On the East Coast Photo Tour, we found ourselves in Edenton, NC, at the awesome Granville Queen!

On our many travels to photograph our clients' Inns, we've see some really amazing homes, and the Granville Queen is no exception! The minute we drove up, our jaws dropped! This place is immaculate, the grounds, the rooms, the entire place was just so intriguing and inviting.

Veteran Innkeepers, Dora and Dave, were happy to show us around, the great room, the plantation porch, dining areas, sitting areas and the guest rooms, you could feel their warmth and see the twinkle in their eyes as they presented their place to us. They put us in a very large room on the second floor with great beds and bedding and plenty of room for us to set up the gear and computers.

As always, mornings are special as we get to the dining area early to shoot the breakfasts. The aromas were incredibly captivating as we set up on the very large and sunny plantation porch. Dora and Dave run things a tad different than usual, quite hands on, they even make their reservations the old fashion way, over the phone, direct contact, it's no wonder they get so many return guests.

The house is a work of art and the town of Edenton is really charming with lots of great restaurants and a cool little harbor complete with a park on the water for families to enjoy. Here is the great room with lots of space to spread out and relax. We fell in love with what they did with the ceiling lighting, so nice in the evenings.

The Granville Queen, which sits on the corner of Granville and Queen in Edenton, North Carolina, was a great experience... and Dave and Dora made us feel right at home and were right there if we needed anything. This is one place we will return to one fine day, and so should you!

http://www.granvillequeen.com/

WowiZowi does an East Coast Photographic Tour, Prospect Place in Cambridge, Mass

Wow, what a great spot, Cambridge, Mass, which is just across the river from downtown Boston, and home to Harvard and MIT. It was a major experience to photograph this wonderful house, with enough character to last the decades and then some! Prospect Place exceeded our expectations, and Eric and Judy have put heart and soul into retaining the integrity and feel of days gone by... while bringing in modern day convieniences.

The entrance reveals the timely staircase looking the same as it did decades ago, and just beyond is the dining room. The large main parlor is to the right, just inside the door.
And what a main parlor it is! Eric, a concert pianist, has this 100 year old, completely refurbished into mint condition, German Steinway Grand Piano in there. Anyone that knows me could easily guess, I had to sit at it as often as I could, what a great sounding instrument! We were lucky enough to witness Eric playing it one afternoon... and we were in heaven! That boy sure can play, shear brilliance!

Mornings are great at Prospect Place, you wake to the smell of breakfast cooking and the great coffee and teas. Eric and Judy prepare a different dish daily and you don't want to miss it! We couldn't wait to get to the dining room, get the shots and have our way with the French Toast and eggs! They don't let you go away hungry, you won't likely need to stop for lunch.

Eric and Judy are gracious hosts who really care about their Inn and the guests that come there from all over the world. They are very helpful with any informatin you might need and their restaurant reccommendations were amazing. When in the Boston/Cambridge area, stay at the Prospect Place! http://www.prospectpl.com/

It's back to Placerville... in the Gardens of Eden Vale!

I wonder if Mark and Gail ever sleep, they just keep building onto this over-a-hundred-year-old barn! They've done an amazing job building a modern, contemporary, luxury inn inside the old barn they bought decades ago in the foothill of the Sierra Nevada's. Attention to details and a great eye for what people are looking for in a retreat is their prime motivation. Here is the gigantic main living room with fire ablaze.

They have just added 5 new rooms, three on the ground floor of the barn house and two more over by the lake they've created on the property. We went out to shoot these new rooms and were blown away by their sheer elegance! Each has a private outdoor soaking tub and deck area to enjoy the majesty of the western Sierra's.

The new Madrone Room is very large with custom lighting, top of the line beds and bedding and all the modern amenities you could ask for, including WiFi everywhere!

Mark and Gail are very articulate in everything they do and it sure reflects in their rooms and gardens. You feel you are far, far from the noise and commotion of the city but with all the modern convieniences of a very high-end hotel... and, you actually are!

We love to return to Eden Vale and spend time with Mark and Gail, we do work hard to get the great shots, but it is so easy to relax in the Gardens of Eden Vale. Look for their new rooms when their new WowiZowi website goes live soon. www.edenvale.com

Aloha, WowiZowi gets back to Hawaii, to the Hawaiian Oasis!

The Hawaiian Oasis, let me say, the name fits perfectly! On the big Island on the Kona Coast, this oasis sits above Kailua and the great pacific... in a little slice of heaven in the jungle! A prefect location as you're a bit out of town, a 5 min drive away, but up here it's cooler and the views are exspansive and beautiful.
Peter and Darla have put their heart and soul into this special place, bringing in the modern but not leaving behind all the traditional hawaiiana that surrounds you. Darla put us in the Waterfall room, a huge room on the ground floor steps from the pool and amazing gardens.

