Travel articles by Teresa Gibbs published in Source: a Publication of Athens-Limestone Hospital 2013

Romance in the Mountains

A Valentine’s Day She Will Never Forget

by Teresa Gibbs

The Great Smoky Mountains are gorgeous any time of the year. The fall landscape is ablaze with vibrant yellows, dazzling oranges and crimson reds. In springtime, beautiful trees and shrubs such as redbuds, dogwoods, azaleas and mountain laurels are just beginning to bud and a variety of flowers and wildflowers display vibrant colors in the summer. But have you ever considered vising during the winter months?

Winter gives the landscape a whole new look, with pristine snow blanketing the panoramic vista as far as the eye can see. This kind of quiet, serene beauty is well worth braving the chilly weather, especially when your “Valentine” is snuggled in your arms and you have a crackling fire nearby.

The Yellow House on Plott Creek Road, in Waynesville, North Carolina, is the perfect place for a romantic get-a-way. Relax, unwind and enjoy being pampered.

I remember our first visit in the spring of 2010. As we turned onto Plott Creek Road, the scene was breathtaking. The Yellow House stood tall on a hill, tucked away among the pine trees and rhododendrons. Surrounding the house were beautiful, lush green gardens accented with bursts of multicolored flowers.

Recently my husband, Wyman and I spent another wonderful weekend there. We enjoyed strolling through the lovely grounds and relaxing on the front porch, viewing the magnificent mountain ranges in the distance. One of our favorite spots is the stone terrace, overlooking the ponds and waterfall; a perfect place for enjoying the complimentary hors d’oeuvres served each evening.

Our room, the St. Paul de Vence Suite, features a view of the lily pond with its own terrace and private entrance. A spa tub and fireplace adds romance to the ambiance of the room. French doors open onto the terrace where the view of the pond and nearby mountains is absolutely breathtaking. We also enjoyed having breakfast served to us out on the intimate terrace.

The Yellow House

Peach Baked French Toast

Ingredients:

6 large croissants

1 18 oz. jar peach preserves

1/3 cup peach juice

Directions:

-Spray 6 oven proof ramekin dishes.

- Cut croissants in half lengthwise and place bottom halves in 6 dishes.

- Combine peach preserves with peach juice and spoon most of that mixture over croissants in dishes.

-Replace croissant tops.

- Beat the eggs, cream and almond extract together and pour over the croissants until half submerged.

- Spoon the remaining preserve mixture over the tops.

Breakfast at The Yellow House usually starts with fresh fruit. Our first morning of this trip, it was served to us with a velvety cream cheese topping followed by scrumptious “Peach Baked French Toast.”

When taking a trip to the mountains, we always enjoy the lesser traveled mountain roads, it seems that the countryside is always more scenic along those little back roads. Late one afternoon, just as dusk was settling in, we headed down Highway 74, near Balsam. A little side street beckoned us with its charming twists and turns.

Just as we rounded a particular turn, Wyman and I both looked up on a ridge and were in awe of the grandiose inn that stood before us. Vast porches with huge white columns spanned the width of the inn on both the first and second stories. A faint warm glow came from a multitude of windows. We turned into the driveway for a closer look. The majestic inn seemed to beckon us up the hill.

By the time we got to the top, curiosity had the best of us. Parking, we went in and explored the glorious old inn, learning much about its interesting history. We were so intrigued by this grand inn, we decided to stay for dinner and learn more about Balsam Mountain Inn.

When the 100-room hotel opened in 1908, known then as Balsam Mountain Springs Hotel, it was a refuge for southerners who made the trip by train to escape the lowland heat. The inn’s corridors were built extra-wide to accommodate the trunks of extended-stay summertime guests.

1 tsp. almond extract

1 cup heavy cream

5 eggs

- Allow to soak overnight in the refrigerator. (If there is any remaining cream mixture, save it to pour into the ramekins the next morning after the croissants have had time to soak up the cream.)

- Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes or until puffed and golden brown on top. Serve with whipped cream and sliced peaches.

The inn actually continued to serve a seasonal clientele until the late 80’s, but had been empty and was quickly disintegrating when Merrily Teasley ran across it while hiking in the area one day. That night a friend drove her for another look. “The inn glimmered like a ghost through the trees on the ridge above. It was love at first sight,” describes Teasley.

