This month’s Romance Wanderlust features a place that I’ve actually been to. The Winchester Mystery House is romantic in the sense that the owner, Sarah Winchester, seems to have been devoted to her husband, and it’s romantic in the sense that if you go on a candlelight tour then you can clutch each other in terror. Otherwise, it’s not so much as romantic as it’s just strange and unusual. You can’t stay at the Winchester … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: The Winchester Mystery House→
Welcome back to Romance Wanderlust, where I travel the world via the Internet in search of romantic locales. This month we have a place that I’ve actually been to: the Delta King, in Sacramento, California. I haven’t stayed at the Delta King but I can say from experience that their restaurant is nice and that they make a lovely virgin strawberry daiquiri. While I endorse the daiquiri, I can’t endorse the hotel experience as I’ve … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: The Delta King→
It’s time for Romance Wanderlust, the column in which I find yet more reasons to leave my everyday cares behind and visit romantic locales instead. I haven’t been to any of these locations, so this is neither an endorsement nor a review – just daydreaming with the help of the Internet. For those of us who love Victorian literature, there’s a new reason to head to England. Norton Conyers is finally re-opened to the public … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Norton Conyers, Inspiration for Thornfield→
Summer is here, and many of us flock to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. I’ve been to Disneyland with little kids, and it was delightful. It was even pretty romantic in the sense that watching my sweet husband carry our exhausted daughter all over the park warmed my cold little heart. However, it’s easy for me to picture going with my husband and having a truly romantic time with just the two of us. I’ve … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Disneyland Resort→
I’ve a confession to make, which is that even though I’ve read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and her horror anthology Echoes From the Macabre about 500 times each, I’ve never read Du Maurier’s classic novel, Jamaica Inn. That did not stop me from shrieking to the heavens with excitement when I realized that you can in fact visit the actual Jamaica Inn in Cornwall. There are GHOSTS. There is a SMUGGLER’S MUSEUM. SEND ME … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Jamaica Inn, Cornwall→
As a kid, I longed for a tree house, and I got as far as nailing 3 planks to a tree trunk in the construction process. It turns out that I am not the only adult whose tree house dreams remain unfulfilled. There are luxury tree houses all around the world, each begging for their own story. Treehotel in Northern Sweden has a tree house room shaped like a UFO. Milandes Treehouse in France is … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Tree Houses→
Editor’s Note: Our regular columnist for Romance Wanderlust is experiencing some medical difficulties that may affect her ability to concentrate and read words. Smart Bitches cannot verify that the following statements are accurate, but we invite you to travel along in our very silly dreamscape of medicine adjustment. Welcome to this month’s Romance Wanderlust, in which we explore real romantic places. Although I have not personally visited this romantic place I’m sure that all of … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Versailles→
Welcome back to Romance Wanderlust, in which I search the Internet for places that appeal to the romantic in us all. Please keep in mind that no matter how often I try, I can’t seem to get anyone to sponsor me to try these places out for myself. This is daydreaming time, not a review or endorsement of any of these locations. With that in mind, come away with me, or better yet, come away … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: The Manta Resort→
The Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley in France is a haven of art and glamour and formal gardens. It’s also a place rich in history, and its history is dominated by women. The site as we know it was constructed under the watchful eye of Katherine Briçonnet starting in 1513, and since then the castle has been the site of forbidden romance, revenge, intellectual and artistic growth, and rebellion. The château has such a rich … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: The Château de Chenonceau→
On today’s Romance Wanderlust, we visit a place that I actually have been to: Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, California. Hearst Castle was the retreat of William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies. It housed a substantial amount of Hearst’s art collection from Europe and hosted world leaders, famous athletes, and Hollywood stars – as well as local vendors and some very lucky Hearst employees. Hearst Castle (which Hearst called La Cuesta Encantada, “The Enchanted Castle,” … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Hearst Castle→
Forgive me a rather indulgent post, but I visited the Isle of Man and it wasn’t until I’d posted about 10 or 12 pictures to Instagram that Carrie said, “You should write about it for Romance Wanderlust.” So thank you for turning your feature over to me this month, Carrie! I traveled to the Isle of Man in July right before the Romantic Novelists’ Convention in Lancaster, which was right before RWA in San Diego. As … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: The Isle of Man→
