Art Deco Hotel in Historic Downtown Don found us a Victorian hotel, for our overnight in Silver City. I'm always up for a nice little historic hotel. However, when I looked up his choice online, I also discovered The Murray, which was practically next door. Such a dilemma! Victorian, built in the 1880's or Streamline Moderne, built in 1938? We've stayed in a lot of Victorian hotels. We switched! A Fine Entrance It was blustery and cool, when we arrived, late May. Luckily we could park in front on Broadway, just past the mint green curb. I absolutely loved the Art Deco entrance, with its rounded sign and glass block. The long, one-story, corner building seemed much more intriguing than the 5-story "tower" that held the guest rooms. However the tower is what gave The Murray a spotlight, back in 1938. It was and still is, the tallest building in town. The Entrance The renovated building reopened in 2012. The nearly 80-year-old hotel looked fresh, with some bright colors and art. I liked the porthole windows with stained glass, on both sides of the door. The Lobby The main lobby area was up a few steps. The space was lit by a large skylight, which was part of the original hotel design. Above one couch was a portrait of W.D. Murray, the man behind the hotel. Horse in the Lobby The lobby walls were decorated with lots of impressive local art, but the framed photos caught my attention the most. I loved this image of Mr. Murray's granddaughter (and horse) in the hotel lobby, before it opened in 1938. Check In We checked in at the corner "office" with our very welcoming host. What a bonus to be to be greeted by someone who actually cared about the history of the place. Mr. Cave seemed pleased that we had questions. He took us around the hotel, pointing out original details to the old structure... like the rounded steps, leading to the stairwell. In Progress In the lobby, he pointed to a blocked off door, behind the bookcase. "That was once the entrance to the hotel coffee shop." Out on the sidewalk later, we found the other entrance, with faded lettering, above a colorful door. Branding Iron Saloon Mr. C. took us into an area that had once been the Copper Lounge. In 1960, the hotel's bar changed from a mining theme to a western one. A fabulous mural still remained, despite issues with vandalism, after the hotel closed down. The cattle branding designs represented all the ranches in the county. Evidently, the saloon and dining room got lots of use on weekends, when ranch families came to town. Ballroom The Ballroom was added in 1948 along with an expansion to the tower. The space looked pretty quiet when we peeked in, but there are stories of dance bands and balls. The area was even used for a scene in a movie. The floor looked nice, but I'm guessing it wasn't the original dance floor "on springs" that I read about. Bright Ceiling I believe this area between the ballroom and lobby, was nicknamed The Martha Room, for Mr. Murray's sister. Breakfast was served under the shiny ceiling, in the morning. In the evening, we grabbed some complimentary coffee and spotted a few locals taking a dance class, in the ballroom. Then and Now On every floor, we found historic photos of The Murray and Silver City. I had some fun studying the vintage photo and comparing it with my own image. You can see there are more rooms on the back of the tower, now. Room 426 Even though Don and I booked the cheapest room, we got a decent sized corner room. 3 closets, 3 comfy chairs and 3 windows, with marble windowsills. There was a fridge and desk, with a retro phone. The giant porthole mirror went along with the moderne style. The big, fat Sony TV went along with a different era. It actually worked well, though. Love the Bath The bathroom was just plain fun. The floor to ceiling, glass block, let in lots of light. The yellowish tile and earthy, mosaic floor tile was pretty darn sweet. The sink didn't offer up any storage space, but it looked the part! Photo Op Don and I made use of the fine, round mirror before we stepped out on the town. The cell quality does not properly show off my cowboy print shirt or Don's cacti fabric. The hefty, dated TV showed up very well behind me! Silver City One of the perks of our hotel, was walking out the door and wandering town. We hit a good antique store, a brewery and a Mexican restaurant in the evening. In the morning we enjoyed walking the path along the Big Ditch, which was once the town's Main Street... before it was washed away in 1895. That's some amazing history there! What's Notable? Easy, Comfortable and Reasonably Priced... Historic Hotel! That's my takeaway. For less than 90 dollars, we stayed in a comfy hotel that allowed me to imagine living in the 1930's. I'm not sure where the hotel is headed in the future. We need more people to support hotels like this, so The Murray can continue the renovation process! I hope to come back someday and have a beer at the Branding Iron. I'd also like to walk through that sea-green door and enjoy a mug of coffee... along with my newspaper!
