Holiday Sojourn on St. George Island

Mary Gilbert Hotels and Rentals, Tours and Sightseeing, United States December 27, 2013Apalachicola, Apalachicola Bay, Apalachicola River, BJ's Pizza, Blue Parrot Oceanfront Cafe, Cape St. George Lighthouse, Christmas, Dr. Beach, Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, Eastpoint, Florida, Florida Panhandle, Forgotten Coast, Gibson Inn, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Ira's at The Gibson Inn, Oysters, Sports Illustrated, St. George Island, St. George Island State Park, St. George Plantation, Stardust Villa, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO 4 Comments

The name is attention-getting. Stardust Villa. That’s what Bill’s brother and his wife call their rental property on St. George Island, a 22-mile-long and one-mile-wide barrier island along the Florida Panhandle. Listed on the VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) website, Stardust Villa lookedRead more

Filling Our Senses Along Oregon’s Fruit Loop

Mary Gilbert Food and Wine, Hotels and Rentals, United States October 25, 2013Alpaca, Anjou pear, Biscotti, Cascade Alpacas and Foothills Yarn & Fiber, Cascade Mountains, Cody Orchards' Farm Stand, Columbia River Gorge, Fox-Tail Cider, Fruit Loop, Fruit Loop map, Hard cider, Hood River, Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, Hood River Lavender Farms, Hood River Valley, Lavender, Mt. Hood, Oregon, Organic farming, Packer Orchards & Bakery, Pear, Portland, Sustainable agriculture, Timberline Lodge, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writer 6 Comments

Its peak barely discernible from the parking lot of our hotel in Hood River, OR, Mt. Hood was a constant, albeit, distant presence. This majestic, commanding, snow-capped mountain loomed beyond us like an ever-watchful sentinel, all 11,240 rugged feet ofRead more

Inside Glen Ellen Inn

Mary Gilbert Food and Wine, Hotels and Rentals, United States August 10, 2013California cuisine, Chris Bertrand, Cottages, Glen Ellen, Glen Ellen Inn, Glen Inn Oyster Grill & Martini Bar, John Ash & Co., Karen Bertrand, Kenwood Restaurant, Mary's Pizza Shack, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing 6 Comments

Posted from Glen Ellen, CA We’ve enjoyed dining at Glen Ellen Inn. Owners Chris and Karen Bertrand kindly shared their story. When Chef Chris and Karen Bertrand opened Glen Ellen Inn 20 years ago, Chris literally chased their first customerRead more

Renaissance Women of Westerbeke Ranch

Mary Gilbert Hotels and Rentals, United States July 18, 2013California, Sonoma, Sonoma Valley, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Valley of the Moon, Wendy Westerbeke, Westerbeke Ranch 3 Comments

Posted from Glen Ellen, CA We were fortunate to spend a morning recently with Wendy Westerbeke (our cottage’s lessor) at Westerbeke Ranch Conference and Event Center, her family’s historic property. While touring this lush, serene site, an entrancing story unfolded. Read more

Becoming a Valley Girl (and Boy)

Mary Gilbert Food and Wine, Hotels and Rentals, United States July 14, 2013airbnb, America's Cup, B.R. Cohn Winery, Cafe Citti, Cline Winery, Glen Ellen, Glen Ellen Village Market, Golden Gate bridge, Highway 101, Kenwood, Kunde Winery, Marin Headlands, Oak Hill Farm, Padron peppers, Pinot noir, Radio-Coteau, San Francisco, Sonoma Valley, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing 0 Comment

Posted from Glen Ellen, CA After an uncharacteristic spring and summer of mostly dreary skies and steady rain in North Carolina, California looks and feels like the promised land. We arrived at the San Francisco airport under an azure sky,Read more

California Dreamin’

Mary Gilbert Hotels and Rentals, United States July 9, 2013airbnb, California, California wine country, Glen Ellen, San Francisco, Sonoma Valley, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, West Coast 4 Comments

We’re just days away from beginning our first extended stay. Our destination? The town of Glen Ellen in the Sonoma Valley of California. The reasons are several, although Sonoma Valley’s world-renowned wines and cuisine could stand fully on their ownRead more

Brainstorm in Burgundy

Mary Gilbert Europe, Hotels and Rentals July 6, 2013Beaune, Burgundy, Charlotte Observer, Detours in France, Extended stays, France, The Cook's Atelier, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing 6 Comments

During a trip to the Burgundy region of France last year, Bill (my husband and favorite travel partner) and I experienced an epiphany. Although we had traveled quite a bit over the years, it was generally of the one week-to-10-days variety consistentRead more