Mother's Getaway to a California B&B

For Mother’s Day, pamper mom with a getaway to a California bed and breakfast inn or boutique hotel.  Several members of the California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) are offering specials and packages just for Mother’s Day.  Gift certificates are also available and can be used at any one of more than 200 CABBI-member inns in California.  For details, visit www.cabbi.com.

Spoil mom with a Mother’s Day Weekend package at the Hotel Marisol Coronado.  The package includes a two-night stay in a suite or king room, a bouquet of roses in the room upon arrival, a bottle of wine of her choice and a private, in-room massage.  The suite package is $799 plus tax; the king package is $649 plus tax.  The specials are only valid for the nights of May 12 and 13, 2017.  The package cannot be combined with any other discounts or specials.  The massage is available for Friday evening or anytime on Saturday, but must be scheduled at least two days in advance. To reserve, call 619-365-4677.

Treat mom to a hands-on sourdough bread baking class and a stay at Lavender Inn in Ojai on Mother’s Day.  Led by Eva

Hoffman, the class will provide an introduction to sourdough starters and demonstrate how to create a well-structured loaf with beautiful crust and crumb. Participants will go home with a picture-perfect, scored, fresh-from-the-oven loaf of sourdough bread, plus the sourdough starter.  The class will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, and is $75 per person.  Participants who stay at the inn the night of the class will receive 10% off their room.  For more information about the class and to reserve, call 805-645-6635.

Whisk mom away to Catalina Island with a decadent package from the Aurora Hotel.  The Happy Mom’s Day package includes a two-night stay at the hotel, a welcome bottle of wine, lunch and a day of indulgence at the Island Spa Catalina, round-trip boat transportation and taxi transfers to and from the hotel.  Package rates start at $716 for midweek stays in a standard room.  Upgrades and weekend stays may be available for an additional charge.  The special is valid through the month of May 2017.  To reserve, call 310-510-0454.

Nestled in the Sierra Foothills, enjoy two nights in the tiny, bucolic village of Volcano (population 103) with the Volcano Union Pub + Inn’s Love Your Mom Package.  The package includes a two-night stay at the inn, mimosas delivered the room each morning, locally-made sweets, and a gift card to the Amador Flower Farm (a $25 value).  Nightly snacks and a homemade breakfast each morning are also included.  Package rates start at $230 midweek for a queen room and $260 midweek for a king suite. Local taxes and fees are not included.  The special is valid through July 2017.  To make a reservation, call 209-296-7711.

Moms who love gardening will delight in the “Dig It” package from Rest, a Boutique Hotel in the Sierra Foothills. The package includes a welcome gardeners’ gift, a gift card to Amador Flower Farm (a $45 value) and discounts at local gardening shops in Amador County.  The package is $55 and can be added to a stay in any room.  Room rates start at $150.  The special is valid through July 2017.  To book the package, call 209-245-6315. 

Catalina Island Inn offers two packages to celebrate mom.  The Spring Fling includes a one-night, midweek stay at the inn 

and starts at $137.50 per person (based on double occupancy) in a basic queen, non-view room.  The package is valid Sunday-Thursday only through May 30, 2017.  The Plan to Take Mom Away package is available for two weekends in May (May 12-14 and May 19-21. 2017) and includes a two-night stay in a basic queen, non-view room.  The package starts at $323.18 per person (based on double occupancy).  Both packages include roundtrip transportation for two on the Catalina Express and taxi transfers to and from the hotel. Room upgrades are available for additional fees. Packages are subject to availability, non-refundable and must be booked three days in advance.  Call 310-510-1623 to reserve.

For more information about Mother’s Day deals and other specials at California bed and breakfast inns, visit www.cabbi.com/specials.

Veteran's Day Travel Deals

Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American flag is hung at half mast.  Because it is a federal holiday, some American workers and many students have Veterans Day off from work or school and many resorts offer incredible deals, which means there are some wonderful travel savings for our country's veterans that honor their service to the United States of America.  Here to share some of those great deals with us is The Getaway Girl, Casey Wohl.

