The Green Palm Inn: Savannah, Georgia
March 30, 2012 by Debi Lander · Leave a Comment
Entrance to The Green Palm Inn
A Hotel Review
In colonial America, hostesses set out a fresh pineapple, a prized and valuable commodity, when visitors joined them. Over the years, the pineapple came to symbolize hospitality. Today we recognize all sorts of symbols such as the Nike swoosh meaning Just Do It or the green and white Starbucks cup of coffee. To me, a palm tree seems to say oasis: a respite from the sun, a place to fall asleep and a place to nourish our bodies. Certainly palm trees have provided coconuts to sustain the lives of many.
So, it is no surprise that the Green Palm Inn in Savannah, Georgia uses the palm tree as a symbol, or that the Inn offers the finest shelter or lodgings and scrumptious breakfasts and snacks around. It’s a true oasis.
Innkeeper, Diane McCray
The Green Palm Inn is owned by Diane and Gary Crews, but let’s gives Diane credit; she runs the place because Gary’s job often takes him away. As Innkeeper, Diane welcomes guests like family, sits down with them and introduces her southern city. Diane is a prized pineapple; she is hospitality personified. She’ll provide you will a cool drink, share her knowledge of history, and whisper insider tips, like the best tour guides, shuttle services, taxi drivers and restaurants..
I stayed in the Green Palm’s elegant Sable Palm Suite which could easily be a honeymoon haven. The gorgeous carved four-poster king-size bed makes a bold statement and commands your attention. You need a step stool to climb onto the elevated bed. There’s a bounty of pillows and high thread count linens to caress your skin with the softest touch.
King Sized Bed in the Sable Palm Suite
Talk about romance, this suite has two fireplaces; one near the bed and the other in the bathroom. I also enjoyed the large open seating area with a settee, chair and antique wardrobe. But, you’ve got a modern small refrigerator in the corner and coffee machine.
Diane bakes extraordinary breakfast selections, a meal that will keep you going as you walk around Savannah’s streets, gardens and squares. The sensuous city drips with Spanish moss hanging from live oak trees, many over a hundred years old. Fountains are everywhere and provide a cool touch, even on a hot day.
More than likely you will return to the Green Palm in the late afternoon and find refreshments- freshly baked cookies or sweets, perhaps cheese and crackers, lemonade and wine. You can sit and chat with the other guests in the parlor or take your goblet up to your room for some quiet time.
The Green Palm Inn is cozy with just four rooms and also quiet. It’s just steps from Green Square (how appropriate is that) but actually named for Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene and sits about four blocks from the riverfront. Should you choose to walk to this touristy area instead of the historic downtown, you are ideally situated.
The rates are remarkable low for a top of the line Bed and Breakfast and once you stay, you will return and likely tell others. Just be sure to book your room well in advance because the reputation of this oasis in Savannah is spreading
Forsyth Park Fountain in the early morning
For information on The Green Palm Inn please visit:
Parlor- Green Palm Inn, Savannah, GA
For information about Savannah: www.VisitSavannah.com
Northern Ireland: Beguiling Belle Isle Castle
September 29, 2011 by Debi Lander · Leave a Comment
Inviting Belle Isle
A Castle Hotel Review
Cross over a bridge from the mainland of Country Fermanagh and enter a 470-acre, lakefront estate with rolling hills, dense woodlands and lowland fields. Belle Isle, so aptly named, sits on the northern tip of Upper Lough Erne in Northern Ireland. The Duke of Abercorn’s family property includes a busy working estate with a fully functioning farm, manor house, self-catering cottages and cookery school.
The idyllic stone castle, inhabited since the 12 century, presides over a serene glade. English, Irish and Russian paintings are scattered throughout the manse. The main floor and eight upstairs bedrooms have been meticulous refurnished and updated through the use of antiques, reproductions and dramatic bold colors that deftly accentuate the old-world charm and heritage. The luxurious accommodations include complimentary Wi-Fi, and all guests have access to the walking trails, walled gardens, tennis court, coquet lawn and game shooting. There’s also a children’s play area, numerous lakeside fishing spots and golf at eleven nearby courses.
A stroll about the tranquil setting puts one instantly at ease, and tempts one to extend their stay. Even though an aristocratic aura permeates the air, Belle Isle doesn’t demand fancy dress nor do liveried servants await. Rather, guests receive the warmest of welcomes and diligent attention to every need and desire.
An overflowing English garden colorfully accents the main entrance. Beyond, the grassy fields lead to a reed-edged lake. Stone statues, with a patina of age, gracefully adorn the terrace, adding a touch of class. Near the forest edge, a swing beckons to release your inner child. No wonder the enchanted setting is frequently chosen by brides for civil ceremonies and receptions.
A Cookery School (read my food blog post here) was added in 2003 using an existing building reconfigured with the latest stainless steel and enamel appliances. Ample uncluttered workspace and bountiful natural light make a cheerful classroom for up to fourteen students. Classes range from one day, weekend to a four-week diploma course, each culminating in a sit-down meal. Some students choose to stay in the self-catering cottages- think girlfriend getaway. Liz Moore, the passionate director, leads the school with her extensive culinary skills and promotes the use of local ingredients, some grown on the premises.
