Author Archives: Morgan

Friday Fantasy Vacation: The Old Fox Cottage

June 8, 2012 By in Europe, Vacation Rental Tags: , , 6 Comments

There was one cottage that I didn’t squeeze in to my Thatched Cottage post last week. It was just too lovely to share the attention with other cottages. The Old Fox Cottage is in Worcestershire, England sleeps four and is perfect for a small family. It’s seriously adorable and what’s even better is that it is practically stumbling distance to the 13th century pub, The Fleece Inn which is owned by the National Trust. Perfect summer vacation? I’d say so!

Photos curtesy of Unique Home Stays

 www.uniquehomestays.com +44 (0) 1637 881947

Friday Fantasy Vacation: Hotel Rio Sagrado Hotel, Peru

June 1, 2012 By in Hotels Tags: , , 1 Comment

Situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this luxury hotel and spa bills itself as the perfect base for discovering the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. While this   seems a bit like taking a limo to see the ancient ruins, I have the odd feeling that if I were in this part of Peru, I’d be more than pleased to spend a few nights here. It is built to resemble an Andean village and for all I know it does. There are activities beyond the spa of course like bird watching and hiking and the like, but Friday fantasies are based on a few simple things: beautiful surroundings, luxurious rooms, privacy and a good bar. The Hotel Rio Sagrado has all four in spades.

 

 

All photos curtesy of Orient-Express

English Thatched Cottages

May 31, 2012 By in Europe, Vacation Rental Tags: , , 1 Comment

Olympic fever seems to be heating up in earnest and while everyone is (rightfully) focused on London at the moment, let’s not forget the unique sorts of places you can vacation outside of the city. As an American I’ve been conditioned to look at historic structures with a mixture of awe and disbelief, if only because they are so rare in my home country. The thing that actually amazes me, though, is that they still exist, like these thatched cottages in England. Did you know that over 250 roofs in Britain have base coats of thatch that are 500 years old? This blows my mind. What might blow your mind is a holiday in one of these amazing structures. The perfect way to experience the English countryside to its fullest would be in one of the following cottages.

Spring Cottage, Wroxton, Oxfordshire

Photos curtesy of Hideaways UK

Legers Cottage, Near Exeter, Devon

Photos curtesy of Classic Cottages

White Cottage, Iken, Suffolk

Photos curtesy of Best of Suffolk

Old Manor Cottage, Halford, Warickshire

Photos curtesy of Old Manor Cottage

Love Lane Cottage, Near Coverack, Cornwall

Photos curtesy of Unique Home Stays

http://www.uniquehomestays.com +44 (0) 1637 881947

Friday Fantasy Vacation: Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, Abruzzo

May 25, 2012 By in Europe, Hotels, Unusual lodging Tags: , , 1 Comment

It’s hard to precisely describe what this place is. It’s a hotel, but it isn’t. There are 27 rooms and a restaurant but it’s spread out over various buildings in the tiny medieval fortress village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. It’s rustic but luxurious and about as uniquely beautiful as it could possibly be.  Lovingly restored using local materials it’s a really one of a kind experience. See for yourself.

May 22, 2012 By in inspire Leave a comment

Sometimes the best place to explore is nearby. Like, really nearby. When you walk around your neighborhood and really start paying attention it’s amazing what you see.

Morgan's avatarimmortal pie

Today it felt like Spring in Portland. Much too nice of a day to sit inside so I did something I don’t always have time to do. I strolled around my neighborhood in the sun and re-learned something that’s all to easy to forget, that inspiring images are all over the place if you take the time to look around. Here’s some of the stuff that caught my eye today, with a little help from the camerabag app…

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Friday Fantasy Vacation: Bijou Cottage, Nonards, France

May 18, 2012 By in Europe, Vacation Rental Tags: , , , 1 Comment

Ok, so just so my American audience is clear, the “d” is silent. That said, the town of Nonards is a village next to a village east of Bordeaux and north of Toulouse. So, really how could a vacation not be fantasy-worthy in those environs? Not to mention that if you stay here, you’ll be sleeping in a 15th century gatehouse well suited to a small family or four friends looking to escape the modern world. And isn’t that what a good vacation is all about?

Photos  © Unique Home Stays

 http://www.uniquehomestays.com +44 (0) 1637 881947

Hudson Valley Mill House, New York

May 15, 2012 By in Unusual lodging, Vacation Rental Tags: , 2 Comments

This is the time of year that I start to get excited about getting into the woods. Either camping or a cabin rental is how I usually achieve that but that’s only because I don’t live near an old re-imagined mill like this one in the Hudson Valley. It’s a perfect getaway for a large family or a couple of families. It’s rustic and old and surrounded by beautiful trees but modern and sleek inside. You’re close to farmer’s markets and some wineries which make perfect day trips, obviously. This is exactly the sort of place I could while away a week with friends.

All images courtesy of:

Welcome Beyond – Luxury vacation rentals

Friday Fantasy Vacation: Oia Villa I & II, Santorini, Greece

May 11, 2012 By in Europe, travel, Vacation Rental Tags: , , 3 Comments

It’s hard to look at pictures of Santorini and not feel relaxed and in a vacation mind-set immediately. The contrast of deep blue sea and ancient white washed walls is instantaneously calming. That feeling of well-being is even better achieved when you’ve got a great vacation rental like one of these refurbished, centuries old cave houses. Each house sleeps two and is simple in design, yet far from boring. There’s nothing here to interfere with your enjoyment of the stunning surroundings, and no one will blame you if you never venture out except for fresh bottles of wine.

Oia Villa I

Oia Villa II

 

Photos curtesy of:

Welcome Beyond – Luxury vacation rentals.

Wanderlust: Normandy

May 8, 2012 By in Europe, Wanderlust Tags: , Leave a comment

Unless you’re lucky enough to be on vacation where there is no internet, television, or mail then you’ve probably heard that France has a new leader. Francois Hollande hails from Rouen in Normandy and I will be lucky enough to go there later this Summer, but I thought now might be the perfect time to resurrect the wanderlust feature and take a luxurious look at this part of northern France. Bon Voyage!

 

For photo credits click on photo.

 

Friday Fantasy Vacation: Huka Lodge New Zealand

May 4, 2012 By in travel Tags: , 1 Comment

If a 1920’s era lodge on a gorgeous river in the middle the north island of New Zealand doesn’t sound like a perfect getaway to you, then I can’t help you here. I know I’ve been on a bit of a lodge bender, what with last week and this focusing on wilderness lodges, but I can’t help myself. It’s a primal urge I’m having to get away to somewhere beautiful, remote and luxurious so you’ll just have to suffer through another. Originally a fishing lodge, built to take advantage of the superb fly fishing on the Waikato River, word of the stupendous location and beauty of the area and lodge itself spread fast. It has hosted Charles Lindbergh, James Mitchener and even HM Queen Elizabeth among others. What started as a sparse and simple lodge for fishing enthusiasts has morphed into a truly luxurious spot with a wine cellar to prove it. Sounds like a vacation to me.