Chapel for Dogs in Vermont

After a new death experience this Vermont artist, Stephen Huneck, had a vision to build of all things a dog chapel. It would be a place “you could go to communicate with God about your dog” stated the artist. Not just for mourning the loss of man’s best friend but this artist hopes visitors will also contemplate and commemorate our unique human to canine relationship. So what’s different about this house of worship? Staying within the traditional 19th-century church Vermont country decor with two doors, one for women and one for men, but with his the artist added a dedicated dog door by the lower center portal. Decorated with matching raised panels and carved fan above the steeple with one of his “angel dogs”—a full-bodied sculpture, winged and gilded, of his Labrador retriever Sally.

This dog chapel is a must see for the a true dog lover as the funding to build it was from the sales of his art, and time to dedicate was between commissions. “I took any downtime I had and put it into that chapel,” he confesses. It opened in 2000 and now never closes. So if you are in the Saint Johnsbury Vermont area be sure to check out the chapel and his art gallery. And when you are feeling “dog tired” the Rabbit Hill Inn is one place to rest weary bones.

Emily Dickinson Museum Amherst Massachusetts

If you enjoy the Poet Emily Dickinson and are in the Western Massachusetts area be sure to stop by the Emily Dickinson Museum. There you can explore her life and legacy with guided tours of her houses or a self-guided audio tour of the grounds. Visitors are encouraged to take the tour that best suits their interests, which costs around $8 for adults for the house tour. The grounds audio tour is complimentary with a house tour ticket, and tours are only open until December.

One of the tour’s called The Evergreens is a 50-minute guided tour that talks about Emily Dickinson’s life and work and offers a glimpse of the family’s lifestyle and interests. Here are some of the details supplied by their website that make this tour worth the stop.

• Visitors will encounter Emily Dickinson the way "pilgrims" did in the 1920s and 1930s, when Martha Dickinson Bianchi, the poet’s niece, created a special room in The Evergreens for admirers who wished to learn more about the poet. Bianchi furnished the room with artifacts significant to her aunt’s story.
• During the tour, visitors will spend time in the Emily Room and tour the rest of The Evergreens to experience the unrestored home of her extended family.
• Offered throughout the day. Last tour at 3 p.m. on weekdays; 3:30 p.m. on weekends.

If you are staying over night they be sure to stay at the Deerfield Inn for a relaxing night.

Thanksgiving in New England

If the thought of stuffing a turkey this Thanksgiving has you ready to toss the sweet potatoes here is another idea. Go on a Thanksgiving getaway to a New England Inn. Let the Inn keepers cook the meal and all you have to do is waddle up to your room after. In New England since all of the leaves have fallen and summer is a long forgotten memory, the rates at Inns are at their best. So this means you can upscale to a luxury inn and enjoy a special weekend with off season rates.

If the family you are celebrating this holiday with is rather small (under 8 or so) this is one way to create a special reunion. Check out the menu The Manor on Golden Pond or The Gateways which both have special menus for this day with all of the classic New England Thanksgiving entrees, but of course some great additions. This is one way to reduce stress this holiday.

The best, fresh produce from local farms in Camden Maine

Top three places to get local, fresh, and the best produce in Camden, ME in Knox County

1. Beveridge Farm

This farm has a vast variety of fresh produce picked every day offering vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers, Fall decorations, grass, hay and wood. There’s a self-serve vegetable stand and custom bush hogging services. It’s located 2.2 miles on the left from intersection of Main Street and Rte. 52 (388 Turnpike Drive) in Camden, ME. For more information call 207-763-3596 or e-mail cherylbv@roadrunner.com.
2. Cappy’s Chowder House, Inc.


Cappy’s is a family owned restaurant and bakery with a variety of home-cooked products to take home with you. Grab a bite to eat on the harbor then bring back jam, dressings, clam chowder, a gift pack, T-shirt, or or any of the many other products they offer. Since 1979, Cappy’s has been serving up the best in town with a full bar, comforting atmosphere, harbor views, and not to mention their traditional Maine Clam Chowder. They’ll even host your next wedding, clambake party, corporate meeting, or whatever you’re looking for the bigger parties. Check out their website or e-mail cappyschowder@aol.com for more information on the restaurant, catering, their store, about Camden, and much more. Cappy’s Chowder House is located at 1 Main St. in the center of Camden, ME and can be contacted at 207-236-2254.

3. Endless Summer Flower Farm


No matter what kind of flower, color, size, or texture, you’re bound to find the right one at the Endless Summer Flower Farm. Their specialty is the dahlia tubers, which for the amateurs is a perennial plant native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia that come in plenty of different colors and textures. This roadside flower stand carries 150+ varieties and 2,000+ plants only in flower season; August to October for flower, September to May for tubers. For more information e-mail info@endlesssummerflowerfarm.com or call 207-236-8752.
Only a few blocks away from all these exciting attractions is the Camden Maine Stay, a historical and New England country inn. Located in one of America’s most beautiful seaside villages, this relaxing, cozy, romantic, and very friendly home will suit all your accommodation needs on your next getaway vacation to Camden, Maine. For a brief history lesson, back when Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States, roads were dirt and Maine was still part of Massachusetts, Alden Bass built a house at 22 High Street. That stunning main house with an attached carriage house and a four-story barn has been renovated to welcome every guest to create the best experience. The Camden Maine Stay is the second oldest of the sixty-six lovely homes that are listed on the National Register of Historical Places in the High Street Historic District. Check out their website for more information on accommodations, prices, history, package specials and much more.

