Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Puffin Inn in Ogunquit, Maine









A charming country inn offering a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere on the Maine Coast. The name Puffin may refer to the fuzzy down or to the puffed out appearance of the adult's belly, however, the most outstanding feature of the Puffin is its multi-colored bill. This bird is found off the coast of Maine and ranges into the North Atlantic and western Europe. It spends its winters at sea. The Williams family, owns and operates the Puffin Inn. Since they make their home at the Inn, you can expect individual attention and special personal touches to make your stay a pleasant one. Upon arrival you are greeted by a staff member of the Puffin Inn, and personally shown to your room.
The Inn has eight bright, immaculate, comfortable rooms, all with private baths. The Carriage House, a separate building, has two large rooms (may be adjoined) each consisting of two double beds, full bath, a sitting area, and an outside deck. Once you are settled, you can plan your day's activities, whether it's sightseeing, walking along the "Famous Marginal Way", shopping in nearby boutiques, village shoppes, and outlets, beaching, antiquing or whatever delights you. In the morning, awake to aromas of a bountiful breakfast served in the cozy enclosed porch. Ride on one of Ogunquit's famous trolleys to various points of interest or take a short stroll to the center of the village.
A variety of restaurants to please all palates await you, as does our famous Maine lobster. Minutes away are golf, tennis, bicycling and horseback riding. Plan a romantic cruise at dusk along the shoreline. Explore our village including Ogunquit's famous Marginal Way, a one-mile cliff walk, and Perkins Cove. Both have unforgettable panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean - sure to be a photographer's dream.

Please note, the new innkeepers are Tim and Michele!

Recipes included in the cookbook used by permission of previous owners Lee and Maurice Williams: Apple Bread, Eggs In a Bacon Basket, Puffin Inn Strawberry Bread, Quiche Puffin, Ogunquit Eggs with Pineapple.

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This BnB (along with delicious recipes and wonderful stories) is featured in Sunrise Sunset Across America, Bed & Breakfast cookbook. Purchase it by clicking on the link in the upper sidebar. Click on the review to read more about it.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Georgian Manor Inn in Norwalk, Ohio



A very elegant, yet warm and gracious 9000 sq. ft. stately mansion, exquisitely decorated...... Georgian Manor Inn - B&B graciously rests on 1.4 well manicured acres of Norwalk's tree lined, architecturally rich Historic West Main Street. Easy walking to historic uptown specialty shops, antiques and restaurants.

With four well appointed bed and breakfast guest rooms (all with private baths), five public rooms, two porches, two large patios and wonderful gardens, the Georgian Manor provides couples and small groups a tranquil and private escape for a romantic getaway, an anniversary, birthday, golfing getaway, a reunion of friends or other special occasion. A wonderful serene retreat for travelers visiting vacation hot spots in North Central Ohio and Lake Erie Islands Area including the popular Cedar Point Amusement Park, in Sandusky, Ohio.


Built in 1906 by a local dentist and businessman, Georgian Manor is one of several prominent homes on West Main Street where summer walking tours are provided by the local historical society. After a year of complete restoration and the addition of private host quarters and additional bathrooms, the Inn opened in November 1996 with four spacious guest rooms. A small inn with the amenities of a large first class hotel has large well appointed rooms with fine antiques and reproduction furniture, lovely Victorian and nautical artwork in plush surroundings.


Five gorgeous public rooms provide a spacious "House Atmosphere" where couples or small groups of guests can enjoy the well stocked library, mahogany paneled dining room, overstuffed sofas and fireside chairs in the living room with oak mantled fireplace, and a wicker furnished sun porch overlooking the sandstone patio, pond and stream and lavish gardens.


