Guess what?  Your favorite marshmallow treat is turning 60 this year.  Yes, those brightly colored marshmallow Peeps so popular at this time of year have been around for a whopping 60 years!   The Distinctive Inns of New England join others in affectionately referring to these gooey treats as “chick magnets”, and we’re here to help you create your own personal ‘peep show’!  Visit one of the 11 Distinctive Inns of New England with your peeps (or just your mate!) and you may or may not just see a few of these great ideas in action.

And remember, speak now or forever hold your peep when it comes to spring getaways.  Time to mention the next DINE getaway to your travel mate!

Whether you’re a Peeping Tom, Dick or Harry, try a few of these fun ideas this Peep season.

1. Create a Peep Show: If you’re a Type-A Peep, try entering the  Annual Washington Post Peeps Show .  The dioramas created for this show are so incredibly clever.  Unfortunately the deadline to enter has passed for this year (it was February 27^th), so start planning your entry now for next year.  However, winners will be chosen on March 27^th, then look for them online at WashingtonPost.com and in the Washington Post magazine in early April. We’re quite sure you’ll be truly entertained.  Click here to see some of last year’s adorable peeps, and then get inspired to create your own vignette at home!

• Peep Krispy Treats:  Any time of year, these special sweet treats are easy crowd pleasers!  Simply substitute your leftover Easter Peeps for marshmallows in your Rice Krispy Treat recipes, and you’ve got a perfect seasonal dessert.

• Peepermint Hot Chocolate:  This year rather than using those mini marshmallows in hot chocolate, top off your hot chocolate with a Peep of your favorite color. We promise it’ll be a real crowd pleaser with the younger set.  And for the adult company, perhaps a more “spirited” version would make a nice after-Easter-dinner drink: Peppermint schnapps + whipped-cream-flavored vodka + Swiss Miss hot chocolate or hot coca from scratch (again for the type-A people)+ a Peep floating on top!  Serve this and you’ll be one hot chick.

• Create a Dessert “Peepza:  You’ve heard of Pepperoni Pizza; well what about a Dessert Peepza?  Create your Peepza from a giant cookie made either from the kind of sugar cookie or chocolate chip cookie dough you find premade in the store.  Top it with your favorite chocolate, caramel or strawberry sauce, then cover it in colorful Peeps and jelly beans. Voila, the perfect way to use all that leftover Easter candy

• Peeps’mores:  If it’s warm enough to start the bonfire, grab the box of graham crackers, the chocolate bars and your favorite colored peeps.  Put the Peep on a stick and brown it to the perfect gooey goldenness.  This idea will work all summer long, as long as you can find your favorite Peeps in the store!

Of course, if you are not prone to peeping, have no fear.  Your favorite distinctive inns won’t force Peeps on you.  These ideas are meant for home.  Visit any of the 11 Distinctive Inns of New England for a romantic getaway, and marshmallow is bound to take a low profile while culinary adventure will still be “in the basket”.  We promise.

And speaking of romantic and spring getaways, have you booked your DINE at 9 getaway?  Ten out of eleven inns are offering $9 rooms on April 9 and May 9 in exchange for a $100 donation to a local food pantry.  Read all about it on the DINE blog.

The second Sunday in March marks the day when most of those in the U.S. and Canada (and many other nations in the world) “spring forward” by turning their clocks ahead one hour in observance of Daylight Savings time.  The good news is, the days start growing longer, offering more time to enjoy outdoor adventure and a rock on the porches and patios of Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) as the days get longer.  While there are some bad-news health consequences of shorter days (or losing an hour of sleep), they are outweighed by the health benefits (like additional vitamin D) of longer days. Either way, Daylight Savings Time is another reminder that spring is around the corner, and with spring come sunny getaways to DINE’s eleven member inns.  Look forward to tiptoeing through the tulips and discovering new renovations at DINE member inns this spring.

How’d it all get started?

According to CBC News, “Daylight time” was first conceived and enacted in Germany in 1915, Britain, much of Europe and Canada quickly followed. These nations governments reasoned that because the sun rose while people were still asleep, that light would naturally be better suited to be used during the waking hours and the days should be extended to allow more time spent in daylight. Their foregone conclusion was to push the clocks ahead one hour in springtime, forcing people to wake an hour earlier and spend less energy and materials trying to light their homes. When the days started getting shorter in the fall and people awoke to increasing darkness, the clocks were naturally turned back an hour to get more light in the morning.

