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Monthly Archives: October 2018

Holly House of Hamilton A very Fine Bed & Breakfast Inn

P1030603APtravelnews – October 15th-Hamilton, GA. When we pulled in to the Holly House in the small town of Hamilton, GA. (20-miles from Columbus) we entered this truly fine home between two giant  100-year old Holly bushes.  Close by the other side of the front steps stood a huge Magnolia Tree, almost ready to bust out in giant fragrant blooms.  The landscaping helped frame this 6000-square foot,  in the folk Victorian style home, perfectly!   Barb and I entered the front door and were met by Judy Archibald, our incredibly sweet and friendly owner/hostess.  Little did we know the treat that awaited us?  The home was decorated with a wonderful selection of antiques and vintage clocks and church organs, a player piano that Judy; quite professionally and beautifully sang to the tune of that 1910 song; “Let Me Call You Sweet Heart”; that to a person with a nostalgic bent, would bring tears to the eyes (it did mine, remembering all my departed loved ones) of anyone who remembered the sweet pastel views of their past happiness during their formative years with their families and friends, mostly now departed. The themed rooms all lent an air of relaxation and simple, quiet contemplation of the real meaning of life and all that it truly encompasses.

A bit like a fairytale, the Holly House B&B was so nostalgic!
A bit like a fairy tale, the Holly House B&B was so nostalgic!

We’ve visited dozens of B & B’ over the past 20-years, both privately and professionally as B&B reviewers and travel editorialists. Only a few of these are remembered with fondness.  The Holly House, with everything it engendered, by far has been the best overall experience of any of the past visits we’ve made all over the south and northern parts of the USA. Just meeting and hearing Judy sing would be enough for a visit!

P1030614In 1992 the ceilings were lowered and the home made a perfect, now two-story, 6 suite room B & B with a music parlor, the Salute to Liberty Room, the all important gorgeous dining room, two kitchens and is located near Callaway Gardens, and behind a very historic courthouse.

In 2011 Don & Judy Archibald from Manhattan Beach, CA. bought the 1880, totally remodeled in 1992, Holly House and love all that it means to them, their children ( their children and grown and do not live at the Holly House) and their guests. Each guest room is uniquely named and furnished such as the “Victorian Countryside room”, the “Holly’s Haven”, the “Inspired by nature” where we slept for a night, the “Walton Romance Room”, the “Journey Suite” and the “Holly Room. “There is a billiard room, a library and just behind the property a nature walking path meanders through the wood and glade. The location is 20-miles North of Columbus, and 85-miles South of Atlanta. Our breakfast, one of the very best ever, featured a giant peach cobbler made with peaches stuffed into Croissants. Eggs and pork chops, great coffee and  of the garden Rosemary, roasted potatoes-WOW!

The billiard room was the Military remembrance room too!
The billiard room was the Military remembrance room too!
And eggs too! Stuffed Croissants with delicious peaches, incredible pork chops, taters with out of the garden Rosemary.
And eggs too! Stuffed Croissants with delicious peaches, incredible pork chops, taters with out of the garden Rosemary.
No I'm not making it up. Judy had a voice like an angel!
No I’m not making it up. Judy had a voice like an angel!

The B & B address is 127 Barnes Mill Rd. Hamilton, GA.  And phone is 706-628-5634 See their website: hollyhouseofHamilton.com

Hotel Roanoke, a VA. Blue Ridge Great Hotel, Great Chef and Excellent Managers and Staff & More

Hotel manager and our waitress greeting us with a delicious entree. Definitely our favorite restaurant in Roanoke!!

AmericanPressTravelNews-June 5th,–Roanoke, VA. Virginia’s Blue Ridge at the Roanoke, Hotel-Bob and Barb “Stopping to Smell the Roses.” Barb and I made our way to the restaurant for dinner. We had been here several years back and remembered the excellent meal and time we had at the Hotel and its amenities, including their excellent restaurant.  We followed the hill-top overlook star to one of our favorite cities; Roanoke in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. So many great things to see and do here, and the people are so obviously outgoing to locals and visitors alike-we like “friendly” as a genuine attitude, we find it here. VISITVBR.COM

Chesapeake sea food melange of shellfish! Beyond great!
At the transportation museum. Headline: Amtrak will begin passenger traffic again through Roanoke after a hiatus of over 45-years…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our stay at the Black Lantern Inn B&B (540-206-3441) allowed us to easily reach all venues we wished to visit during our stay in Roanoke. Downtown Roanoke was one of our biggest treats. At the market area we had lunch at Nawab enjoying a taste of Indian Cuisine (oh, so for real) and then headed for City Center. How about a pinball museum where you can play as much as you want on a hundred, vintage blasters and banger’s-we loved this and so will you with this “blast from the past.” (stay tuned, more articles and images from Roanoke to come)  visitvbr.com

 

 

 

 

We were greeted warmly and presented with a chocolate slice of double, double chocolate torte!!!
Pinball machines, you can still find them in out- of- the- way old time roadside restaurants and coffee shops, but they are now outdated by the new cell phone and Android gaming generation! Here at the Pinball Museum you can play these oldies but goodies to your hearts and finger flippers content!
Holy Cow; look at what we found at the Science Museum! We found a politician that whined at us!

We Love Ethnic Mom & Pop Restaurants-Today We Tried Mayta’s Peruvian Cuisine

Proud owners and operators of their dream restaurant business, the Velasquez’s posed for a picture for us.

AmericanPressTravelNews-June 5th, Frederick, MD.–Bob & Barb “On the Road Again” & “Stopping to Smell the Roses & Cuisine, this time in Frederick, MD. We met Jorge at the door of his restaurant opened in 2015. Mayta’s Peruvian Cuisine is his and his wife Melissa’s dream come true. Jorge came to the USA from Peru 16-years ago to cook and chef his way to success at a few different restaurants, finally he made the break and with his savings he opened his own restaurant. He came in legally and has created a fine and tasty niche restaurant that locals and visitors alike head to for large portions of dishes that are authentic (no sharing charges, said Jorge) real-world Peruvian specialties. The various ingredients found in the Peruvian hills and glades are used, the spices and flavorings are quite unique to stateside foodies and the dinner and lunch crowd as well. Outdoors there is a fine diminutive outdoor patio and Mayta’s delivers too!  Give a call to 301-732-4441/www.maytacuisine.com  They love to do parties and all manner of catering as well! Located across from Crispy Cream at 5010 Buckeystown Pike. 

Passion Fruit juice, the real thing too!  I hadn’t tasted this delight since I was in Tanganyika. Barb knows that between the banana chips, authentic dips, and that starter passion fruit juice, that  I wasn’t going to be happy until I took this image, before I would be at the “tasting.”
Marinated steak Kabobs, authentic Peruvian sweet potato and mountain giant kernel corn. A delightful mustard based seasoned sauce covered the meat and we devoured this balanced and tasty dish in short order.
Our charming waitress. We spoke Spanish together, Barb asked me to translate for her lunch.
Shrimp in garlic with rice and stewed potato’s–loved it!!