Today’s article is a guest post from Gemma of Wanderable.com. Wanderable is a honeymoon registry site that helps couples fund their dream honeymoons through the gifts of experiences from friends and family.

Are you or someone you know planning for a wedding night or honeymoon? At Wanderable we love the personalized service and local flavor of staying in B&Bs. We have selected five B&Bs that feature luxurious amenities and personal touches, set in locations that are perfect for romance. Explore our picks below!

Wine Country Inn - Saint Helena, California

Perfect for: Foodies and wine lovers. Spend your days exploring wine country, enjoying wine tastings at local vineyards, hiking in state parks and eating at fantastic restaurants.

Why we love it: Perched on a hill overlooking a vineyard, this property features stunning views and gorgeous grounds. Rooms feature local antiques, family made quilts, fireplaces and balconies to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. Learn more.

Hale Puka ‘ana - Kekaha, Hawaii

Perfect for: Beach and nature lovers. Explore the wild rainforests of Koke'e and Waimea Canyon national parks, tour the Napali Coast and relax on the longest white sand beach in Hawaii.

Why we love it: Just feet from the beach, this B&B allows you to enjoy Hawaii away from the crowds. Rooms feature sumptuous high thread count bed linens and private lanais (balconies) for sunset gazing and whale watching. Learn more.

Addison on Amelia - Fernandina Beach, Florida

Perfect for: Beach bums, golfers, and hikers. Amelia Island features white sand beaches, maritime forests, treed marshlands, three nearby state parks and numerous golf courses.

Why we love it: Nestled in a historic seaside village, this lovely property marries 'old Florida' elegance with modern amenities. Rooms feature soaring ceilings, four-poster beds, rich hardwood floors, luxurious bed linens and lots of large down-filled pillows. Learn more.

The Ruby of Crested Butte - Crested Butte, Colorado

Perfect for: Nature lovers, adrenaline junkies, and snow bunnies. Crested Butte has a plethora of activities available: fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rafting, skiing and snowboarding.

Why we love it: This gorgeous mountain lodge is surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds with unobstructed views of Mount Crested Butte. All rooms will enchant you with a spectacular view, luxurious 1000 thread count sheets, antique furnishings and thoughtful details. Learn more.

The Governor's Inn - Charleston, South Carolina

Perfect for: Romance lovers and history buffs. Horse drawn carriages, trees draped in Spanish moss, cobblestone streets and legendary southern hospitality make Charleston an ideal honeymoon destination.

Why we love it: Situated in the heart of historic Charleston, this pre-revolution mansion is rich in history and glamour. Rooms feature crystal chandeliers, family antiques, four-poster beds, original hardwood floors, whirlpool baths and private porches. Learn more.

Waffles always seem like one of the fanciest breakfasts to me. It’s probably because in order to make them, you have to have a waffle iron. Plus, they have the perfect nooks and crannies to hold syrup or berries. Though the ingredients are almost identical to pancakes, you usually need to dirty one more dish to whip the egg whites. Usually I prefer to dirty as few dishes as possible, but this additional bowl seems to add to this labor of love.

I doubt anyone needs another reason to love waffles, since they are already perfect and delicious. Since it's Mother’s Day I thought it might be nice to take them one step further—by making chocolate waffles!

This recipe comes from the Stonewall Kitchen Breakfast cookbook. Besides the waffles being chocolate, this recipe gilds the lily by adding chocolate maple syrup. The syrup is actually my favorite part of this recipe. It is quite versatile and could be drizzled over pancakes, scones, or bread pudding; it also tastes divine, like maple ganache.

These waffles are dense and not very sweet, which is good since I drenched mine with an obscene amount of chocolate-maple syrup. I made a few tweaks, adapting the recipe to use chocolate chips, the microwave, and by adding a dash of vanilla, which I noted in the recipe below. The next time I make these I will try whipping two egg whites to stiff peaks and folding them into the batter at the end, to see if they could be a smidge fluffier and crisper. You might also try adding some brewed coffee to bump up the chocolate flavor and thin out the batter.