Outside, guests can stroll the well manicured grounds and gardens with 14 flower beds with plantings of colorful perennial and annual flowers, roses and hostas. A focal points in the rear gardens is large formal center garden divided into quarters with a brick and stoned walkways traveling from the sandstone patio directly through the center garden to the 32 foot pergola backed by large douglas fir trees. Stoned walks also circle the rear property with a few benches set in room like areas.
A Bit of History:
Georgian Manor Inn is a 27 room Georgian Revival style home. Designed by Vernon Redding of Mansfield, Ohio, the home was built in 1906 by John M. Vaughn for Dr. W. H. Merritt, a local dentist and his wife Mary Ford Merritt. In 1945 the home was sold by the Merritts. During the subsequent fifty year period, the home was owned by five different local families. In 1995 the home was purchased by Judy and Gene Denney, the present owners and inn hosts. They purchased the home with the intent of restoring the spacious house to its original stately prominence, and to be shared with guests. Now restored to its original beauty and stateliness, the inn is filled with antiques, period reproduction and fine art works. Our guests have the opportunity of stepping back in time to a by-gone era of a more relaxing and elegant period.
Innkeepers: Judy & Gene Denney
Recipes included in the cookbook and used by permission: Quiche & Strawberry French Toast.


This BnB (along with delicious recipes and wonderful stories) is featured in Sunrise Sunset Across America, Bed & Breakfast cookbook. Purchase it by clicking on the link in the upper sidebar. Click on the review to read more about it.

The White Garden Inn in Oxford, Ohio







When John and Linda Alexander opened The White Garden Inn Bed and Breakfast in 1998, the couple pledged to offer Oxford visitors more than just a lodging alternative. "I guess you can say our motto or creed is that 'you arrive as a traveler and leave as a friend'" John said. "We treat people like its their home." Linda added "It's just like staying with a friend or family."


This Victorian-style bed and breakfast located two miles form Miami University has found a niche in the community, leaving guests in awe of the unmatched service. "It is obvious to all who stay here that what lies within The White Garden In is warmth," lodger Brooke Rosance wrote in a guest room journal. "They say a home is a reflection of its owners- this is so true of you two, John and Linda."

The Alexander's have tried to think of everything to make their guests' visits memorable ones.
Five spacious bedrooms, all with their own private bath, extend throughout this 9,000 square foot home. Each room has a different garden theme that is accentuated with multiple antiques, hand finished wooden cabinets, patterned carpeting, as well as Linda's hand woven bedspreads and shower curtains. Names of the rooms include Autumn Rose, Butterfly, Periwinkle and Iva's Garden.

The fifth room, nearly 700 square feet, serves as a suite, featuring cathedral ceiling, working fireplace, a tub for two, ample seating and numerous windows that illuminate the immense room. This room was the temporary home of actress Geena Davis for a short period this past summer. "Our Guests named this room the Wow room, because when they walk in they always say "wow," John said. Even soft terrycloth robes for the guests are hung in each bathroom to provide maximum comfort during one's stay at the inn.

Linda rises early to begin preparing a full warm breakfast that often includes such treats as stuffed French toast, quiche, blueberry pancakes, soufflés and southwestern egg casseroles and an abundance of fresh fruit. A variety of coffees and juices also accompany the meal. All this served elegantly in a large dining room complemented by a six foot circular glass top table resting on a huge cypress tree trunk.


In stead of seeking solitude indoors, guest can take in a breath of fresh air on the Inn's wraparound verandah or gazebo that over looks many gardens scattering nearly all five acres of property. An all white garden lies directly in the backyard, which serves as the signature attraction.

So far the couple has received positive reviews form their guests because they commit to offer a close-knit relationship with their guests." Someone who stayed with us noticed that we had prints of a painting from the turn of the century and her grandmother collected the same paintings," Linda said. "Upon her next visit she brought us a stack of pictures and told me to pick a few from the collection. That's what makes us different. You wouldn't see someone staying at a Ramada or Day's Inn, giving the owners presents. It's just a different feel than typical lodging."

Innkeepers, John and Linda Alexander, have included these recipes in the cookbook: Maui French Toast, Southwest Breakfast Casserole, Blueberry Stuffed French Toast, "Cheesey" & Lemon Coffee Cake.

