Traveling with the Jones — Sharing Travel Discoveries

A Peek Inside the Ghent Marriott Hotel in Belgium

by Janis on July 15, 2015

During our late-May trip to Belgium, we stayed two nights at the Ghent Marriott, located on the banks of the Lys River in the heart of historic Ghent.

The Ghent Marriott is a very unique in that it is a historic 16th-century hotel on the outside, with a modern glass dome and furnishings on the inside.

Under the spectacular glass dome, the Poppi Wine & Coffee Bar is a meeting point and a place of relaxation between the sights of the medieval structures.

If you are hungry, the Poppi bartender will slice up a portion of delicious ham to enjoy with your wine.

We stayed in room 526, on the top floor of the hotel.

Rooms at the Ghent Marriott have modern furnishings, carefully orchestrated for the relatively small space.

The built-in desk, dresser drawers and luggage storage bench maximize space in the room.

There are also built-in closets and a coffee-bar area.

The bathroom is well-lighted, with an attached blow dryer. There is a combination shower/tub.

As a Platinum-level Marriott Rewards member, Mr. Jones usually chooses the extra 500 Reward points in lieu of the Platinum Amenity Gift. As we were a little peckish upon our arrival, we chose the wine and cheese amenity at this Marriott. It was a great decision as the cheese and wine delivered to the room were artfully served and delicious.

Outside of our room, looking through the glass dome wall, we had a great view of the castle in the distance.

Breakfast was served each morning in the Coeur d’Artichaut restaurant which is located right behind the windows in the historic part of the hotel. While only the continental breakfast was included, it was a hearty buffet of fruits, yogurts, cereals, pastries and much more.

Our bottom line on the Ghent Marriott Hotel:

The location on the river in the heart of historic Ghent could not be more beautiful or perfect for exploring.
The hotel is an amazing combination of 16th century historic charm with a modern, glass-domed interior.
The rooms are tight but constructed as to maximize space; they also feature every modern amenity.
We used Marriott Rewards points to fund our 2-night stay. The hotel is a Marriott Rewards Category 7 hotel.

Are you a Marriott Rewards member? What’s your favorite Marriott hotel? Please share in comments below.

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A Look Around Holland America’s Maasdam Cruise Ship

by Janis on July 14, 2015

On June 27th, we sailed on Holland America Line’s ms Maasdam on a 7-Day Canada and New England cruise from Montreal to Boston. The ship was in Sydney, Nova Scotia on July 1, Canada Day, and ended in Boston on the U.S. Fourth of July celebration.

While we’ve sailed on most Holland America ships, this was our first cruise on the ms Maasdam, a 1,258 guest-capacity ship launched in December of 1993. The ship’s name was inspired by the Maas River in the Netherlands.

The ms Maasdam has an open bow policy, allowing guests out into the area when sailing into scenic ports such as Quebec City.

There are a number of “hidden” walkways like this one near the bridge that are open to guests.

The wrap-around promenade deck is popular for walking. It offers great views whether at sea or coming into port.

The aft pool is designated for adults only. One side is for smokers.

The Crow’s Nest has a beautiful, free-standing bar, different from the design of the same space on other Holland America ships.

The Crow’s Nest on the Maasdam also features floor-to-ceiling windows all the way around the space, making it an ideal spot for indoor viewing. Depending on the evening schedule, this area also features either a live band or a DJ.

During our cruise, a couple was celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary in the penthouse suite.

The sign of a good vacation is when you cannot remember what day of the week it is. Rotating rugs in the elevators remind you.

By eating late (8 pm or later), we were sometimes able to get a perfect table for two by the window in the Rotterdam dining room.

Along with a delicious dinner, we enjoyed a picturesque sunset.

We were delighted with the ms Maasdam, and the 7-Day Canada and New England itinerary.

Have you sailed on Holland America’s ms Maasdam? What was your impression? Please share in comments below.

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A Spectacular Do-It-Yourself Port Day in Haines, Alaska

by Janis on July 13, 2015

We were recently reminded of a fabulous day that we had six years ago in Haines, Alaska while on a Holland America Line 7-Day Glacier Discovery cruise.

Most cruise guests going to Haines, Alaska (population approximately 2,400 people and 1,897 d0gs) take a shore excursion by ferry to Skagway to ride on the White Pass & Yukon historic railroad, which is fabulous. But if you’ve already done that, or historic train rides don’t interest you, Haines offers some great things to see and do as well.

A side note: Haines and Skagway are 14 miles apart by water but they are 350 miles by road which is the Golden Circle Route.

We opted to rent a car to use during our port call in Haines. The Avis car rental is located at the Hotel Halsinglandon on Ft. Seward Drive, and they don’t have many vehicles. Rent well in advance of your arrival in Haines.

When we picked up this rental vehicle, we confirmed with the gentleman helping us that the two nearby state parks were worth a visit. When also mentioned that we might drive on the Haines Highway into Canada, and we asked for a recommendation for lunch. Without hesitating, he said, “Stop at mile marker 33 and have a burger. They are great!” We took note.

Once in our vehicle, we headed to Chilkoot State Park 10 miles north of Haines off Lutak Road. On the way, you will pass the Alaska State Ferry terminal.

We had stunning views the entire drive.

Mr. Jones wanted to get in a boat with a fishing pole at Chilkoot Lake.

We just admired the view, and then drove onward, back towards Haines.

We stopped to take a photo of the salmon ladder on the return drive.

We got a great view of our cruise ship as we drove back through Haines to head to a second state park in the area. While driving in Haines, we got a look at the Fort William H. Seward historical Military Base, which is more than 100 years old.

Next, we headed south out of Haines on Mud Bay Road. The scenery this road was picture-perfect, especially at the Letnikof Cove Cannery.