Are you planning on making your mom breakfast for Mother’s Day? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and let me know what you’re planning to whip up.

Chocolate Waffles with Chocolate-Maple Syrup
From the Stonewall Kitchen Breakfast cookbook

Chocolate-maple syrup:
2 ounces dark chocolate (64% cacao) (I used a heaping 1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1/2 cup maple syrup

Waffle batter:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 ounces dark chocolate (64% cocoa) (I used a heaping 1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg

Optional toppings:
Mixed fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, and thinly sliced strawberries)
Sour cream or creme fraiche
Powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Chocolate maple-syrup: In a microwave safe bowl, add the maple syrup and microwave for 45 second. Add the chocolate chips and stir to mix until smooth. Microwave together if the chips aren’t thoroughly melted and combined.

Waffle batter: In a microwave safe medium sized bowl, combine butter and chocolate and microwave for 30 seconds, mix until smooth. If the chips haven’t melted, microwave an additional 15 seconds and stir to combine, repeating as necessary.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla to the butter/chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and gently incorporate just until the batter is smooth. (You can make the batter several hours ahead of time.)

Heat a waffle iron until hot. Lightly grease the iron with the vegetable oil by using a pastry brush or a cooking spray.

Add a heaping 1/3 cup batter to the hot waffle iron, close the lid, and cook for about 1 minute, or until golden. Remove the waffle from the iron and serve hot with the Chocolate-Maple Sauce and the berries and sour cream.

Photos by Exit Flag Photography

In our last post, we introduced you to Granbury, Texas.
In this post, we explore three itineraries for what to do in Granbury directly from innkeepers.

Fun for the Whole Family

Day 1: Check in and explore your B&B. Stop by Babe’s Chicken Dinner House and grab some of their famous fried chicken to-go. Chow down while you enjoy a family-friendly double feature at the The Brazos Drive-In. Gates open at 7:15pm and all shows are cash only.

Day 2: Eat a hearty breakfast at the inn to fuel you for a day of adventure. Drive out to Fossil Rim where you’ll go on a mini-safari in the heart of Texas. Once you’re done feeding giraffes and cooing over the baby rhinos, get some lunch at Loco Coyote in Glen Rose for Texas-sized barbecue plates and sandwiches in a converted barn. After a round of brontosaurus burgers, head to Dinosaur Valley State Park for a more prehistoric animal outing. On your way back to the inn, grab a quick dinner at Agave Tamale Co. before turning in early.

Day 3: After breakfast, head to Lake Granbury Marina for your last day of fun. Spend the morning on the water in a rented boat or kayak. Finally, stop in at Stumpy’s Lakeside Grill for a late lunch of fish tacos for the grown-ups and fish sticks for the kids. After this much excitement, expect the kids to sleep the whole way home!

Family-Friendly Cabin B&Bs

Dinosaur Trail Cabins

• Dinosaur Trail Cabins: Family-friendly cabins, full breakfast, and ¼ mile dinosaur trail 
• Heritage Cabins: Eco-friendly log cabins on several acres, breakfast basket delivered to cabins
• Windmill Farms: Cabin suites, full breakfast delivered daily, sprawling grounds with windmill collection

Romantic Rendezvous

Day 1: Make a detour on your way into town at Red Caboose Winery if you’re coming from the south or Barking Rocks Winery if you’re coming from the north. After dropping your things off at the B&B, stop into Christina’s for a light lunch at one of their outdoor bistro tables. Afterwards, head over to D’Vine Wine to get a custom bottle to take back to the B&B for a relaxing and romantic evening in.

