RECOMMENDED DESTINATIONS FOR ROMANTIC RETREATS

www.leithhall.com. Leith Hall is a charming and quaint Victorian bed and breakfast in Cape May, NJ. The owners, Elan and Susan, are sweet and very accommodating. Each room is uniquely decorated with authentic antiques and unusual collectibles (look closely at Elan and Susan's old family photos). Our room had a view of the ocean and when we opened the windows we got the breeze from the beach and heard the waves breaking. Leith Hall is ideally located 1 block from the beach/boardwalk and 2 blocks from main street which is lined with privately owned shops and restaurants. Everything is walking distance from Leith Hall. After we parked our car shortly after arriving, we didn't use it again until we checked-out. Now that's a retreat!

www.hendersonswharf.com/inn/. Henderson's Wharf is a boutique hotel on the harbor tucked away on a quiet street near downtown Baltimore. It's also a short walk to Fells Point, a very up-and-coming area in Baltimore. The hotel itself is perfect for a romantic getaway. The rooms are finely decorated including exposed brick walls, harbor views, and a snack bar. The hotel serves a complimentary breakfast with loads of delicious fresh fruit. I highly recommend Henderson's Wharf.

http://www.westwyndfarminn.com/. The Inn at WestWynd Farm is a charming and luxurious country bed and breakfast located a few minutes from Hershey Park in Hershey, PA. The inn is situated on a 26 acre farm. Just a short walk from our cottage were horses and goats to roaming in the sprawling fields. It's a beautiful place. There are numerous rooms in the main house; all decorated nicely. Each guest has access to the large common areas also which include sitting rooms, fireplace, snacks, TV/DVD, etc. My wife and I stayed in the cottage which is set just off the main house and included a full kitchen, dinning room, and loft bedroom. It's very nice. We had a great trip and recommend both the inn and the area.

http://www.woodruffinns.com/luray-va-bed-and-breakfast-skyview.htm

My wife and I just returned from one of our 3 day romantic retreats and the place we stayed was so special that I wanted to share it with you. If you live in the Northeast maybe you can consider it for one of your trips. Or, after you read this, maybe it'll be worth a plane ride to you. We stayed at the Sky View Cottage in Luray, Virginia, about an hour outside Washington D.C., although it feels worlds away from anything metropolitan. The Sky View Cottage stands on 20 foot stilts, literally, elevated into the trees, overlooking the Shenandoah River. The elevation was not only a novelty, but it also provided total privacy from the few other cottages along the river. The Sky View Cottage is a secluded property, surrounded by the river on one side and fields on the other. Picturesque would be an understatement. The cottage is so close the river that you can hear the running river from the patio, which is a perfect place to sit and read or chat. Talk about sounds, there's no other noise other than the birds by the bedroom window in the morning. There's a fire pit just off the patio in front of the river where we built a campfire and had a glass of wine in the evening. The cottage itself was wonderful. It has a full kitchen, bedroom, sitting room, living room, and dining area. We had all our meals there, or you could go into Luray where there are a few restaurants about 15 minutes away. You can see pictures here:

http://www.woodruffinns.com/luray-va-bed-and-breakfast-skyview.htm

The pictures don't show the outdoor Jacuzzi, but that was fun too, especially since we were there in November. If you like this kind of quiet cottage getaway, then this place is perfect. Keep in mind it's not a hotel, so there's no room service, and make sure you bring a hair dryer. If you want any more info about the Sky View Cottage you can visit the web site above or call 540.743.1494.

www.Combsberry.net

My wife and I just returned from another one of our romantic retreats.

For those of you who live in the Northeast (and for those of you who don't mind traveling), I want to share with you a little about the Bed and Breakfast we visited because it was a perfect retreat site.

We stayed at the Combsberry Bed and Breakfast in Oxford, MD. It's a historic waterfront property. I was blown away when Ann (the Inn Keeper) gave me the full tour. I noticed the HUGE fireplaces and wondered why they were so big. Remember I said it was a historic site? Well, the fireplaces were huge because they are original, from the 1700's, and that was how the house was heated in those days.

The list of historic features like original wood floors goes on and on. It was beautiful and fascinating.

Combsberry has 4 rooms and 2 cottages. We stayed in a 2 BR cottage with full kitchen and water views. It was perfect. We hardly stepped outside for 3 straight days. It was luxurious and comfortable and set on a huge waterfront property with no distractions.

If you're interested in this site you can see pictures and get a further description at www.Combsberry.net or give them a call at 410.226.5353. Tell Ann I say hello.