The Disney movie White Fang was filmed in Haines in 1991.

Chilkat State Park is located 8 miles south of Haines. Mud Bay Road becomes a dirt road with 14 percent grade before you reach the park.

The city of Haines borders 20 million acres of protected areas of wilderness. Chilkat State Park offers views of Rainbow and Davidson Glaciers.

With binoculars or a telephoto lens, you can capture a close-up view of the glacier from the outdoor deck of the visitor’s building.

Map of Haines. Credit: Haines Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

From the map above, you can see three red roads heading out of Haines. We now were ready to drive on the Haines Highway to the Canadian Border.

At mile marker 33, we stopped for lunch at the 33 Mile Roadhouse that the rental car guy had recommended.

He was correct. The hamburgers and side salad were delicious, and we were quite hungry.

While eating our burgers, we enjoyed the close-up view of hummingbird’s right outside the window.

Fueled, we continued the 42-mile drive to Canadian border. At the border, we had to show our passports, but there was not a long delay.

After passing the summit, we eventually turned around and headed back toward Haines, crossing the border again; this time getting a US stamp in our passports.

Back in Haines, we went by the Hammer Museum for a photo, although we did not go in to view the collection of hammers. It is the “world’s first museum dedicated to preserving the history of man’s first tool, the hammer.”

Walking down Main Street in Haines, we discovered the Babbling Book, an independent book store with a wide variety of books, cards, toys, maps, journals and other gift items. We cannot resist a fun bookstore, and we spent a long time in this one.

I figured out from a book display that Heather Lende, one of my favorite Alaska authors, is a local resident, and that the “Small-Town Alaska” that she wrote about in her book If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska is Haines.

Finally, we returned our rental car and headed back to the cruise ship.

From Main Street to the Canadian border, and from one state park to the other, we had an exceptional day exploring Haines, Alaska, and its surrounding wilderness.

Have you visited Haines? What was your favorite thing about the Alaska town?

Learn more about Haines, Alaska with these books:

A Naturalist’s Guide to Haines, Alaska
It Happened Along the Haines “Gold Rush Alaska” Highway: Tales of Intrigue from Mosquito Lake to Porcupine Creek, Alaska

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17 Fun Facts About Bar Harbor, Maine

by Janis on July 3, 2015

In anticipation of our port call to Bar Harbor today via a 7-Day Canada and New England cruise, we dug into the history of Mount Desert Island, Maine.

17 Fun Facts About Bar Harbor, Maine

1. Bar Harbor is a town of about 5,200 residents on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine.

2. With an area of 108 square miles, Mount Desert Island is the largest island off the coast of Maine and the sixth largest island in the contiguous United States.

3. The Wabanaki Indians were the original inhabitants of the northeast shore of Mount Desert Island, which they called Pemetic, meaning “the sloping land”.

4. The Wabanaki fished, hunted, and gathered berries, clams, and other shellfish in the area, traveling in birch bark canoes. They called the area that is now Bar Harbor Man-es-ayd’ik or “clam-gathering place,” leaving piles of shells as evidence.

5. On September 6, 1604, French explorer Samuel de Champlain discovered the area when his boat ran aground on a rock as he was sailing towards Otter Creek. Champlain named the island Isles des Monts Deserts, or “island of barren mountains” which is now called Mount Desert Island.

6. Europeans Israel Higgins and John Thomas first settled in the area and began a community in 1763. The town was named as Eden, after Sir Richard Eden, an English statesman, and incorporated on February 23, 1796.

Bar Harbor, Maine — Bar Harbor was formerly named Eden.

7. Local industries included fishing, lumbering, shipbuilding, and agriculture.

8. In the 1840s, the area’s rugged maritime scenery attracted artists from the Hudson River School, including Thomas Cole and Frederic Church. These painters glorified Mount Desert Island in their artwork, inspiring patrons and friends to flock here.

9. Tobias Roberts established Agamont House, the first hotel in Eden, in 1855.

10. Alpheus Hardy built Birch Point, the first summer estate, in 1868.

11. By 1880, there were 30 hotels, including the Mira Monte Inn, a historic landmark that would later survive the massive fire in 1947. Tourists arrived by train and ferry to the Gilded Age resort.

12. For a select group of Americans, the 1880s and the “Gay Nineties” meant affluence on a scale without precedent. Mount Desert, still remote from the cities of the East, became a summer retreat for the Rockefellers, Morgans, Fords, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Astors, and other prominent families who built elegant estates, ironically called “cottages”.

13. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., son of John D. Rockefeller of Standard Oil Co., donated about one-third of the land in Acadia National Park and built the carriage roads that are today used for hiking and biking.

Main Street of Bar Harbor, Maine in 1908.

14. Future Vice President Nelson Rockefeller was born in the town on July 8, 1908.

15. On March 3, 1918, the town of Eden was renamed Bar Harbor. The new name was inspired by the sand and gravel bar, visible at low tide, which leads across to Bar Island and forms the rear of the harbor.

16. In 1920, President William Howard Taft played golf at the Kebo Valley Golf Club.

17. In October, 1947, during a severe drought, sparks at a landfill eight miles from town ignited a wildfire that would intensify over ten days, destroying 67 palatial summer houses on Millionaires’ Row. Five grand hotels and 170 permanent homes were also destroyed, as well as 10,000 acres of Acadia National Park. Two people died. Fortunately, the town’s business district was spared.

Learn more about Bar Harbor, Maine with these resources:

Lost Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor in the Roaring Twenties: From Village Life to the High Life on Mount Desert Island

Acadia: The Complete Guide: Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island

What fun fact can you add about the history of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island, Maine? Please share in comments below.

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