Midway, Utah Don and I spent a night at this hidden gem last July. "Hidden gem" is a corny and overused term, but it sure fits. The inn looked like it was right out of a storybook, when we happened upon it 5 years ago, while exploring backroads in Utah. Fall of 2013 It was a chilly November day when we found ourselves drawn to the town of Midway. The village, founded by Swiss immigrants, was filled with Alpine inspired homes and buildings. Suddenly we spotted the Blue Boar and headed inside for some info. We were so impressed, we ended up staying for an amazing lunch. "We'll be back!" We promised. Our Return in 2018 I grinned as we pulled up to see the house, surrounded in summer trees and flowers. And of course I was happy to see the boar statue. His nose wasn't quite as shiny, as the well loved original in Florence, but he was mighty cute. Stone & Wrought Iron As we headed towards the entrance I was eager to see if the curious place was as cozy and welcoming as I remembered. The stone and wrought iron hadn't changed. The painted stucco around the clock, looked the same. Doors and Windows The designs on the window shutters and window box, still looked charming. The stairs leading up to the rounded door, looked different. No fall pumpkins this time. Check-In Our check-in was extremely relaxed. The young woman was chatty and polite. Then we lucked out, when Executive Chef, Eric May stopped by the desk. We knew from before, that he was an award winning chef, who in recent years has taken over management of the inn. We were able to tell him that our surprise feast 5 years ago, was the reason we were back. Dining Room Across from the front door, I stared into the dining room, with its vaulted ceiling and sage green walls. There was the fireplace I remembered, with the apple-biting, boar's head and the mantel, displaying the chef's numerous medals. Looking Up I made use of the empty room and stepped inside to take a photo of the balcony above. I wish I knew more about the owners who purchased the place in 1999 and transformed it into a European-style inn. From Above From above, I studied the decor and suddenly decided, the inn felt more like a European hunting lodge. The upper walls held quite a collection of antique crossbows... not to mention an enormous Alpine horn. Up We Go After getting a key, on a giant pewter keychain, we headed up the stairs, with the hand carved railing. There was a sunlit sitting area, above the dining room with a cozy couch and table set. Then we headed down the hallway. I wish I'd gotten a photo of the winding hall, with artwork and fresh flowers. But the space was so dark, it was hard to capture. Our Room Again it was sad that my eyes couldn't focus on some of the painted details in the dark hall. But the flowers were lit and my camera flash illuminated the door. Note the Do Not Disturb sign. This was the first time we were to have a needlepoint sign, for the door! Emily Dickinson Each of the 12 guest rooms was named for a famous author or poet. I would have chosen The Lewis Carrol Room, had we not been on a budget. That room was $120. more per night than ours, for $175. "No Gloom in this Room" Emily Dickinson didn't always rhyme in her poetry, but I did when I spotted our sweet space, with the Austrian folk art, canopy bed! "Definitely no Gloom in this Room!" A Place to Write I loved having a leather, writing desk in case I was inspired! All the rooms had unique decor to fit the various writer celebs. Every room also had a fireplace and a welcome plate with fruits and cheese. There was also a nook that held the silver tray with glass ice bucket, as well as a selection of Emily's poetry books... along with a book titled, "Mormon Country". That was different. Our inn was evidently in Mormon and Swiss country! Comfy Bathroom Bathroom photos seem so unnecessary, but I wanted to remember this one. I loved everything about it from the fancy make up mirror, to the little junk-holder-table beside the sink, to the spa tub with the classy holder for bath products. The framed etching and floral art was nice, too. But the best surprise was when I realized there was a hidden dimmer switch. When my aged eyes needed help in the morning, I could suddenly see! Inspiration The comfy room was inspiring. Fresh flowers and nibbles on the writing desk! A notepad beside the bed! I should have written some poetry, but I haven't really written any since second grade, when I stapled 50 pieces of notebook paper together and wrote a title on the first page. 100 Poems by Beth Meyer. Maybe I got burned out. Bring Your Own Poetry I do love a theme! After I first booked the room, I hunted through the house for some of Ms. Dickinson's poetry. I made sure to pack a book or two, because sometimes you need to enhance