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Michigan's Grand Hotel, Since 1886 I have wanted to stay at this appropriately named hotel for a long time. The grand-ness wasn't the only thing that lured me.  I was initially drawn to the size of the porch, which is 600 feet long! Evidently, it's the longest porch in the world. Arriving by Ferry Since the hotel sits on Mackinac Island, we headed by ferry across the Straights of Mackinac, to reach the hotel.   This is what we would have seen, had it been a clear day. Pouring Rain It was actually pouring on the day Don and I ferried to the island. We only had one night at the hotel, so I should have been grumbling.  But I was so giddy about our stay, that I hardly cared. Besides, I love sitting on a porch when it's raining. The Island and Town If it hadn't been raining when we arrived, we could have seen the sweet "village" as we traveled from the ferry station by carriage.  The island, which covers less than 4 miles, became a tourist attraction and "summer colony" in the late 19th century. Cars have been banned on the island, practically since the time they were invented. Instead, the island guests and 600 residents use horses, carriages and bikes to get around. Arrival Our carriage/taxi kept us mostly dry with the plastic flaps.
We didn't luck out with one of the hotel's enclosed carriages. But a bellhop, wearing one of those wonderful little drum-shaped caps, did usher us towards the lobby. From Rain to Sun The rain stopped as soon as we arrived. Even with puddles and soggy flags, the hotel was stunning.  When the sun came out, it was even more delightful. Best of all, the rains scared the crowds away from the wonderful porch. Keeping Tourists Away Actually this is about as close as tourists (who aren't hotel guests) can get to the hotel, if they don't pay $10. for a visitor's pass.  This elite-sounding rule made me cringe for a moment. Then I thought about all the guests staying in 393 rooms, and I pictured about 800 people rushing to enjoy the porch after the rain. I suddenly was okay with that rule. The Parlor Floor After checking in, we strolled throughout The Parlor floor. My 6 a.m. photo doesn't show all the people who were enjoying Afternoon Tea that day.  But my photo does show the bold colors and decor of designer, Carleton Varney, who transformed the Grand's style in 1976. The gigantic red, geraniums on the carpet matched the 2,500 geraniums, planted along the porch railing. (someone else did the counting) Flowers, Tea and Harps... Don and I wandered a bit before finding our room. We passed by a table covered in flowers, sweets, tea and iced Champagne.
We paused to enjoy the harpist, performing near a painting of a harpist. "Grand" Decor As we studied the framed artwork and mural covered walls, I thought about how much my grandmother would have loved this interior.
Daw would have thought it, "grand indeed!" Of course, grand was a word she used frequently, for often less exciting things. "Oh, it would be grand to go on a drive!" But oh, she would adored the classic style! Our Hall We followed the geranium carpet down a hall, just off the Grand Parlor. I was curious to see our room, since I'd studied the website photos. At first, I thought the Carlton Varney decor looked a little garden-clubbish. But the more I studied the photos, I chose to see a bright and whimsical, Dr. Seuss-look.
I was ready to open our door to stripes and florals, pinks and greens! But we both paused in front of our door and noticed how it was framed with an extra flair! We learned that our room, was one of the 40 or so "named suites"! How did we get that? The Lincoln Room! Our corner room was missing all the bright fun of the C. Varney decorated rooms.  But it felt calm and dignified, with about 20 portraits of Lincoln! Our spacious, themed room was quite a surprise, since we had booked with a special low rate offer. Yea for Lincoln! It's hard not to feel important when you're staying in the Lincoln room. Were they doing random upgrades when we arrived?  I wondered if the desk clerk looked at us and thought, "No they don't look like they'd choose the Betty Ford Room or the Pat Nixon Room." Did the woman just sense that I had grown up in a house with a huge portrait of Lincoln? I did, actually. So I felt right at home. Room to Get Ready! Since The Grand has a dress code after 6:30 pm, it was nice that we had lots of space to spiff up for dinner.
There was a cute little dressing area and a glamorous chandelier in the bathroom! Windows! A third floor view would have been nice, but our porch level, corner room gave us two views. Our windows facing the porch showed us the rockers, geraniums and Lake Huron beyond. The side window gave us a peek towards a quiet road, lined with Victorian houses.
