something interesting to do in Wonderful Whistler. During the winter, Canadians head to the slopes for skiing and snowboarding. The same ones come back again later in the year when the weather picks up for hiking, mountain biking, and relaxing. If you like the outdoors and want to get some fresh air, search the best Whistler vacation rentals and start planning your dream trip to beautiful Whistler. Here are a few more reasons to visit for those who still aren’t convinced.
Whistler in One of the Best Ski Resorts in the World:
Expect various slopes to suit any level of skill or ability in the 8000-acre resort. Some hills are smaller for the beginners. Instructors can also give you skiing lessons before you hit the piste for the first time. Others, especially on Blackcomb, are for the more advanced on challenging terrain.
People from around the world come to use the slopes in Whistler, and you’ll meet everyone from family vacationers to the pros. Snow begins to fall from October and stays at a consistent level until the end of February. Because of this, Whistler’s snow is some of the best in all of North America.
Whistler Village:
Whistler Village is everything you would imagine an alpine wonderland to be like. Small cottages line the streets with the towering mountains in the background. When the snow starts to fall, this really becomes beautiful. White snow covers the picturesque village as tourists wrap in layers to keep warm. The cafes are bursting at their seams as people crowd around the cozy fire with a hot drink watching the snow dance down from the sky.
Even if you’re not into skiing, Whistler Village makes a perfect mountain retreat to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. Families from around Canada bring their children here for a Christmas vacation.
Whistler is a Four Season Resort:
So, we all know that Whistler is the place to be for skiing or snowboarding. But, many tourists love the other seasons too. As the snow melts, buds flower on the trees giving the area a colorful and vibrant appearance. Walking through the forests at this time of the year allows you to view the rebirth of the trees and the wildlife starting to come out again. Likewise, as fall approaches, the leaves change from green to golden colors and slowly drop from the branches. Hiking gives a different experience depending on which season you visit Whistler.
And then there’s summer. During summer, everyone comes to this mild mountainous region to take part in their favorite outdoor activities. Some bring their dogs and hike for days on end around the trails. Others come and visit the lakes or try to climb the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Other outdoor activities are available to keep everyone busy from kayaking to zip lining.
Regardless of when you’re in Canada, Whistler is sure to have something to cater for your needs and interests. Each season is different and gives tourists a different experience.
Go Zip-lining:
Zip-lining is growing in popularity for adrenaline junkies around the world. Mainly, the sport consists of a wire being attached between two points, with one being higher than the other. The Zip-liner stands at the top and straps themselves onto the small seat before plunging off the edge. As they race from the top to the bottom, they get their fix of adrenaline.
In recent years, Whistler is starting to take advantage of this mild version of an extreme sport. In some parts of the resort, you can take part on several lines, some are suitable for first-timers and others should only be attempted by the more adventurous. Spending an afternoon on the zip-lines is a great way to pass the time for the whole family.
Excellent Food and Places to Relax:
A mountain resort that caters for skiers and snowboarders from around the globe should have a decent selection of food and restaurants. And this is the case in Whistler Village. The culinary experience at some of the restaurants ranges simple budget food up to world-class cuisine. You can find meals from a hot dog or spaghetti to veal.
Some cozy bars and cafes are in the village, where the skiers tend to hang out after a day on the slopes. You can find a selection of drinks from hot chocolate and tea to fine wine and top shelf liquors. Families are welcome too. Some hold shows in the evening, such as the fire and ice show, to entertain the children.
Family-Friendly:
One of the advantages of having such a versatile array of cafes and dining options is that you can hit the slopes for a few hours while the non-skiers enjoy the facilities in the village. This also applies for the summer months when parents bring their children for a relaxing vacation. Several parks and playgrounds will keep the little ones busy.
Whistler is a Wonderland All Year Round:
Whether you want to come in the summer to hike to Whistler Mountain’s summit at 2182 meters or spend hours snowboarding down challenging slopes on Blackcomb, Whistler has something for you. Bring the family and enjoy the picturesque setting in the village before indulging in the wide variety of dining options later in the evening. Whistler makes the perfect retreat at any time of the year and visitors always want to return.
Here is your Chance to see the exhibit “Dressing Downton” in St Augustine Florida! Free!
Here is your chance to see the museum exhibit, “Dressing Downton” at the Lightner Museum when staying at the St Francis Inn or Casa de Suenos in St Augustine, Florida this holiday season! I have stayed at Casa de Suenos and toured St Augustine, and I can tell you it is a beautiful, historical city and it is definitely worth a visit just on its own. During December, there is an incredible offer for you!
As a midweek guest for two nights (Sunday thru Thursday) from October 4, 2017, to January 7, 2018, celebrate the phenomenal Dressing Downton™ Exhibition during its final stop, at St. Augustine’s Lightner Museum. The Exhibition highlights fashion from the widely acclaimed TV drama, Downton Abbey®.