During the Second World War, a different form of daylight time was reinstated by Britain and clocks were set two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time during the summer, according to CBC News. This was known as Double Summer Time. The time shift didn’t end with the summer, as clocks were rolled back to be one hour ahead of GMT through the winter.

Finally, the Uniform Time Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1966, established a system of uniform (within each time zone) daylight time throughout most of the U.S. exempting only those states in which the legislatures voted to keep the entire state on standard time. Finally, 2007 legislation in the U.S moved the start of daylight time three weeks earlier in the spring and the return to standard time a week later in the fall. This change was intended to aid in saving energy, once again allowing people to keep the lights off as long as possible.  Canada followed with its own legislation to coordinate with the U.S. it’s largest trading partner.

Did you know?

Here are a few little known facts about daylights savings time that will make you an expert around the water cooler today.

• Arizona and Hawaii in the U.S. and Saskatchewan plus some parts of B.C. in Canada don’t observe daylight saving’s time. The majority of countries in Asia and Africa don’t subscribe to the clock changes either. Thus, when traveling to these areas, the time difference may change by an hour depending upon when you travel.

• Take care of your heart when you spring forward.  A Swedish study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008 found a 7-percent  higher incidence of heart attacks  in the first three weekdays after the clocks spring forward, which researchers attributed to a lack of sleep.  The same study reported a similar decrease when the clocks fall back in the fall. The information was based on Swedish records collected over a 20-year period.  Our conclusion: book your New England DINE getaway around the onset of Daylight Savings Time and give yourself permission to stay in bed that extra hour!

• CBC News also reported  that two researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, found that the end of  daylight time has a significant impact on the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles in the immediate aftermath of the switch. Their conclusion was that it wasn’t the darkness per se that increases the number of deaths in the fall, rather, it’s that drivers and pedestrians have spent the previous months getting used to the light conditions, and don’t immediately adjust their behaviors to account for less of it during rush hour.  Our take on this:  visit DINE inns, each located in towns in DINE Country where rush hour is dictated by breakfast, tea time and happy hour.

• If you’re already having trouble sleeping, Daylight Savings Time might make it even harder. The treatment of insomnia revolves around getting patients onto a regular sleep schedule, and the time change can raise havoc with that.  If you’re an insomnia, better plan your DINE getaway around daylight savings time and allow the fabulous beds, firelight or whirlpool tub to lull you to sleep.

A Time Tale

This is a true tale of a man arrested twice at the same time on the same day by the same officer, according to CBC News Canada. An Ohio man was arrested at 1:08 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2012, and  taken to the police station and released a short time later. However, at 2 a.m. that morning, the clocks were set back to 1 a.m. The man was arrested exactly one hour after his initial booking by the same officer, again for drinking and driving. The time was 1:08 a.m. His blood-alcohol level, however, was slightly lower the second time around.

Our Conclusion

For the betterment of your health, safety and beauty, book your DINE spring getaway around the time the clocks are changing.  It’s not too late to decide to spring forward into a getaway to one of the 11 Distinctive Inns of New England today!

Chocolate makes the heart grow fonder and the DINE getaway sweeter.

We were always under the impression that the whole month of March was a national chocolate holiday, but after doing some research, we’ve learned that the American celebration of chocolate takes place the third week in March every year.  Click here and you’ll see a countdown on Squidoo.com for exactly how many days are left until the start of American Chocolate Week, starting March 17, 2013.  How fun that it coincides with St. Paddy’s Day this year!

Here in DINE country, the pursuit of rest, relaxation and romance is often accentuated with a wee bit (or more) of chocolate decadence.  Enjoy a romantic New England getaway at any of the 11 DINE member inns, and you’ll find plenty of cocoa-cuddling and treats for the body, mind and soul.  In celebration of National Chocolate Week, here are a few fun facts about chocolate which we found in the gone-ta-pott blog.

Eight Chocolate Fun Facts

• Chocolate syrup was used to represent blood in the famous 45 second shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, “Psycho” a scene which took 7 days to shoot. Gone are the days of simple syrup and black and white films!
  

