The peripatetic travel advisors of Celebrate-Travel, Inc. bring you their insider reports from their numerous journeys to Mexico, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Europe. Join them as they discover new destinations, posh gems of boutique hotels, little known restaurant finds, and shopping bargains around the globe. All offered as part of their commitment to truly be experts in all the destinations they serve!
I’m an avid reader. I love books; I devour them. There’s
nothing better than wiling away a cold afternoon reading a good British murder
mystery while cozied up in front of the fire. Even hot, lazy Sundays mid-summer
seem to be best spent inside a good English novel filled with lush descriptions
of the countryside, the weather, and of course, tea and scones. I find myself
getting hungry for tea and scones as I read my latest novel. I’m transported
thousands of miles away and to a century ago.
Just a few months ago, I was transported across time and
space—at least so it seemed. I had a wonderful opportunity to visit England—home of
all my favorite authors (which in part is what prompted me to get a degree in
English—how could I resist all those books?). It was a short stint—only seven
days—but they were some of the most magical days I have ever experienced.
We arrived in London,
and after spotting so many sites commonly seen on BBC America, I was already
loving my visit. I enjoyed the city much more than I expected to despite having
a large population, this small town girl felt immediately comfortable (more
details on that in my next blog).
After a few days in London, we were whisked off to the
country and suddenly I was in my very own British novel…The moors, the
countryside, the pastures, the sheep grazing, the cows napping—California cows
have NOTHING on English cows; these were some happy cows—and the gardens. It
was immediately apparent how Beatrix Potter could create such a magical
world—the beauty of the country positively screamed with imagination. We
visited the town of Beatrix Potter in the Lake District—it is every thing you would imagine it to
be. The rolling hills, the tranquil blue lake, cottages, gardens, quaint villages,
and divine tea shops. I could have stayed in that dream forever.
Instead, it was time to segway into a different dream. We
ended our time in England in
a town just outside of London.
Again, it was exactly how I had always pictured the English suburbs and
countryside. Our hotel exceeded my expectations and threw me into another
novel—the perfectly manicured gardens, the croquet set on the West lawn, the
pond that homed a family of ducks, the tea room lined wall-to-wall,
ceiling-to-floor with books and expansive windows proffering views of the
breathtaking foliage—it was all there.
I sank into my chair as I watched the rain clouds close in;
soon the soft pitter-patter of raindrops could be heard just as my tea and
scones were brought to me. It was a perfect moment to finish another great
English novel—only this time, I was the heroine.
Mendocino comprises all that makes California such a fantastic travel destination. Perfect for romantic couples or active families or fun weekends with friends, Mendocino can be savored in many ways.