This BnB (along with delicious recipes and wonderful stories) is featured in Sunrise Sunset Across America, Bed & Breakfast cookbook. Purchase it by clicking on the link in the upper sidebar. Click on the review to read more about it.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Shaker Inn at the Great Stone Dwelling











The History of the Enfield Shakers began in 1782, when the first Shaker Missionaries from the parent United Society of Believers in the Second Appearance of Christ at Mt. Lebanon, New York, visited Enfield. At first, local members,–"Believers"–lived in their own homes and worked their own farms. By 1793, however, because of persecution by the outside world and inadequate accommodations, the Shakers decided to pursue a secluded, communal way of life. They acquired land on the west side of Mascoma Lake and began a program of building that lasted nearly a century. The Great Stone Dwelling, built in 1837-1841, is the largest main dwelling ever built by a Shaker community. In 1997 the Enfield Shaker Museum purchased this centerpiece of the Enfield Shaker community. The following year it opened to the public as The Shaker Inn and Restaurant, simple yet elegant masterpiece of Shaker craftsmanship, this 24 room inn offers an enticing glimpse into the Shaker way of life. Furnished with historically correct Shaker style furniture, the original sleeping chambers tastefully incorporate modern comforts, including private baths.

The inn is idyllically positioned on the shores of Lake Mascoma. A short walk from the inn is a beach where guests can swim or sun. The beach also includes volleyball courts and horseshoes. Directly across Route 4A is the beginning of a 2,500-acre nature preserve owned by the state. A lovely walk up the hill leads to the Sacred Feast Ground built by the Shakers, which the Museum has restored. Further up the hill the Shakers built reservoirs and canals to supply water to their village. Some are still in use, the remains of others are visible trail side. Home to three mountains, Mount Sunapee, Mount Kearsarge and Mount Cardigan, all three mountains have clearly marked access routes and ample trails. Today, the entire Enfield Shaker Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic Village. So when you stay with them, you are helping to preserve a living page of history.
Innkeepers: Clint Dickens & Janet Ellis (formerly Don Leavitt)
Recipe included in cookbook: Shaker Inn Chosen Vale Crab Cakes.
Used by permission of Rick Miller.
Please note: since the cookbook was published, this inn has been turned into Enfield Shaker Museum. Follow them on Facebook!

This BnB (along with delicious recipes and wonderful stories) is featured in Sunrise Sunset Across America, Bed & Breakfast cookbook. Purchase it by clicking on the link in the upper sidebar. Click on the review to read more about it.

Rosewood Country Inn in Bradford, NH
















Imagine Luxurious Rooms, Antique Beds and Crisp Fires....the perfect romantic escape.
Here the suites await you, luxurious and romantic. Imagine fireplaces, whirlpool tubs and antique beds. Fine linens and country air lure you to sleep. The aroma of a gourmet breakfast awakens you in the morning.
Imagine open common rooms, with comfortable furniture and a crisp fire.

Hiking, biking, kayaking and canoeing beckon on a summer's day. You want to explore country lanes, hike the state parks and discover treasures in the small towns and villages. Ponds, Lakes and streams offer swimming, fishing and old fashioned relaxation. A wide front porch….flower and herb gardens…a deck with a private hot tub. Relaxation surrounds you. In the fall, the parade of colors explodes and they are yours to savor all around the Inn. Rosewood Country Inn is located with access to many trails in the area, a perfect place to snowmobile and cross-country ski in the winter months and walk and bike in the spring, summer and fall.
A bit of history:

"Mr. & Mrs. Edward Messer opened their home in 1896 with 6 guests. Rates were $5.00-7.00 a week and references were required. As business increased buildings were enlarged and cottages were added. At one time as many as eighty-five guests could be accommodated. Entertainment was provided by a bowling alley, a dance hall, golf course, and a casino. In addition to the house, tents were provided on raised floorings set among shade trees."


From Two Hundred Years Plus - 1771-1976
Bradford, NH in Retrospect
Researched and Written by the Bradford History and Bicentennial Committees
The Messer Family continued to operate the inn, then known as Pleasant View Farm, until 1956. In the early 1900’s, Jack London, Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Chaplan and the Gish Sisters (Lillian & Dorothy) are among the famous signatures that appeared in the guest registers.

Innkeepers: Dick & Lesley Marquis

Recipes included in the cookbook: Bradford French Toast with Raspberry Cream Sauce, Minced Meatballs, Pecan Pie Squares, Oven Apple Pancakes with Cider Sauce, Wassail Punch

Follow them on Facebook!
This BnB (along with delicious recipes and wonderful stories) is featured in Sunrise Sunset Across America, Bed & Breakfast cookbook. Purchase it by clicking on the link in the upper sidebar. Click on the review to read more about it.