Julian gives you the moon and the stars

“MY wife and I just spent our wedding anniversary at the Observer’s Inn, outside of Julian (west of San Diego). The reason to go is for the tour through the heavens by way of several telescopes. Last night, we saw Saturn so clearly that the separation in the rings was discernible. We saw Jupiter with two of its colored bands and four of its moons strung like pearls against the black sky.”

Doubles from $158.

Observer’s Inn, 3535 Highway 79, Julian, CA 92036; (760) 765-0088, www.observersinn.com.

CY AND CHRISTINE HILL

Mission Viejo

**

Portugal: Pleasures of the manor

“THIS May, we spent a delightful night at the Casa de Vilarinho de S. Romao, an elegant six-room manor house in the Rio Douro Port wine region of Portugal, about eight miles north of Pinhao. Built during the 17th century, the house has been lovingly restored. As the owner, Cristina Olazabal van Zeller, says: “The charms of the past meet the comforts of the present.”

Doubles from $100.

Casa de Vilarinho de S. Romao, Lugar da Capela, Vilarinho de S. Romao, 5060-630, Sabrosa, Portugal; 011-351-259-93-07-54, www.casadevilarinho.com.

DOUG AND MARIE MCHENRY

San Diego