Kostas Family Restaurant in Dillsboro, N.C.

**Best Calamari to start our meal, ever! Delicious and properly fried! Finished the plate between us. Usually don’t as too much breading and so-so sauce. Not at Kostas, promise they are first rate!!**

**Baklava is a perfect Greek dessert! Sweet and a great topping off of a great meal!**

**Barb was much pleased with her chicken dish, so was I, I finished it the next day. So much food, so good that why not take it home too!**

**A Basa fish specialty! All Greek to me!**

American Press Travel News–May 1st, Dillsboro, N.C. at Kostas Family Restaurant. Just heading into this little “burg” there are two terrific restaurants. First up-Kostas Family Restaurant. The staff was spectacular! From the tall-glass-of-water-owner to the wait staff and even the register gal, you felt that their name was apropos-Kostas “Family” Restaurant. Every diner who has visited a Greek owners restaurant knows about the Greek Salad. We both had one as part of our main dish platters. Decent amount of Greek Olives, tomatoes, greens and onions. The salad dressing was Mediterranean delicious. Grilled Basa fish topped with Feta Cheese, Spinach, onions and tomatoes with rice Pilaf. Together with fresh, hot Pita Pocket breads-WOW! Besides all the actual Greek specialties the restaurant had Italian dishes and all American ribs and meats too! Barb opted for a pasta dish with grilled chicken Parmesan, covered in real mozzarella, and oven baked with spaghetti. We finished off our meal with honey, nutty-stuffed Baklava and mom’s rice pudding! When you get over Dillsboro or Silva, N.C. way give a call, no reservations necessary most of the time: 828-631-0777 Visit them at: www.kostasdillsboro.com

Best Western Plus River Escape Inn & Suites, Dillsboro, N.C.

**Best Best Western we ever stayed at. Fly fishing out the back door, hot breakfasts, very friendly and helpful staff, and comfortable beds!**

American Press Travel News-April 26th-Dillsboro, N.C.-“Bob & Barb On the Road Again” and “Stopping to Smell the Roses & the trout.” We found out first hand why this Best Western Plus has so many great reviews. We are now one of them, too! With close up views, just feet away from, & on the trout infested Tuckasegee River, and great Smokey Mountain views, we enjoyed everything about this great country hotel. The price is right, the staff were extremely friendly (even got my lost cell phone back to me by mail from Josh) the pool was great, the included hot breakfast was as good as it gets from any hotel, the parking was most convenient. We sure enjoyed those fresh cookies and hot coffee anytime, as we headed to and from our room every day. Rooms have premium channels, the view and sound of the river off the rear of our suite was a treat to remember. I was even able to stretch a fly line on the river, just behind our accommodations (see the pics of that episode) and then headed to the cute little city of Dillsboro, for a great dinner at Kostas and the next night at Haywood Smokehouse too! So many rivers and streams in this area, which includes the delightful city of Silva, loaded with great shops such as antiques, gift and country home decor businesses. Every one of these shops had delightful owners and shopkeepers that we met. Of special note, we really enjoyed, or should we say our “sweet teeth” loved Dillsboro Chocolate Factory. Is this area recommended? Very highly, especially if you like to fish for trout! Contact the hotel direct at: 828-586-6060 Their website is bwriverscape.com or you can call their reservation number 800-528-1234.

**Barb and I loved living just off the Tuckasegee River. Quite peaceful eating the Best Western hot breakfast overlooking this great trout river.**

**24-inch Brown trout. What a fight on a light tippet!**

***Rainbow Trout from the “river that runs through it.”***

**Face to face with a 24-inch brown trout off the Tuckasegee River on a Wooley Bugger!**

David in the Netherlands

**Yes, felt like and was treated like a King!**

AmericanPressTravelNews 3/4/18–Correspondent, David, my son is in the Netherlands-Guess he’s there to go ice fishing! He’s an adventurer-chip off his old dad! Today he wrote the following piece about his stay at Hotel Van ORANJE in Noordwijk aan Zee Netherlands. Well dad, this was a great find while, just 15 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. Going to the beach in minus 2- degrees would seem not to be such a good idea in the U.S., but when you can take advantage of great, 5 -star hotel with 6 incredible restaurants, why not.

Traveling alone, I still felt like a star at this place. I was even given a personalized note telling me to enjoy my Dutch Royal Stay, and it was certainly that for 140 Euros. I enjoyed the facilities indoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, and a gym setup for an athlete. I certainly enjoyed a great dinner at the Restaurant Dutch. After my hot shower, I just asked for 4-course dinner, and sat back. Ah, the food was delivered and explained in great detail by the chefs protege. While biting down on an assortment of “great eats” I watched as table- side meals were being prepared for couples in suits and dresses, out for dates, and usual Saturday Dutch dinner revel in their special night out. I was just off the plane and thought the place was casual dress. Turned out to be no problema! Once my sumptuous dinner was complete, I strolled around and looked at the beautiful Rembrandt art, statues, and other gorgeously decorated restaurants on site. You can go horseback riding, windsurfing, hiking and just about any sport including golfing here.

After talking with some of the staff, and of course, while the summer is warmer, it just didn’t matter how cold it was- you still enjoy this beautiful Hotel! Dad, I swear me and all guests around me are truly treated like kings and Queens. I learned that Europe (or at least this incredible slice of heaven in the Netherlands) had it all over too many watered down, and bleached out other resort hotels I’ve visited in the U.S. and around the world in my travels. And my room;it was fantastically comfortable!! Address is: Koningin Wilhelmina Blvd 20 2202 GV Noordwijk, Netherlands tel. 3171 367 6869

**One of 4-courses was a chicken dish. The sauce, ah, the sauce**!

**A slice of sea bass to write home about. I guess I just did!**

**Everything was so clean and beautiful! Felt like I was in “old Europe.”**

Tony Romano-Wood Carver Extraordinary

American Press Travel News-Florida-Feb. 25th,-Bob and Barb “On The Road Again“-When I met Tony Romano, I had no idea until I saw a large showcase filled with some of his over 600-various carvings, in genre’s that include birds, fish and other wild creatures, of how creative and talented he is.

He is a fine soft-spoken fellow who moved from Orient, NY, to Florida in 2010. His previous life revolved around a quality taxidermy business for 6-years, and then spent twenty years in the wine and liquor business before retiring to warm, and comfy Florida.

Residing in Port St Lucie, FL, his favorite relax time where we met, is a hot tub where we both jiggle our back, arms and legs against the powerful jets of a fabulous and large hot tub system. “Carving takes my mind off of mine, and the worlds issues, I totally immerse myself into creating something out of 3X6 inch rectangular block of wood, creating a pretty, lifelike Cardinal bird, that once I paint it, people can enjoy the look of a nearly real bird. My sense of satisfaction is beyond words. My favorite piece (all of them really are) is my Redhead Duck. I won a ribbon my first time I entered into a jury’d carvers contest” said Tony Romano.