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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! Home of the Movie Stars! On our TX to CA road trip, Don and I had to veer off course a bit. We needed to squeeze in an overnight, at El Rancho. It's hard to pass up an 82 year old hotel, on old Route 66, with a nifty neon sign and a world famous Indian store AND a history with movie stars! Old Cookbook Illustration I first saw a picture of El Rancho in our 1954 edition, Ford Motor Cookbook. There was an inviting image of the sprawling ranch-hotel, along with a recipe from the restaurant. When I Googled the hotel, I was pretty thrilled to find out it hadn't closed down after all these years. Chilly Arrival It was a cold February afternoon when we arrived. I was so glad to see the hotel hadn't updated the rambling, rustic, ranch-y, plantation-like facade, that I'd seen in early photos. I wondered how long the logo, "Charm of Yesterday - Convenience of Tomorrow" had been connected to the hotel. Open 1937 This old photo shows the same portico, with logo above the pillars! Hotel el Rancho, was the creation of R.E. Griffith in 1937. "Griff" had connections with Hollywood, because of his well known director brother, D. W. Griffith. Griff had the hotel built, to house movie stars and crews, in an area that had become popular for filming westerns. Exterior It was fairly quiet when we arrived, so I had an easy time imagining the sprawling hotel, as it might have looked back in the day. Without modern cars and families with rolling suitcases, I could picture those wonderful cars of the '30's and '40's, pulling up to deliver Spencer Tracy or Gregory Peck, Lucille Ball or Esther Williams. So many of my favorite stars stayed at this hotel. Heading Inside We crunched over a little icy snow, with our bags and headed towards the middle set of doors. Those doors! Right out of a Hollywood set! Loving the Lobby! A second set of doors took us into the square lobby. I'd seen photos, so I knew there was a hunting lodge decor, but it was better than I'd imagined. I grinned to know I was stepping into a time warp. This is just what Katherine Hepburn saw when she arrived in 1946, to film scenes from "Sea of Grass". Red Carpet... The main focus was across the lobby. Two carpeted staircases curved around the stone fireplace. The stairs lead to a balcony, running around the perimeter of the second story. It seemed fitting that the carpet color was red. Check In Don checked in at the desk with a fellow whose name tag read, Leroy. Don and Leroy would later compare their turquoise. I admired the silver dollars, embedded along the edge of the counter. Looking Around While Don checked in, I snooped around the lobby. Oh, if only the fireplace had still been in working order! Even without a glowing fire, the surrounding brick and stonework was mesmerizing! Outside of the fireplace, I studied the split log stairs, with bent wood railing. Just beautiful! "Charm of Yesterday" I took in some of the charm of yesterday, that was probably considered mighty modern, when the hotel was new. Too bad we couldn't get a shoeshine or buy stamps or cigarettes, anymore. Not that we needed any of those goodies. I Love Doors Leroy gave us our key and we headed upstairs and entered the hallway through a festive door with a round window. The door to our room had the original slatted, air-vents. That was fun. It was also nice that Leroy had given us an extra spacious room, even though we had booked a lower rate room. The room was named for actress, Paulette Goddard, one of the hotel's many famous guests. Corner Room I loved having 3 windows and a door to a little terrace of sorts... although it was a little too snowy to care about that. I was happy with the vintage coziness, but I started to mope about what I was missing. "Don, do you even know who Paulette Goodard is?" We are both huge fans of old movies and yet we were staying in a room, named for a star we didn't even know. I usually just go with the flow, but I headed back to the front desk. Another Room I asked Leroy if it would be possible to get the Katherine Hepburn room. He said there was no problem, but had me check it out first. I was giddy, walking down the painted brick hallway, towards the door with its polished wood frame. Woohoo! The room was smaller, but it had Katherine Hepburn's name on the plaque and that was good enough for me. Plus it had a wagon wheel bed and that made me chuckle. Kate, Keeping an Eye Kate gazed down towards the bed, from her framed portrait. I'm sure she was