Sausalito, California

A small town by San Francisco, it’s an ideal West Coast getaway. Many artists, such as Howard Behrens, paint this quaint town at an elevation of 13 feet.

 

 

They have the expanse of water to one side, and steep hills to the other. Being right on Hwy 1, you have plenty of fantastic attractions to explore nearby without even putting San Francisco on the list!

With a few searches, I found several lovely places for a honeymoon stay. Number one bed and breakfast of the area is The Gables Inn. From the property you have a view of San Francisco across the bay. It has excellent reviews and offers cooking classes!

 

 

You can see the prices for this lovely room et al at this link http://www.gablesinnsausalito.com/rooms.html

 

They really make an effort to provide you with plenty of information to have a wonderful stay, here are a few excerpts from their site:

 

Stinson Beach: A 30 minute drive along Hwy 1 and a great place for barbecue oysters. Stinson Beach is a three mile stretch of white sand and the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Mt. Tamalpais: This is where mountain biking originated. On a clear day, visitors can see the Farallon Islands (25 miles out to sea), the Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, hills and cities of the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On occasion, the Sierra Nevada’s snow-covered mountains can be seen 150 miles away!

Golden Gate National Recreation Area: The Marin areas of GGNRA offer a vast expanse of wild and open terrain – rolling hills; small coves, large beaches and rocky coastal cliffs; and redwood valleys. Included in the GGNRA are the Marin Headlands, Kirby Beach, Fort Baker, Rodeo Beach, Muir Beach, Marin Headlands.

 

 

Interested in touring wine country?

This site shows you several tours that leave from Sausalito.

http://www.extranomical.com/HTML_PAGES/SAUSALITO_WINE_TOURS.htm?utm_source=sausalito.org&utm_medium=banner

 

For a great seafood meal when you get back of a day touring wine vineyards and roaming the redwoods, stop by Scoma’s of Sausalito!

They have some fantastic reviews and some great looking dishes for you seafood lovers.

 

Sausalito would be a wonderful place to vacation or honeymoon. Within driving distance for many, and those that it’s not you can fly in to a nearby airport and rent a convertible for your time there!

Until next time,

Brooke

 

Brookings, Oregon

A honeymoon destination for those west coast beach lovers! Brookings’ town motto is “Where flowers meet the sea.” And boy, is it true! This is a beautiful and unique place to go. It’s a small town with a population of 13,000. It sits at the mouth of the Chetco River.

If you plan to visit in the winter, they hold the annual Winter Art and Chocolate Festival in February, featuring local artists and chocolatiers.

The largest celebration held each year is the Azalea Festival. According to the Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce, it is, “a four-day community-wide festival featuring Art, Flower, Quilt and Car Shows; a Parade, Street Fair, Kiddie Carnival, Food Court, Beef BBQ, Party at the Port, and lots more throughout the Memorial Day Weekend.” Each year, young women from the local high school compete in a scholarship pageant for the title of “Azalea Queen.” The Azalea Queen participates in the parade and chooses a favorite entry from each of several of the shows that make up the festivities.

There are several cozy seaside lodging options in town, but the number one rated according to Trip Advisor is “Port Side Suites”. With their many choices to choose from, you can have an in room spa, kitchenette, fireplace, and harbor views.

With the seasonal attractions, welcoming lodging, and endless list of outdoor activities and close proximity to the mountains, beach, and California for a fun day trip, I hope you’ll consider this quiet town for your honeymoon destination!

Brooke

Branson, Missouri

This destination has a world famous amusement park! Silver Dollar City is a must if you’ll be in Branson. They have water rides, roller coasters, unique food and shows, and a lot of unusual souvenirs!

Take a ride on the train, or watch a show. They have old west style saloons with family friendly entertainment. Going to the parks oldest rides is a must, too! Fire in the Hole is an indoor roller coaster that is still with the original theme of the park of the no-good Baldnobbers! You’re on the coaster, rolling through the scenes and hearing the story. There is some unexpected turns to this ride!