your stay, with the use of props. Don didn't look too thrilled when I sat beside the bay window and announced, "It's poetry time!' But, he was a good sport and listened to a couple. Boar on the Bed The Blue Boar Inn obviously loves a theme, too. We had a stuffed boar on our bed. Our boar looked quite comfy nestled in the pillows, wearing a big bow. Turn Down We were a little jolted when we returned to our room after being gone a while and heard classical music playing. Our turndown service had evidently occurred, before 6. Our decorative pillows were neatly tucked away, but our boar was still waiting... beside a fresh rose, two chocolate-filled envelopes and a complimentary booklet of poetry. I prefer to believe we'd been visited by magical B&B fairies... rather than a staff member, tiptoeing around all our junk. Happy Hour? Don and I were ready for a little Happy Hour celebration by 6, since we'd traveled from Colorado that day. We peeked into the Truffle Hollow Pub, in the back of the inn. The 16th century bar, French bistro tables, stone fireplace and arched windows seemed to invite us in for a sip of ale. But there was no service at that time. We moved on. Hinterhof - "Patio Behind" The large patio in the rear was pretty. The summer temperatures were lowering and the tables had a fun view of trees, mountains and the inn. But there were no people, so we assumed the area was for parties or events. We moved on. Drinks with a View So, we made our own iced beverages and grabbed our yummy food plate from the writing table. Then we found a second story terrace, with a view of the Wasatch Mountains! Good Neighbor We sipped and toasted and enjoyed the evening, hoping we weren't breaking any Mormon/Swiss Country rules. I was happy to see my friend across the road. I had visited with the sweet horse earlier. Dinnertime! It was still plenty bright at 7:30, but the ambiance was still perfect. We were seated beside a Kachelofen tile stove, imported from Austria. Details! The table was lovely. White linen covered a floral cloth. The fresh flowers and a salt bowl with tiny spoon pleased me, as much as the painted tile, beside us. We looked over our wooden menus, while classical music played at the perfect volume. Then Jesica, our attentive server brought a "food gift" from the chef and placed it on the pewter charger. Short rib with lingonberry sauce, I believe. It was mouth watering, along with our sparkling wine and a yummy bread assortment. Main Courses First we shared a fresh house salad with shaved parmesan. We also shared a mushroom and cheese side dish with our main courses. We didn't come close to finishing my potato crusted salmon and Don's double cut pork chop, but I wish we could have! Dessert? We were too stuffed to imagine dessert. We even had to save our little boar-shaped chocolates for the next day. But we worked off at least a calorie each, as we hiked up the little staircase to our room. What a treat, to just head upstairs to our cozy room for bed. Morning! I got up early to take advantage of the cool temps and scenery for a run. After I returned and showered, Don and I headed down for our breakfast, which was included. Many guests we already dining on the porch. What a setting! Peaceful Breakfast We chose a window seat inside, where Frank Sinatra and John Mayer serenaded us We were handed menus and suddenly realized this was not going to be the typical B&B breakfast. We could have feasted on salmon or steak, but chose omelets and French toast. Our yummy, piping hot meals were served on some pretty sweet bird china. We could have used a nap after that, but we were on the road by 9:30. What's Notable? The Blue Boar had the charm of an Old World inn, without the musty smells and faded colors. I'm usually pretty critical about buildings, when they pretend to be old. I can be sort of snobbish, when there's a Disney World feel to decor. Even the copy of a famous statue could irritate me. But so much thought and energy went into this sweet place, that all I could do was appreciate. The staff was professional and pleasant. The food was top notch. The location was lovely. And all the surprises, from fresh flowers to wooden menus to a boar on the bed, kept me delighted!
