Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day.  Or not.  When you visit Gold Beach on the Oregon coast, you need to have a ‘go-with-the-flow’ type of attitude.  The owners of Tu Tu Tun Lodge have that type of attitude, and yet, they offer a very professional service and some winter bargains, too.

Tu Tu Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, Oregon

 The rainy season has arrived in Gold Beach, Oregon. Some people enjoy the rain. The Rogue River jet boats need the rain as much as the salmon need it to replenish the rivers and streams. I think of the rainy season as a time for bargains and cheap room pricing.

“My favorite thing to do in the winter is do nothing,” laughs Owner Laurie Van Zante of Tu Tu Tun Lodge. “Get your woodburing fireplace going, grab a glass of Oregon pinot and you’re good to go.”

Tu Tu Tun Lodge Summer, 2008

I was at the Tu Tu Tun Lodge in Gold Beach on a hot, sweltering May day in 2008. The staff was serving lemonade and iced tea by the bucketful and apologizing for the lack of air conditioning at the lodge. Normally, the breeze off the Rogue River cools the lodge down naturally. Reflecting back on my summer visit, it’s hard to remember the reliefI felt when the captain on Jerry’s Rogue River Jet Boat did a 360 on the river and sprayed us with refreshing river water.

Gillespie Riffle Room With a View

Gillespie Riffle Room, Tu Tu Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, Oregon

 I stayed in the Gillespie Riffle room with a view looking on to the Rogue. Of course, all of the 16 rooms feature a river view, some with a fireplace and outdoor soaking tub. Van Zante says the Moon Soakers, filled with fresh spring water, are great to sit in rain or shine.

“Tu Tu Tun is the place to be If you want to let down and let go,” notes Van Zante.

Food, Glorious Food

My parents had discovered this family-owned lodge back in the 1970’s. They remember it as having great, local food and wonderful popovers. I will also remember Tu Tu Tun for the food. Chef Justin Wills plans to offer winemaker dinners at the lodge. The family is considering offering cooking classes, so check back on the lodging blog for future updates.

Winter Room Rate Bargains

Wine and nibbles at Tu Tu Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, Oregon

Winter room rates are, indeed, a bargain. The Gillespie Riffle room rents for $287 in summer season, while it can be had for as little as $135 in the winter. While the temperatures may not be high, you can create a little heat during the evening wine and hors d’ oeuvre hour. The staff will be happy to suggest local dining options in nearby Gold Beach.

Reservation: (800) 864-6357

Update: Van Zante says to check back in January for cooking class news.

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Romance in Napa Valley Wine Country

As I walked into our small San Francisco apartment, tired from a weekend business conference, I immediately perked up when I opened the door and spied a dozen red roses proudly displayed on our rickety coffee table.  Every room in the apartment was adorned with fresh flowers.  Well, yes, ours was a one bedroom apartment, but the flowers were a wonderful gesture from my young husband.

Romantic Weekend in Napa Valley, California

Fast forward 22 years later and my husband still manages to pull off romantic moments.  Last January I was wisked away to the Napa Valley for a romantic, birthday weekend at the Blackbird Inn.  As we are frequent visitors to the Four Sisters Inns, we were given a room upgrade with sparkling wine and a box of chocolates chilling bedside.  I love little momentos like this and appreciated that the chocolates were made locally.

Romantic Dining at Ad hoc in Yountville, California

Napa, California's Blackbird Inn

That evening we dined in Yountville at Thomas Keller’s Ad hoc family-style restaurant.  Easier on the pocketbook than Keller’s gourmet French Laundry, you can call ahead to the restaurant to see what’s on the set price menu that week.  While I loved everything on the menu, I was disappointed that the dessert was a lemon tart.  Noticing my disappointment, our waiter appeared with piping hot chocolate chip cookies at the conclusion of the meal.  Special touches like that will make me a devoted fan forever.