• Once upon a time, money did grow on trees. Cocoa beans were used as currency by the Mayan and Aztec civilizations over 1400 years ago. When they had too much money to spend, they brewed the excess into hot chocolate drinks. Gotta wonder what kind of tea a dollar bill might make today!

• Guess who consumes more chocolate per capita than any other nation on earth? Denmark has the highest per capita consumption of candy in the world at 29.5 pounds. The Swiss eat 22 pounds each compared to 11 pounds per person in the United States. (probably most of which is consumed at Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and during getaways to Distinctive Inns of New England!).

• The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word “xocolatl”, which means “bitter water”. Ironic, huh?

• Seven billion pounds of chocolate and candy are manufactured each year in the United States. Wow!
  

• Chocolate is America’s favorite flavor. A recent survey revealed that 52 percent of U.S. adults said they like chocolate best. The second favorite flavor was a tie (at 12 percent each) between berry flavors and vanilla.  What’s yours?
  

• The melting point of cocoa butter is just below the human body temperature — which is why it literally melts in your mouth.

• Older children are significantly more likely to prefer chocolate than younger children (59 percent of 9-11 year-olds prefer chocolate vs. 46 percent of 6-8 year-olds), according to a recent survey. And Americans over 18 years of age consume 65 percent of the candy that’s produced each year. For “children” in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, we imagine that percentage goes up from there!

Source: National Confectioners Association/Chocolate Manufacturers Association

Does all this cocoa-conversation make you want to run out and get your chocolate fix?  Here’s a recipe from the Rabbit Hill Inn for a treat that’ll truly amaze both your friends and family to whom you serve it to and your taste buds too.

Chocolate Salami from Rabbit Hill Inn

Part one:

1 cup heavy cream

8 oz quality chocolate

1 tsp vanilla

Over a double boiler, blend and warm ingredients until melted.

Part Two: 

1 pound of cake and/or cookies coarsely crushed into pieces  (Nilla Wafers & biscotti work well)

2 oz soft figs, chopped

2 oz dates, pitted & chopped

2 oz dried cranberries

4 oz toasted almonds, sliced

4 oz toasted rough chopped hazelnuts

½ tsp salt

Toss together and then fold into bowl of chocolate.

Part Three: 

Place sheet of parchment paper (or plastic wrap) on counter. Place half the chocolate mixture on the center of the paper. Using a spatula, form the mixture into a log approx 2” in diameter.  Repeat with the remaining mixture. Twist ends to seal the ends of each log. Roll logs back & forth on counter to make logs evenly round.  Refrigerate until firm (about an hour).  ** At this point, you can freeze logs for up to a month. Thaw at room temp for 25 mins. **

Part Four – preparing to serve: 

Spread confectioners sugar onto a cookie sheet. Unwrap logs and roll them in sugar to coat. Use a dry pastry brush to brush away the excess sugar.  Let logs sit at room temp for about 15 minutes.  Using a sharp knife, slice logs into ½ “ thick slices and serve.

Don’t forget about the DINE at 9 event!  Stay at ten out of eleven of the DINE member inns on March 9th, April 9th or May 9th for $9 per night plus a $100 donation to the local food pantry of that inn’s choice.  You’ll not only enjoy a specially priced DINE getaway, you’ll also help others in need. The power of travel!  Click here for more details.

DINE member inns are putting hunger to bed with the DINE at 9 program. Be a part of it.

Many who follow the DINE blog have been asking when we will hold the DINE at 9 campaign again.  Good news! Plan your romantic New England getaway on the 9th of March, April or May and your room rate will be $9.00!  In return for this very special rate, we ask guests to offer a $100 or more donation to the local food bank or hunger relief program in the DINE member inn’s community.  This is one very special way the Distinctive Inns of New England can put hunger to bed this winter and spring.

Here’s how it works and what’s in it for you

Make a reservation at 10 of the 11* Distinctive Inns of New England on March 9, April 9 or May 9, 2013 and stay for $9 plus a $100 donation that will go directly to that inn’s local food pantry or no-hunger program of that inn’s choice. That means you stay at your favorite DINE inn on March, April or May 9th for just $9 plus appropriate taxes plus your $100 donation and get to also make a difference in the life of a hungry family. It’s a win:win for all!

* Cliffside Inn is unable to participate in this program yet plans to offer a donation to their local hunger-relief campaign on behalf of the DINE at 9 program.