Teasley, an experienced East Tennessee innkeeper and preservationist, purchased the inn and restored it according to guideline. She reopened the inn in 1991. When the inn first opened, in 1908, it was considered grand and elegant. By today’s standards, it would not be considered such, but it is still very impressive.

The inn has almost always included meals for its guests. Today, breakfast still comes with the inn’s room rates. Lunch and dinner are available as well. That night we were served dinner in the opulent main dining room and enjoyed grilled trout, which was superbly prepared and presented with wild rice and a leafy, green salad.

The inn is making a “Valentine Package” available all through February which includes two nights plus breakfasts, dinner for two by candlelight, beautiful flowers, champagne and freshly baked Valentine cookies.

For more information or to learn more about the inn, visit balsammountaininn.net | 68 Seven Springs Drive Balsam, NC 28707 | 828-456-9498

Sarasota, a True Island Paradise!

by Teresa Gibbs

As the sun began to rise that morning, the sky began to light up with glorious shades of pink, orange and blue. There were no clouds in sight. I sat on the soft, white sand marveling at sparkling waves of turquois as sandpipers playfully darted in and out of the water’s edgethe ripple of waves and the screeching of gulls the only sounds.

It was chilly, so I wore blue jeans and a sweatshirt. Not the perfect beach attire, but it was early morning and the temperature had only reached sixty-two degrees. The day was forecast sunny and seventy-four, so soon enough I’d be shedding my jeans and sweatshirt in favor of shorts and a t-shirt, if not a swimsuit. Yep - my favorite thing about South Florida in January is the weather. I love warm, sunny days!

We hadn’t seen the sun for over a week in Athens, Alabama, when the opportunity came along for my husband, Wyman, and me to go island hopping off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. We didn’t have to think twice before making reservations. When we left home in early January, it was raining, the sky was gray, and the weather man was threatening ice and snow for the next day. We loaded up the car and headed south!

Sarasota is located on the southwestern coast of Florida, south of Tampa Bay and north of Fort Myers. It is one of our favorite

places to visit during the winter months. We always like to spend a few days visiting Sarasota’s attractions. This trip we visited the big cat habitat and Gulf coast Sanctuary, a non-profit safe haven for big cats, bears, and other animals in need. We got there just in time to watch one of the trainers working with tigers, a lion and a couple of gorgeous ligers (a hybrid cross between a male lion and a tigress). We were entertained by tigers jumping through hoops and a lion kissing the trainer. Just being that close to Brutus, a three-year-old, 900 pound liger was impressive!

We never take a trip to Sarasota without visiting Myakka River State Park, a great place for a family day trip. We love taking the airboat out on the lake where we always get the chance to see alligators, wild pigs and rare birds. There are a number of trails for hiking and biking. The Myakka Canopy Walkway, a 100-foot bridge suspended 25 feet above the ground, is a must see. It leads to a 74-foot tower which affords a spectacular view of eagles, hawks, vultures as well as the tops of live oaks and palm trees.

Sarasota has so many parks, museums and aquariums we may never run out of places to visit. We learned about some of Sarasota’s cultural history while touring the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. In 1927, The Ringling Brothers Circus moved their winter headquarters to Sarasota where John and his wife, Mable, had been spending winters since 1909. They bought bay-front property and built a thirty-room mansion inspired by the Venetian gothic palaces. The mansion is very impressive and we weren’t surprised to find out that, when completed in 1925, the cost was just over $1.5 million.

Sarasota is known as Florida’s “Cultural Coast.” Yet, take a bridge out to one of her islands and you’re in “old Florida.” There are several islands that separate the mainland of Sarasota from the gulf of Mexico, offering more than thirty-five miles of white sandy, beaches and Intracoastal waterways for fishing, kayaking and boating. We spent one of our warm, sunny days touring the Sarasota Bay on a boat we rented from cb’s Saltwater Outfitters (cbsoutfitters.com) located on the island of Siesta Key. We trolled along the coast “oohing” and “aahing” over the enormous and elaborate homes built along the shoreline. At one point, we pulled our boat onto a private beach on Casey Key, the island south of Siesta Key. We looked for, but never found, Steven King’s 7,500 square foot mansion. After an adventurous morning, we were ready for lunch and docked at a quaint little riverside restaurant, Casey Key Fish House, for a delicious lunch.