Vintner's Cottage at Wine Country Inn, St. Helena, California

Add Wine Country Inn to Romantic Hotels List

If stained glass windows, bubble baths and vineyard views turn you on, add St. Helena’s Wine Country Inn to your romantic hotels list.  A stay at the  Vintner’s Cottage will leave you feeling relaxed and renewed.  The family run property caters to couples and oozes romance.

Fireplace Romance

Savory snacks in front of the fire place; no problem.  A bubble bath after an in-room couples massage, complete with Bose speakers in the bathroom, makes this a great place to simply hang out and enjoy the vineyard view.  You can lounge around in your comfy robe, or dine with the locals at nearby Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen.

Where do you stay when you are looking to put a little va-va-voom romance back into your relationship?

Thanks to Luv 2 Flickr for her beautiful roses photo.

Budget-friendly bicycles for rent in Sevilla, Spain

Budget Friendly, Green European Travel Options

“Are you looking for budget friendly ways to travel in Europe without harming the environment? I wrote this post for the Uptake blog and outlined some alternative forms of transportation.  While Americans like to travel by automobile, in some parts of the world, cars are a luxury and in other places they are a nuisance.

“Bicycles are sacred in Amsterdam,” said Michiel Laterveer, director of sales and marketing at the Amsterdam Renaissance Hotel.  “Like cows are to India.”

On a recent trip to Europe, I was struck by the green transportation efficiencies that were created out of necessity.

“You don’t want a car in Amsterdam,” added Brigitta Kroon-Fiorita of the Netherlands Board of Tourism.  “Everyone rides a bicycle.”

In fact, I spotted several business men and women talking on their cell phones as they peddled to work.  The Amsterdam train station had a three level parking garage specifically designed for bicycles.  With its cobblestone streets and numerous canals, Amsterdam is a city to be enjoyed on foot.

Scooters and motorcycles are popular transportation in the narrow streets of Cadiz, Spain

Scooters and Motorcycles Preferred in Spain and Portugal

Scooters were the preferred mode of transportation in the narrow streets of Madrid and Seville, Spain, as well as Lisbon, Portugal.  While there isn’t a helmet law, most riders sported helmets in the heavily congested city of Madrid.  The upscale city also offers an easily accessible underground and affordable subway system.  The Sunday that I visited Madrid, thousands of bicyclists swarmed the Paseo de la Castellana that had been closed to cars for the event.  I watched from my club room at the Intercontinental as the bicyclists demonstrated their solidarity in demanding bike lanes for riders.  Unfortunately, there is not much room to expand for bicycle lanes in downtown Madrid.

Budget friendly, green European travel by train with Eurail

Eurail Offers Transportation From Train to Boat

For the green traveler looking to cover a lot of Europe, Eurail offers many alternatives from train to boat.  I selected the 10 day, first class Global Pass, which is valid within a two month period.  For Lisbon, Portugal I took a day trip to the charming city of Sintra.  After several days in Lisbon, I boarded the overnight train, #385, to Seville, staying at NH Plaza de Armas.  The hotel was a 10 minute cab ride from the train station.  For a lovely day excursion, I recommend a train ride to the waterfront town of Cadiz.

Horse and carriage in Seville, Spain

Smart Car – Smart Mode of Transportation

Finally, a common mode of transportation spotted throughout my 10 day tour of Europe was the adorable Smart Car.  Squeezed between bicycles and barges in Amsterdam or cozied up next to horsedrawn carriages in Seville, the Smart Car is slowly making its debut in the United States.

While I drive the fuel-efficient and sporty BMW Mini Cooper, I would happily convert to a Smart Car if I didn’t have to contend with SUV’s, Humvee’s and tanker trucks sharing California’s highways.  Our gas guzzling USA would benefit greatly if we were to implement many of the green transportation alternatives offered in Europe.

Is green travel important to you?  Do you find that you travel differently abroad than when traveling in the United States?  For more information on this topic check out the Go Green Travel Green blog.  I look forward to hearing about your travels.

Seville bicycle photo, Cadiz scooters, Eurail train and horse and carriage photos by Nancy D. Brown

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