Don’t forget to go to Grandfather’s Mansion while you’re in the park! It’s been a favorite of my family since I was a kid. It’s a bit tucked away, so be sure to ask as you enter the gate where it is if you aren’t familiar with the park. It’ s one of the best Topsy-turvy fun houses you’ll ever see!

There are a ton of shows to see in Branson. Comedians, musicians, comedies, musicals, impersonators, and some of your favorite entertainers from days gone by. Branson is definitely the family oriented Las Vegas! Below is a shot from the New Shanghai Circus.

While you’re in town, check out the outlet malls! Nothing like spending a day getting fabulous deals. The Branson Landing stretches a mile and a half alongside Lake Taneycomo is a fantastic place to spend a day, with their new shops, popular restaurants (including an Irish Pub), water shows (schedule and pictures here http://www.bransonlanding.com/fountains.html ) and end your evening on the Landing Princess with dinner and dancing.

Pictures and booking information: http://www.bransontourismcenter.com/shows/info/main-street-lake-cruises-landing-princess

Or for a cruise and show, consider the Showboat Branson Belle. It cruises on Table Rock Lake, and I have yet to hear anything but a great experience with an evening there.

http://www.showboatbransonbelle.com/

There are many options to consider for during your stay. The Yellow Rose Inn is in a great location, and quite economical. The king suite pictured below is $89 a night! They have glowing  reviews, have a continental breakfast, and are newly renovated.

For a place smack in the middle of it all, try the Hilton on Branson Landing. You can even request a room overlooking Lake Taneycomo, and you’ll have the 240+ boutiques and restaurants of the mall right outside your window. The room below is $169 a night currently.

With so much to do, and all the affordable places to stay, Branson rounds out to a great destination! And the view is nothing to sniff at. This destination is surrounded with rolling hills, and lakes and rivers as far as you can see.  Just scroll though these pictures of the surroundings you’ll have on your visit to this little spot in Missouri, and I’m sure you’ll be scrambling to book your stay.

The deep blue waters of Lake Taneycomo

You’ll see some amazing colors in the fall!

A lodge a few miles outside of Branson.

Marvel Caves, you can tour them from Silver Dollar City.

Don’t forget the golf courses!

Let me know what you love about Branson! Have you been before? Do you plan on vacationing or honeymooning there soon?

Brooke

Cruising for a Honeymoon!

If you’re like many people, you feel cruising is beyond your means. Think again! A cruise is actually an inexpensive all inclusive honeymoon that every couple can find one to fit their interests and budget. I’m a fan of cruises, as you can experience a variety of places and activities with minimal planning and stress on your part.

There are many different cruise lines, but for the sake of ease and my familiarity with them, I’m going to show you Carnival Cruise Lines. I’ll walk you through the process of how to plan a budget one, and what a typical cruise with Carnival is like.

All information in this article can be found on Carnival’s site, http://www.carnival.com and my personal experiences with them.

When you are looking to book one, first check MapQuest and see what port is nearest to you.

If you’re driving: If there is one within a distance you’re comfortable with driving, look at it’s cruise port first. I personally live in Southeastern Oklahoma, so I choose Galveston, Texas versus New Orleans just off of personal preference since the distance is pretty much the same to drive.

If you’re flying: Carnival offers packages for airfare, which is really great because if something happens weather wise, your flight is covered by Carnival. That’s the way I recommend to go if you’re flying.

Driving or flying, try to be there the night before so you aren’t exhausted. Definitely check for hotels on Trip Advisor if you haven’t been the the area before. Speak with the hotel about shuttle service to the cruise port. Some charge, some don’t. But it’s much safer and almost always cheaper to leave your car at the care of the hotel versus the port.  If you’re flying, be sure to arrange for a shuttle ride to the hotel.

