Traveler Review

Catalina Park Inn B & B, Tucson, Arizona Map

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, February '08

Price Range: US$139-$189 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 6 Kid-Friendly: Children over 10

What makes Catalina Park Inn so Darn Good? The Catalina Park Inn is a grand and immaculately restored 1920’s era house located in a charming historic district. The friendly innkeepers, Mark and Paul, make a fabulous breakfast, and the dining room is bright and cheerful. We particularly loved sitting in the prickly, yet very soothing, cactus garden alongside the house.

Location: The Catalina Park Inn is located on a quiet residential street in the West University Historic district of Tucson. The Inn is within walking distance to many restaurants, cafes, and boutique shops. We managed to catch some live music at a cafe right down the street.

Rooms: Four rooms are in the main house and two are in a cottage bordering the cactus garden. In the main house, the two upstairs rooms have private porches, and the Catalina room (where we stayed) on the lower level has a big whirlpool bath located in a cedar-lined closet. The Catalina room is big and gorgeous, filled with beautiful furniture and artwork in all shades of yellow and blue. This room is no longer in the Darn Good Digs price range, but it is definitely worth the splurge!

Food: During our stay, breakfast at the communal table was always a festive occasion. The food was abundant, fresh, and delicious, and the southwestern flavors were an exciting bonus. Some house specialties include papaya and lime scones, lemon ricotta pancakes, and spicy buttermilk coffee cake.

Vibe: Mark and Paul were very welcoming, and we especially loved how they set out a plate of freshly baked cookies every evening. We truly appreciated the warmth and relaxed atmosphere of such an impeccably kept and beautiful bed and breakfast.

Things to Keep in Mind: The Catalina Park Inn is not in walking distance to downtown, but it is just a few minutes drive away. Also, while the inn's website states that they allow children over 10 years old, they welcomed our 7 month old.

Website: www.catalinaparkinn.com

Grace's Secret Garden B & B, Sedona, Arizona

Price Range: Gosh Darn It!

Traveler Review

La Hacienda de Sonoita, Sonoita, ArizonaMap

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, March '08

Price Range: US$115-$140 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 4 Kid-Friendly: Yes

What makes La Hacienda de Sonoita so Darn Good? La Hacienda de Sonoita is pure cowboy chic, and if you don’t watch out, you might just gallop away into the sunset. The hacienda itself is a beautiful, modern take on the mission house, and the main guest rooms all have fun Southwestern themes. But what catapults the Hacienda de Sonoita from just amazing to darn good is its absolutely spectacular setting. The hacienda is surrounded by great fields of grass, yellow in the winter and green in the summer, with majestic mountains looming in the horizon and the big blue sky above.

Location: The Hacienda is located an hour south of Tucson and only five minutes from Sonoita, a little town that is really not much more than a cross in the roads.

Rooms: The Hacienda’s four guestrooms, the Mission, Ranch, Railroad, and Grand Canyon, border a traditional Spanish courtyard and are all clearly decorated with love, care, and great attention to detail. Relaxing in our deep turquoise Ranch room, we could imagine our hosts, Cheryl and Tom, scouring local art galleries and antique shops for the perfect pieces. The wrought iron cowboy toilet paper holder and the glass owl night light were especially excellent finds.

Food: Tom cooks up a hearty ranch style breakfast, including such treats as Southwestern scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits, blueberry pancakes, and the John Wayne Breakfast Casserole. I am not sure what that is, but it sure sounds good! Cheryl bakes a fine coffee cake and breakfast is always served with fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola.

Vibe: Tom and Cheryl made us feel right at home. They were super friendly, giving us toys to entertain our seven month old, and sitting down with us to enjoy breakfast.

Things to Keep in Mind: The Hacienda is located up a somewhat rugged dirt driveway, but our little car made it no problem.

Website: www.haciendasonoita.com

Traveler Review

Rock Cottage Gardens, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USAMap

Nominated By: Jan, Fort Worth, Texas, USA, August '08

Price Range: US$145-$155 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 5 Kid-Friendly: no small children

What makes the Rock Cottage Gardens so Darn Good? The Rock Cottage Gardens rock! The gardens are beautiful and quiet, and we loved to just sit, visit with other guests, and watch the trolleys go by. Mike and Debbie, the innkeepers, are always willing to go the extra mile, from booking carriage rides to accommodating special diets. We can't wait to return to this one of a kind bed and breakfast!

Location: The Rock Cottage Gardens are just a few blocks from downtown Eureka Springs, but far enough away from all the hustle and bustle to be a true getaway. Situated in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs is a well-preserved Victorian era town. The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is filled with colorful homes, historic hotels, art galleries, boutique shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Rooms: The charming rock cottages, with fitting names such as the Hummingbird and Aspen Cottages, are each decorated in their own style. Rooms feature comfy beds, antique furnishings, fireplaces, and Jacuzzis for two. The impeccably maintained gardens surrounding the cottages are a wonderful place to relax.

Food: Debbie makes the most scrumptious breakfasts I have ever had. Don't sleep in or you will miss her decadent french toast. Who knew you could have dessert with your breakfast! Now that's my kind of food! Debbie even made me delicious sugar-free cookies!

Vibe: The Rock Cottage Gardens is an oasis. We enjoyed sitting in the lovely gardens and chatting with the owners, Debbie and Mike. It's all very relaxing, and if you aren't already married, well, you can be if you choose to - in their very own chapel!

Things to Keep in Mind: This is one of the busiest bed and breakfasts in Eureka Springs, so call early to make your reservations.