probably saying, "You don't truly believe I slept in this room do you? I would have demanded a bathtub and so should you." Yep, we gave up the corner room with the bathtub and got the Kate Room, with funniest little bathroom. I tried to take a photo of the oddly shaped shower, but it was not possible. Thanks Leroy! I had to run down to tell Leroy the room was just fine. Then, I asked Leroy if I could take a photo of his awesome bolo tie. He quickly answered, "No." Then he laughed, when he saw I'd fallen for his humor. It's difficult to tell from this photo, but Leroy (who insisted I say his name with a French pronunciation) was a very funny, talkative guy. Don and I chatted with him numerous times, during our 1 night stay. Leroy was a big part of what made our stay so memorable! Leroy and Mr. Ortega Leroy gave us a little history about himself and the hotel. Leroy began working at El Rancho 25 years ago, just years after Armand Ortega rescued the old hotel from demolition in 1986. "He was a great man." Leroy said, while pointing to a childhood photo of Mr. O. "Mr. Ortega's first job was at the gas station. When he got his first check, he took his parents to dinner at El Rancho. He told his parents that he would someday own El Rancho." Leroy's father and grandfather died young. He said Mr. Ortega had been like a father to him, until his death a few years ago. Leroy spoke in Navajo, some words about the wisdom of Elders. He felt it was their wisdom, that had somehow guided him to this job and his friendship with Mr. O. Wandering While temperatures dropped outside, Don and I felt less inspired to get out and explore Gallup. There was so much to absorb without leaving the building, so we headed upstairs first. Cozy Seating and Photos Autographed photos covered the brick walls, all around the second level. Some of the signatures were personal, with notes about staying at the hotel. I imagine the rustic furniture and Navajo rugs were a nice change for some of the stars, who were used to staying in swanky Hollywood hotels. Working up a Thirst We studied the last wall of photos, before heading down to the 49er Lounge. If only the weather had been warm, we could have taken drinks right out onto the terrace, over the portico. Don and I do love a hotel with a porch or balcony. Odd Exterior I have no clue about how this rambling cluster of buildings was constructed, but I'm pretty sure the bar was original. Luckily we could enter from a walkway past the hotel's impressive Native American gift shop and avoid stepping outside in the cold. Air- Conditioned I'm not sure when this photo of staff was taken, but evidently the hot summers were also an issue. I'm surprised they had air-conditioning! Cheers Don and I put on our cowboy boots and a little turquoise and headed for the bar. The bar decor, unlike the hotel, had changed a bit since the thirties. We enjoyed a beer and a wine, while watching the local, after-work crowd come and go. Then we headed for the dining room. Dinnertime It was pretty quiet in the dining room at 8 pm, but we didn't feel a bit rushed. We enjoyed studying the menu options, like John Wayne burger and Katherine Hepburn BLT. The Cookbook I made sure to bring my vintage cookbook, with El Rancho's recipe for Spanish Omelet. When traveling, we always carry one of our Ford cookbooks, just in case there's a possibility of a fun encounter. Even if the server is way too young to care, or the atmosphere indicates we'll have a dull reaction... I take the risk and pull it out. So even though our server spoke little English and I could hardly explain why I carried a cookbook, I showed her the picture and recipe. Suddenly her eyes lit up. She laughed and rushed off to get the other servers and they all gathered around and took pictures. It was a success, even though they look very serious in this photo. Spanish Omelet? They actually had a Spanish Omelet on their breakfast menu, although the recipe may have changed over the years. Here's a photo of one of the original menus, from before the 1954 cookbook. They didn't serve omelets then, but they did offer Fried Cornmeal Mush, for 50 cents. And that included butter, syrup and coffee! Yum! Sleeping Under the Stars I'd like to say the spirits of all those old movie stars, were swirling around us during the night. I actually slept well, so no ghostly visitors woke me. Morning We headed off at 8 am the next morning. It was sunny, but bitter cold! We'd said good-bye to Leroy the night before, so we just had the hotel to say good-bye to. It was a such fun stay.