The photo with yellow awnings, shows our windows at the end. Since the rain scared guests away from the porch, we felt like the whole end of the porch was ours. Happy Hour on The Porch! Dress code hadn't kicked in so Don and I grabbed drinks and headed out to the porch before dressing up.  A couple strolled by and offered to take our picture if we would take theirs. We were game for that. Then we made a toast to our 16th president. Nearby From our rockers, we could frequently hear carriages passing by below the porch.  I jumped up to watch a few carriages pass, before heading up the hill, with all the lovely homes. I Want Them All! At some point, Don and I walked up the road and tried to pick out the house we thought was most impressive.  I'm not picky. I'd happily take any of these. Porches With a View I tried to imagine living in any of the houses and having this as my porch view.  A view of the lake, the hotel and the carriages! Parade of Families From our rockers we had some fun watching the earliest diners, strolling the porch before dinner. I had the fun of helping out 2 different families as they corralled kids to take family photos.  The family of 9 was the trickiest. I did some stunts to get the little boy laughing. I was hoping they would invite us on their yacht as a thank you, but maybe everyone who stays at The Grand isn't rich after all. The Cupola Bar Before dressing for dinner, we made one more stop. The 2-story bar in the rounded cupola was worth the price of an expensive drink.  We climbed to the upper floor, with an opening that held an impressive, colorful chandelier.  The view was pretty amazing. A church steeple here, the hotel garden there, the Mackinac bridge and Lake Huron... Dinnertime Before the dining room opened I had a peek and saw the tables being meticulously set.  The mirrored columns made it look like an infinity dining room. I don't think I've ever seen such a large dining room in my life. It takes a kitchen staff of 100 to serve up to 4,000 meals a day. Don Makes a Fashion Statement Here is Don looking at the wine list after he gently talked his way past the fashion police at the dining room entrance. "I'm sorry Sir," The young woman had begun apologetically. "But we require jacket and tie in the dining room."  When Don explained cheerily that a bolo tie was a special kind of tie, he sounded a little bit like The Grinch talking to Cindy Loo Hoo. I tried not to laugh when the sweet woman turned to us from her phone call, to tell us she had gotten the okay to let us enter. I'm wondering if they gave the young man with the green hair a hard time. A Feast! Once again, I was stunned with our luck. Even with Don's bolo tie, we were given a window table, without asking.  Our 5 course meal was heavenly from start to finish. I'll put more details in the dining blog for that! Dressed Up Diners and Dancers There was something so oddly delightful about dining in such a huge space with couples and families, all dressed up. I studied them in the dining room and later in the Terrace Lounge, where Don and I danced a few... to the tunes the Grand Hotel Orchestra.  It was easy to be reminded of a cruise ship, or an elite country club, or even a wedding reception. But the midwestern crowd was actually pretty down to earth. I didn't see kids playing video games at the table or couples checking their Facebook. It was a treat watching families celebrate together. Morning This is me, looking sleepy and enjoying a pretty splendid breakfast, at 9.
Before breakfast Don and I were out enjoying the quiet town, before the morning ferries brought more tourists. Drying Out At 6:30 a.m., the only others out and about, were uniformed workers heading to their jobs on foot or bike. Down by the water we began to see sailors wandering the small town in search of coffee and showers.  About 200 sailboats had arrived the day before. They were involved in a race that ended in Mackinac. It was pretty wild seeing the equipment and sails "drying out" after the stormy race. Last Hours We had to check out at 11, but were able to store our bags and enjoy the beautiful day.  It was hard to decide how to best make use of our time. Staring down at the garden would have been enough. Pool or Croquet? It was tempting to stop for a game of croquet or bocce ball as we strolled past the rose bushes.
It would have been memorable to have done a few laps in the 500,000-gallon, Esther Williams Pool. The movie "This Time For Keeps" was filmed here in 1947, starring the swimming/movie celebrity. Best Choice For the remainder of our time, we chose to rent bikes and take in the heavenly scenery on the 8-mile island loop.