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Durango, Colorado When Don and I last stayed in Durango, we were just down the street at the iconic Strater Hotel. But we had our eye on this hotel, for the next time. Who Was General Palmer? The Victorian hotel on Main avenue, was once called The Palace Hotel. It was later named for the Civil War general, who established the hotel in 1898. The corner hotel didn't look too palatial on the front, but it was interesting to realize, the hotel wasn't just named for a general, but built by one. The Rear Walking from the parking lot, we had a good view of the hotel's many terraces. It's not often that I feel more welcomed by the back of a hotel. It's also not often that we are offered free parking, with a downtown hotel. Yea for that! Sideview I was actually very intrigued by all the terrace space, for this 39 room hotel. I didn't have any luck coming up with old hotel photos to find out how much of this was original. Back Entrance The rear entrance was attractive with lots of wood and stained glass... and lots of steps. Why do we always lug so much stuff? Young Staff I was hoping there would be some elderly guy checking us in, who just happened to be a history buff. The young staff didn't have many answers for my questions, but they were cheery. Lots of Coffee Between the door and front desk, I took notice of a grand piece of furniture that held many options for coffee and tea, as well as a tray of fresh cookies. That set up came in handy later! Sitting Areas It began to rain after we checked in, so I was eager to check out the cozy lounging areas. There wasn't much of a "lobby" feel, but there were numerous sitting spots. Victorian Furniture I like the idea of Victorian history, but Victorian furniture isn't actually the most comfortable. Keeping an Eye Out Front This little area facing Main Avenue had good windows for watching the rain. But it was dim and the low couches made me feel weary. Sunroom/Parlor Along the back of the hotel was a long parlor with windows. This actually looked more comfortable, but a grumpy-looking couple had kind of taken over the comfiest chairs. They glanced up with a "Don't you dare." expression. I waited till much later for this photo! A Wet Terrace I took a quick peek at the largest terrace. At this point the rain was really blowing, so we headed for our room. Oldest Elevator! I was actually very excited about riding in the oldest operating elevator in the state. Elevator Adventure We opened the thick wood and brass door first, then fumbled with the heavy metal gate. Trying to keep the gate pulled open as we rolled suitcases over the bumpy threshold, was sort of hilarious. A staff member saw us and pointed to a hook, which kept the gate open. Once inside, we closed the brass door, then unhooked the gate, pressed number 2 and grinned at each other. Scary Ride It seemed to take a moment, then there were some sounds and rumbling and I actually gulped at the thought of getting stuck. After some movement, the thing halted. Nothing happened. Finally we reminded ourselves that we were in the oldest elevator in Colorado and we manually opened the gate and did all our tasks in reverse. Yikes. Yea for Stairs! I quickly found a door with stairs and ran down to get one more thing from the car. I paused at the desk and laughed. "Do guests ever get stuck in the elevator because they just don't realize they have to open it themselves?" The young man laughed about how many confused guests freak out and just wait to be rescued. "Hmm." I thought. "Do you think you might want to give your guests some elevator tips, sometime?" Cozy Room Our room wasn't large, but it had all we needed. I was sad that our only window was blocked by the bed, but I was able to crawl up and peek at the view. Chocolates and a View When I lifted the fringed shade I could see a nice mural of Durango, on the building across the street. Behind, I could see The Strater Hotel, where we'd stayed before. There were a couple of treats from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, resting on the bed. On the vanity, I found a small bar of blood orange soap, made for the hotel. Very flavorful surprises. TV, Desk and a Funny Red Chair I'm pretty sure that red chair was not Victorian...but neither was the TV. The modern chair sort of amused me, though. It was a lot more comfortable than the desk chair. Vanity, Mirror and Tub I appreciate it when historic hotels renovate without modernizing. I prefer the look of a pedestal sink and chain pull toilet. But secretly I was okay with the vanity and giant mirror and the working tub. Sometimes I'm okay with cheating, especially if I'm a little tired. Caffeine Time So while the rain did its thing outside, we enjoyed a coffee and cookie break. We even had a china, cup & saucer option. Nice. Evening Our hotel didn't have a bar or restaurant, but it was within walking distance to The Strater's options as well as numerous others. We had a drink at the Strater's saloon, then wandered back towards our hotel Pie Time! The street was blocked off in front of our hotel and a pie auction was in full swing! We heard one pie go for over $700.00! The charity event continued, while we headed back to our hotel. Relaxing on the Porch Since the rain had dried up, we decided to make use of the hotel's porches. We grabbed food and wine from the car and glasses from our room. We were the only guests who seemed inclined to sit outdoors. Cheers to Durango! Cheers to porches! What's Notable? If Don and I weren't so fond of porches and silly things like scary elevators, our memories of our hotel stay might fade more quickly. We had no curious people encounters, there was no restaurant/bar to liven things and our room was not as "elegant" as we expected. Our memories will be about the great location and the silly elevator. I'm glad we stayed, but doubt we'll pick it again.
