There is a rest stop with parking on each side of the highway. This is a must see, as it is very beautiful! There is a walking path on each side going up to a causeway across the highway and a wooden stairway up onto the side of the rock. Great photo op!! Plus sweeping views of the valley and hills.
We stayed here during a college tour road trip! It is literally right off of the highway. However, our room faced the highway and we did not hear the traffic! The breakfast is free and abundant, albeit mostly cheap processed fare. The room was clean and the common areas were clean. Parking is ample and this place is dog friendly!! This was great as we had our family dog with us. There is a large plot of grass between the hotel and the raised highway where they can walk and potty peacefully. The reception staff was very pleasant and there seemed to always be more than one person on duty, which was very helpful.
Cons: The outlets in our lamp (in room 206) were loose and had no USB port. The elevator took many minutes to reach you, no matter which of the only 3 floors you were on. It is faster to take the steps. The room was so humid (there was no dehumidifier in the AC unit and no bathroom exhaust fan) that the sheets and carpets were damp our whole stay. It was hard to sleep as it was so muggy!! Also, they have no guest laundry.
Overall I would stay here again. It was close to Duke and within 30 minutes of many local colleges. If you stay here, check out the eateries on 9th street!! It's a quick jaunt down the street to a hip part of town with a grocery store, laundromat, and restaurants!
The lighthouse was easy to get to and there was ample parking. There are walking trails around the property and wetlands. There is a gift shop/bookstore and a counter to purchase tickets to walk up the lighthouse. It was scorching hot outside so we took some pics and had a quick walk around, then sat in the car reading the wikipedia page on its history. Very neat and informative!
This chapel is huge and beautiful. Gorgeous architecture and huge stained glass windows. The bells are rung every 15 minutes and are manned by a human...not a computer. Parking lot and garage are steps away! Must visit!!
Keep on going! We were headed home from a 2 week road trip and this was the most convenient Holiday Inn (we are rewards members so wanted this brand) along our route. I went to check in and they were hosting a large group in a banquet room, and there were members of a flight crew in the lobby...which seemed like good signs to me. However, the room we got was "around back", which looked like a creepy run down 70's motel. The grass was dead, the parking lot had random cars playing music or sitting in the far back end doing goodness knows what, the basketball court was in shambles and the backboard was set too low, the steps were horrid looking and need redone, the paint was worn off the door, the carpet was dirty in the stairwell, our door lock was rusty, the wi-fi would not stay connected, the windows were full of spider webs and dirt, the AC unit was full if dust and I had to wash the filter (which looked like it had never been done), the beds don't fit the frames and slide around, the bedskirts were upside down and too big for these mattresses, the shower was dirty, the bathroom tile needs replacing,...I could go on. It was a tolerable stay, but as a rewards member and at $125+ $50 pet fee, it was absolutely a shame of a hotel. I would not stay here again!
Gorgeous views elevated above the banks of the Connecticut River. The "castle" was the dream of and constructed by William Gillette who was the first to bring the Sherlock Holmes character to the stage. He was a bit eccentric and the interior certainly shows this- 45 distinct hand carved doors, hand carved light switches and window locks, Tiffany lights, etc, etc...gorgeous! There was also a real small steam train at one time that went around his property...very cool. So much to see. Affordable. Take the ferry across the river if you come visit!!