There were tots with training wheels, grannies on tricycles and horse carriages to dodge, but we had no mishaps. We relaxed on the porch one more time before catching a ferry back to our car. We'll save the fudge shopping and fort tour for next time. What's Notable? The grand size of the hotel and the charm of the historic island made for such a magical combination.
The top hats, tails, harps and carriages could have seemed a little corny or Disney-like in another setting. But this hotel has been entertaining guests for 130 years. It all worked!
The porch itself would have been enough to please me. All the rest, was icing on the cake!
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Rescued Hotel in Fort Collins I love a good story of a hotel that has come back to life. The Armstrong is one of those hotels. It could have easily been torn down a couple decades ago.
All we knew when we booked our room, was that The Armstrong was the only historic hotel in the Old Town area of Fort Collins. I told my friend, Lorrie that we were staying in her old college town for a night. She was surprised to hear where we were staying, since she remembered the hotel being old and shabby. It had actually been much worse than shabby, for a number of decades. Since 1923 This is how the building looked in 1936, without a wall of tree growth. There was no outdoor cafe, but the corner of the building did hold a coffee shop, just as it does today.  The hotel was built by Charles and Carolyn Mantz on the property owned by Carolyn's father, Andrew Armstrong. They named the hotel after him. The Hotel Today When we arrived on a beautiful Saturday, things were bustling in the Old Town area. The hotel showed no signs that it had been a flophouse in the 1990's.  The peaceful crowd sipping coffee outside, didn't reflect the rowdy characters that became associated with the place in the '70's or '80's, when the Old Town area had begun to suffer. Welcome! The cozy lobby greeted us with festive, purple walls and a few leather chairs.  Luckily we had no use for the collection of available umbrellas. Checking in with Oreo Don and I always adore the extra bonus of a hotel pet, when we're on the road. 12-year-old, Oreo seemed aware of that and put up with our cooing and petting.
After a while, she skillfully distracted us with the complimentary Pixie Stix, on the counter. Quite the Stairway After entering the somewhat modest lobby, the stairway in back seemed mighty grand. Again, the purple walls made everything more festive. The iron railing was a nice touch and the wall nook, holding a floral display was even better.
The vase of fresh, fragrant flowers helped inspire us to skip the elevator most of the time. The floral scent really did fill the stairwell. "Margarita" Time Before climbing the stairs, we peeked at the intimate lounge area with chessboard and books.  The glow on the table, was an iced margarita machine. They were of the non-alcoholic variety, but it was a fun change from the usual pitcher of water. Our Room on College Avenue I loved the big window in our bright and simple room, facing College Avenue. Standing beside the freshly painted radiator and peeking out through the trees made me feel like I was a kid back in Grinnell, Iowa.
Seeing the awning above the window, reminded me of my grandmother's house in Springfield, Missouri. Mostly I liked the college town feel as I looked out at the activity... busy, even in summer. Vintage or Modern When the Levinger Family purchased the hotel in 2002, they made some good decisions. They chose to renovate the 40+ rooms in vintage and modern styles.  Don and I always prefer hotel renovations that capture the era from when the building first opened. But some people prefer modern, new accommodations. What a treat, to have a choice. Vintage, but Fresh We of course chose a vintage room. But, I was happy not having to deal with vintage plumbing and claw-footed tubs.
They did a good job making the bathroom look old, without feeling old. Mystery Door In the evening we headed down the stairs, ready to wander Old Town, in search of dinner options. We didn't make it far.
I noticed a doorway to the basement with a small sign, indicating there was a lounge. Ace Gillet's Lounge We wandered the spacious basement area, following the sound of laughter and music.  When we found the entrance, it felt like we were entering a speakeasy, for those who were in the know. We found 2 open stools at the bar and hoped no one asked us for a password. Bar Ballet The lounge was once again, the perfect retro/modern mix. It felt like we were stepping back in time to have a few drinks with Dean Martin, minus the cigarette smoke. However, our bartender was not a bit out of the '50's or '60's.  Ray was utterly amazing the way he whipped from one end of the bar to the next, mixing, visiting, tidying, pouring. In fact the entire staff seemed choreographed in their efficient moves. On top of that, the whole team seemed pleasant and happy to be there. That's different! Cheers! I ordered the Pinker Pussycat, without laughing. It was made with pineapple rum and coconut sake.