The main room, on the second floor, is well equiped and with the great views. The dining area is large with an outside seating area to enjoy their awesome breakfasts and that good old Kona Coffee in the mornings.

We were sorry that we didn't get to meet Peter this trip, but we know we will in the near future when we return to photograph their other beautiful property down on the beach, just south of Kailua. Yeah, as you can guess, it was really difficut to hang out with these two beautiful blondes on the island of Hawaii, I'm sure you feel sorry for me, no?

We had an amazing experience at the Hawaiian Oasis, Darla was so much fun and had great ideas for some of the pictures we took. And what a great cook, as well, not only the breakfasts, but she treated us to some Hawaiian home cooking for dinners, too. Who could ask for more? Talk about a little slice of heaven... oh, yeah!

Visit the website at http://www.hawaiianoasis.com/ and if you're ever on the big island, go stay there, you'll be happy you did!

It's definitely posh... at Posh Palm Springs!

Back in Palm Springs again to shoot the Posh-y-est! Mike and Susan are constantly doing improvements to this place which they've already improved 500% since they first took over the building in north Palm Springs.
One great item we observed is an improvement to their breakfasts, they were always great, but this here one was extremely delicious!

They've also been working hard on a couple of their suites, wishing to accomadate requests from couples and families traveling together, putting two queen beds in two of the suites.

Always fun to hang out at Posh Palm Springs with Sue and Mike, they kept our energy level up with some major treats like this one!

Mike and Sue are still at it and we're looking forward to returning to the sunshine at Posh! Check out their site at http://www.poshpalmsprings.com/

Off WowiZowi goes again, back to the Napa Valley!

It's back to visit Dan and Candy at their Arbor Guest House as these guys are at it again, doing what they do so well, revitalizing this classic Napa home with contemporary styling. Always great to see them, they're such cheery innkeepers! .

We stood out in the street for an hour to get this night shot of the house just after dark.

As always, breakfast at the Arbor house was a major treat, they do do it right! I ate that egg souffle seconds after this shot! MmmmmMmmm!

We had absolutly beautiful days at the Arbor, and caught this one of the arbor itself. Great spot to sit and enjoy some of the famous Napa Valley wine in the afternoon sunshine!

The photos came out great and Dan, Candy and the whole staff were right there with anything we may have needed. And, you always get a great night sleep at the Arbor Guest House, their beds are amazingly comfortable! Check out their WowiZowi website at www.arborguesthouse.com

WowiZowi returns to Cape May, NJ for new Photos

Getting to hang out with Robyn and Wolfgang at the Rhythm of the Sea Inn is always an experience in itself, way too fun! They've been busy upgrading some of their rooms so we needed to get out there and update their room images. The weather was perfect and the views of the Atlantic were awesome, here's a shot from a second floor deck.

Here's the main room, looking through past the pool table and the enclosed front patio to the water beyond.

A secial treat is getting to eat one of Wolfgang's delicious breakfasts in their dining room. Always plenty of food on your plate and great conversation with the guests.


Here's one of the room shots, doing our best to feature the fact your steps away from the beach, and the sweet aroma of the breaking surf outside the window!


We had a great time, as we always do at Rhythm of the Sea, and their newly remodeled WowiZowi website is doing them quite well with the new pictures. Check them out at www.rhythmofthesea.com and watch for the sandpiper!

Wowi Zowi returns to Catalina to photograph the Catalina Island Inn

The WowiZowi Photography team heads back to Catalina to photograph the rooms of the recently refurbished Catalina Island Inn. Martin and Bernie have been on the island and running their hotel for many years and have been constantly upgrading their place. It's absolutely beautiful, they've done a remakable job with this years renovations.

The floors have amazing woodwork, awesome detail here the the lobby with the articulate naval compass. Coffee and breakfasts can be had mornings in here until they finish up their upcoming breakfast room very near completion.

The rooms are cozy with ocean breezes floating through. We stayed in this large King View room overlooking the Avalon Harbor. Great beds and bedding so comfy, big screen TV in all the rooms and the tiled bathrooms are really nice!

This room has it's own private deck to realx and enjoy the great views and warm summer breezes, a great place to enjoy a glass of wine and each others company.

Getting to know Bernie and Martin was a real treat, they made our work days very fun and were right there if we needed anything, very gracious and fun people, we look forward to working together with them to make their new WowiZowi website the very best!

Wowi Zowi doing their photography at Chilhowee Mountain Retreat in The Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

High atop Chilhowee Mountain in the diverse forests of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee you'll find this new Mountain Retreat built by Jim and Mary Haider. The 3 story 'square log' cabin is huge and beautiful with breath-taking views of the Smoky Mountain National Park.
Their place is spacious and the woodwork detail is stunning. The rooms are large with huge windows looking out over the mountains. They have thought of every amenity and when you stay here, you'll want for nothing... except to stay longer.