What to take with you: You need a photo I.D. as in your drivers license or passport, and take along a copy of your birth certificate. Try to have all three. If you’ve changed your name for the marriage or one of you is under 21, you MUST take your marriage license. Pack formal outfits (like a suit and cocktail dress) for the formal night on the cruise, and an extra shirt and tie for your guy and a spare dress for you in case you want to go to a fancy on board restaurant or go to both formal nights.

Tip: Bundle your gratuity into your cruise tickets, it makes it way easier! You are given the option when booking online or over the phone.

What is there to do on a cruise ship?

Swimming, sun bathing, dancing, ice skating, watching a theatre show, seeing the latest movie releases, hanging out in the comedy club, doing karaoke, playing mini golf, poolside games, live bands, giant Jenga, shopping, dancing classes, you name, it’s there!

Most people feel overwhelmed because there is so many exciting things to do! Should you go to the midnight chocolate buffet? Captains cocktail hour? Learn the newest line dance? Enter the hairy man competition? Compete to perform as Aretha Franklin in the on board talent show? The list is endless and so much fun!

There are a lot of options on your rooming, as well. You can start out with an inexpensive interior room (no windows) then step up to a port hole room, a window room, a balcony room, and a suite. There is something for every price range.

You may want to choose your ship off of it’s activities, or off of it’s destinations! Some common stops with Carnival if you’re going tropical are Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Progresso, and the Bahamas to name a few. Carnival offers the option of booking shore excursions through them online before your cruise. This is a great way to go, because you know you can trust this excursion to not only to get you back to the ship on time, but you also know it’s a legitimate licensed excursion, and you can read reviews. You can also book these on the ship either from your room or at the desk on board if you want to wait.

There are many different kinds of shore excursions, but some favorites are swimming with the dolphins, para sailing, and scuba diving.

I’m about to go on a cruise myself for my anniversary, so I’m pretty excited! We’ve also got a couple going with us that are on their honeymoon. Going with another couple is always a ton of fun.

Have you been on a cruise before? What lines have your cruised with?

Check out Carnival’s site for pricing and availability. http://www.carnival.com

Brooke

Ouray, Colorado

This honeymoon destination is a great getaway, most any time of year!

In the warmer months, there is great hiking, biking, and shopping to be done! The Yankee Boy basin is a must for novice “Jeep-ers”You can see old mining sites, a vast array of wildflowers in the summer, and gorgeous waterfalls on your 4-wheel ride up the 11,000 elevation trail, then hike to the top for an intimate picnic with a fantastic view!

In the colder months, go ice climbing in the beginners area of Uncompahgre Gorge for a great adventure!

Take a relaxing soak in the hot springs before a romantic dinner on the rooftop of the Ouray Brewery.

Or just curl up in your room at the China Clipper Inn, rated number 2 on Trip Advisor in the B&B category!

No matter the season you’re going to honeymoon in, this is a place to consider! It’s breathtaking scenery to be found year round, unusual activities, and many homes-away-from-home to choose as your own, it’ll be the trip of a lifetime to settle for a week in this sleepy town nestled in a valley of the Rocky Mountains.

Brooke

Wakefield Country Inn and Winery

This location is snuggled away in Gerty, Oklahoma. This place is sure to keep your bank account happy with no expense on destination or options. With several packages to choose from you will be sure to get everything you ever wanted from your getaway! This is the perfect place for a local honeymoon or a girls/guys weekend out.

 

 

Who wouldn’t want to sit here with a glass of wine and your sweetheart, over looking the vineyard at sunset?

This is one of their cozy rooms. You can request a bouquet of flowers and bottle of wine in your room!

 

Their lovely porch for meals all set for the guests.

This room is just so cozy, you want to sink into the picture…

 

Their tasting room, where you can try out their wines and meet other people staying there. Cool!

 

And the vineyard… I can just see the romantic strolls through the aromatic rows of vines!

What makes them unique!

• 5 Course Dinners

• Large Country Breakfasts

• Wine Tasting

• 4 acre Vineyard

• Wildlife Refuge

• Hot Tub

• Swimming Pool

• Massage Therapist

The owners are so friendly, and we’ve found wonderful reviews. This is an unusual destination being hid away and so romantic. Go for a weekend and tell us how much you love it!