Don thought we were in New Orleans and ordered a Sazerac. It was about twice the size of the Nola version. We sipped and took in the atmosphere. Jazz Trio The live jazz trio made it hard for us to think about getting up and searching for a restaurant.  We decided to stay put and Don and I both ended up making requests. My choice, "The Girl From Ipanema" fit the 1960's vibe. Food Since I was not blessed with the ability to drink all night, (thank goodness) we needed food if we were going to enjoy more music.
We kept our bar seats and enjoyed a huge hummus plate and an order of crawfish beignets. Good Night! We both felt a little sad that we'd not taken advantage of our hotel's perfect location. We missed out on exploring Old Town, but enjoyed the fact we only had to climb a few stairs to bed.
We both slept well, despite the nearby train sounds. We woke on Sunday morning and grabbed coffee in the corner shop, before leaving town.
What's Notable? I always appreciate a hotel with shady past. I'm so glad the Levingers rescued this hotel and respected the history. I'm glad they didn't modernize every nook and cranny. The cozy guest room, lobby and sitting areas, were pleasant but not as memorable as the basement lounge. Gillet's Lounge and Oreo the cat, may be what I remember most! Reasons to Stay There are lots of reasons to stay at the Brown Palace, in Denver.
These are my reasons: The Age! (125 years) The Odd Name The Crazy Shape The Rich History The Great Location The Old World Glamor The Modern Luxury Why Not Stay? There are a few reasons some might not stay at The Brown. Our main reason for never booking a room? We couldn't afford it.  The rates were out of our range, when we made our plans for a summer Colorado trip, this year. But on June 15, we stopped in for a drink at the classy, Churchill Bar. The Book Paves the Way We didn't spend the night, but we had drinks and ended up meeting the talented Chef Kasper, from the hotel's Palace Arms dining room.
My Dining Blog link below, tells how my silly cookbook helped introduce us. It also explains how Kasper's generosity and enthusiasm lured us back, to spend a night at The Brown! http://www.thebethlists.com/diverse-dining-list/dining-surprises-at-brown-palace-hotel A Week Later A week after our evening at the bar, Don and I altered travel plans and headed back to Denver.
This time we actually had reservations for a night at The Brown. Chef Kasper was able to get us a rate we could afford. My Denver friend Martha, even offered to drop us off to avoid the $37.00 valet parking fee. Once Inside Even though we had seen the grand hotel a week earlier, I walked through the revolving doors like a giddy child.
Before checking in, I paused to sample water from the ritzy water fountain. The hotel was actually built on an artesian well, so there's a reason for the fancy fountain. Going Up I love historic hotels, when they make me feel like I'm stepping into one of my favorite classic movies.
The escalator and retro elevator did the trick. If only I'd been wearing a hat and carrying a train case. Then I would have paused for sure, to make a call on that classic, house phone, near the escalator. Ship Tavern We didn't have a meal or a drink in the Ship Tavern, but I took a good peek. From the street, I could see the lovely stained glass and model ships in the windows. I studied the impressive way the tavern fit into the "rounded point" of the flatiron building.
I learned that there's a reason for the hotel's shape. It's because it was built on a pie-shaped plot of land. Now, I don't know why there happened to be a pie-shaped plot of land. Red & Blue If only we'd had more time! I would have loved to have had a drink, sitting on one of those nautical stools!  What a fun mix of old world wood and patriotic colors. The Atrium I took this photo of the Atrium, a week earlier, not knowing we'd be returning.  The gold and marble was just as impressive on the second visit. Looking Up It was much busier on Friday afternoon at check in. It was fun to watch the first time visitors arriving and smiling upward at the skylight.
The colorful glass was glowing above 8 stories, but I heard there are actually 9 stories. Evidently there is something up there, besides sky. Climbing After we checked in, I took a hike as far up as I could go. It was a good way to burn a few calories before our dinner reservations!