Old Santa Fe, New Mexico Our cozy B & B was perfectly nestled in a quiet neighborhood, surrounded by evergreens. The porches and gardens made me want to spend a week, but we only had a night. From the Back The sweet adobe complex, was once a farm house and stables, built during the Spanish Colonial rule, over 200 years ago. The Front Facing the street, we found a walled in garden and porch. The July weather was heavenly and we walked right into the office, through an open door. No bugs and no heat! We're not used to open windows and doors in Texas. Sitting Room Our host, Amanda was delightfully chatty, with tons of tips about experiencing Santa Fe. It was fun hearing her impressions of moving to Santa Fe as a young teen. She gave us a great tour, starting with the sitting room in the main house. She laughed about how very different the space looked in the 1980's, when the property was sold. It had many things over the years, but before its new owners, it had been a commune. Santa Fe had been very different in the '80's. Amanda told us that one of the commune residents, just kept on living there during renovation. "He used to sleep in this room." She laughed. Curves and Angles We headed down the hallway, through the arched opening. Amanda pointed to the doorway to show us how thick the walls were. New and Old There was a nice mix of old and new. The fresh paint, light fixtures and framed photography brightened the narrow hallway. The old rugs and worn wood floors felt cozy. Amanda showed us the rings to the trapdoors in the floor. The Carriage House We walked out to the garden and Amanda pointed to the building on the right. It had been the carriage house, two centuries ago. Peaceful and Shady The garden was quiet, except for a trickling fountain. I tried to imagine the grounds as a farm, long ago. Could that tall tree have been there? The main house would have only been one story, then. What else would have been different? Room #4 Our room was near the back. I was disappointed that our door was so new, but the artwork above, was fun. When we opened the door I was perfectly delighted. Bright and Whimsical I think we got the most playful room at the inn. The colorful yellow walls were filled with curves and nooks and crannies. Dolls and a Madonna I almost squealed at the kiva fireplace, decorated with colorful Mexican dolls. There was even an alcove for a Madonna statue. Amanda seemed excited that I was enthused. "I love you!" She sort of laughed. "Some people call this the creepy doll room. Not everyone appreciates it." I assured her that I did...even if those dolls did keep their eyes, eerily open all night long! Sink Corner On the other side of the bed, there was another window, to let in more light. There were also two skylights. The corner held the room's sink, with lovely blue tile and large mirror. Another Madonna Some guests might feel like they were staying the night in a convent, with all the Madonnas, but we were in Santa Fe afterall. You don't come to Old Santa Fe, if you don't like the beauty of old churches and religious statues. Cozy When Amanda left, we continued to delight over every light fixture and decorative accent. I'm a foot shorter than Don, so it took me a while to realize we were actually staying in a pretty small space. I was so distracted by the colors and designs. Walls and Windows Our tiny bathroom felt less claustrophobic, thanks to the high ceiling and skylight. However, showering was comical. I was reminded of a cruise ship memory. I'm pretty sure we had booked one of the cheapest and smallest rooms, so we weren't complaining. I was more than happy to put up with a small space, because of all the other perks. The painted windows near the kiva sitting area, were my favorite! Cookies and Hot Drinks! We made sure to stop by the coffee bar in the afternoon, for a cookie break. There were coffees and teas and oatmeal raisin cookies. Yay! Our Windows at Night When we returned late after dinner and found colored lights in the garden, I sighed. I ran back outside after turning on our lights, to see our painted windows, glowing! Morning in Santa Fe One of the biggest treats about our inn, was the