Lodging

Photo courtesy Donna L. Hull

Art, history and mountain scenery provide a heady mix in this region of the “Land of Enchantment,” otherwise known as Taos, New Mexico. On a recent visit, my husband and I chose Casa Benavides Bed and Breakfast Inn, an art-filled bed and breakfast, as our headquarters for visiting the north-central New Mexico city where the UNESCO World Heritage site of Taos Pueblo, art galleries, restaurants and shops competed for our attention.

Our room, located in one of the inn’s six individual homes clustered on five acres in downtown Taos, included a fireplace. Antiques, handmade furniture and Native American rugs completed the decor. A back door led to a hidden courtyard where a cascading bougainvillea vine draped over the wall, adding a touch of bright red charm.

Breakfast is included in the room rate at Casa Benavides. We appreciated sitting at a table in the large dining room overlooking a courtyard, while servers brought the meal to us. The complimentary breakfast included an egg dish, which happened to be quiche topped with red or green chile sauce. Freshly baked tortillas, waffles and homemade granola completed the meal, providing the fuel for a day’s exploration along the 84-mile Enchanted Circle, a National Scenic Byway, another touring option.

Photo courtesy Donna L. Hull

We made sure that our adventures ended each day with afternoon tea in the Casa Benavides dining room. Homemade chocolate chip cookies, lemon chess bars, Mexican wedding cookies and chocolate cake accompanied our choice of coffee or tea. Later, we strolled through the main building, the site of Taos’ first art gallery, to the living room where we sipped tea while gazing at the vivid collection of paintings and Native American art, the perfect ending to a day in the “Land of Enchantment.”

If you go:
Casa Benavides Bed and Breakfast Inn
137 Kit Carson Road
Taos, New Mexico  87571
Reservations: (800) 552-1772  (575) 758-1772
http://www.taos-casabenavides.com

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet.
All photos by Donna L. Hull

Inn on Castro caters mainly to a chiefly gay clientele.

On Sunday, June 28 San Francisco celebrated its annual Pride parade. The city’s gay population and their supporters came out (not pun intended) en masse to celebrate at parties in various locations around the city, but no place more than in the Castro district.

It occurred to me that in the 10 months I’ve contributed to this blog, I hadn’t covered any place in the Castro. Time to change that.

Inn on Castro is a restored Edwardian building one-half block up Castro Street from Market Street. Eight rooms on three floors are available at the inn, and for larger parties, three spacious and well-appointed apartments are located nearby.

Innkeeper Jan de Gier has owned the Inn on Castro for 26 years. He gave me a tour of the inn decorated with modern furnishings, original art, and fresh flowers. Most rooms have mini fridges stocked with water and soda, all have robes, flat-screen tvs, DVD players, and free wi-fi. The patio suite has a relaxing, well-tended outdoor garden with a view. A full breakfast is served daily. One sweet touch is that the extensive collection of napkins and fine china are rotated daily as well.

The living room in the Douglass St. apartment.

Jan also took me across Market Street to his other properties on Douglass and Caselli sts. Apartments are located in residential areas, off of the main hub of the Castro.

As we drove around the Castro, Jan pointed out some of his favorite spots including Toad Hall, Trigger, Sumi Sushi, Anchor Oyster Bar, and the fabulous piano bar Martuni’s.

An informed innkeeper with a passion for where he or she lives is a true treasure. Jan de Gier is one such person.

We hit it off well, chatting about architecture, food, art, death, relationships, and philosopy.  When he found out I’d never been there, he insisted on taking me to Kite Hill Open Space, which it turns out is not a good place to fly a kite (”too windy, It actually has a down draft”) but was named for the small birds of prey called kites that occupy the hill most of the year.

It was breathtaking. A view of the city I’d never seen in the 19 years I’ve lived here. With the Castro in the forefront, its gynormous rainbow flag flapping in the wind, and the bay receding behind City Hall and the downtown skyline, it was impossible not to feel Pride. Thanks, Jan.

