For all boaters and lovers of things nautical, here is a New England Getaway that should not be missed.  From September 16^th to the 19^th, Newport, Rhode Island becomes the center of the yacht world with the fantastic Newport International Boat Show.  Newport has historically been the summer home of the New York Yacht Club, which defended the America’s Cup throughout most of the history of this great racing challenge.  On these few days in September of each year, the entire waterfront area in the heart of Newport is transformed into a gallery of boats, boating supplies and products for every size boat, from dinghy to mega-yacht.  The boat show is an in-the-water affair, with every conceivable boat and yacht on display for your visit.  Manufacturers from around the world are present to show off their newest designs and to get you interested in their boats.  This show clearly takes over Newport with sailors and boaters alike enjoying everything that this amazing place has to offer.  Food, wine and drinks are available at dockside from the many restaurants and bars that are located right on the harbor.  For anyone interested in boating, sailing and yachts, this is a must see!

So make your reservations now to attend this great boat show.  One of the best things about Newport, other than the fabulous mansions that you can also visit while you are there, is the fact that one of our Distinctive Inns, Cliffside Inn, is right in the middle of it all.  Located right nearby the fabulous Newport Cliff Walk, Cliffside Inn is the perfect place to stay while you enjoy Newport and the boat show.  So don’t hesitate, make your reservations now.  This event fills up all of Newport very quickly.  See you on the water!

Martini anyone?  If you are a lover of martinis, then pick up the phone and call the Deerfield Inn, located in Deerfield, Massachusetts.  To date, they are touting an impressive list of over 101 martinis and the good news is that you can enjoy them and then walk up the stairs to your room.   The martinis were named after Historic Deerfield and also some named  with a little local humor.  If you choose to try a few different combinations, you can choose between either a 2 ½ oz. or 4 ½ oz. martini.  When you visit, you can expect some lovely martinis with names such as 

• Meeting House Martini (Tanqueray Gin, Peach Schnapps, and Orange Juice)
• Benedict Arnold Martini ( Jack Daniels Bourbon and Benedictine)
• Well Street Martini ( Bombay Sapphire Gin, Triple Sec, and Angostura Bitters) 

Now, I can not share the whole list with you as I truly want you to be surprised when you see it for yourself!   

Now do not worry.  If you are not a martini drinker fear not!  Additionally, they boast over 18 varies of wine that are available by the glass and even more selections by the bottle.  This all can be shared with their new spring menu.

What are you waiting for? 

by Rebecca, Quantum Hospitality

The Camden Opera House hosts a thrilling occasion for the musically enthused. Scheduled for the summer of 2008 are several showings varying from Deathtrap! to Seussical the Musical! The atmosphere is equivalently pleasurable as the highlighted shows. What additionally makes the opera house exquisite is the recently renovated Victorian style together with grand chandeliers, a horseshoe balcony, and antique moldings. The 500-person capacity and three distinct function rooms cater to all performers any size. And better yet, a quality seat stands at a sheer $16.00 per person; so don’t hesitate to see more than one show. Settle down after a show to elegant and romantic ambiance not even a half a mile down the road.

As soon as Jim & Ibby Cooper crossed the covered bridge to Jackson, New Hampshire, and saw the Inn at Thorn Hill, they knew they wanted to buy it. Hospitality is in Jim’s blood, being from a family in the business and working for 20 years for various hotels. Ibby was a teacher whose skills would be applied to training staff and developing programs.

Yet there were surprises to come. the Coopers had three children in college and one in seventh grade when they bought the inn, and shortly after, Ibby became pregnant with their fifth. Their new son was popular with their guests, as Ibby waited tables with him on her back.

“I thought I could do this for five years,” Ibby says, “but it’s now been 16 years. New England was an adjustment, as we’d lived before where it was warmer. But we’ve learned to enjoy the four seasons.”

An even bigger surprise occurred on October 13, 2002, when a fire destroyed the inn. All guests and staff were safe and sound, but the Coopers faced a decision, whether to walk away or rebuild. They chose to build a new inn like the original but with a long-range vision for growth.

Now the main building at the Inn at Thorn Hill and Spa has 16 guests rooms (up from 12), an award-winning restaurant, a wine cellar, a cooperage, and a spa with exercise room and dry sauna. After more than a year, the inn reopened on December 22, 2003 to welcome new and previous guests.

Jim & Ibby see their warm and attentive hospitality, which they instill in their staff, as key to the fact that 35 percent of their guests have been there before. “They come back to try different rooms, new menu items, and the various seasons here,” Jim explains.

The Coopers were among the three inns in northern New England that founded DINE. The group encouraged Europeans with their long vacations to come to the U.S. and stay at all three inns. The DINE idea grew, and now guests (like you) from anywhere in the world can plan a vacation with stays at Distinctive Inns throughout New England.

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