The Tour of Naples is a full immersion experience!…read more It starts off with a toast and the restaurant folks are excellent hosts. We learned how to make the Negroni cocktail and they took time to teach the flaming orange. Including a lot of interesting history and information about the spirits. The instruction on making the pizza and cocktail was so thorough that we felt like we really did something, while we learned in action. Worth the time and money. *they did ask if anyone is dry, but not sure what they offer in lieu of the cocktails or wine.

We went on a food tour of downtown Roanoke. Our guide was Ned. I thought the whole tour was run…read morevery well (I've been on about 5 other food tours) and saw that Ned was in contact with the next restaurant each time so that they were ready for us. Ned provided us with great information about the history of the town, the railroad (although some of that was incorrect as he kept saying Raleigh instead of Norfolk as it pertained to the railroad and it kept saying that one of the railway companies "left" when in fact, they were merged. Maybe this wouldn't have mattered so much except someone in our group was very familiar with the railroad) But Ned was very personable and you could tell he loved history and as we do too we really enjoyed his tour. The food on the tour was fairly varied and unique to the town (a must!) and it was great to hear the back story of the ownership of the restaurants. (I was a little worried when at the first two restaurants we were served seafood dishes, a seafood bisque and shrimp and grits as one person in our group doesn't really like seafood and I think this is a risky choice for a tour. Also at Chocolate Paper we were given two mediocre Asher chocolates to try instead of some of their more expensive and more delicious Debrands chocolates.) One person in our group thought there wasn't enough food and thought another restaurant or two should be added. I tend to agree when compared to the cost of this tour against other tours I've taken. Had the cost been a little lower I think the amount of food would've been fine. All in all, a great tour though. Ned really was a great guide, I hope he leads more tours, I really learned a lot!

The Loft is a quaint, two-bedroom (a master bedroom and a loft bedroom), one-and-a-half bath…read moreapartment with a full kitchen. Lots of exposed wood and brick - with sections of the few plaster walls intentionally chipped away / weathered / aged to further showcase brick - succeed in creating a somewhat rustic atmosphere. The owner has kept the place in great condition. My only complaint was that the claw foot bathtub had a tendency to leak regardless of how the shower head was turned. The location is right in downtown Bedford, where the town's restaurants, shops, and grocery store are all within easy access. The price is good for what you get, although I don't know how it compares to other housing in town. I would stay here again. As an aside, Bedford itself is a nice example of "small-town America." It has quiet, intimate streets, great for wandering, with several shops and a few restaurants; pretty, old red brick buildings; and there are even several military markers around a classic courthouse. When I was there, signs and assorted ads noted upcoming festivals and other town and regional events that seemed like great fun. The people are very welcoming. There's also easy access to various regional sights, including hiking, lake activities, and the National D-Day Memorial. I stayed in Bedford for two days and had a very relaxing time. I'd recommend it for a quiet weekend away, long or otherwise.

Gorgeous accommodation with all the things you need for a comfortable stay in a historic building…read more I highly recommend the Loft for a couple to 3 people. Cozy, rustic, beautiful craftsmanship, and history.

I stayed at Colony House Motor Lodge during a solo motorcycle trip through Virginia and North…read moreCarolina and enjoyed my stay. The property has a unique character and atmosphere that stands out from a typical chain hotel. The room was clean, comfortable, and a great place to relax after a full day of riding. The location worked well for exploring the area and served as a convenient stop on my trip. I slept through the night with no noises that bothered me. I would have preferred a ground room floor but ended up on the second floor. It wasn't a major issue, but a ground-floor room would have been my preference. My only real suggestion would be to offer breakfast on-site. Having breakfast available before heading out for a day of riding would have been a nice convenience. Overall, I enjoyed my stay and would consider staying here again on a future motorcycle trip.

Awesome place to stay, really enjoyed our stay!! Everyone was really nice and helpful. Wait until…read morethe word gets out about this little gem!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this hotel! I think this is quite possibly my most favorite place I have ever stayed…read moreat and I have traveled to 11 countries and all over the US. I have stayed at lots of all inclusive resorts and this room was by far the prettiest and most comfortable. The attention to detail starting from the restaurant to the furniture boutique and upstairs to the hotel is amazing! We dined in the restaurant and had outstanding service from Caroline and the food was equally as outstanding. The menu is chock full of creative and interesting flavors and food combinations. We ordered 5 appetizers to share and loved every single one of them. Again, be open minded because this menu truly is creative. The furniture boutique has stunning pieces of Scandinavian/MCM style furniture all locally made in Roanoke with some serious attention to craftsmanship. These same items can be found upstairs in the boutique hotel. It was fun that you are allowed to have a glass of wine and chill in the lobby area next to the restaurant which is oh-so-comfortably decorated in their gorgeous furniture. I cannot begin to tell you how beautiful my room was. It was decorated so stylishly with absolutely not a touch of elegance overlooked. Stunning lighting fixtures, gorgeous textures, a comfortable sitting area, and lovely pieces of wooden furniture. The hardwood floors are simply to die for. They were my favorite part of the room. The bed was the single most comfortable bed I have ever stayed on in a hotel setting. It was like sleeping on a cloud surrounded in a hug from fairy wings. There is a communal area with snacks, couches and other places to gather or entertain a group. I really really really hope all future guests do their part to keep this place beautiful so that it remains a luxurious place to stay in the heart of downtown Roanoke. What an absolute gem. It feels like a betrayal to the amazing people who put their heart and soul into this hotel and restaurant to have a complaint. However, if I had one tiny suggestion to make, please put a table or a shelf or something in the bathroom. There is literally zero place to spread out toiletries and makeup. I used a towel on the floor to spread out my makeup in the morning. Not really a deal-breaker, but it's just a suggestion. And also to patrons, bring a hair dryer if you are going to use one. I did not find one in the room, but perhaps it was in a drawer or tucked away someplace I did not happen to see. Also, bring a sleep mask. This was definitely more on the light and bright side of hotel rooms, so morning came a bit earlier than I was expecting.