Each inn has designated a certain number of rooms for the DINE at 9 campaign. Most inns are able to offer anywhere from two to five rooms for this campaign, thus space is very limited. Your stay may be reserved on a space available basis by calling the inn directly. Click here for contact information for DINE inns.

Here is a sampling of some of the food banks that will benefit from your $100 donation when you stay at a DINE inn on March, April or May 9th.

Chatham Food Pantry

Food Bank of Western MA

VT Food Bank

CT Food Bank

Ashland Community Center & Food Pantry

Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry of Midcoast Maine

White Mt Community Food Pantry

“We launched this program in January and were delighted to learn of the interest from our guests in helping us to put hunger to bed one room at a time,” said Jane Howard-Sabo, of the Deerfield Inn.  “Given the success of this program’s launch, we’ve decided to offer three more DINE at 9 dates after hearing the enthusiasm from our guests for the program,” finished Judy Hueber, co-owner of the Chesterfield Inn.

Don’t wait. DINE at 9 reservations are limited. Make plans to stay at your favorite DINE inn on March, April or May 9th  and you too can help put hunger to bed with your $100 donation. We’ll reward your generosity with a $9 room and a priceless stay at your choice of ten of the eleven Distinctive Inns of New England.

February is Pancake month, a time when we dedicate breakfasts to our favorite flat food! National Pancake Week is celebrated in the third week in February.  Why all the fuss about pancakes in February? In Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and the U.S. it is customary to eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, often referred to as “Pancake Day” and, particularly in Ireland, as “Pancake Tuesday”. Historically, pancakes were made on Shrove Tuesday so that the last of the fatty and rich foods could be used up before the advent of Lent.

While Shrove Tuesday has passed (it was February 12, 2013), we still celebrate Pancake Month in the 11 Distinctive Inns of New England by sharing a few tried and true recipes for your perfect New England getaway.  Earlier in February we shared the Captain House Inn’s recipe for Red Velvet Pancakes in the DINE blog.  And in December, we revealed the Rabbit Hill Inn’s recipe for Gingerbread Pancakes on the blog too.  Back in our Fall Dining blog, we shared a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Pancakes from the Captain’s House Inn too. And last winter we offered a blog about winter comfort food with recipes for Captain House Inn’s Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Cliffside Inn’s Strawberry Pancake Roll Ups.

Today, we offer you a true guest-favorite from the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina.  Behold, Ricotta Pancakes.  We’re told by Dave and Sue at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina that these pancakes are the most light and fluffy they’ve ever seen.  Best of all, they shared two versions of their recipe – one for small batches and one for a larger batch.  Enjoy celebrating National Pancake Week.

RICOTTA PANCAKES FROM INN AT HARBOR HILL MARINA

Ingredients:

Small Batch (good for 4 people or 8 pancakes)

1 Cup Ricotta Cheese (note: a small 15 oz. container is approx. 2 cups)

2 Eggs – large

½ Cup (plus a tablespoon) Buttermilk

¾ Cups All Purpose Flour

1 and ½ Tbsp. Sugar

1 Tbsp.  Baking Powder

¼ tsp. Salt

Larger Batch (good for 8 people or 16 pancakes)

2 Cups Ricotta Cheese (we use 1 small 15 oz. container)

4 Eggs – large

1 ¼ Cups Buttermilk

1 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour

¼ Cup Sugar

2 Tbsp.  Baking Powder

½ tsp. Salt

Method:

Preheat griddle to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl whisk together the ricotta cheese, eggs and buttermilk until very smooth.  In a separate bowl, sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add the flour to the cheese mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined.  Spray the griddle with vegetable spray and

Add batter in about ¼ cup amounts. (Note, these are very light and fluff up nicely).

Let cook for about 2 minutes on each side until golden. Repeat & Enjoy!

Optional Fruit Topping

2 Cups Fresh Berries-any favorite or mix

¼ Cup Sugar

¼ Cup Orange Juice

In a separate bowl, combine the berries, sugar and orange juice. Let macerate while making pancakes.  Serve pancakes garnished with the berries, powdered sugar, and maple syrup if desired.

Visit Distinctive Inns of New England to plan your next winter getaway.  Tis the season for outdoor adventure and cozy fireplaces.