Sarasota is home to Siesta Key Beach, rated #1 beach in 2011. Siesta Key is an eight-mile barrier island, and is blessed with the world’s finest, whitest beaches. It is made up of 99-percent pure quartz crystal, with no fragments of coral or shell which creates a soft, powdery sand much like baby powder. The sand has a magical quality – it never gets hot. Even on the warmest days of summer it won’t burn your feet. The beach is hundreds of yards wide, and even has a picnic area and tennis courts. Most mornings a crowd gathers early for “yoga on the beach.”

We couldn’t have found a better place to stay while visiting Siesta Key. The Sea Spray Resort (theseasprayresort.com) is located just across the street

from the beach. Our unit had a private deck opening off the living room and a balcony in front, which was great for watching the sunrise while sipping coffee. Sea Spray is located just three blocks from the Village of Siesta Key which boasts souvenir shops, cafes and several great restaurants. We took the opportunity to try a few of them and especially enjoyed our “all you can eat” lobster dinner at the Blu Que Island grill!

A couple of mornings we got up early and drove to the south end of the island to Turtle Beach where the shelling is really great. We normally find sand dollars on Siesta Key Beach, but found no “sand money” this year. Siesta Key is a great beach for people-watching as there are always people strolling up and down the beach.

For a heavenly vacation and devilish good time!

• 1 and 2 bedroom units available

• Honeymoon villa

• Fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes

• On-site washers and dryers

• Large bbq area w/stainless steel grills

• Shuffleboard court • Chaise lounges

• Nearby tennis and golf

We also booked a few days on Longboat Key, north of Siesta Key. Angel Puckett of Angel’s Vacation Rentals (angelsvacationrentals.com) suggested we take a look at Turtle crawl Inn Resort (turtlecrawlinnresort.com). We had friends coming in to join us and needed an extra bedroom. We found the perfect place for our stay with two bedrooms, a large living room, dining room, a fully equipped kitchen and a screened lanai. The house was very roomy and with a nice, homey feel. We particularly enjoyed the heated swimming pool which was about five steps out our back door. Just past the pool was a barbeque area with gas grills and a covered gazebo. The beach was just beyond the pool where we found lounge chairs for relaxing and enjoying beautiful sunsets. We loved the lush, tropical feel of the complex.

Longboat Key, with a twelve-mile stretch of shoreline, is the largest of Sarasota’s islands. It is one of the only barrier islands in the Sarasota area without direct access to the mainland, which makes it the perfect place for a quiet, leisurely getaway. You won’t find spring breakers on this island!

With bicycle lanes running the entire length of the island, Longboat Key is very bicycle friendly. We explored several of the parks with trails for bicycling and hiking. Longboat Key offers world class tennis facilities and is Sarasota’s only island featuring a championship golf course. St. Armands Circle, a popular shopping destination with many shops, boutiques and restaurants, is located on Lido Key, the island that connects Longboat Key to the mainland of Sarasota.

The third of Sarasota’s islands that we visited was Anna Maria Island, a narrow seven mile stretch of land off the coast of Bradenton. It is north of Longboat Key and connected by bridge at the south end, at Bradenton Beach, where there are several restaurants, souvenir shops and a wonderful pier stretching out into Sarasota Bay. At the north end of the island is the city of Anna Maria, a quaint little village with sidewalks and colorful buildings and cottages. The center, and widest part of the island, is Holmes Beach with several restaurants, shops and the only grocery store on the island. This is where we found bungalow beach Resort (bungalowbeach.com) - an oasis within an oasis!

The island itself has a very tropical feel and offers a lively, party vibe. Yet we were in our own little world. Exotic palms and foliage, Hibiscus bushes and trees, Mammy Crotons, Petit Pink Oleanders and seasonal flowers give this resort a Caribbean atmosphere. The view out our back door was breathtaking. We were so close to the water that, from our living room, we could see dolphins playing in the water. I loved walking out the back door of our little white bungalow and stepping onto the trail that led through the beautifully manicured grounds to the private beach.

That’s where I spent most of my time; just relaxing on the cushy, chaise lounges down on the beach. The last day there, while relaxing beachside, feeling the warmth of the sun, and listening to the sounds of the waves, I said to myself, “Now, this is paradise!”