The leaves..they are calling you!

I happened upon this post by fellow Uptake blogger Jodi Grundig, and it reminded me that October is less than two months away, which means that leaf peeping seasson is almost upon us! In about a month, it begins in the upper Northern reaches of our country, starting in Maine and working its way down the coast and inland areas. Can you believe it’s that time of year again already? If you haven’t booked your New England accommodations yet, do so very soon — the economy may be tanking, but Leaf Peepers are very dedicated and prepared folks!

Here’s a quick summary of some hotels you should look into for this year’s beautiful fall foliage season:

Stowe, Vermont

Stowe has some truly remarkable scenery — I distinctly remember driving through the hills and valleys and seeing a single white church steeple rise above all the astoundingly colorful foliage. So pretty. The Green Mountain Inn, Stowe Motel & Snowdrift and Ye Old English Inne are all highly rated, affordable hotels. If you’re looking for something a bit more posh, check out the Trapp Family Lodge – the list of amenities is impressive.

North Conway, New Hampshire

The Old Red Inn and Cottages runs about $150 per night during this peak season, but that includes a nice breakfast. The Holiday Inn Express is a guest favorite in a gorgeous White Mountains location. Purchase your own food and cook it in the kitchenette.

Woodstock, Vermont

A must-stop! No matter which of these hotels you choose, you’re sure to be happy. The Woodstock Inn is definitely quite pricey, but if you’re looking for a romantic getaway, you found it. Looking for something cheaper? The Apple Hill Inn has rooms for less than $200/night, and it’s very charming.

Photo: Kimberlykv

The Entrance to the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common

I never really understood why people traveled with their pets, until I just recently got my own puppy a few months ago.  I travel quite a bit, and I just hate leaving her behind in the kennel.  We all miss her so much, and I wish we were able to take her with us. So, I’ve started paying more attention to which hotels are pet-friendly, and which offer pet-friendly amenities.

Lots of fabulous hotels are pet-friendly, including many luxury hotels.  The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common Hotel, one of the nicest luxury hotels in Boston, is offering a Pampered Pet package from now through the end of the month.  The package starts at $835 per night.

Marriott Courtyard is Coming to Downtown Decatur, GA!

Downtown Decatur, GA has come a long way in the past ten years. What used to be a town with an odd, funky collection of mismatched shops and restaurants has matured into an adorable, walkable, fun and still funky village of boutique stores, fabulous restaurants and outstanding brewpubs. Earlier this year, Decatur was  named Georgia’s Most Walkable City, by Walkscore.com, and the award brought even more well-deserved attention to our fine little town.

All this attention means that more companies will want to entertain their clients in Decatur, and until now, there really hasn’t been any stellar hotel options near downtown Decatur. Which is a shame, because the MARTA (Atlanta’s public transportation system – our subway) has a stop smack in the middle of downtown Decatur, meaning that business clients can easily access Decatur for the day from the Airport — but where would they stay overnight? There’s a Super 8 about a 5-10 minute walk from central downtown Decatur, but it’s a very basic hotel with few amenities. The only other option used to be a Holiday Inn, but that was converted into the Decatur Inn and Conference Center, and while an OK hotel, it’s really nothing to write home about. It’s clean and comfortable, but nothing snazzy.

I actually visited the Decatur Inn and Conference Center to check it out in anticipation of my family’s visit this September, and I learned that the hotel is getting a facelift and will become a Marriott Courtyard between October and March. Hurray! This is a development the City of Decatur needs to heavily market in order to entice more visitors to stay there. Most visitors to Atlanta stay in downtown or Midtown Atlanta hotels, as that’s where most of them are. But, there’s enough to see and do in downtown Decatur  to warrant the addition of a good, high-quality hotel chain.

One of the places I think will benefit most from this addition will be Avondale Estates’ Community Center. It’s situated directly on a lake and is surrounded by beautiful grounds. So, it’s a very popular choice for weddings. Their business should pick up even more once the Marriott Courtyard has been opened – it will be a lovely place for wedding guests to spend the night, and the hotel will only be a 5-10 minute drive from the Community Center.

Photo: MarriottSanDestin

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

I was in Seagrove/Seaside, Florida last week, and I noticed that stand-up paddling was kind of a big deal there. I saw the stand-up paddlers for the first time in Hawaii, but little did I realize that apparently, this is a whole trend now that’s making its way over the mainland. The article lists the following hotels (and I’m sure there are many, many more in Hawaii) that currently offer stand-up paddling lessons and outings:

The Fairmont Orchid – Hawaii

This hotel is all about the stand-up paddle boarding. They even offer yoga on paddle boards now!

The Kahala Hotel and Resort – Hawaii

Gorgeous surroundings and calm, crystal clear waters make this relaxing place to give stand-up paddle boarding a go.

One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa – Miami

This resort is posh, posh, posh. Wear your nicest swimsuit when you stand-up paddle!

And, if you find yourself near Henderson Nevada, consider staying at or near the Loews Hotel. They offer stand-up paddling on Lake Las Vegas. There’s a full-moon paddle boarding party coming up on August 13 that sounds like a lot of fun!

Stand-Up Paddling is hard work but relaxing at the same time

Photos: Mike Baird, n.hewson