West Virgnia
As they do every year, in honor of Veterans Day, The Elkhorn Inn & Theatre and Gillum House Bed-and-Breakfast in West Virginia are offering FREE lodging to our Military Veterans!   The Elkhorn Inn & Theatre in Landgraff, WV, is offering TWO nights FREE (November 11 & 12)  to US Military Veterans with ID. Max. 2 people per guest room; Continental Breakfast is included. The Elkhorn Inn also offers a 10% military discount on our guest room rates all year round for active duty and retired military personnel with ID and their families! (Dan is US Army Retired, and Elisse is an Official Artist for the US Coast Guard). Gillum House Bed-and-Breakfast in Shinnston, WV is offering THREE nights FREE for US Military Veterans with ID: November 10, 11 & 12, 2012. Max. 2 people per guest room; Breakfast is included. (Gillum House also offers year round  discounts to military, fireservice, and police personnel with ID; please call to enquire).
Gillum House Bed & Breakfast started "B & Bs For Vets" in 2008 in Shinnston, West Virginia. In 2010 it became an international program, with member inns providing a minimum of one guest room and breakfast on Veterans Day free of charge to anyone with a valid military or Veterans Administration ID and their companion. In 2010 over 900 bed & breakfasts in the USA, Canada, and Mexico provided rooms for active duty, retired military, and veterans with VA ID.

Branson, MO
America's largest Veterans Day celebration is held in the nation's most military, friendly golf town: Branson, MO. Veterans Homecoming Week in Branson is a seven-day tribute to active and retired military personnel which includes special events and discounts at area amenities from Nov. 5-11.

* Military members (active & retired) enjoy minimum 30% off of green fees at any of Branson's eight area golf courses now through the end of the year including Veterans Day. Branson is home to some of the state's best courses and rounds start at under $50 in many locations.

* Active and retired military are recognized at nearly every live show in Branson, in over 50 theaters in the region including Tony Orlando's Yellow Ribbon Salute to Veterans which includes the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom presentation. There will also be a free "Veterans Are Special" show at the Hamner-Barber Theater, free lunch for Veterans at the Red Roof Mall and Radisson Hotel and lodging discounts for active and retired military at places such as Hidden Falls Log Cabin Rentals and Anchor Inn on the Lake Bed and Breakfast.

* A Patriotic Welcome to Veterans kicks off the week of activities which includes the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, WWII Big Band Dance, Veterans Day parade and reunions. Most of the special events during the seven-day tribute are free for military and their spouses and all present patriotic salutes to Veterans.
  Branson is within 500 miles of nearly every major US City in America's heartland, and is accessible via the Branson Airport, with direct flights from Houston, Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, Denver and other major cities.

Florida Keys
In recognition of the bravery and dedication of America's heroes, Hawks Cay Resort, located in the beautiful Florida Keys, is honoring military, fire and rescue, law enforcement and medical personnel through its Heroes Welcome Program. Now-November 18, the annual program features starting rates at just $99, special discounts on resort activities and a series of tribute events. A portion of proceeds of each room booked will benefit the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and, through a unique partnership with renowned artist Guy Harvey, additional charity organizations dedicated to assisting our heroes and their families.
* $99 is the starting rate for a hotel room and $198 for a villa
* This is a 40-50% discount on the regular rate during this time period 
* The offer is valid for active as well as retired military; however, all guests can receive a 20% discount by making a $2 donation to any of the supported charities
* A military ID or some sort of discharge paperwork is required
* For Heroes Welcome information or reservations, visit  www.HawksCayHeroes.com or call 1-888-313-5749. The highlight of the Heroes Welcome program is the resort's weekly "Heroes in Action" tribute ceremony that takes place every Saturday night at sunset around the Resort's famous Fire Pit. The heartwarming slideshow and video presentation features pictures provided by guests and iconic imagery that is followed by a lighting ceremony as a tribute to all fallen heroes and those currently in action. The evening continues with live music under the stars. Additional events planned throughout the program includes a touch-a-truck experience, fishing tournament and the resort's Down at the Docks celebration, a dockside evening event featuring Coast Guard demos, local vendors and live
entertainment.

Eagle Nest, New Mexico
Located about 100 miles northeast of Santa Fe in the mountains of New Mexico, the quaint town of Eagle Nest is just a few miles from were the gold-mining camp of Elizabethtown founded in 1867.
The historic Laguna Vista Lodge, Restaurant & Saloon dates back to the late 1890s and was built out of stolen railroad ties and on one of the routes of the Santa Fe Trail.  Calamity Jane’s historic restaurant is a culinary delight featuring authentic New Mexican and Southwestern cuisine and has received high marks from Frommer’s Travel Guide.  And the historic Saloon and former Gambling & Dance Hall was a favorite watering hole of the Lonesome Dove movie crew when they filmed in New Mexico.  You can find colorful locals and international tourists hanging out in the Saloon when you visit Eagle Nest.
The two-story lodge and nearby cabins offer comfortable accommodations close to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron Canyon State Park.  The Lodge is offering 50% off on rooms for all veterans on Veterans Day. It’s a great time to see the Fall Colors change during a nice, peaceful getaway.  Enjoy trout fishing almost out your back door, skiing and golf literally minutes away.