What's Notable? It was the perfect hotel for someone who loves authentic, old hotel experiences AND old movie history! It was perfect for someone who doesn't want renovation and updates to cover up the past. And it was perfect for someone who wants the memory of a good people encounter, to go along with their hotel stay. Don and I loved this quirky place. We would stay again. Truth or Consequences, New Mexico When traveling from TX to CA in February, I was excited to know we could actually spend the night in a town with such a silly name! Hot Springs was the original name. That changed in 1950, when Ralph Edwards' famous radio game show offered to broadcast from any town willing to change its name to Truth or Consequences. Hot Springs The original name made a lot more sense, since the town of about 6,000 sits on top of hot springs. There used to be 40 bathhouses in town and now there are 10. I studied the internet to pick the one that sounded most inviting and curious. Our Corner This image does not look inviting. It was cloudy and windy. The corner where our little in inn was located, did not exactly look like a spa resort. But I was ready to check out La Paloma! When I'd made reservations a week earlier I'd spoken with a very nice woman. She made it clear that the baths might be a bit busy on President's Day weekend. I was curious to see what kind of guests visited a motel with bath houses in the middle of nowhere. The Office Don and I arrived and headed for the cute office building. I wish I could have taken a photo inside where things were really hopping. Two Mennonite couples were having a hard time checking in for some reason. The women, wearing long skirts and bonnets spoke to each other in some kind of Dutch German, I'm guessing. The gentlemen were trying to figure out which accommodations would work for them. I had a hard time picturing this foursome hanging out in the bathhouse. Once a Motor Court The office was crowded, so we waited outside in a whipping wind. I studied the line up of light blue doors and windows. It was intriguing to know that the motel was really made up of individual cabins, that once had garages between them. From the Rear This rear view, shows the office and guest rooms and one of the old outdoor soaking tubs. The cabin shapes with pointing roofs, are only evident from the back. The individual cabins (ordered from Sears) once housed workers who helped construct Elephant Butte Dam in 1912. The structures were later moved to this location, where they became part of a motor court for travelers. Shower House... not Bathhouse I knew the room we had booked didn't come with a shower. I thought it would be sort of retro-amusing to head from our room to the showers, in my robe. I figured there would already be people wandering around in robes, since there was a bath house. But it was crazy cold and windy! The last thing I wanted to do was walk 3 feet, outside, with wet hair. I never saw the inside of this cute building. No showers for me. Signs and Walkways Before we found our room, I was already in love with the white and blue paint. I loved the star sign and the passageway to the second bath house in back. Courtyard I paused for a quick lounge in front of our door. Too bad the winds were gusting or we could have made good use of the courtyard area. There were hammocks and fire pits and mountains to enjoy. But we headed inside. Room # 3 I loved the retro screen door. The gusting winds did cause a problem, though. I learned to grip the innocent, blue door, whenever I entered or exited. Even then, the wind sometimes grabbed the door from me and whipped it out of my hands, slapping it against the exterior wall... with a sound that I'm sure made our neighbors jump. Quiet But in truth, our cozy little room was very quiet and I'm sure we never bothered our neighbors. Our rooms had once been separate cabins with garages, that had since been turned into bathrooms. Sort of a Bathroom The interior reveals more of the house-shaped cabin, that once was home to construction workers. The box-like closet reveals the fact that our guest room was not one of the higher priced ones with a remodeled garage bathroom. That little box held our toilet! We did however have 2 beds. We should have brought along friends! Robe Holder The toilet closet door held our cozy robes. We needed those robes for our dash to the bathhouse a little later. Kitchen We did at least have a sink to wash our hands. We also had a fridge, microwave and toaster oven. That came in handy later when we realized it was easier going to the grocery store and making tuna melts than going out, after our spa time. We even had a sweet back window, next to the sink. Time to Spa! You can tell I am not a spa person because I'm trying to use the word like a verb. But Don and I were pretty excited (and a little nervous) about figuring out how to do this bathhouse thing. We waited until the Memorial Day Weekend crowd was gone and headed to the Baths, late evening. Signing Up There were about 4 doors and a sign up sheet. The attendant had left for a while, which meant we were on our own to read all the rules and figure out the sign-in board. We chose Door #2, since it had space for 2 people. There were rules about behavior and keeping the noise down. The 2 "fainting couches" were at the ready in case we over-cooked. Spa Lady Our funny little soaking tub looked ancient. My camera flash lit the dim room up after we lit the candle. The only light from outside, was the teeny tiny peep hole at water level. I made sure to pack a spa cap for our adventure. I thought it would make me feel like I was Joan Crawford in some old movie. It actually made my head so hot I had to remove it. Exploring Don and I had to mute our laughter as we used the rope to step down into the pool. We knew there was a guest in the next door tub and we wanted to be respectful. But it was hard to let the healing, mineral waters do its calming work, when we were standing there melting. There was no place to sit and I was feeling giggly. We didn't last long. We explored the rest of the bathhouse. There was a sweet black cat, sitting on a chair. There was soft music playing and gurgling water sounds. We peeked in a 1-person soaking room. There was at least a window! Foot Soaks There was a neat little line up of foot soaking circles on the floor. I tried to imagine the place earlier, when the bathhouse was crowded. How odd to picture 5 people sitting in a row with their feet soaking. Out Back We could see out the back windows to the soaking pool that is no longer in use. The next morning I walked around and found the open air, soaking pavilion (to the right) that was actually very inviting with nice wood and tile. Chilly Walk I wish this photo could show the winds gusting. I warned Don to hold his robe closed as we headed back to the room. We may not have taken our bathing very seriously, but we did actually feel relaxed and content to enjoy our little room with our tuna melts.
