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Favorite Inns/B&Bs |
| Newport, RI: |
- Almondy Inn: Wow! I fell in love with this inn. Probably our favorite Inn/B&B so far. It has just the right touch of class with lovely period antiques, central air, cleanliness and all the amenities necessary for a comfortable stay. Great location in Newport - right around the corner from Thames so that it's within walking distance of tons of restaurants, bars, shopping, and the wharves if you want to do some boating/sightseeing. You can even see the harbor from the rooms. The owners are very hospitable and provided a place of luxury and comfort in their inn. The king sized bed we had was absolutely the most comfortable bed we've ever slept in. Wonderfully soft pillow tops and silky smooth sheets set the tone for a good nights rest. Evelyne, the innkeeper, was the most gracious and friendly host. She made hearty breakfasts for us each morning and provided tasty wine and various cheeses and crackers in the afternoon. We couldn't ask for a better place to stay and in fact booked another couple nights while we were there for a return visit in October.
- Cleveland House, Newport, RI, and the Clarkeston, Newport, RI: Our other favorite B&Bs - The Cleveland House, Clarkeston, and Admiral Farragut. They are all owned by the same owner and on the same street. They also have those very comfortable beds pillowtop beds some of which you need a step to get up into and some rooms have a jacuzzi, single or double. They also offer either continental or full breakfast depending on which one you stay in.
- Stella Maris Inn, Newport CT: Beautiful, roomy wrap around porch. Great home cooked food for breakfast. Also has very nicely decorated rooms with those high ceilings and antiques to compliment the architecture of the building.
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| Bar Harbor, Maine:
Bar Harbor - MiraMonte Inn
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MiraMonte Inn Bar Harbor, ME: Beautiful Inn, lovely antiques, nice size rooms, wine & cheese in the afternoon. Great place to relax and talk to people before dinner and at breakfast. Fresh baked goods in the lovely dining room as a buffet started our day. Tea and coffee was always available. Would defintely stay there again when we return to Bar Harbor. Marian Burns the owner, or someone else was always around in case we had any questions about where to go, what to do, where to eat, etc.
Stayed here again in July 2007 and everything was just as nice as before. This year we stayed in the North Suite which is a separate building on the property. We had a nice sized double jacuzzi, a small kitchenette which was nice to have to make coffee and keep things in the refrigerator. The bed was comfy. There was also a screened in small porch overlooking the gardens where we sat and read or had a nice glass of wine before dinner. The Inn is a short distance down the street from the Town Green and all the shops and restaurants. Some restaurants were right down around the corner. Nice location. It's on the Main Street but you really can't hear much traffic at all.
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Bass Cottage Inn: Bar Harbor, ME: We Stayed at Bass Cottage Inn the first week of August 2006.
The Inn itself is impeccable, elegant, and so tastefully decorated. I was a little worried about some of the comments that it might be too understated as compared to a victorian B&B but it was an absolute eye-pleaser. Stayed in two different rooms and both had the most comfortable beds we could have wanted. The rooms were spotlessly clean as was the whole inn. There is plenty of space on the first floor to mingle or just sit alone and read and they had a huge selection of magazines and one entire wall filled with books in the library room. There is another cozy room to sit in that has a library of DVDs too. And for the guests they have a galley type kitchen room where there was a fridge filled with soda and waters, coffee carafes, tea, iced-tea, and the best fresh baked cookies or pastries in the afternoon. Then there is also wine and gourmet appetizers served in the afternoon. Luckily we walked around enough to burn off the extra calories we ate. The owner is always available for any questions and seemed to know just when to appear or not appear when you are relaxing in the living areas.
Every morning we got the tastiest breakfast. For example, one morning the menu was lemon poppyseed scones, fresh citrus yogurt, banana ricotta pancakes with applewood bacon or a frittata caprese with sourdough toast. We were in heaven with the food and the service from Martina as she greeted us with a smiling friendly face every morning was so nice. The dining room has tables of two setup in the room rather than as some B&Bs where there is one large dining room table. So you get to enjoy either some privacy or you can talk to others if you like. We're not hikers and were there to enjoy the ambience and the amenities like the gourmet breakfast but can understand it might be too rich foods for some. But we were on vacation and threw all our normal eating rules out the window.
As for the location it was a nice place to be right off the main road downtown so you could walk to anything you needed easily. Yet it was also away from the road enough back towards the water (you could see the water/pier through the trees) so it was quiet. There are two or three other B&Bs on that road as well. We often came back in the afternoon and sat in the Adirondack chairs in the back yard and you an look through the trees and see the water. Would it be wonderful to be right on the water? Yes, indeed, but then I'm sure the price would also reflect that.
If you want true water front, stay at Bar Harbor Inn or some place like that. If you want simple elegance in a relaxing inn with wonderful food, in a good location stay at the Bass Cottage Inn. We can't wait to go back. If Bar Harbor wasn't such a long drive (7-8 hrs from CT) we'd be back many times throughout the summer and fall. |
| Mystic, CT area: |
Inn at Mystic, Mystic, CT: Spent an enchanting evening there in the winter watching the snow fall. Had an absolutely delicious dinner and a filling breakfast buffet in the morning. Room was a nice size with huge jacuzzi, fireplace, and outdoor patio.
The Morgan Inn: Pawcatuck, CT: The host, Linda, is the most friendly and optimistic person I've ever met. The inn is filled with antiques and collectibles to give it a feeling of nostalgia. Great home cooked food for breakfast. Nice location between Misquamicut and the casinos. |
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