William Gyles Guesthouse, Newport, RI
Castle Hill Inn, Newport, RI
Bowen's Wharf, Newport, RI
Harbor looking toward Trinity Church Steeple, Newport, RI

Merrilee's International Trip Blogs & Travel Information

Operating the William Gyles Guesthouse keeps Merrilee very busy most of the year. During the winter months she loves to pick up and travel overseas. Typical tourist spots are not generally on her agenda. Go beyond the beaten path with her and gain an in-depth look at the places and cultures she visits by browsing through her travel blogs where she writes about her adventures, including photos and tips.


During the winter of 2020, Merrilee traveled in Eastern Europe. Her blog address for this adventure is www.ZellnerTravel.com
          During this solo journey, Merrilee spent two months traveling in Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), and Romania. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee’s Solo Travels in Eastern Europe 2020.


During the winter of 2019, Merrilee traveled in Eastern Europe. Her blog address for this adventure is www.ZellnerTravel.com
         During this solo journey, Merrilee spent two months in Budapest and Ukraine. When you log onto this address you will see it is a continuation of her 2018 winter travels in Eastern Europe. She plans to keep this travel blog address indefinitely and continue adding onto it during her future overseas journey. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee’s Solo Travels in Eastern Europe 2019.


During the winter of 2018, Merrilee traveled solo throughout Poland. Her blog address for this adventure is www.ZellnerTravel.com
          Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee’s Solo Travels in Eastern Europe 2018.


In 2018 and 2019 Merrilee traveled extensively in Costa Rica. During this time she had some dental work done. Her blog address for this adventure: costaricadiscover.wordpress.com
          Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips, and photos on her travel blog: Costa Rica Adventure.


In the spring of 2018 Merrilee traveled throughout the island nation of Malta in the Mediterranean. Her blog address in which she wrote about this solo adventure is www.ZellnerTravelMalta2018.wordpress.com.
          You will find helpful links, information, and personal stories about Costa Rica relating to these adventures on her travel blog: Merrilee’s Solo Travels in Malta 2018 – A European Adventure.


During the winter of 2017, Merrilee traveled in Europe. Her blog address for this adventure is ZellnerTravel2017.wordpress.com
          During this two-month solo journey, Merrilee spent one month in England and one month in former East Germany and Prague. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee’s Adventure Travel in Europe 2017 – England, Former East Germany, Prague.


During the winter of 2016, Merrilee traveled through Italy and Portugal. Her blog address for this adventure is ZellnerTravel2016.wordpress.com
          During this three-month solo journey, Merrilee spent one month in each of these two countries. The highlights were Rome, Sicily and Venice in Italy; Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. Enjoy Merrilee's Journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee's Solo Travels in Italy & Portugal 2016 – A European Adventure.


During the winter of 2015, Merrilee went on a solo journey visiting parts of Greece, Italy and Israel. Her blog address for this adventure is ZellnerTravel2015.wordpress.com
          During this three-month solo journey Merrilee traveled through parts of Greece, Italy and Israel. While in Israel she visited Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the West Bank. In Greece, in addition to Athens, she explored the Peloponnese Peninsula, with its classical temples, Mycenaen palaces, Byzantine cities and Venetian fortresses. In Italy Rome was her focus, with a side trip to Naples. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee's Solo Travels in Greece, Italy & Israel 2015 – An Overseas Adventure.


During the winter of 2014, Merrilee embarked on a solo journey visiting parts of Asia. Her blog address for this adventure is ZellnerTravel2014.wordpress.com
          During this three-month journey, Merrilee used Shanghai, China, as her headquarters. Her primary destination was Myanmar (Burma) where she spent a month exploring this exotic country rich in history, culture, customs and tradition. Join Merrilee as she explores Myanmar, Thailand and Shanghai, a major financial center of the world and a historic city where a once-vibrant colonial heritage has left its mark. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips, and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee’s Adventure Travel in Asia 2014 – China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma).


During the winter of 2013, Merrilee traveled throughout Ecuador. Her blog address for this adventure is ZellnerTravel2013.wordpress.com
          Ecuador - a country rich with culture and natural beauty – where Spanish dominates; where the historic centers of Quito and Cuenca are lined with beautiful, colonial plazas; where Andean villages are renowned for their colorful textiles and sprawling markets; where pristine beaches hug the coastline; where the Galapagos Islands, with their otherworldly landscapes and unusual species, both on land and sea, are a magnet for wildlife and animal lovers alike. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee's Solo Travels in Ecuador & Galapagos Islands 2013 – A South American Adventure.


The travel journey for winter 2012 saw Merrilee traveling through Panama and Colombia. Her blog address for this adventure is ZellnerTravel2012.wordpress.com
          Panama – a country where the spectacular 50-mile long Panama Canal connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, where pristine beaches, forests and remnants of a vibrant colonial past abound. Colombia - having recently come out of a long civil war, this fascinating and beautiful country is now safe and begging for exploration. Join Merrilee as she explores the colonial port of Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the thriving city of Medellin which is situated high in the Andes. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee's Adventure Travels in Panama & Colombia 2012 – A Central & South American Odyssey.


During the winter of 2011 Merrilee traveled throughout Argentina. Her blog address for this adventure: ZellnerTravel2011.wordpress.com.
          Enjoy her journey as she discovered the rich culture and beautiful lands that lie within Argentina's borders. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee's Solo Travels in Argentina 2011 – A South American Adventure.


During the winter of 2010 Merrilee traveled through Northern Africa and Israel. Her blog address for this adventure: ZellnerTravel2010.wordpress.com
          This three month journey started in January with Merrilee as a "budget" solo traveler in Morocco. When a travel companion joined her, the "budget" travel style went more upscale for a few weeks. Hostels made way to hotels, and eating in public markets changed to dining in restaurants. But adventure was still lurking around every corner – getting lost in the souks of Morocco, cruising down the Nile and exploring Jerusalem's walled city. Enjoy Merrilee's journey, tips and photos on her travel blog: Merrilee's Adventure Travel in Northern Africa & Israel 2010 – Morocco, Egypt, Israel.


At the turn of the millennium Merrilee traveled solo through Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru on a tight budget. Her blog address for this adventure: www.ZellnerTravelsaOdyssey.wordpress.com
          During this four month journey she visited the celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Enjoy Merrilee's travel adventures during the millennium via her letters and photos on her travel blog: Traveling solo in Bolivia, Ecuador & Peru - A South American Odyssey - 1999-2000
These letters were written 1999-2000, and published by way of this blog in 2021.


Merrilee was the Executive Director of the Guam USO in the Mariana Islands in the Pacific between 1982-1985. During this time she traveled around Asia and the Pacific both for business and pleasure. Her blog address for this adventure is: www.lettersfromguam.wordpress.com
          Her travels in Asia included Hong Kong, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. Her South Pacific adventures included Papua New Guinea, and diving among the Rock Islands of Palau. On the way back to the USA she traveled in Egypt and Israel for six weeks. Enjoy Merrilee’s USO and travel adventures during this snapshot of time via her letters and photos on her blog: Letters from Guam – Ode to the USO (1982-1985) These letters were written 1982-1985 and published by way of this blog in 2021.

William Gyles Guesthouse, 16 Howard Street, Newport, Rhode Island, 02840, USA  (401) 369-0243 |