Day 2: Enjoy breakfast in bed (you may need to arrange this ahead of time with the inn). Spend some time walking leisurely around the square with a cup of joe from Paradise Bistro and Coffee Co. before heading to Nutshell Eatery and Bakery to get sandwiches and snacks for a picnic lunch and people watching at Shanley Park (or rent a bike in the square to ride over the Moments in Time Hike & Bike Trail). End the evening with a five-star dinner and a show at the Eighteen Ninety Grille and Lounge and the Granbury Opera House.

Day 3: After a leisurely breakfast at the inn, head to Revolver Brewery or Bluff Dale Vineyards for a last taste of Granbury before heading home. Revolver Brewery tours are Saturdays only.

Revolver Brewery

B&Bs Made for Romance

• Baker Street Harbour: Victorian style house, full family-style breakfast, waterfront
• Granbury Gardens: Craftsman style house, full breakfast, garden hot tub
• Lambert House: Cottage style inn, pastries and coffee, historic district
• Manor of Time: Victorian style house, full gourmet breakfast, relaxing sun room

Girls’ (or Guys’) Getaway

Day 1: Stop by The Bootlegger Liquor Store for weekend supplies and fun country kitsch before checking into the B&B. Before settling in for a night of board games, s’mores, and general shenanigans, head out to Grumps for their Ladies’ Night and enjoy cheap margaritas and big greasy burgers.

Day 2: After a hearty breakfast at the inn, strap on your shoes for some serious shopping. Check out unique furnishings and clothing boutiques like Dakota’s Kabin, The Pan Handle, and Wagon Yard Home Furnishings. When you start to wind down from all of the shopping, stop in at The Art of Chocolate & Wine Shoppe for a mid-afternoon refreshment (and pick up a few snacks for later). After a few more trips around the square, stop into Pearl Street Station for a barbecue dinner before walking off the calories during the Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour.

Day 3: By day three, you will be sufficiently pooped from days of fun and friendship in Granbury. Ask the innkeepers to wrap a light breakfast to go, fill a thermos with orange juice or mimosas, and head down to Granbury City Beach Park for white sand and relaxation. After you’ve soaked in your daily dose of vitamin D, make a little more room in your stomach for one more down home country meal at Linda’s Southern Kitchen. Here you can enjoy Southern favorites like chicken fried steak and black eyed peas. Order the “Lighter Fare” portion size to save space for a shareable slice of their famous Tollhouse pie: a decadent confection full of chocolate chips and walnuts, topped with ice cream and hot fudge.

Ideal Friend Hangout B&Bs

The Iron Horse Inn - Opening Spring 2013

• Arbor House: Victorian style house and separate “Angel House”, full breakfast, beachfront
• Arkens Bed and Breakfast: King rooms, hearty two-course breakfast, lakefront mini-resort
• The Iron Horse Inn: Arts-and-crafts style rooms and cottages, newly renovated, historic district
• Pomegranate Cottages: Cottage-style, full breakfast, cookies, evening dessert, guest lodge

Granbury, TX Resources:

Where to eat

• Agave Tamale Co.
• Babe’s Chicken Dinner House
• Christina’s
• Eighteen Ninety Grille and Lounge
• Grumps
• Linda’s Southern Kitchen
• Loco Coyote
• Nutshell Eatery and Bakery
• Paradise Bistro and Coffee Co.
• Pearl Street Station
• Stumpy’s Lakeside Grill

Where to drink                

• The Art of Chocolate & Wine Shoppe
• Barking Rocks Winery
• Bluff Dale Vineyards
• D’Vine Wine
• Red Caboose Winery
• Revolver Brewery

What to do

• The Brazos Drive-In
• Dinosaur Valley State Park
• Fossil Rim
• Granbury City Beach Park
• Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour
• Granbury Opera House / Granbury Theater Company
• Lake Granbury Marina
• Shanley Park

Where to shop

• Almost Heaven
• Dakota’s Kabin
• Guerin’s Boutique and Nursery
• The Pan Handle
• Red (on the square)
• Stuff N’ Nonsense
• Truly Trendy Boutique
• Wagon Yard Home Furnishings

The wind is whipping through the windows of my rented sedan while the hits of the ‘80s, ‘90s and today are blaring through the radio. I have just passed the 50^th idyllic field of cows in a meadow of bluebonnets, the fourth ghost town of days gone by, and the second winery when I start to think, “Are we there yet?” Right before I pull the iPhone out again to make sure that I’m still going the right way, I see the street I’m looking for and make a sharp turn onto a blink-and-you-miss-it stretch of dirt and gravel road positioned between a nondescript field and a nondescript gas station.