You MUST check out their 360 degree viewer of their grounds and rooms. It’s like you’re really there, it’s pretty neat!

Check for more information and availability at http://wakefieldcountryinn.com/home.html

Photos courtesy of Pam Wakefield, of Wakefield Country Inn and Winery. Planning to visit them? Tell them The Party Loft Blog sent you!

~Angela @ The Party Loft~

NOTE: So sorry about posting late! We’ve had our computers down so we haven’t been posting as normal this week. Thanks for your patience!

 

Upper Mountain Fork Getaway, Smithville Oklahoma

One thing many people don’t realize about Oklahoma is its breathtaking scenery. But us locals sure know it! This weeks destination will give a glimpse of what it has to offer for those of you that aren’t from around here. Upper Mountain Fork Getaway is near Smithville, Oklahoma. We’ve chosen this location as most of our Brides are currently planning fall weddings. I can’t imagine a better place to be when the leaves start to turn!

 

     

 

 Just to the north of Upper Mountain Fork Getaway is the Talimena Scenic Drive. This magnificent stretch of mountain top highway offers views so incredible it has been named a National Scenic Byway; the only one in Oklahoma! The Talimena Scenic Drive makes for a fantastic day trip any time of year and is just a short drive north from this getaway.

 

 

              

      

Fall is an ideal time to visit these lovely little cabins! The view is truly breathtaking of the mountains.

 

     

 A quaint kitchen to stay cozy in your cabin and never have to leave! 

 

   

           A peaceful balcony to watch the wildlife with a cup of coffee and your sweetie.

 

Below the cabins is the Broken Bow Lake for those fishermen out there. There is also a river running through the property that’s great for kayaking and canoeing for an adventurous day out.

Whether you take your street bike, bicycles, or just your car, there is a lot of exploring to do out there, and the Talimena drive is a must! For a fun day trip, go to Queen Wilhelmina State Park, just about 1 hour away, and enjoy their restaurant after a hike, then go for a train ride to see the park while having an ice cream cone from the shop. Don’t forget your camera!

Aside from all the outdoor activities to do, with the spectacular views of the Quachita National Forest out your window, and the sound of the river as a soundtrack to the crackling of your wood burning stove, you’re guaranteed to have a memorable stay.

The Talimena Drive is 55 miles long. It goes from Mena, Arkansas, to Talihina, Oklahoma.

Find more information about this weeks Honeymoon Destination at: http://www.uppermountainforkgetaway.com/index.html 

To learn more about the Talimena Drive and find out when the leaves change visit: http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/

And to plan your day trip to Queen Wilhelmina State Park go to: http://www.queenwilhelmina.com/things/default.aspx

 

 

Brooke

 

Things to do in your life together #25

Visit a Museum.

1884 Wildwood Bed and Breakfast Inn

We’re bringing you back close to home this time. This Bed and Breakfast is located in Hot Springs, AR. Just three hours from our very own Sallisaw, you will save money and time on this honeymoon destination. Located centrally in Hot Springs, you’re just a hop, skip, and a jump from all the hot spots in town, including the wonderful spas and restaurants the town in known for. With it’s Victorian charm, and modern amenities, this Bed and Breakfast is sure to be the perfect vacation.

The Rose Room is furnished with a truly lovely 3-piece antique Bombay bedroom set. The spacious room features a queen bed, private bath with shower, and fireplace with tea-light logs. This room also has a twin bed for a third person and a quaint private porch with bistro set for your enjoyment.

The Barrett Browning Room

 It was the original master bedroom; therefore it is very spacious and has a hidden safe in the wall. The beautiful white iron bed is king-sized. This room has a private bath with tub and shower. It is decorated in lace and silk and also has the fireplace tea-light logs to set the mood for romance.

