The Village of Clayton is situated on the St. Lawrence River where it begins converging with Lake Ontario in New York State’s 1000 Islands region. Seemingly untouched by time with not a chain outlet to be found among local shops in historically preserved storefronts along with grand Victorians in a walk able street grid, it’s no wonder that an adjacent long underutilized water front lot used as a fuel depot was recently transformed into 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, a AAA 4-diamond full service resort.

Checking into the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel begins in a rustically furnished vaulted ceiling grand entry leading to hallways lined with vintage photos depicting Clayton’s historical ties with the river. Artistic lighting, intricately patterned carpeting, and water view windows wherever possible provide a distinctive ambiance to the common areas while rooms feature hardwood composite flooring, bay windows overlooking the St. Lawrence, and floor to ceiling tiled showers. The hotel’s 6 suites include spa tubs,  lavishly outfitted wet bars, and at least one balcony.

Onsite Seaway Grille has grown into a local dining hotspot with just as many outside patrons as on site guests savoring freshly prepared dishes like Curried Barley, Frenched Pork Chops, and a tender house made gnocchi served with sage butter, asparagus, prosciutto and pumpkin seeds topped with feta. Executive Chef Patrick Leibacher also regularly schedules culinary experiences like a Wild Game Dinner Series and a 7 Continents Dinner with dishes paired with wines from across the globe. This culinary inspiration spills over into the adjoining 1000 Islands Bar with local Wood Boat Brewery on tap accompanied by small plates like sunflower seed dusted scallops and a regionally inspired North Country Charcuterie board.

With over 6,000 square feet of conference and banquet space including a grand ballroom, you can bet that plenty of weddings are booked here overlooking the river with fire pits interspersed throughout their extensive riverside patio. Partnering with two local spas, the hotel’s In-House Spa packages include sparkling wine and strawberries upon arrival, in-room massages by Creative Edge Salon, and breakfast in bed. Their Romantic Getaway package bumps it up a notch with a bottle of Champagne and rose petal turn down.

Next door to the hotel, step down onto the 49-slip municipal floating dock and look clear to the bottom. You’ll  see why the St. Lawrence River is a fishing and recreational boater’s paradise as well as a key shipping route a.k.a the Seaway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Dotted with 1,864 islands to be exact, many of the Thousand Islands are private and large enough to only accommodate a small cottage while others grandly display Gilded Age mansions like Boldt and Singer Castles regularly open for tours.

As part of the hotel’s Island Cruise Package, you can board the Muskie, Captain Jeff Garnsey of Classic Island Cruises‘ 1953 wooden cruiser for 3-hour river excursions. Instead of large double decked tour boats narrated by an unseen guide over an intercom, Jeff describes what you’re seeing right from his wheel on a deck accommodating no more than 6 passengers. Garnsey customizes his voyages to include local wine and cheese pairings, stopping off at Boldt Castle, providing close up views of storied homes on Millionaires Row, as well as following a route bootleggers used back in the 1930’s. Garnsey also incorporates a Shore Dinner Experience into his cruises featuring traditional ingredients and techniques developed over more than a century as a St. Lawrence River tradition.

Other can’t-miss 1000 Island attractions include Clayton’s Antique Boat Museum. Here, 4.5 acres worth of exhibits depict the evolution of recreational boating from sleek wooden cruisers of the 1930s up through the roaring 50’s & 60’s when speed boats were built for the masses. The Seaway Wine Trail, winding through 78 miles of the scenic byways includes Clayton and rewards visiting wine enthusiasts with local award-winning Coyote Moon and Thousand Islands wineries with pairing possibilities made all the more authentic with local River Rat Cheeses.

Photos courtesy of 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel & Steve Mirsky. Coverage made possible by participating in a partially sponsored visit.

Only 80 minutes from Midtown NYC and a quick walk from Southport Connecticut’s train station, Delamar Southport‘s classic white clapboard colonial architecture situated on the Old Post Road looks like it’s been a fixture here since the town’s 19th century maritime heyday.

Until walking inside, it’s hard to conceive that construction on the property was actually completed in 2010 .  Then you realize this quintessential Connecticut escape is a recent creation deftly balancing the refined elegance of New York chic with New England country charm.

Delamar Southport’s lobby is the perfect place for lingering with your complimentary glass of champagne or sherry upon check-in. You’re surrounded by custom designed furnishings, antique marble floors, museum-quality art from the owner’s personal collection, and a French limestone hearth in the center.

Other inclusives making your stay extra special include chauffeur service within a 3 mile radius of the property encompassing local beaches, and a full breakfast buffet each morning. A 24 hour concierge service is on hand to arrange a picnic basket prepared for a day at the beach along with complimentary towel service and bottled water.

Whether checking into one of their 44 guestrooms or 6 luxury suites, one of which is the 2,800-square-foot Woodward-Newman Presidential Suite outfitted with three spacious bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, you’re in for the ultimate boutique hotel experience. Rooms have a light, airy décor anchored by  resplendent four-poster beds, handcrafted  furnishings, the latest flat-screen TVs and Tivoli audio systems with iPod docking stations. Marble floors, Bvlgari bath amenities, and Italian linens grace the bathrooms.

It’s easy to see why long term stays, especially in the suites, are common with twice daily housekeeping including evening turndown, same day laundry and dry cleaning service, as well as dog friendly for pets under 100 pounds. And lucky for you when it’s meal time. You’re steps away from on site Artisan Restaurant, Tavern & Garden.

Artisan

Originally from Paris, Executive Chef Frederic Kieffer cooked at top restaurants in France, New York, and in Connecticut at L’escale and Gaia before taking the reigns at Artisan in 2011.  Kieffer reportedly had his ingredient suppliers lined up well before Artisan’s architectural drawings were completed. “We source ingredients from local farms in the spring, summer, and fall. In the dead of winter we have to reach out to Californian or Floridian growers but even then we only work with the most sustainable farms.”