With no idea of what to expect, I drive for just under a minute before dead-ending in the last place that I would have ever expected. Arkens Bed and Breakfast is a modern Mediterranean mansion with a circle drive, entryway fountain, and the largest wooden doors I’ve ever seen. After ringing the bell, I’m greeted by a sign that says “Welcome Bevin,” and two warm hugs from the proprietors of the house, Arlis and Ken “Baby Snooks” Holland.  This is just the start of my tour of 10 B&Bs in Granbury.

Arkens Bed and Breakfast

You’ve probably never heard of Granbury, Texas, and that is a shame. In Granbury, you’ll find a mix of everything that makes Texas so great. From friendly people who all seem to know each other, to deep-fried foods that you promised your doctor you wouldn’t eat. Only in Granbury can you feed a giraffe, visit three wineries and a brewery, pay your respects at the tomb of Davy Crockett’s second wife, and relax on a white sand beach in the same day.

When you visit Granbury, you’ll get a taste of what Texas small-town life was always meant to be. Eat until you can eat no more (not even apple pie a la mode!), shop until you drop, and have some unusual adventures along the way. But most of all, meet new friends, like Arlis and Baby Snooks, who’ll make sure you call telling them you got home safely.

Head to Granbury and get away your way. Whether you’d like to take the family, that special someone, or a group of friends, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.

Be sure to check out our next post for innkeeper tips on the best places to explore, eat, and shop in Granbury!

Granbury, Texas Innkeepers

Meet Laurie Pinnix, half of the duo that owns and runs the Mt. Gainor Inn in Dripping Springs, TX.  She and her husband Jerry stumbled into being innkeepers and have built an inn in their likeness, from coffee based on their annual trips to Costa Rica, to keeping their French inspired décor a little bit Texas.

L:R - Laurie Pinnix and the custom gate to the back

ML: It looks like you’re on quite a bit of land out here.
LP: We’re in the middle of the Procno Ranch, so all around us are big ranch owners. Our 23 acres is just a postage stamp!

ML: It’s beautiful back here! How long have you had this B&B?
LP: We’ve owned it for 10 years. We’re just finishing up our addition; we’ve put in a dining room, a kitchen, and two new rooms. The main house was built in 1910. We moved it 100 miles and then we started restoring it. It looked just like a movie set when we moved it.

ML: That’s crazy! Where was it originally from?
LP: Close to La Grange, TX.  It took us about two years to restore it. And then we opened up a bed as B&B; we weren’t originally planning on it being a B&B, but word got around that people could come stay on weekends. So we just kind of fell into the business! And it’s been fun.

ML: Were you originally from La Grange, TX?
LP: No. It was a friend of mine’s family home and they were going to tear it down. So we took it and put it out here. It actually got put in a sheep shearing pasture. Then we went, “Okay, well, what do we want to do?” We just started working on it, and it just kind of took on a life of its own.

ML: Wow! How do you like being an innkeeper now?
LP: I love it. It’s the best thing to ever happen to me! Sometimes when you’re not prepared, you know, some things just fall into your lap.

ML: What’s your design aesthetic? I really love the distressed wood in the common areas.
LP: You know, I have no earthly idea. It’s mine. Would you call it eclectic?

ML: I don’t know. I like it though! It’s a little Texas, very cute.
LP: It may be a little, hm, French country?