Hallmark may tell you what your Valentine really wants this year is a card.  Teleflora will tell you to express your love with flowers and Russell Stover will suggest you say it with chocolate.  While traditional, these are not the makings for a perfect Valentine’s Day.  Distinctive Inns of New England suggests you ask your soul mate, and they’ll tell you that really they just want to feel appreciated and loved.

In a story on Forbes.com, entitled “What Do Women Really Want For Valentine’s Day?” one woman spoke up. According to the story, Jenna Walsh, an account executive in Boston, said she is looking forward to some special treatment this Valentine’s Day, but, she’s not interested in flowers, champagne or chocolate. “If I could have anything this year, it would be nothing more than a heartfelt ‘thank you,’ since it’s one of the many things men have difficulty communicating,” she says. “I don’t think there’s any material gift that could show that kind of appreciation or maturity,” she adds.

The article goes on to explain that Marilyn Kagan, a psychotherapist and author in Los Angeles, says couples should use this holiday as an opportunity to strengthen their relationship together. The tough economy, with money and job concerns, may make one partner less inclined to be romantic. But Kagan suggests taking a chance and speaking out.

Photo credit:: Jumping Rocks Photography.

At the same time an article in USA TODAY recently claimed that a U.S. Travel Association USTA) survey showed couples who travel together tend to have more lasting relationships.  The article went on to explain that the new USTA  survey  found that couples who travel together have better relationships — and better sex — than those who don’t. “Nearly two-thirds of couples surveyed say a weekend getaway is more likely to spark romance in their relationship than a gift. Of the 1,100 U.S. adults surveyed, 72% think traveling inspires romance,” claims the USTA.

What’s the takeaway?  Distinctive Inns of New England advice this year is to stay out of the dog house and get into a distinctive inn. Don’t tell your loved one, show them that you appreciate all they do with a romantic getaway to  a New England distinctive inn.    Traveling is good for your relationship and a romantic escape to one of the eleven Distinctive Inns is as easy as booking online, which you can do from www.distinctiveinns.com.

Can’t make it for Valentine’s Day?  No problem!  Give your Valentine an Escape-I-O-U/I-LOVE-YOU and watch the smiles this Valentine’s Day!

Go Red in a Heart-worthy Month February is National Heart Month. Doesn’t that mean we should celebrate red for all affairs of the heart? It’s probably no accident that National Heart Month coincides with the most heart-worthy of all holidays, Valentine’s Day! February is among our favorite month for romantic escapes and it’s not too late to book your New England romantic getaway at a DINE member inn. Meanwhile, since February is Red Month plus Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d share a number of heartwarming red recipes from DINE member inns. Serve one of these to your loved ones on Valentine’s Day accompanied by a soulful card and you’re sure to receive HEART-y applause!

Red Velvet Pancakes from Captain’s House Inn (Makes about 16 pancakes)

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups milk

2 Tbsp white vinegar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 Tbsp red food coloring

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup salted butter, melted

Method:

Preheat an electric non-stick griddle to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside.

Measure out milk into a liquid measuring cup and whisk in vinegar, allow mixture to rest for 2 minutes. Pour milk mixture into a separate large mixing bowl and add in sugar, eggs, red food coloring, vanilla and melted butter.Whisk mixture until well combined.

While whisking, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combine.

Butter griddle if necessary and pour about a 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle Cook until bubbles begin to appear on the top surface of the pancakes then flip and cook opposite side until pancake is cooked through. Serve with whipped cream and maple syrup.

Recipe for Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from Deerfield Inn (they may still be putting the finishing touches on their new kitchen, but Deerfield Inn still has some tried and true recipes!)

Ingredients:

2 tsp cocoa

2 ounces red food color

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vinegar

¾ cup Crisco

1 ½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

3 cups flour

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

Method: Mix cocoa and food color and set aside.

Mix baking soda and vinegar and set aside.

Combine Crisco, sugar, eggs, salt, and vanilla. Mix in cocoa and food coloring. Blend in flour and buttermilk. Add baking soda and vinegar mixture. Drop on cookie sheet and make pies the size of small cookies. Bake 325 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Filling:

1 16 oz tub of vanilla frosting

1 16 oz of marshmallow fluff

3 cups powdered sugar

Mix together the filling ingredients and sandwich in between the Whoopie pies.

And if all else fails, get the home fires burning red with this special Valentine drink from the Manor on Golden Pond.