I should have taken a close-up photo, to show the decorative iron panels on the stair and balcony railings. There are 700 panels! Arches on the Second Story There's probably a name for the second story with all the fancy arches. If I'd had a lot more time, I could have studied all the intricate designs on the panels.  I heard there are a couple that are upside down. You'd have to be pretty observant to notice that. Tea Time From the highest floor I had a good time observing the afternoon tea that was still going strong.
I was too high up to eavesdrop on the conversations. But it was fun watching and listening to the voices and the clinking tea cups and piano music, swirling around the open space. Our Room I was excited to find our room on the 6th floor. Kasper had made it clear he could reserve any kind of room, all the way up to the Presidential Suite.
We weren't sure what kind of rates he would be able to get us, so we assured him we would be delighted with a basic room. Room 626 Our room was spacious and lovely. I really have no idea where this ranks in their line up of accommodations, but we couldn't have been more pleased.  Don and I spent a lot of time shaking our heads and grinning at our good fortune. We were getting the Brown Palace experience, for about the same price as 2 nights of valet parking! The Windowsill The classy remodeling made it a little tricky to remember we were, in an old hotel.
But a glance at the triangular-shaped wooden windowsill, made it clear we were inside the iconic flat iron building. I love that! Downtime Unfortunately, we didn't have a whole lot of lounging time.
If we'd had more time, we could have made use of the cozy robes and comfy sitting spots. We could have taken our time freshening up in that wonderful shower. Surprise! Don was getting dressed when we heard a knock on the door. He dashed into our very large closet while I answered. What a decadent treat!
This was yet another gracious gesture, on the part of Kasper! Luckily our dinner reservations were on the late side and our Denver friends weren't arriving for a little while. Enjoying with Friends By 6:30, the Atrium atmosphere had gone from Tea Time to Jazz & Martini Time.  My college buddy Martha and her hubby, taxied over to join us for drinks and music. Double the Fun It was so much fun having Martha and Bill to share our giddiness. They live in Denver and have experienced some fun at The Brown before.  In fact the piano player, recognized Martha from last December, when he picked up on her theatrical flare and managed to get a "White Christmas" performance out of her. It was the wrong time of year for that, but we did some dancing. Dinner Time By 7:45, our friends had headed home and it was time for our reservations at the elegant Palace Arms.  There were other diners when we arrived, but by the time we finished our 6 courses of food, the place was dramatically quiet. From Salt Block to a Bag of Jams The Dining Blog shares more about our extraordinary meal, prepared by Chef Kasper. The first photo shows how our meal we began. Crisp vegetables, served on a cold salt block...
...and a gift bag full of jams and breads made by Kasper himself. What an amazing evening. What's Notable? I started this write up with a list of all the things that made me want to experience The Brown. The name, history, glam, age, shape and location did indeed make the stay fun. But the real memory will always be about the people who helped us enjoy it!
Kasper made our stay possible! Then he made it unforgettable, with his feast and sharing! Martha and Bill arrived to cheer us on and they will be who we turn to in later years to ask, "Did that really happen?"
The Brown Palace is a dreamlike hotel, all on its own. The people, will be what made this historic hotel experience notable! A Mansion in Denver On our road trip to Colorado, Don and I decided to spend a night in Denver. One night in the Mile High City, would help get us acclimated, for the even higher elevation in Breckenridge.
We searched online for historic hotels and were surprised at the mile-high prices! Then we found Capital Hill B & B. It seemed hard to believe, we could spend a night in a mansion, for less than the nearby Holiday Inn Express. The Keating Home from 1891 Mr. and Mrs. Keating built this home 126 years ago, in an area known as "Millionaire's Row".  They built their splendid home with ruby sandstone, in the "Richardsonian Romanesque" style. I had to look that one up and I didn't absorb much. Let's just say, the cylindrical tower with conical cap, have something to do with that style. A Rounded Porch I adore any house or hotel with a good porch.  But this one was extra fun, with it's curved, wrap-around shape. Stone, Tile and Wood I loved the tile work around the curved stone. And the beautiful door with square panels and window.