Here's the Wildflower Room, the room we stayed in while we were there. The king bed was great, so comfy, and the views out the windows are spectacular!

The massive deck is great for just sitting a staring out into the mountains. What a perfect place to sip your morning coffee, listen to the birds and just..... ahhhh, relax!

Jim cooks up a fantastic breakfast every morning, a major feast for any appetite. The food is almost as good as the conversations with your hosts.

We took a half a day and Jim drove us into the National Park, about a 20 minute drive through the forest. Beautiful mountains, rivers and trees, the aromatic scents filled the air and the one thing that stood out when you drive into the park, no toll booth, no fees to get in, just a sign saying welcome... NICE!

We really enjoyed finally meeting Jim and Mary, great hosts with endless amazing stories. They were meant to be Innkeepers, very gracious hosts that love this awesome place in the mountains and the awesome place they built themselves, carving out a beautful home in the forests of the Smoky's, and ready to share it with you!

Be sure to check out their new WowiZowi website coming soon with all the great photography of their beautiful rooms, and book yourself a stay at the Chilhowee Mountain Retreat... it is a treat of a retreat!

WowiZowi goes to the Guidry Estate in Luisiana.

We sure found out why Innkeepers Lyn and Ken Guidry named their Louisiana bed and breakfast 'Maison D' Memoire', because this place will surely make for some amazing memories, indeed. Thier huge, multi-acre grounds are gorgeously landscaped complete with a private lake with a bridge crossing over it, and many gardens. We told Ken he should put in a golf course around the lake as there is so much open area of fresh mown lawns.

We strolled around the lake and crossed the bridge at sunset and the sweet smell of the many trees filled the air... we sat there on the bridge, such a romantic place to be.

It's the porches that we really loved, every cottage has it's own where you can sit and have your breakfast, prepared fresh daily by Lyn herself, and gaze across the grounds. Or just sit there and enjoy a quiet glass of wine in the evening... so nice!

Along with the really cool porches, the cottages are large and comfortable with kitchens in every one. Below is the Autumn Cottage kitchen, very large with everything you'd need. All the windows have views of the gardens, lawns, forest and lake. So relaxing!

We really enjoyed getting to know Ken and Lyn, whom we met for the first time at a PAII conference at Disneyland in California. Maison D' Memoire in Rayne, Luisiana, a very special place with very special Innkeepers, Lyn and Ken, we so look forward to a time to visit them without our camera gear and just enjoy the place and the innkeepers.

WowiZowi Photo team heads to Napa to the Beazley's BnB

WowiZowi had the great honor to go to the Beazley House in Napa to photograph their rooms for their updated website being built by their son-in law. It was great to get to spend some time with Jim and Carol whom we met years ago at CABBI. They are truely awesome people and their inn is a work of art, the rooms are simply amazing.
Their 11 rooms offer everything you might need, super clean and spacious with all the great amenities... and just a minute's stroll into downtown Napa.

Shooting the rooms was a real treat, Jim and Carol we're right there to help us with whatever we needed to get the great shots. Their breakfasts are huge and delicious... so no one goes away hungry. Wine and cheese in the front room in the evening was a real treat, too, and we met some real fun folks who were staying there for their yearly visit to the Wine Country, all the way from Florida.

Jim and Carol's daughter, Sonja, was right there at the door when we arrived and she took great care of us the entire time, we surely fell in love with this family and will be looking forward to returning someday soon!

Whenever in the Napa Valley area, be sure to stop in at the Beazely House, you'll be glad you did! We thank everyone there for the extreme hospitality and their generous nature and can't wait to see them again soon!

Wowi Zowi returns to Ferndale to photograph the new VI Restaurant

The WowiZowi Photography team is at it again! This time up in Ferndale where we get to visit our good friends Lowell and Jenny who recently took over and rebuilt the restaurant which resides inside their Victorian Inn. Previously Curleys, Lowell and Jenny have put their talents together and the new revised restaurant is better than ever. It is now the VI Restaurant and it's beautiful and the food is outstanding!

We were treated like royalty and we ate at the new restaurant for every meal we were up there and we can't say enough about the chef and his amazing creations. The new dining room is elegant and spacious and the service is spot on!
The dessert creations not only taste great but look incredible as well. It was great to shoot these beautiful sweet treats because we get to eat them as well! MMMMMMM, just look at these guys!

The menu has got something for everyone's palate, so if you're ever in the area, stop in for a great meal and stay there at the Inn, it is quite a treat!

Great steaks, chicken, veal, seafood, vegetable dishes, we had them all, they are really going all out to satisfy. Yum, we're gonna need to come back soon to visit Lowell and Jenny and the rest of the VI crew and sit down to some fabulous food! Be sure to check out their new restaurant website at http://virestaurant.com/ and say hello!