Red Fin Martini from Manor On Golden Pond

2 parts Finlandia vodka

1 part red Aliza passion fruit

Splash of cranberry juice

Splash of triple sec

Combine in a martini shaker and shake gently. Serve in stemware straight up. Garnish with fresh raspberries. Enjoy sitting by a fire with the one you love!

In last week’s blog post, we shared some great ideas for Valentine’s Day getaways at The Inn at Thorn Hill and Gateway’s Inn. We congratulated the Captain’s House Inn on their inclusion in the Top 25 Inns & B&Bs in America Traveler’s Choice 2013 Award and we shared a great offer for Snow Days deals at the Manor On Golden Pond. We were also happy to hear about the progress being made toward a spring re-opening at the Deerfield Inn.

This week we’ll take a look at some additional ideas for love in DINE country for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

At Camden Maine Stay, two February events take place back to back.  The town of Camden comes alive for the National Toboggan Championships, February 8-9.  Don’t miss the antics as you watch teams in costume barrel down a steep wooden track. Stay two nights or longer and receive a 20% off the last night on February 8, 9, and 10. When booking, online or by phone, mention the code TOBOG in the Comments/Requests section of the booking engine.

Immediately following that comes Valentine’s Week, with Camden Maine Stay’s Valentine’s package offered February 14-17, 2013 including two nights in a romantic guest room, gourmet breakfast each morning, afternoon tea & cookies daily, and a five course gourmet Valentine’s dinner on the date of your choice in one of the most refined restaurants in town. Viandoux Restaurant is a new place, but it is already one of Camden’s best received restaurants whose elegant and warm setting will enhance your experience. This package is offered Feb 14-17 only, and runs from $320-$430 depending upon which suite you choose. When booking, online or by phone, mention the code VALE in the Comments/Requests section of the booking engine.

Leslie Mulcahy at the Rabbit Hill Inn has a number of ideas for Valentine’s Day.  Recently cited among the top ten places to propose by Boston.com, here’s one inn that is in a great position to offer advice on finding romance.  “Getting away & having fun together always stokes romance,” advises Leslie. Try the   Guided snowmobile tour add-on package (2 hour guided tour through the kingdom AND a romantic candlelit dinner that evening) on your first day, then a Romantic private horse drawn sleigh ride the next day.    Choose from 3 different Romantic Getaway packages at Rabbit Hill Inn this Valentine’s Day and beyond, all offering inclusions of dinners, champagnes, wines, roses, chocolates, massage, luxury signature bathrobes to take home.  Phyllis, Rabbit Hill Inn’s Pastry Chef extraordinaire has some exotic desserts in the planning stage with a red theme (did someone say beets?).  Stay tuned for that dessert recipe, but we’ve shared a sneak preview.

Newport, RI is in the running for being designated the Happiest Seaside Town by Coastal Living Magazine.  Bill and Nancy at the Cliffside Inn hope you will vote for Newport in this popular competition.  Meanwhile, book your Cliffside Inn midweek getaway before February 12, 2013 and discover what insiders consider to be Newport’s “Secret Season”…Winter! Book a 2-night stay (arriving Sunday through Thursday) between now and Tuesday February 12th 2013, and receive a 15% discount on your room for entire stay. Plus a welcome bottle of wine or sparkling water (your choice) will await your arrive in your room. Use promo code SS2013 if booking online or call us at 800-845-1811 to make your reservation. (This special does not apply to previously booked stays and may not be combined with other promotions or discounts.)

The Grafton Inn will celebrate its Winter Carnival February 9. Head to Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center for a day of fun in the snow for the whole family from 9 am – 4 pm. For just $10, enjoy snow tubing all day, a bonfire (2-4pm) with s’mores & hot dogs and ice skating. For those who choose, you can snuggle up in a horse drawn sleigh ride from 11-3:30pm ($10 adults, $5 for children 12 and under) or enjoy snowshoeing and xc skiing.  All guests staying at the inn enjoy complimentary trail access.  Additionally enjoy an Oscar-winning movie on select Wednesdays at 7pm in Phelps Barn. Snacks will be available and the bar will be open. Movies are free of charge.

At Chesterfield Inn, the Romance Package isn’t confined to Valentine’s Day only. Every day is Valentine’s Day with this Romance Package including Champagne in your room upon arrival, a welcoming bouquet of fresh flowers, one gourmet dinner for 2 (3 courses and gratuity included) and a delicious order-from-the-menu full country breakfast each morning.  Simply add $145 to the cost of your room any time you stay, and Chesterfield Inn will take care of all the extras.