The worn brass plate underneath the window made me chuckle. "No Peddlers" That's an oldie. Restored in 1994 After being a private residence, the mansion rooms were later used for hotel guests, office workers, apartment rentals and my favorite, "The Happy Home Convalescent Home".  In the 1990's the building was purchased and renovated. The parlor shows much of the original detail that was saved. The maple window trim, marble fireplace and relief molding on the ceiling are all mighty impressive. Stairs and Window The whole home was surprisingly bright and fresh, for an old mansion. The beautiful stairway was lit by the colorful stained glass window, which I believe is original.
The railing was sort of magical. It seemed to invite some kind of drama, like an ascending bride or a banister riding youngster... or a very creative musician, who could play those rails like a harp! Looking Down  Looking down from the stairs also had a whimsical feel. What an odd little platform, built in the space of the round tower! I wonder how it was used originally? Perfect Office We were pretty amused the next day to see how the owner's granddaughter made use of the space. As we passed by after breakfast, she spoke to us from the pink chair. "This is my office." She announced. She pointed to the bell on the hotel desk and said we could ring it if we needed to check in.
She told me I could take a picture of her office if I wanted to. Then she scooted out of the way. I didn't ask about the teapot or the crucifix. I'd already annoyed her just a bit when I said I liked her chef's hat. She replied to that comment with a silly you tone, "Oh that's not a chef's hat. That's just my work hat." She was pretty adorable. Upstairs There were 8 guest rooms in the home.  Ours was on the second floor, along with a few others, which opened up to a wide hall/sitting area. The Other Turret Besides the main tower, (visible from the front) there was a rounded turret on the side.
Our room was the one beneath the balcony, within that wonderful round shape. I was a little jealous of the people above. I think they had a fireplace, too. The Forget-Me-Not Room The odd shape of our room, made furniture placement a little tricky.  Our queen, French Country canopy was angled into the center of the room. Curved Windows The curved shape is more evident in the photo that shows the windowsill.
The other photo shows a bit of a view of the garden patio, as well as a large mansion across the street. Heading Off This evening photo, shows Don wearing his tropical shirt, standing on the porch calling up an Uber driver.  It was such a treat being so close to the city. We could have walked many places. We paid less than $10. for a ride to Adrift Tiki Lounge! Breakfast The dining room was empty in the morning, because when weather allows, breakfast is served on the patio.
It was lovely in the morning and we had the pick of numerous tables when we arrived. Peaceful The garden growth and water features, helped block out the sounds the nearby streets.
Don and I were a little weary after our tiki night, but we hoped to meet the owner/chef. We'd heard he was also from Texas and that his breakfasts were delicious. We spotted him in his cowboy hat on the porch, but he didn't make an appearance. A Suggestion The breakfast was indeed delicious. We had our own pot of pressed coffee and the egg souffle with Rosemary and goat cheese was perfect. But there is one thing that would have made our breakfast so much more enjoyable.
Our breakfast was served by someone who wanted to talk. She was in and out, attending to us numerous times. Each time she stopped and chatted non-stop, pretty much about herself. If I could have gotten a word in edgewise, I would have asked more about the house history or Denver. But we learned about her history, her childhood, her likes and habits and talents etc. Don and I are travelers who love to engage with others. But there was no sharing of conversation. My suggestion is: Read Your Audience! If no one is asking you questions or making eye contact, it's time to retreat! What's Notable? The idea that we could stay in a mansion, within walking distance of the capital, was pretty amazing. Especially for the price of about $170.
I will never forget how grand and lovely this old home felt. I wish I could have spent more time on the porch, or we could have stayed in a room with a balcony. I wish we had felt more welcomed by the owners. In general, Don and I are pretty enthused guests. We would have had so many questions and compliments if we'd been given a chance to share.
Maybe another time. Since 1874 This past June, Don and I had our first visit to Manitou Springs. I was pretty darn excited to stay at the Cliff House. It doesn't exactly sit on a cliff, but the location was perfect... at the foot of Pikes Peak, looking down on the cute town.