What's Notable? I know we didn't make good enough use of this wonderful little spa. We failed to get the full retro bathhouse experience. But I'm so glad we stayed. I'm glad the town has preserved a few of the historic bathhouses. Our stop was a little off our route to California, but it was well worth the detour! I will fondly remember the curious, rustic bathhouse and our cabin-like room with knotty pine! New Mexico? I have always wanted to stay at the famous Plaza Hotel! In June, Don and I did spend a night at The Plaza, but the town and state was a little mixed up. Our Plaza Hotel, wasn't the famous one in New York City... and our Las Vegas wasn't the famous gambling city in Nevada. The Plaza, Since 1882 This lovely hotel opened up in New Mexico, a half century before the famous gambling hotels hit Nevada's Vegas. There were only 6,000 residents, but the town was growing rapidly. Today There are nearly 15,000 residents today.. ...but it felt like a step back in time when we visited the historic Old Town Plaza area, where the hotel was located. Historic Old Town The hotel sits on the north side of the historic Plaza Square. The park, with its bandstand and statues was quiet when we arrived, but that changed a little later. Lobby Desk We were greeted by Sean at the front desk. I wish I'd gotten a photo of this friendly guy, with his black tie and vest. He was pretty delightful. Sean said we were booked to stay in room 204, but he was going to move us to a third floor room, since it was Karaoke Night. That was thoughtful. Sean gave us our key and said he hoped to see us at the bar for a little singing later. That was an amusing thought. Up the Stairs We had a choice of 2 stairways. One set was by the front desk and the other was across the lobby. The lovely walnut stairway across from the desk was clearly the more dramatic of the two. In The Movies The Plaza Hotel in NYC has been used for many movies, but the Las Vegas hotel has been in film since the silent movie days. Ten years ago, the dramatic staircase was used during the filming of "No Country For Old Men." Finding Our Room We enjoyed wandering the halls while searching for our room. There were some curious antiques and about 30 bookshelves filled with old books. It was fun passing each guest room, since each was named after a celebrity. Bailey Chase Room It's pretty fun that all the rooms are named for special people. We were originally booked to stay in a room honoring the Coen Brothers. I love their movies! But when we checked in, we were advised to take another room, that wasn't above the bar. We must have looked like old folks, who might complain about bar noise. So we agreed to switch and got the Bailey Chase Room. Sadly, I have no idea who that is. Recent Renovation The hotel was purchased and renovated just a few years ago. I liked the colorful updates and southwestern touches. But it was nice to see how much of the old charm was preserved. It was kind of fun having regular old keys, for a change. Simple and Sweet Our room with the Plaza view, felt calm and comfortable. There was nothing fancy about the bathroom, but it was nice having a little dressing area and a fridge. Books or TV We hardly needed the TV with all the book options on the shelf. It really made me wonder how many books they have in this hotel? Windows on the Plaza I do love windows and our view of the Plaza was entertaining. We had been told not to park on the square since the streets would be blocked off at midnight in prep for huge July 4th festivities. Too bad we weren't staying a few days longer. Hotel Entertainment I made a little of my own festive entertainment inside the hotel. For some odd reason, I happened to be traveling with my favorite childhood book about Eloise and her adventures living in New York's Plaza Hotel. I decided I needed to pull off at least one of Eloise's stunts. I chose one that I could do in the room, without embarrassing myself. This was my first head-standing hotel adventure... as far as I can remember. Enjoying the Afternoon Don and I stepped out to explore. We browsed through a couple antique stores around the square. There stopped to see some artwork in the park. Dinner Options There was a restaurant on the property. The dining room looked festive with the painted pillars and colorful rugs. The Plaza Saloon The hotel's saloon was quiet at 4, but when we stopped by for a drink at 6, we were joined by a few bikers. I was too intimidated to take a photo, but they were a scary bunch, slugging down their drinks like cowboys before roaring off on their bikes. The crowd at Karaoke night was pretty delightful. Cheery locals encouraged us to sing. Even Sean from the desk took the mic. I was too shy to sing, but I did take lessons from an encouraging local who couldn't believe I didn't know how to do the 2-step. All Lit Up We dined across the Plaza at family owned Mexican restaurant. We headed through the park back to our lit up hotel. Morning In the morning, I got up at 6 to snap some photos of the hotel. I knew the streets would be free of cars, since the roads were blocked. But there were already trucks and vehicles arriving to set up for the huge festival. I wandered around enjoying the activity. What's Notable? The Plaza Hotel was a great example of a grand, historic hotel with a young spirit. There was something warm and welcoming from the moment we stepped inside. I wasn't sure what it was that made the hotel feel so comfortable. Maybe it was all those flags greeting us.
Then I noticed a note in the hallway... and I had to smile! |
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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