Finally, at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, special packages are an art form. February is the month for lovers at this Niantic, CT inn, so come celebrate Valentine’s Day anytime during the month of February with a romantic 2-night “Love is INN the air” getaway at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina. Your Package is packed with extras and includes a 2-night stay at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, a candlelit breakfast for two each morning, a $70 dinner certificate to your choice of several local favorite restaurants, a bottle of chilled champagne and special chocolates in room upon arrival, a romantic CD for just the right music, complimentary snacks and beverages during your stay.  Your Package also includes your choice of two one hour Swedish massages at the local Massage Fusion Therapy Studio  OR a very cozy and private one-hour Horse-Drawn Carriage or Sleigh Ride (snow permitting).  This package includes everything you need to fill your stay with romance delivered seamlessly like you thought of it all yourself.  The package is $550 – $805, depending on days and room selection (tax included).

There you go eleven fabulous ideas for finding love in all the right places for Valentine’s Day this year.  No need to worry about how to surprise your Valentine with the perfect gift.  A DINE getaway has all the right ingredients for the perfect Valentine’s gift.

While the restaurant is not quite re-open at the Deerfield Inn, here’s a preview of what Valentine’s diners will enjoy next year when the inn re-opens. It’s Beef heart ravioli with beet-horseradish jus and micro greens. Romantic and beautiful too.

Add wine, cheese, chocolates or champagne to your stay at any DINE member inn to make it a truly memorable Valentine’s Day. Pictured here, a romantic add-on from Captain’s House Inn. Photo credit: Captain’s House Inn.

There’s so much happening at the 11 Distinctive Inns of New England, it’ll take two blog entries to tell all the news.  From Valentine’s Day packages to HOT DATE rates, this is the time for a winter escape to DINE country.  Book your romantic New England getaway and plan to get cozy by roaring fires or talk a quiet hike along the river via snowshoe.  Whether it’s a Rhode Island getaway, a Connecticut escape or a Northern New England vacation, Distinctive Inns of New England can offer just the right specially priced winter package.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Inn at Thorn Hill

Plan your special Valentine’s dinner at the Inn at Thorn Hill on Thursday, February 14 or stay through the long President’s Day Weekend! (Three night minimum starting Friday night) and extend your Valentine’s Day romantic getaway. Let the inn take care of all the work to WOW your Valentine! The Inn at Thorn Hill’s  Romance Package  includes (12) long stem roses and a bottle of Champagne upon arrival in your room, a three course dinner for two, Full breakfast, afternoon tea and homemade goodies all for $400/night-500/night depending on accommodations. Please call for reservations: (603)383-4242.

Gateways Inn & Restaurant offers live entertainment for Valentine’s Day and new culinary weekend experiences.

Plan a special Valentine’s Day celebration at Gateways Inn and Restaurant on February 14, 2013 and enjoy  a romantic dinner served 5:00 – 8:00pm. After dinner, enjoy a special performance by Kathryn Anderson along with Bob Shepherd for Valentines of all ages entitled “Songs of Love and Desire”.  Stay any two nights on February 14-15-16 and enjoy 15% off your room rate when you make reservations for dinner. Call for reservations: (413) 637-2532.

Additionally, Gateways Inn & Restaurant has added  four weekend culinary experiences to their line up this spring!  Offering either a Tuscan Italian, Gourmet Mexican, Country French or  Mediterranean/Middle Eastern theme, this is one way to not only celebrate the one you love but the foods you love too!

Captain’s House Inn named to TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Inns & B&Bs list!

TripAdvisor has just released their top 25 B&B’s and inns for 2013. Captain’s House Inn was included as a 2013 Travelers’ Choice 2013 Award winner! Snagging a place on this highly esteemed list is especially fulfilling for inns and B&Bs because it is based upon independent reviews from inn and B&B guests.  Only four inns/B&Bs in New England were included on the list, and Captain’s House Inn was one of them!  Hat’s off to James & Jill Meyer and the staff at Captain’s House Inn for sustaining such great guest reviews.