location. Early the next morning I headed out on a little run, with my cell phone. How beautiful Old Santa Fe looked in the quiet, early morning. Greeting in the Morning I returned for a quick and comical shower and was ready for breakfast at 8:00. We headed through the garden, where St. Frances stood with his birds and flowers... A Bright Breakfast Then into the colorful breakfast room... ...with bright table cloths and yet another painted kiva fireplace. Breakfast is Served We grabbed our own coffee and relaxed into the peaceful setting. Unlike some B & B breakfasts, we had our own table and I wasn't really in the mood for chattiness anyway. But when I looked around, there were some interesting looking travelers. I was curious about the other guests... and I don't always feel that way. Food and Decor We enjoyed the perfect breakfast of egg and English muffin sandwich, with western potatoes and fruit. Just the right amount. We talked a bit... and I stared a bit. So many little treasures to amuse me! What's Notable? Our inn was cozy and peaceful, colorful and filled with history and treasures! I'll remember our whimsical kiva with the dolls, most of all.
AND... the location! Lovely! More Than a Steakhouse It was the Big Texan Steak Ranch (and it's very fine sign) that lured us. The "Steak Ranch" This is the steakhouse where Don and I stopped for lunch, a year ago. It's been attracting tourists, traveling Route 66 (and then I-40) since 1960. Of course the big yellow building is usually surrounded by cars. But when you're a motel guest, you can lay eyes on this peaceful image... if you rise at dawn. "Charm of the Old West" Don and I grinned when we spotted the motel a year ago. "We'll just have to stay here someday." Last June we had a chance to book a night, when we planned our drive to Oregon. We weren't fooled by the Disney-bright facade, or the website's words about old west charm. For less than $80. we geared ourselves up for a motel-kind-of-overnight. Longhorn Limo When we arrived, we were in for plenty of motel surprises. I've never stayed at a motel with a fleet of limos, sporting longhorn hood ornaments! I've also never stayed at a motel with "branded" sidewalks! Evidently the limos do quite a bit of airport shuttling. Big Texan attracts a lot of visitors from other countries. Tour groups of Australians arrive on Wednesdays and a few guests were speaking German, when we checked in. Room 107 Our room was just steps from the office. And of course parking was right in front of the door. Gotta love that about motels! If guests forget their room numbers like I often do, they can help spot their room by the surrounding door decor! I would have preferred the pink teardrop motif! Plywood Walls and Saloon Doors! Our room definitely had the musty smell, that most older motels have. But I was willing to ignore that, to enjoy the fine features of our room. I had to chuckle at the walls. We've had motels with knotty pine, but this plywood-look was unique. The saloon doors were a hoot. They actually led to a good-sized dressing area and a nicely updated bathroom. The clunky swingers would have driven me crazy if we'd stayed longer. But they were pretty fun and inspired me to dress the part for dinner. Texas Beds and Horse Lamp The lone star headboards looked pretty Texan. The spreads and shams had a lot going on, with faux suede and pillow tassels. Mural and TV The flatscreen-tv-world never works with themed decor. This TV looked pretty silly, next to the windmill and cattle drive. If only we'd had a chance to search for an old western movie channel, we might have made the TV fit the scene! Room With a View We did have a nice little western table set, beneath the window. And our view of the Big Moo Statue, was framed by our plywood shutters. We've never had a motel view like that. Cooling Off We knew there was a Texas shaped pool and we expected it to be full of families. Don made drinks and we were determined to enjoy our first TX-Pool, no matter the crowds. But we had it to ourselves. Behind Don Towards the rear of the complex was a whole different style of motel building. The bell and balcony and pink stucco, looked like an old building in Mexico. The murals were pretty festive, as well. Taking in the Scene As we lounged, we took in the oddity of it all. The parking lot began to fill and then I grew giddy, with the arrival of some important guests! I eyed the truck and trailer, parked in front of the office! Another First This was our first motel experience that included horse guests. I remembered seeing the sign a year ago. When I called a month before to book a room, I inquired. "Oh yes." the woman on the phone answered. "We're expecting 2 horses." In the Way Back Before hitting the pool, I had already checked