I had the opportunity to spend a night in the castle’s Lotus Room. A grand four poster bed dominated the oversized room while Jacobean wallpaper accented in mossy brown and grenadine granted a stately feel. The presence of a fireplace completed the heavenly retreat. An ingenious renovation of the en-suite bath featured smart white fixtures against vibrant poppy red walls.
My group assembled in the Grand Hall, a banqueting haven including a table set with a noble array of cutlery and crystal. A salad of baby spinach with crispy bacon, toasted pinenuts, and creamy Roquefort dressing started the meal. The entree featured a gorgeous lamb chop with red currant jelly and rosemary jus surrounded by roasted carrots, perfectly crunchy sugar snap peas and velvety mashed potatoes. Chocolate roulade with fresh raspberries and brandy cream concluded the occasion.
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Following the scrumptious meal, I needed a late night promenade, choosing to meander down the long lane. When I turned back toward the castle my mind began envisioning knights on horseback, carriages and queens. I reentered the entrance chamber, a world apart from my everyday life. I then escaped to indulge the tranquility of my elegant bedroom, feeling myself, like a princess.
If You Go
Lodgings at Belle Isle in the cottages, Coach House and courtyard apartments are on a weekend or full week basis. Belle Isle Castle is reserved for groups of up to 8-16 people. Belle Isle is about a 20 minute drive from Enniskillen, 2 hours from Belfast and three hours from Dublin.
Belle Isle Estate Ltd.
Lisbellaw, Enniskillen, County Fermangh
Northern Ireland,
Telephone: +44 (0)28 6638 7231
Website: www.belle-isle.com
St. Augustine’s Inn on Charlotte
February 6, 2011 by Debi Lander · Leave a Comment
Inn on Charlotte, St. Augustine, Florida
Hotel Review: Inn on Charlotte, a Bed and Breakfast in St. Augustine, Florida
No smoking, no pets, no kids: may sound a little harsh off the tongue, but when you connect those words with lodging, you quickly envision a quiet, clean retreat– perfect for a romantic getaway. And that’s what you get at the elegant Inn on Charlotte in St. Augustine, Florida.
But, why stay at this Bed and Breakfast? Location, location, my dear. The property rests off narrow brick-lined Charlotte Street which runs with one-way traffic and limited entrance. Plus the Inn offers free reserved parking spaces, a real plus in this part of the city. Stash the car as you won’t need to drive until it’s time to leave. All of St. Augustine’s best sites, shops and restaurants are within walking distance.
Rodney Holeman took over the 1918 Inn in September, 2010 and he is meticulous, something you can appreciate when you are the guest. Spotless bathrooms- with new tile and fixtures, crisp linens and not a speck of dust anywhere.
The main floor boasts a warm, welcoming sitting area which leads into the dining room set with eight tables for two. No community table, so you don’t have to chat to others, unless you want to. (A lot of folks have told me they prefer separate seating.) The hall refrigerator stays stocked and complimentary wine is served from 5 to 6:00 PM, usually enjoyed on the front porch.
Find five bedrooms upstairs, plus one on the main floor, each tastefully different and two open to the front balcony. The rooms are freshly painted and charmingly decorated with style and pizazz. No cast off antiques, they are adorned with high-end sturdy furniture featuring classic lines and comfort. Lovely.
Guest Room at the Inn on Charlotte
Two additional guest rooms are tucked away in the rear, separate from the main house, making them true escapes. The bungalow on the ground floor includes a private patio and both upstairs and downstairs rooms boast a small fireplace and wall-mounted flat-screen TV.
But, visitors don’t go to St. Augustine to watch television. America’s oldest city bursts with Spanish architecture and history. Here, streets names speak the influence: Avienda Menendez , Cordova Street and Castillo Drive. The city’s treasured fort, Castillo de San Marco, reigns as a National Park landmark and must see.
Cathedral Place bordering the city park lies just two short blocks from the Inn and overflows with numerous ethnic restaurants. Athena, with great Greek cuisine and Bistro de Leon with fabulous French fare are two of my favorites. Cross the green and visit A-1A AleWorks or O.C. Whites, two popular pub type restaurants.
Guests in the parlor, Inn on Charlotte
Turn in the opposite direction and you’re a stone’s throw from Cuna Street, which leads to the pedestrian only shopping area. Meander just beyond Cuna Street and you’re standing at the corner of Castillo Drive- perfect for a drop-in at the new Pirate and Treasure Museum and, of course, the1672 historic Fort abutting the Matanzas Bay.
Consider a romantic retreat for Valentine’s Day or longer stay taking in Anastasia Beach or nearby Ponte Vedra Beach. The Inn on Charlotte puts you right in the heart of your desires.
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Inn On Charlotte Bed and Breakfast
52 Charlotte Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Phone: 904-829-3819
Email: innkeeper@innoncharlotte.com
Front Porch, Inn on Charlotte