Artisan exudes craftsmanship from the interior’s 18th century classic Scandinavian design to artfully prepared dishes. “Our goal is to produce as much as we can in house”, says Kieffer. “Our restaurant is named Artisan because we want to showcase the craft of cooking in every way possible. Homemade items include our pickles, apple wood smoked bacon, breakfast sausages, foie gras, meatballs, all our pastas, and not-to-miss sorbets and ice creams.”

Their seafood chowder is a classic dish where it all comes together. First served in a shallow white soup plate with choice morsels caught within the last 24 hours nestled in the bottom, a pitcher of creamy chowder is then poured over the top.  Sprinkling on some of their  house-made fennel flavored oyster crackers adds just the right touch.

Seating options here are diverse ranging from indoor dining area centered around a full bar, an outdoor patio/garden during warmer months with a full service bar as well, and The Copper Room, an elegant glassed-in private dining room ideal for special more intimate gatherings.

When asked about his personal favorite menu pairings, Kieffer shares, “During summer there is nothing better than our local oysters from Mystic CT with a glass of Sancerre. If you prefer Chardonnays then the roasted oysters are terrific.  Menu items during cooler months like pig croquettes (homemade crispy pig headcheese), chicken liver mousse, and cheese from our friends at the Fairfield cheese shop, all pair nicely with a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir”.

Spa

A restful escape is never complete without a spa visit. Featuring skin treatments using award-winning Biologique Recherche and Valmont, as well as micro current therapy, medical-grade collagen upgrades, and an Amethyst BioMat, Delamar Southport’s full-service spa suite offers  respite with a more intimate setting than the typical spa layout. Outfitted with a couples treatment room, steam shower, and living room with a fireplace, you are closer than ever to restorative bliss.

Photos courtesy of Delamar Southport and Elitemeetings.com   Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.

With countless monikers like Rip City, Stumptown, and Beervana, I have added Bridge City to Portland Oregon’s list. The Willamette River runs right through the center of Portland with a total of 9 bridges (not counting rail) connecting downtown to Eastside neighborhood districts like Buckman, Sunnyside, and Ladd’s Addition. Some bridges are only doable by car, but others like the Burnside Bridge are pedestrian/ bike-friendly leading directly to streets flanked with former warehouses, factories, and well worn motels now home to a proliferation of breweries, artisan food producers, and boutique hotels like The Jupiter Hotel several blocks down Burnside Ave. from the bridge.

A drab two-story concrete slab 1960’s motor lodge before reopening after a complete rehab in 2004, The Jupiter is now a modern hotel and entertainment hub with the drab courtyard parking lot converted into an outdoor event space. Floor-to-ceiling windows were installed on one half of the north wing’s ground floor where you’ll find the front desk to the back of an art gallery showcasing rotating works of neighborhood artists. The entire property’s irreverent contemporary flair oozes hipster yet has a completely unpretentious vibe.

All of Jupiter’s 80 rooms are minimalist to the extent that they retain their concrete slab cores yet have interiors elevated to creative hideaways outfitted with wall murals, chalkboard surfaced doors for inspired doodling, free reliable wifi, and furnishings like Blu Dot type tables, platform beds, and lighting. Extra touches upon check in include prophylactic protection and earplugs placed discretely on your nightstand. Bathrooms feature stainless sinks and eco-friendly Natura bath soaps and creams. Lobby staff graciously brew pot after pot of complimentary locally roasted Water Avenue Coffee well into late morning.

Just remember there are prerequisites for staying here and enjoying the experience. Although divided into Chill Side (some rooms further away from the nightlife) and Bar Patio Side (rooms facing onsite Doug Fir Lounge‘s outdoor patio), you must either be part of the action partying until early morning or not be averse to sleeping with ear plugs. If that’s OK, you’ll be rewarded with full immersion into one of Portland’s many neighborhoods giving life to the bumper stickers and t-shirts you’ll see around emblazoned with “Keep Portland Weird”.

Many bands playing nightly at Doug Fir Lounge are coveted on the Pacific Northwest rock/indie/funk (or combo thereof) circuit. Best described as ”Paul Bunyan meets Chelsea diner”, Doug Fir’s interior resembles a large log cabin furnished with retro touches like slippery sumptuous brown vinyl seating. The bar is the flat side of none other than a huge Douglas Fire log sliced down the middle. When the house lights go down, and the sun comes up, The Doug Fir Lounge awaits your cravings with lumberjack breakfasts, grass-fed burgers, and a separate Only Local portion of their cocktail menu built exclusively using local ingredients like New Deal Distillery’s Hot Monkey Pepper Infused Vodka. Even if you don’t catch the live shows, tunes featuring bands set to play within the next few days are piped in during daytime via their online radio station.

Right outside your door, you get the convenience of Voodoo Doughnuts, Le Pigeon, Bunk Sandwiches and Sizzle Pie. Further afield, City State Diner serves up some mean breakfast plates with a signature bloody mary filled with your Basic 4 for a genuine liquid breakfast. Also don’t miss the nearby food cart pods that I found to be more eclectic than downtown.

Loads of breweries, distillery row, and non-chain shopping are all a quick walk or do like a Portlander and grab a bike.  Jupiter offers rentals so you can hit the city’s network of bike lanes in no time exploring Portland’s 58 breweries on pre-planned bike routes outlined in Hop in the Saddle.

Check out the Jupiter’s ever changing packages like their “PDX Brews and Booze Experience”

Photos courtesy of The Jupiter Hotel, Mosca, & Steve Mirsky.  Coverage made possible by participating in a partially sponsored visit.