"The Inn" as it was once named, was originally a 20-room boarding house for miners, trappers and hunters. The hotel also served as a stagecoach stop. In 1877 In the hotel hallway, I spotted this photo of the inn, after it was purchased by E.E. Nichols in 1877. At that time, the simple structure stood practically alone, in the landscape.  The mining boom was over, so Nichols changed the hotel name and he changed the focus, to the nearby mineral springs. The hotel became a luxury, health resort for the wealthy. A New Style At some point, the hotel was given a new look. The Queen Anne Victorian image is what greeted us when we arrived. Flags and flowers, a lovely porch and bay windows! The circle drive took us to the porch.  It felt more like we were coming to visit our rich relatives, than a hotel. And the valet guys were friendly and un-rushed, as we took forever to gather our stuff. Plus, overnight valet parking was less than $10. What a bargain! Ahhh! A Porch! We walked up the steps to the porch and I was in heaven just spotting the cushioned, wicker seating.
People were already gathering at one end of the porch, where drinks and food were served. I took note of the heaters. Wonderful! We could sit on the porch even if the temps dropped. Lobby The living area across from the lobby desk, was oddly formal.  I would have preferred more random antiques to the matching couches and tables. The carefully lined up furniture reminded me of my grandmother's retirement home. Which was lovely... but. Celebrity Guest Suites Everyone we dealt with was incredibly welcoming. The cheerful host who checked us in, said we had been upgraded to a celebrity suite.
I was pretty delighted that we were staying in the room named after Mr. Nichols. But if they'd given me a choice, I would have chosen P.T.Barnum... being a circus girl at heart. Our Suite Since our travel budget usually puts us in the cheapest rooms, we were feeling pretty giddy with our fireplace and wet bar.  Mr. Nichols gazed towards the bay windows, from his portrait over the desk. The View I loved looking out over the porch, towards the mountains.  We could practically plan our walking route as we gazed out at the town below. Comfy Chairs, Bed and Bath It was a treat having 2 cushy-comfy chairs and a table.  Our road trips, sometimes have us fighting over the one good chair. Marble Bathroom I've learned to expect little from bathrooms in historic hotels. Luckily the renovation in 1999, gave us lots of luxury. I would have been happy just to have had the separate sinks.
There was also a huge spa tub, a spacious, steam shower, heated towel racks and even a heated toilet seat. Too bad I hardly made use of any of those things! Dining Room I peeked in the dining room to see if it matched an old photo. The dining area was divided into 2 rooms instead of one large space.  The tables were set formally, as they were years ago. This formal space seemed fitting for the hotel.  The simple, square columns still dramatically held up the ceiling, just as they did in the old photo. Exploring I love a little hotel exploring, but I didn't make it too far. I would have loved to have had a peek into one of the round, turret rooms.
Mostly I wanted to get inside that mystery door! The hefty, black door with the lovely painted cottage scene, had obviously been a door to a safe. But what was it now? I never found out. Red Mountain Bar and Grill This had been one of our hotel options for dinner. I loved the fun shape of the old building.  I also wanted to sit on the big porch and order dinner. Unfortunately, I got sick and missed out on both options. I can't remember ever being too ill for dinner, when staying at a hotel. This was a first for me. Better by Morning Luckily I woke feeling better. I was also starved, which was good, since breakfast was included.
The breakfast buffet was served in the dining room and the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed. I loved sipping my coffee and looking across at the old stone, post office. Coffee on the Porch I missed having dinner on the porch the night before, but we took coffee out, after breakfast.
The air felt heavenly. I could have spent the day on that porch. Exploring Town Before checking out, we enjoyed the morning with a quick walk around town. The retro arcade & shopping area was quiet and free of tourists.
We sampled some mineral water from one of the public fountains. Bubbly! Then we chatted with the car valet after checking out. He talked us into making the trip up to Pikes Peak. Perfect! What's Notable? Sadly, I will always remember the frustration of feeling sick and not making full use of the hotel.
But with that aside, I'll remember the home-like feel, to the classy hotel. I loved our comfy room and the breezy porch. I just wish we could have stayed one more night.
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Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
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