Category Archives: Food

Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast

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Rosemary House Bed & BreakfastRosemary House Bed & Breakfast

The first bed and breakfast to be featured by Bed and Breakfast Blogging in 2015 is none other than Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast of Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Voted “Best B&B in Chatham County” for three years in a row!  This historic bed and breakfast is a 1912 Colonial Revival home with five cozy guest bedrooms.  Each bedroom has its own private bathroom.

Haven room, Rosemary House B&B, Pittsboro NC

The Haven Room

The Haven Room is a haven and more.  Their only first floor room, with a fireplace, queen bed, flat-screen TV, and two comfy chairs. It is decorated in soothing shades of teal and peach. Local artists painted the trompe l’oeil window, the desk, and the marbleized mantel. In the huge bathroom you’ll find an original mural and a 2-person BainUltra tub; let its therapeutic bubbling waters massage away your cares. Separate tiled shower.

Retreat room, Rosemary House B&B, Pittsboro NC

The Retreat Room

The Retreat Room is an upstairs corner room, with a fireplace, sofa, flat-screen TV and queen-sized four-poster bed, decorated in shades of rose and navy blue, with an artist-painted antique vanity. It features a luxurious sunny bathroom that contains a therapeutic bubbling 2-person BainUltra tub and a separate tiled shower.

Meadow room, Rosemary House B&B, Pittsboro NC

The Meadow Room

The Meadow Room is a two-room suite named for its large sunny windows and floral fabrics in rose and seafoam. The comfortable bedroom has an iron queen-sized bed. The beautifully decorated adjoining room holds a loveseat-twin sleeper and flat-screen TV. Up to three people can sleep here. Meadow’s bathroom contains an antique refinished claw-foot tub with a shower attachment.

Willow room, Rosemary House B&B, Pittsboro NC 27312

The Willow Room

The Willow Room is a guest favorite. Its blue-and-white color scheme reminded us of the Blue Willow china pattern, hence its name. Located on their second floor, it contains two antique spool beds, both full-size, flat-screen TV, and a bright sunny double window. A comfy chair and beautiful hand-painted dresser. It can sleep four. Tiled bath with tub-shower.

Holly room, Rosemary House B&B, Pittsboro NC 27312

The Holly Room

The Holly Room is a comfortable and cheerful sunny corner room on the second floor. Queen-sized Windsor bed and tiled bath with tub-shower. Its decor is sage green and red toile.

Rosemary House front porch.For those wondering how the bed and breakfast got its name, Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast is named for the herb rosemary, traditionally the herb of friendship and remembrance.  This bed and breakfast is a great place for conversations with others in common places such as the porch with its comfortable rocking chairs, but this B&B allows privacy for those wanting to rest and relax.

This lovely B&B is just outside the famous Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle:

      • 33 miles to Raleigh
      • 32 miles to Durham
      • 17 miles to Chapel Hill

Yet there is plenty to see and do right in the local area of Pittsboro!

  • Central Pittsboro is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, with over 100 contributing properties ranging in date from 1780s to 1949.
  • Browse the quaint Downtown Pittsboro shops
  • Chatham Marketplace is a small, friendly, fun store in an old label mill, about 1/4 mile from their B&B; a nice deli, great breads, wine, & produce
  • Five wineries located within twenty minutes on the Heart of NC Wine Trail
  • Spend an entire afternoon at McIntyre’s bookstore in Fearrington Village
  • For lunch and dinner, dine at these popular local Pittsboro restaurants
  • One minute away: is the beautiful new Chatham County Public Library
  • Relax and restore at one of Pittsboro’s two wonderful day spas: Beautiful You Spa and Nail and Spa at Bell House
  • See beautiful and smell fragrant flowers at Orchard Gallery which is just a few miles from their B&B
  • Tour the 55-acre Carolina Tiger Rescue home to approximately 140 animals representing 11 species of threatened and endangered carnivores from around the world
  • Stay put at their B&B. Enjoy a late breakfast. Rock on the porch, listen to the birds, and read a book.

Karen Pullen, author of Cold Feet

Did you know that innkeeper Karen Pullen is an award-winning published author?  Her newest novel called Cold Feet is available for purchase on Amazon.  She is a member of four mystery writers’ organizations.  Karen is a natural at bed and breakfast hospitality.  She cooks a fresh gourmet breakfast each morning for her guests in addition to offering Afternoon Tea at Rosemary House.  Afternoon tea is vegetarian, served on English bone china, with individual teapots tucked into cozies, and filled with fresh-brewed tea of their guests’ choosing. Tea comes with assorted little sandwiches, a tiny quiche, fresh-baked scones with lemon curd and jam as well as tiny desserts like tea cakes and pecan tarts. Belgian waffles with strawberries are a Rosemary House specialty.Afternoon tea at Rosemary House is refreshing, delicious, and civilized.

Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast is a proud member of the North Carolina Bed and Breakfast Inns Association.  Make your reservation today!

A Tour of Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast of Pittsboro, North Carolina

You Tube Video Credits
Photography by Dr. John Shillito, Peter Scherman, and Karen Pullen
Music:  “J.S. Praludioumin C” played by Anton Steklov

Posted in Activities, Associations and Ratings, Decorating, Food, Guests, History

Bed and Breakfasts in December

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The Queen Victoria at Christmas - Cape May, New Jersey. Bed and Breakfast Inn

The Queen Victoria in Cape May, NJ during Christmas time

Bed and breakfasts, in December, can put on a spectacular display of holiday cheer. This is the best time of year to decorate your B&B. There are so many creative and festive ways to do so. The Queen Victoria in Cape May, New Jersey has exquisite outdoor Christmas lights! I love how they outlined their bed and breakfast to highlight that their inn has three floors and they hung lit garland with red bows on the fence all the way around their property.