ML: It’s French Hill Country, how about that?
LP: I love it! I’m going to use it on my website!

ML: Take it! How many rooms do you have?
LP: We have the main house of five rooms and then we have two cottages. We have the Side Oates cottage and we have a new one that is absolutely gorgeous. That’s our newest cottage, and it’s kind of—it’s French décor! What started that was that a friend of mine gave me a set of old French doors from Louisiana that came up during Katrina and they were in good shape. So he picked them up off the beach and brought them back for me.

The Hideaway room

ML: Do you guys ever get to go on vacation?
LP: We do. We close up once a year for about three to four weeks and we go to Costa Rica. And we hang out there for the month of January. And when we come back and we’re ready to go again! We stay booked all year long.

ML: Wow. What’s in the area that draws your guests here?
LP: We have 10 wedding venues in the area and we’re within 15 minutes of five wineries, Pedernales State Park, Hamiltion Pool, Reheimer’s Ranch, and Westcave. And within 20 minutes of two olive oil companies that grow and make their own olive oil. And we’re right next to Wimberley! So you can do as much or as little as you want. We have a lot of people that come and they have a lot of plans and they hit the hammocks and that’s it! There’s nothing to do if that’s what you want, or an all-day adventure. We also have a lot of people who come for anniversaries and birthdays. And because of the wedding venues we have honeymooners. And we have a lot of folks who will come back for their one-year anniversary.

ML: Do you host weddings at the inn?
LP: We do them for up to 20 people, so it’s more of an elopement than a wedding. With so many venues around the area doing large weddings, we just don’t have the facilities for it, but we’ve got a perfect facility for small intimate weddings.

ML: I’m sure they’re beautiful in the backyard garden area.
LP: The last wedding we did was in the back and it was gorgeous. We also have packages, like in-room massages, chocolate dipped strawberries, romantic dinners, so we can do just about anything that people want to make their weekend perfect.

ML: Do you both live on-site?
LP: We live on the 23 acres. We don’t live in the inn.

ML: That’s perfect, plenty of space!
LP: It is! Everybody gets their privacy. It’s a good arrangement. We’re here on-site if anybody needs anything, but we’re out of their way if they want to be very private.

Nell, the inn kitty

ML: Do you offer dinner?
LP: We do, by reservation only. We don’t have a restaurant open to the public, but we do by reservation only for our guests.

ML: Do you do all the cooking?
LP: I do most the cooking, but I don’t do all of it. We do have a professional person that does come in, because I am not a chef. I’m just a down-home cook. I do very good breakfasts and things like that. But I do have people come in and help me out!

ML: I saw a sign about bikes, do you do bike rentals?
LP: No, we don’t do rentals, but we have a lot of people that bring their own bikes. And because of the Austin Cycling Association, which we’re a member of, they have mapped us out maps for bike riders, so they can go on 12 to 60 mile rides. They’re all loops that begin and end at the inn. And since Pedernales State Park is so close, there’s also mountain biking. People from Austin just come out here and park and they ride. So we’re open to bike riders and stuff.

ML: I saw that you have your own brand of coffee—would you tell me about it?
LP: We have a special blend of coffee that we do, that’s made specifically for the inn.  When we went to Costa Rica, we had the best coffee we’ve ever had. We came back and couldn’t find it, so we went to a roaster and we started blending our own.

ML: Oh, that’s nice! Is it a strong- or light-tasting coffee?
LP: It’s not strong, it’s full-bodied and rich. It’s a coffee that I think most people like. It’s not bitter at all; it’s really smooth. I guess they like it—our guests buy a lot of it! They can buy it as whole beans or we’ll grind it for them.

ML: Can you give me an example of what breakfast here looks like?
LP: Here’s a sample breakfast: tarragon-orange French toast, a side of sausage, fruit with yogurt, and vanilla orange juice. A sample dinner would be pecan crusted rainbow trout, or the Texas classic: King Ranch chicken casserole.