The 2-night, 3-day stay with the Dressing Downton™ Special, a $60 value, at no extra cost includes: • Two “Golden” Admission Tickets to the Dressing Downton™ Exhibition, with entry at any hour of the date on the ticket. This awesome exhibition includes 36 costumes with jewelry and accessories, reflecting changing times from 1912 to the mid-1920s, displayed in the fabulous Gilded Age museum among vignettes of turn-of-the-century art and furniture. • Exhibition tickets include general admission to the entire Lightner Museum, the former posh Alcazar Hotel, home to one of the best collections of 19th century fine and decorative art in the U.S., built in 1888 by railroad tycoon Henry Flagler • Keepsake Tin of specially blended premium Downton Abbey® Tea • Fine Chocolate from Cadbury, a British company which has produced delicious specialty chocolate treats for nearly 200 years The Lightner Museum is the only stop for Dressing Downton™ in Southeastern US, and perhaps the best of all its stops! IMPORTANT: You must MENTION this special when you make your reservation. Based on double occupancy. * Not available during these holiday dates: December 26-29, 2017. NOT AVAILABLE WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS! |
You Will Love the San Gabriel House Bed and Breakfast in Georgetown Texas!
The end of September found me in Georgetown, Texas enjoying their annual Wine Festival. I had the most wonderful weekend, and part of the reason why is the San Gabriel House Bed and Breakfast at University and Olive, across from Southwestern University.
San Gabriel House has a long history, it was built in 1908. There is a huge main house with a carriage house in back. Walking into the BNB is like going back in time. I almost wondered if my Grandmothers were around somewhere! Feast your eyes on these photos of this exquisite Bed and Breakfast, and click HERE for the history of this beautiful home! Sadly there are no photographs of my two breakfasts, which were incredible, but I ate them before I remembered to get photos! There was a Grilled Grapefruit and French Toast the first morning, with a never ending flow of coffee and juice. The second morning was an egg casserole, biscuits, and a couple from Zimbabwe with whom I spent a lovely hour.
Obviously, I give a wholehearted recommendation to visit Georgetown, and to stay at the San Gabriel House! Tell them Tam sent you!
Digital Nomads Interviewed Me about Travel, Citizen Science, and my book ALL FISH FACES!
I had a great time with @RickySheety of Digital Nomads! They have several interviews with digital nomads and travelers, so be sure and check them out on YouTube!
You Should Experience Amazing and Beautiful Georgetown, Texas!
See Georgetown and the Texas Hill Country in an RV! Georgetown RV rentals are rented out by the owners! https://rvshare.com/rv-rental/georgetown/tx
You should experience Georgetown! During 2017 I have been exploring and traveling in the Texas Hill Country. I recently paid a visit to Georgetown, Texas, 30 miles north of Austin, to experience the Georgetown Wine Festival, but I ended up experiencing so much more! Marcy, from the Visitor’s Center, took me on a wonderful tour of downtown Georgetown, and I learned about a lot more than wine.
This was the first time I actually went into the historic district of Georgetown. I have to say that Georgetown has the prettiest town square I have seen so far in the Hill Country! The courthouse is in the center, surrounded by historic buildings, cute shop fronts, and a grassy lawn. Georgetown is in Williamson County, Texas, and has a rich history. Williamson County is named after a Texas judge and statesman, Robert McAlpin Williamson, aka Three Legged Willie! Willie was three legged because of contracting polio which deformed his leg so that it could not bend. In order to walk, Willie constructed a peg leg and was thereafter known as three legged Willie! You have to admit that is quite a story!
Poppies are a big theme in Georgetown. There are shops and restaurants that display poppies, and Marcy filled me in. They actually have a Poppy Festival every April. The story is that a guy named “Okra” (yep, Okra!) aka Henry Purl Compton, a soldier in the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, loved the poppies in Europe and sent seeds home to his mother, who planted them. They became popular in Georgetown and grew everywhere. Now, they celebrate a Poppy Festival every April, and I’m sure that would be wonderful to see!
The Williamson Museum is chock full of fascinating facts, and is in an old bank building. The building was actually built around the safe! The builders wanted to be sure the safe could not be stolen, so they built it first. Another tidbit of Georgetown history is the Ku Klux Klan trials in the 1920s. Georgetown was the first to successfully prosecute Klan members. The District Attorney was Dan Moody. Talk about a history to be proud of!
“THESE TRIALS WERE CONSIDERED THE FIRST PROSECUTORIAL SUCCESS IN THE UNITED STATES AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE 1920s KLAN AND QUICKLY WEAKENED THE KLAN’S POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN TEXAS. FURTHER, THE PUBLICITY GARNERED BY MOODY FOLLOWING THE TRIAL LED TO HIS SUCCESSFUL RUNS FOR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 1924 AND TEXAS GOVERNOR IN 1926 AND 1928. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON EVER ELECTED TO BOTH STATEWIDE OFFICES.” Williamson County Historical Commission.
The Georgetown Wine Festival took place on the town square, and some of the roads were closed off to be sure there was no problem with traffic. The festival included several wineries, food trucks, and booths. A fun day with perfect weather! It could not have been nicer! I wandered around, taking photographs, just enjoying the beautiful day and the people.
In closing I want to thank the Georgetown Tourist Office and Visitor’s Center for such a wonderful day! What a great place for a Texas trip! There is more to come from me about Georgetown!