Deerfield Inn looking at spring re-opening

Walls are being painted.  The bar that was upstairs is now in Terrace, and each day the Deerfield Inn gets closer and closer to re-opening after Hurricane Irene forced a year-long shut down of the inn. While rooms are still available in the Carriage House, the renovations and rebuilding of the main inn are in high gear.  They’re looking toward an early spring opening. Stay tuned for more soon and watch the Deerfield Inn’s Facebook page for photos of all the updates.

Snow Days at Manor On Golden Pond

To celebrate all the recent snowfall, the Manor On Golden Pond is declaring snow days for you to come and celebrate winter.  To show that snow days are not just for schools, Manor On Golden Pond will take 25-percent off their winter season rate on most non-holiday stays through March 25, 2013.  Please note that snow days are not available 1/18 – 1/19; 1/25 – 1/26; 2/8 – 2/9; 2/15 – 2/16 and stays must be completed by March 25.  This offer is valid only on new reservations and rates start at $165 for classic rooms including a full country breakfast and afternoon tea. Call (800)545-2141 to make your reservation and mention Snow Days rates.

In a recent article in the AARP Bulletin entitled 10 Tips for Better Health author Nissa Simon suggested if your new year’s resolutions have you facing another rigorous regimen of diet and exercise, you’re bound to give up in less than a month.  Instead, while the article suggested 10 healthy resolutions for better health we couldn’t help but notice that most of those ideas could be best achieved at any of the 11 Distinctive Inns of New England.  The conclusion: combine a DINE getaway with getting healthy in the new year, and you’ve got the perfect way to stay committed to your resolution!

Let’s take a look.  Here are some of the resolutions the article offers to help meet your healthy goals for 2013.

THROW A PARTY: Science has shown that healthy connections with friends, families and even innkeepers can help you live longer. Social ties are forged at inns.  You’re never alone as innkeepers and other guests are always on hand to talk with you if you want.  Whether meeting at the Snooty Fox Bar in the Rabbit Hill Inn, in the wine bar at Inn at Thorn Hill, at Phelps Barn at the Grafton Inn, the Piano Bar at Gateways Inn or the rooster-filled bar at Manor on Golden Pond, or over tea at Captain’s House Inn, it’s like one big party each time you visit a DINE inn.

CHOOSE CHOCOLATE:  You’ve heard it before.  Chocolate is the new darling of the heart healthy diet. In moderation, of course, but dark chocolate’s flavonoid-rich antioxidants help the body’s cells resist damage that can contribute to cancer and other maladies.  It also boosts “good cholesterol” and let’s not forget it tastes good too.  Visit any DINE member inn and chocolate is bound to be part of your stay.  Try the Chocolate Bourbon Bread Pudding at the Chesterfield Inn, or one of the new chocolate drinks sure to be found on the Deerfield Inn’s bar list when it opens later in the spring. It’s okay to say yes to chocolate (especially dark chocolate), so enjoy guilt free.

KEEP YOUR COFFEE CAPER:  The article says that for older adults both decaf and regular coffee appears to lower the risk of dying from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and pneumonia, according to research from the National Institutes of Health. In fact, researchers at the University of Miami found that three cups of coffee a day may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and/or delay early onset.  So enjoy that locally roasted Cuppa Joe served each morning at Camden Maine Stay Inn, Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, Cliffside Inn and each and every other DINE inn, and help yourself to a second or third as long as it doesn’t keep you awake at night!

RAISE YOUR GLASS: According to research published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, beer is good for the heart, and red wine has long been known as a heart-healthy treat. So, after the coffee and chocolate, raise your glass at your favorite DINE inn guilt-free and know you’re doing your body and your resolutions a favor.

NAPS & NOOKIE:  The article goes on to explain that Researchers at the University of California Berkley found that a 90-minute nap will clear the brain’s short term memory storage center making room for more new info.  Even snoozing 20 minute improves alertness and performance.  Combine your nap with a little nookie and the brain will also release endorphins, the feel good chemicals that act as painkillers and relieve stress.  Additionally, sex boosts the immune system, not only making you relaxed but keeping you healthy too.  What better place can you think of for these ultimate naps than a DINE member inn?

There you have it. A DINE stay will keep the doctor away and your resolutions at bay, while offering the perfect R&R and a romantic New England getaway.  Don’t wait.  Call your favorite DINE member inn to book your heart-and-soul-healthy getaway today!