Cappy's Chowder House, Inc.

Welcome to our Sunday Supper

Sunday supper is a family oriented service experience trying to bring you back home while far and away
Sunday’s supper begins with a large field salad
Green House lettuces fresh winter vegetables and herbs, with your choice of New Hampshire Maple Balsamic or Clover honey dressing


The entrée options for all to share: one per table please


Beef Bourguignon, Roasted mushrooms, pearl onions, Root Vegetables & boiled potatoes in a red wine beef sauce
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Whole roasted Free Range chicken, sweet butter mashed potatoes, caramelized carrots and browned Brussels Sprouts
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Imported pasta; bowl of fresh pasta lightly tossed with Organic olive oil, Sauce Du Jour and topped with fresh grated parmesan.

The finale of family desserts are offered as follows

Local apple Gallette, crisp pastry and caramel with slow roasted apples and scoops of ice cream
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Chocolate mousse cake, light with berry coulis and chantilly cream, finished with ice cream and cookie crumbs

Sunday Supper $29 Per Person

Why not accompany your Supper with one of our value priced Top 50 In House Wines?

Service charge of 20% may be added to parties six and larger.
Welcome new Executive Chef de Cuisine, Peter Belmonte

Contact:
Phone: 800-289-8990 603-383-4242
Website: http://www.innatthornhill.com/
Email: stay@innatthornhill.com

NHA Whaling Museum Nantucket Massachusetts

NHA’s Whaling Museum Nantucket, MA

Back in 1846, a candle factory was built by the Mitchell family just shortly after Nantucket’s Great Fire. Less than two years later, two island businessmen put their mind and money together in keeping the candle factory running until the end of the island’s whaling era in the 1860s. The building remained a warehouse before it became the New England Steamship Company’s offices and then finally converted into the NHA’s Whaling Museum in 1929. Since then, it has been dedicated to the history of whaling and restored for prime exhibition space, a fully accessible rooftop observation deck overlooking Nantucket harbor, and the sperm whale skeleton. In 2008, the whaling museum received accreditation from the American Association of Museums, which only 22 other museums have been awarded across the nation. Inside the museum you’ll find a vast array of whaling artifacts and memorabilia, including longboats, harpoons, and scrimshaw, but the centerpiece is the complete skeleton of a 46-foot bull Sperm whale suspended from the ceiling. They’re only open for a short period of time: September 7-October 31 from 10am to 5pm for $15 a person and an extra $3 to see the other historic sites around the area (Hadwen House, Oldest House, Old Mill, and Quaker Meeting House).

Rabbit Hill Inn Gives Back in Troubled Economy

Everyone has been hearing of people giving back in these troubled times. The evening news even has a segment on special things that individuals are doing to assist others with a little happiness in times of need. Now you can add a member of the Distinctive Inns of New England to that list.

Rabbit Hill Inn, are proud members of Distinctive Inns of New England and Select Registry and are located in Lower Waterford, Vermont. They have been involved with the Rabbit Hill for17 years and always have known the value of the dollar and understand the meaning of hard work. They are now reaching out to individuals that have been laid off from their jobs and have developed a “Pink Slip Getaway” package, which is complimentary.

How does the Pink Slip Getaway work? If you have been laid off from your job for six months or more, they ask you to write a letter to the Inn prior to June 1st and tell them about your personal situation and family. They read each and every letter and to date have received an abundance of letters. Each month they choose a special family to come to the Inn for an all inclusive weekend free of charge. Recipients of the package enjoy all of the joys of the Inn, including a dinner, lodging, and more. There will be six packages given away in total, one each month April through July, and again in November and December.

Now that is an Innkeeper giving back!

by Rebecca Levitan, BnBblogger

Pacific Northwest Wine Weekend

The Inn at Thorn Hill's Spring

Wine Weekend with RP Imports

The Inn's annual Spring wine weekend will take place on Friday and Saturday May 1st and 2nd, 2009. It will feaure fantastic wines of Oregon and Washington. It begins with a grand testing of fourteen wines and food stations on Friday evening, a wine class destroying the myths of Pinot Noir on Saturday afternoon given by Ed Mansing and Bob Hill and comclude with the spectacual five course wine dinner on Saturday night. There are a few rooms left for this event and also spaces left for just the wine events. Call us at 1-800-289-8990 or email us at stay@innatthornhill.com for prices and availability.

Saturday Night's Menu

Hors d' Oeuvres

L'Ecole No. 41, Chenin Blanc, Walla Voilla

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Kumomoto Oysters with Cucumber and Olives

Cadaretta, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion, "SBS"

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Walnut and Parmesan Dusted Pheasant with Fresh Ramps and Morels

WillaKenzie Estate, Pinot Noir

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Charred Lamb Sirloin with Cracked Wheat Cake and Lamb Sausage Dumplings

Coeur D'Alene Cellars, Syrah

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Colombian Dark Chocolate Souffle with Black Olive and Dark Cherry Tapenade

Belle Vallee Cellars, Pinot Noir Port