Ever travel somewhere alone and really wish you had your friends, your kids or your spouse around to share the special spot you? That’s how I felt at Highland Haven, in Evergreen, Colorado, last month. I visited the historic bed and breakfast (former cabin homestead and rustic motel) to attend a Visit Denver media event and finagled myself an invitation to overnight there since I was traveling more than three hours to attend (yes, that’s how much I wanted to meet some Denver-area travel writers and PR folks). The property exudes romance and I was thinking about my husband a lot.
Highland Haven, comprised of more than a dozen standard rooms, suites and cottages, sits along more than 400 feet of prime river real estate. Adirondack chairs facing Bear Creek (see photo above) invite rest and relaxation with your sweetie. Creekside Cellars Winery and Italian Cafe is within walking distance; pick up some wine and nibbles for an instant picnic by the water.
Accommodations are cozy and warm — no lace and frou-frou decorations here. Owner Gail Riley is in charge of interior design (while her husband Tom Statzell is the master craftsman behind the fine woodwork). She calls her decorating scheme “Colorado Chic,” a style that appeals to both men and women. I loved the log beams, warm bedding, bathroom tile work and convenient kitchenette in my Creekside Cottage (pictured right).
Gail herself has a romantic streak. In celebration of the inn’s “30 Years of Romance” (Riley and Statzell took over the property in 1979), she’s asking guests to contribute their personal definitions of romance for her next book. (She’s already published a compilation of her delicious recipes in the acclaimed cookbook Colorado Cravings.) In the gathering room/breakfast spot in the Dailey Cabin, which dates back to the late 1800s, she’s posted many of the sweet responses on a “Romance is…” poster, which brought tears to my eyes (okay, I must have really been missing my husband).
Want more romance? For a fee, guests can have their own “Peter + Jane” hearts carved on the rough-hewn “love pole” (that’s my term) on the property. That’s popular among regular visitors who return regularly to celebrate wedding anniversaries. Guests can also have their love immortalized on the stone walkway in the courtyard (see picture left).
Coming in 2010 is an eco-friendly, 700-square-foot, three-story treehouse that will feature a king-size bed, two person steam shower and a third-floor hot-tub spa cupola. Va-va-va-voom! If those accommodations won’t spark some romance, I don’t know what will.
Book holiday weekends early at this little gem just 30 minutes west of Denver. It’s not to early to plan your Valentine’s Day getaway in the Colorado mountains.
Photo credits: Interior, courtesy Highland Haven; others Kara Williams.
I love the idea of my own heart stone. How romantic!!
It’s nice to get away and miss the hubs a bit, isn’t it? You’ll have to go back one day with yours!
I am a huge travel fan and my favorite places to stay are in cabins, cottages, and B&Bs as I love the charm they bring. Keep up the great blogging.