The Rudyard Kipling Room

This room is often requested for honeymoons as it is separated from the other rooms. It is tastefully decorated in lush animal prints. The king-sized bed has satin sheets, and an overhead canopy that can be pulled around the bed. This room has a rainforest water fountain, fireplace with tea-light logs. The bathroom has a 2-person corner whirlpool tub with shower. This room also features a private entrance from the outside that has its own private sitting area.

The King David Room

This room is regal with the high-back, half-canopy bed, which is part of a 3-piece set. The bed is queen size. The large bedroom gives you plenty of room to relax. Enjoy a candlelit bubble bath in the antique claw-foot tub.  They supply the candles and the bubble bath.

The Blue Parlor Room

This cozy room, decorated in blue floral was originally an upstairs parlor.  It is furnished in an intricately carved 3-piece French bedroom set.  We’ve added an electric fireplace that can be used with or without the heat, year ’round!  The bed is queen-size. The flat panel TV has cable and built-in CD/DVD.  The Blue Parlor Room has a private bath with a shower and a private porch with a porch swing. If you spend any time relaxing on the porch swing you may catch a glimpse of the resident raccoon!

 

The Safari Suite

Outside of the lovely B&B, they have cottages available. Set up as a home away from home with a small kitchen they stock for you for your breakfasts and snacks, it’s a perfect getaway.

 

The Moroccan Suite

Enjoy a romantic stay with a Moroccan theme. Silk saris on the wall and stained glass lanterns. Fireplace has a candelabra, they supply the candles. Suite has a living area with flat panel TV and DVD/Cable, Wi-Fi available in the main house. Kitchen includes microwave, toaster, coffee maker, and fridge stocked with sodas, bottled water, orange juice and milk. Freezer stocked with breakfast foods. There will be a plate of homemade cookies and brownies waiting for you, as well. Sleep as late as you want, have breakfast on your timetable. Breakfast at the main house is not included in the cottages . Designed for privacy, we stock the suite with plenty of towels. This suite is not serviced for two to three night stays unless requested. Bedroom has king size bed with satin sheets, TV and DVD in bedroom as well as living area. Bath has whirlpool tub for two and separate shower. Romantic, cozy, inviting!

This is a wonderful Bed and Breakfast. They have all the amenities you would expect, but they go above and beyond. You’ll find they have a complete library of movies for you to watch on the big screen in the living area, or on your personal TV located in your room equipped with cable and a VCR/DVD player free of charge.

They have an amazing tour of the home you just can’t miss!

We hope you’ll enjoy your stay, and let them know we sent you!

For more information, availability and pricing please visit their website at www.wildwood1884.com

~Angela @ The Party Loft~

One Treehouse For 2 Please!

We all loved treehouses as kids so why don’t they build them for us “older” children?

Well they do!

Treehouses are a great place for a private honeymoon destination. With locations all around the world these places are absolutely extraordinary!

This post is simply going to be a collection of pictures I found intriguing. If you are interested in finding a treehouse location near you just google “honeymoon treehouses” and you will find those closest to you.

Be AWARE… some of these locations have 2 or 3 year wait list so BOOK EARLY!

 

I hope we inspired you today!

 

~Angela @ The Party Loft~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is located in breathtaking Alberta, Canada. The Fairmont is nestled in the middle of glorious mountains and hosted just in front of Lake Louise.

Surprise you special someone with this hidden destination.

Impressive architecture with an artistic flare can be found in the lobby and surroundings of this resort and spa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With rooms that have to die for views and a comfortable homelike feel, this place is sure to be one of the many highlights of the unforgettable honeymoon.

Lake Louise at night.

Go ice skiing during the winter months.

 

Or do one of my absolute favorites and go horseback riding in the mountains.

Or if want a unique destination wedding, The Fairmont Chateau had wedding packages to help simplify you planning process.

Your real life fairy tale!

Not everyone wants to have their honeymoon or destination wedding surrounded by ice but for those of you that may, this is the place for you.

 

“The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise will turn moments into memories.”

 

 

~Angela~