the stables, back behind the pink building. I was disappointed to find the stalls empty. However, I did see plenty of semitrailers and buses in the massive lot, nearby. Watching At one point, I noticed a truck and trailer pulling away from the office. I grabbed my camera and waited near the horse hotel, for the show. Girls and Horses A mom and 2 teens had been traveling 24 hours from Big Sky, Montana. They were exhausted but worked efficiently, moving the horses out and into their stalls. The fact that the one of the horses had won third place in a 3-day horse show, kept their spirits up. They were a tired, but happy bunch. Over at the Steak Ranch Our Big Texan dining experience in 2017 was just a quick lunch on the road. Don and I were determined to make use of our motel stay and take in all that was offered at the Ranch House, next door. We headed over, giving Big Moo a big wave. Beer and Tunes Don and I skipped the arcade and gift shop and headed for leather bar stools. We hardly fit the bar scene in our shorts, but the cowboy hat crowd accepted us, just fine. The strolling musicians were fun. We requested a Hank Williams song. We didn't sing along, but smiled, applauded and tipped. At the bar we chatted with a couple who had been RV-ing for 2 years. Frank, who sported a foot long beard, shared stories of fighting fires at Mount St. Helen's... which was interesting to think about, when we visited the famous volcano a week later. More New Friends We had another fun chat with Ed, who was on pup duty in this photo. He talked with enthusiasm about his life in the marines and motor-cycling across the states. We didn't have tons in common with Ed, but we did share an appreciation for road travel and the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup. He had a touching story about meeting Navajo Code Talkers at the old hotel. A sweet story for sure. The Patio Before thinking about dinner, we gave ourselves a little time to explore the enclosed patio area. I did my proper posing in a giant rocker and Don checked out the red stage coach. Then we figured we'd put on our western clothes and head to dinner. The Dining Room There was no western dress code requirement, but Don and I are firm believers that costumes and props raise all dining and hotel adventures. We dressed (a bit) for dinner. Beer & Bolo Don looked pretty spiffy sitting in our cozy booth, wearing his horse-covered shirt and bolo tie. We never take a good view for granted and our window looked right out at Big Moo. Sometimes a good view is worthy of a toast... especially when you're drinking Whoop Your Donkey beer. The beer's name is a little mean, but it was kind of fun that it was made at the on-site brewery. The 72-Ounce Steak Challenge I claimed that Don and I were eager for the whole Big Texan experience... but actually we weren't. We aren't huge eaters, so eating a 72-ounce steak, plus potato, sides, bread and drink in an hour, was not a challenge were excited about. We did get to watch a dapper young guy in a cowboy hat complete the task in 36 minutes. He stood on the raised platform while a bell rang and the dining room applauded. Another guy in a ball cap remained at the table, while the glowing timer counted seconds, beside him. He gave up with 5 minutes to go. Pepper Challenge? Don could have shown off his own manly eating abilities with this "too pretty to eat" jalapeno. It had a very cute Texas flag stuck in it. All I ordered was stuffed baked potato for dinner, but my (too small) western belt was cutting into my pig-out abilities. Or maybe it was the stories our server told us about all the different food challenges she's witnessed. I was stuffed before I started. Good Night Big Tex It was a treat to stroll back to our funny little room. It was actually a pretty quiet night, despite being close to the freeway. An Added Adventure We totally took advantage of our motel location, to get up before sunrise and drive 10 minutes to enjoy a crazy "Cadillac Ranch" photo op! This crazy thing is worth Googling or visiting. And in July, a sunrise visit is your best bet if you don't want to inhale the fumes from spray paint artists. What's Notable? Pretty much anyone, even a vegan, could have a fun time enjoying the nutty atmosphere of Big Texan Ranch House. But honestly, I'm having a hard time thinking of any friends who would have a blast, staying at Big Texan Motel. It's not something I would recommend to all. But if you have a friend or a spouse who is willing to Play Big Texan, then go for it! Horses, Texas pool, saloon doors, steak challenges! We had a ton of fun for $79.00!
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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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