Inn on Castro, 321 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114; 415.861.0321

Photos by Lisa Dion

The Red Victorian Bed, Breakfast and Art on Haight St.

Janis and Jerry may be long gone, but the Summer of Love is still alive at the Red Victorian Inn in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.

Eighteen affordable, thematic guest rooms with names like the Flower Child Room, the Peacock Suite and the Redwood Forest Room are vibrant, colorful and individually decorated. The Sunshine room extends the solar motif from the headboard to the walls to the sink basin. Six of the rooms have private baths and five shared bathrooms accommodate the others, though all rooms have their own sink. Here’s the best part — rates range from $75-$229.

The Peace Cafe, a gift shop and art gallery make up the ground floor level. Breakfast is included and world conversation is encouraged at this friendly, funky hotel that was build in 1904 but is associated more with 60’s-era values than those of the Victorian period.

The upper Haight neighborhood is renowned for great retail — trendy boutiques, shoe stores, vintage clothing shops and Amoeba, the legendary independent music store that occupies 24,000 square feet in a former bowling alley and sells new and used music on vinyl and CD.

Vintage shop on the Haight.

Good, inexpensive food abounds here. Besides New York-style thin crust pizza and plump, juicy burritos, the span of Haight Street from Masonic to Shrader includes a wine bar, a brew pub and a Persian cocktail lounge. Cha Cha Cha offers a lively ambiance, delicious Caribbean fare and their signature sangria. At Kan Zaman, diners sit on cushions the floor while eating Mediterranean food and watching belly dancers. Or for those craving Asian flavors, the Citrus Club noodle bar is the way to go.

Golden Gate Park is mere blocks away with miles of open spaces, hiking and biking trails, three museums, botanical gardens and a fabulous children’s playground with vintage carousel.

A view of Trinidad Bay

On the far reaches of California’s north coast a small fishing village hides tucked away in a cove. Trinidad is one of few places that has ocean view property, surfing, fishing, hiking, and excellent restaurants, but no crowds.

A visit to the North Coast would be incomplete without seeing Trinidad, but because of its location it stays hidden from the tourism radar. Many people traveling north on Highway 101 drive right by without even knowing it.

Trinidad Bay Bed and Breakfast holds a place of honor directly across the street from the Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse, a memorial to the many fisherman who have died at sea. It’s owned by Michael Morgan and managed by Jason Richie since April, 2006.

The Inn

In the 1950s the Cape Cod style Bed and Breakfast was the site of Harbor Light Building Supply until the 1960s, when it became the private residence of Roland Johnson, owner of Harbor Light. He sold it to Paul and Carol Kirk in 1985. When the Kirk’s wanted to turn it into a B&B they were met with local opposition. But it has turned into a point of pride for many in Trinidad, a lovely spot to house out-of-town guests.

Jason runs a tight ship. While gazing out over the Pacific Ocean his guests are well fed with his typical three-course breakfast which includes daily baked fruit, fresh breads and muffins, and a rotating selection of hot main courses that could include Brie and Egg Strata or Smoked Salmon Scramble. Fresh berries, organic coffee and a selection of teas round off the morning spread.

The rooms are named to reflect local attractions: The Tide Pool, Redwoods, Trinity Alps, and Crab Pot. Out of respect for the comfort of other guests, pets are not allowed inside. Crated pets may stay overnight in the garage.

The Tide Pool room has a private entryway

The Tide Pool room has a separate entryway, two club chairs in front of a fireplace, large windows with an ocean view, and a private porch with chairs; a favorite room for newlyweds or special occasions, where breakfast can come to the room. But this is a busy B&B, and reservations need to be made well in advance in order to request a special room.

Rates: $160 – $250

Reservations:

Trinidad Bay Bed and Breakfast
trinidadbaybnb.com
(707) 677-0840