Website: www.rockcottagegardens.com

Traveler Review

Ramsdell Inn, Manistee, Michigan, USA Map

Nominated By: Sarah and Michael Christenson, Cadillac, Michigan, USA, June '08

Price Range: US$119-$219 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 10 Kid-Friendly: Yes

What makes the Ramsdell Inn so Darn Good? The Ramsdell Inn is a lovely, converted bank building in Manistee's historic downtown. My husband and I were intrigued by the old woodwork, polished marble lobby, and hospitality. There is a tiny gift shop in the old brass vault, and long, elegant corridors to wander, complete with brass radiators and dark woodwork.

Location: The Ramsdell Inn is in the center of Manistee, a Victorian-era seaport town designated a National Historic Landmark. The Inn is within walking distance to plenty of restaurants and independently-owned shops selling everything from kitsch to kitchenware. A stroll along Manistee’s Riverwalk, just a stone’s throw away from the Inn, will lead you to Lake Michigan, and the city’s beaches, pier, and lighthouse.

Rooms: Each room has its own decor theme, but all are comfortably shabby chic. Our room had ornate stonework right outside our window and a lovely view of the Manistee River. The most comfortable, thick pillows and blankets covered our bed and the bathroom was scrupulously clean with some tiny lil’ decorations.

Food: For breakfast, we enjoyed muffins, crackers, and fruit, which was enough to get us going for the day. A constant supply of hot water for tea, cider, and cocoa was available in the lobby, and since we stayed here during the subzero Michigan winter, we were extremely grateful for that!

Vibe: The Inn’s lobby is utterly gorgeous, and even has an area where the corporation of old used to hold their meetings - complete with an ancient letter of recommendation for an employee and some photos of the staff! The Inn has a tower with lovely, etched glass doors and upholstered seating. We sat here and enjoyed our library books and hot tea while we snuggled and looked out over the cold Michigan morning. When we left, I honestly had to shake off the feeling that I was stuck in the 1920s!

Things to Keep in Mind: Marble is slippery under a layer of icy snow. From experience :) Also, this four story historical building has no elevator, so be prepared to walk up some stairs.

Website: www.ramsdellinn.net

Traveler Review

La Dona Luz, Taos, New Mexico, USAMap

Nominated By: Lynda, San Francisco, California, USA, August '08

Price Range: US$69-$229 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 15 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes La Dona Luz so Darn Good? With its great atmosphere, very comfortable rooms, and nice people, La Dona Luz is authentic Taos at the right price.

Location: La Dona Luz is located in the heart of Taos, 70 miles north of Santa Fe. The town is a great base for skiers and outdoor enthusiasts due to its proximity to the towering Sangre de Cristo mountains and the spectacular Rio Grande Gorge. Taos itself is known for its vibrant artist community and its multitude of top-notch art galleries, museums, and restaurants. Just a few miles away are the multi-storied adobe dwellings of Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community designated both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.

Rooms: La Dona Luz has 15 richly decorated theme rooms. Every wall, bedspread, and fireplace of this 200 year old adobe home is covered with the artwork of both contemporary Taos artists and those of yesteryear. Our favorite room, Sonrisa, has a tile mural of the "Garden of Eden" wrapped around the Jacuzzi bathtub, which is big enough for two! We also enjoyed the small, fun, and inexpensive La Luz room on the top floor.

Food: A basic, continental breakfast is served either on the patio or in the dining room where in the winter, guests can warm their bones by the home’s original adobe fireplace. The coffee is decent and it will certainly get you going for the day.

Vibe: La Dona Luz is VERY Taos, funky, and relaxed.

Things to Keep in Mind: The steps are narrow and steep, so if you have a lot of luggage, you might want to ask for a room on the ground floor. Also, La Dona Luz is pet-friendly.

Website: www.stayintaos.com

Traveler Review

Kennedy School, Portland, Oregon, USAMap

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, New York, USA, August '08

Price Range: US$109-$114 # of Rooms: 35 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes the Kennedy School so Darn Good? McMenamins Kennedy School is housed in a nearly 100 year old elementary school, and the classrooms have been converted into guestrooms, complete with chalkboards, large schoolhouse windows, and cloakrooms. Fascinating artwork, a lovely Turkish soaking pool, a movie theater, and an in-house brewery make this school house rock! Along with restoring the Kennedy School, the McMenamin brothers have given new life to several other historic properties in the Pacific Northwest, including a poor farm and a brothel.

Location: Less than a mile from the Alberta Arts District, a funky and diverse neighborhood in northeast Portland, the Kennedy School is within walking distance to block after block of hip, locally owned shops and restaurants. The hotel is fifteen minutes from downtown, and the bus stops nearby if you don’t have a car.

Rooms: We stayed in the Blues Room with Langston Hughes poetry stenciled on the blue-trimmed walls. Our son loved the entryway lined with chalkboards, and we dug the comfortable bed and huge windows.

Food: The Kennedy School is way more than just a hotel. The school cafeteria is now home to the Courtyard Restaurant, which serves up good comfort food and a wide selection of home-brewed beers. If you are still thirsty after dinner, you can head to one of the five other bars on site, such as the detention bar or the honors bar.

Vibe: The Kennedy School excels at being both cool and family-friendly. All three of us had an excellent time at the free, all ages, Freak Mountain Ramblers show in the old gym. Throughout or stay, we found the front desk staff to be both friendly and helpful.

Things to Keep in Mind: The hallways are dimly lit, and you might run into a few bar-hoppers late at night.

Website: www.mcmenamins.com