My family have been firemen since I can remember and my…read morehusband and I are always looking for different & eclectic places to stay away from the traditional hotel experience. All the history and nostalgia in the building is palpable as soon as you walk in and take the beautiful wood spiral staircase to the second floor. There is an elevator also. The historic brass fire poles are still in existence, along with the creaky hardwood floors and georgous exposed brick. We stayed in room 6. Beautiful room with all the furniture from the Nordic furniture shop downstairs. Very tempting to buy a couch from the showroom downstairs! We ate at the restaurant, Stock downstairs. It was amazing, but keep in mind it is directly below room 6 and they don't close until around 11pm on the weekends and they stay about an hour after that to clean up. So you still may hear music and them moving chairs around while they clean up. We also stayed on a Friday night and some skateboarders decided to practice in the parking garage next door around 11:30 at night, but you are staying in the city so you have to expect things like that. Bathroom is beautiful with great water pressure in the shower. There is also a huge area to hang out in on the second floor if you need more space. If you like non-traditional hotel experiences, then add this one to your bucket list. 10-4!

Connoisseur Travel is my go to travel agency. Tabari has planned almost all of my trips including…read morecruises, all inclusive resorts, Hawaii, and the Mediterranean. Whether is a quick weekend getaway or a European adventure he is full of suggestions for hotels, excursions, tours, and everything else. He makes everything a breeze for you and is great at communicating and lending a helpful hand and his expert advice!

We absolutely loved working with Katie B. from Connoisseur Travel. She helped us plan a magical…read more12-day trip to France (Paris, Deauville and Normandy) and Amsterdam. Every detail was planned out and Katie was always available if we had questions. We'll look forward to working with her again. Thank you for everything!

Great hotel. I stayed here when I was considering moving here. The room was nice, easy to get…read moremessages on their phone. They have an outdoor pool.

Trying to get a refund to a canceled reservation and it is falling on deaf ears can never talk to…read moreanyone and they don't answer correspondence

Beautiful landscape and surroundings. Friendly staff always willing to share a smile. Rooms are…read morebasic but very clean. We brought our two dogs and we were very comfortable with plenty of room. Easy in and out, no need to leave the grounds for a weekend, everything we needed was right there. The place was full but still quiet. We will be back.

This is a useful stop when driving the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) in Virginia. There is a small…read morebuilding, which was manned by a park ranger (or perhaps a parks volunteer?) who provided maps and answered questions. Small, clean, but dated restrooms were along the side of this building. Parking was free and sufficient, even on a leaf-peeping Saturday in October. The real "attractions" here are beyond the actual Visitor Center's building. If you continue along the path past the restrooms, there's a large lawn along the James River with picnic tables. Very relaxing. If you continue, there are also some short "hikes" right at the Visitors Center. The first, which is more of a "walk", takes you across a pedestrian bridge (which is directly below the bridge with Blue Ridge Parkway traffic) that goes to a historic lock. This trail is mostly flat, except for some stairs, and is mostly in the sun. Separately, if you continue straight, instead of crossing the bridge, there's a short loop hike referred to as "Trail of Trees". This one has identifying markers on the trees, and has more of the feel of a short hike. It has some ups and downs, and you need to watch your footing for roots and rocks. You can also hike along the Otter Creek Trail to reach the Otter Creek Lake in about 3 miles. One final note. This Visitors Center does not have a gift shop, nor any snacks or other amenities for purchase. Our "check tire pressure" light had come on, and the ranger was unable to provide assistance nor were there tire pressure gauges for sale. (We learned later that there's a service station relatively close to an exit off the BRP very close to the Visitors Center, but this wasn't mentioned). See separate entry for H&H Market in Big Island, VA.

There is a visitor center here, but it is really just one room with not a lot going on, other than…read morethe notable exception of a park ranger giving out advice. However, there is much in the area to enjoy. A picnic area on the river lies just outside the visitor center, and a bridge crosses the river (offering picturesque views) to a restored lock of a canal that once ran through the region. A trail goes through woodlands following a creek up to a dam. And, the visitor center also offered parking that wasn't full, restrooms, and a water fountain, which I did not see anywhere else nearby.