#Holidays | A winter welcome at Another Second Penny Inn, Stonington, CT. #bedandbreakfast #travel

Decorative Doorway at Another Second Penny Inn of Stonington, CT

Another Second Penny Inn hung garland and put up a wreath with a red bow on their reflective glass door. The snow falling in Connecticut just adds to the bed and breakfast’s winter look.  They are located on a leafy, scenic road just 3 miles from Mystic and 2 miles north of Stonington Borough.

Their 1710 New England home offers friendly, romantic, and spacious accommodations for their bed and breakfast visitors. Winner of the Best Breakfast in New England, owners Jim and Sandra Wright, offer deluxe five course breakfasts on weekends and holidays and delicious Continental Breakfasts on the other mornings.

Curious about how this inn got its name? They offer this Ancient Persian saying to explain, “If you have two pennies, with the first, buy bread for your stomach and with the second, buy hyacinths for your soul.”
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Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast of Durham, NC adds to the festivities with this holiday garland draping down our stairs. We welcome you to be our guests! http://www.moreheadmanor.com

Morehead Manor Bed & Breakfast of Durham, NC adds to the festivities with garland & bows decorating the stairway


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Morehead Manor of Durham, North Carolina was recently named the Best Black-Owned Bed and Breakfast in America by Black Enterprise magazine.  Innkeepers Daniel and Monica Edwards decorate their inn festively every year.  The garland and ribbon going down their staircase is but one area of the inn in the Bull City.  Within walking distance for their inn is the Durham Performing Arts Center which has holiday performances including the fortieth year of performances of A Christmas Carol! Durham is also the Tastiest Town of the South so between the delicious gourmet breakfasts at Morehead Manor and award-winning restaurants, your appetite will be more than satisfied!
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Christmas by the fire at York Harbor Inn in Maine

Christmas by the fire at York Harbor Inn of Maine


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The York Harbor Inn family of Inns in Maine is comprised of six separate lodges. The Main Inn offers twenty-two guest rooms. There are also two ocean view restaurants as well as lovely banquet and meeting rooms. Many luxury rooms feature ocean and beach view decks, fireplaces and/or Jacuzzi tubs. The York Harbor inn recognizes that people’s dogs are part of their family and they offer pet friendly rooms in their Harbor Crest building.  The picture of their Christmas tree by the fire is gorgeous.
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Victorian Christmas Getaway: The Empress Bed & Breakfast

Stunning Dining Room of The Empress Bed and Breakfast in Little Rock, AR


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Bob Blair and his wife Sharon Welch-Blair are owners of The Empress of Little Rock, in Arkansas. They have been open for nearly twenty years and they love their guests! “Anyone who loves people, enjoys welcoming them into your home, looks forward to a day of tasks and events of all kinds (everyday a new day), and works with a great crew should become an innkeeper.” Their enthusiasm for entertaining is evident when you look at their multi-award winning AAA four diamond rated bed and breakfast!  Every guest room at the historic inn has its own themed tree to create magic throughout the entire mansion. Bob and Sharon display their mementos and antiques in each room so you feel like you are not only experiencing the past, but are cherished guests of The Royal Family.
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#Holidays | The twinkling lights of the tree at the White Oak Manor, Jefferson, TX. #bedandbreakfast #travel

The twinkling lights of the tree at the White Oak Manor in Jefferson, TX.


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White Oak Manor is an historic bed and breakfast in Jefferson, Texas.  Innkeepers Dave and Tammy invite you to join their warm and friendly atmosphere.  It is especially beautiful to visit them this time of year with their festive holiday decorations.  Jefferson is always filled with love, laughter and friendly faces.
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So how does your bed and breakfast celebrate the holidays? Feel free to make comments about what food you prepare for guests, special ways you decorate your inn, and anything else you do to make this time of year extra special.

Posted in Activities, Associations and Ratings, Decorating, Events, Food, Guests

Morehead Manor Bed & Breakfast

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Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast

Morehead Manor Bed & Breakfast is a historical B&B with modern amenities.  The friendly and attentive owners and innkeepers Monica and David Edwards show true Southern hospitality.  Guests rave about their gourmet breakfasts.  They love being ambassadors to the city of Durham.  When asked, they are delighted to give their guests whatever guidance they need depending upon their guests’ particular interests and reasons for visiting.

The Durham, NC area is a great location. It is conveniently close to the Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport. Those living in, or visiting, Durham have access to a wide variety of things to do and see, including:

  • The Durham Performing Arts Center: home to a variety of performances including Broadway theater, music concerts, and comedy
  • Durham Athletics: Duke University sports, North Carolina Central University Sports, Hurricanes NHL Hockey, and more
  • Durham Shopping: The Streets at Southpoint, Brightleaf Shopping Square, Northgate Mall, Ninth Street Shopping District, and more
  • The Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham: started by Washington Duke and named in honor of his daughter Sarah, this has become a world famous attraction

The world renown medical facility, Duke University Hospital, has its home in Durham beside Duke University campus. Durham, known as The Tastiest Town in the South, shows its excellence in award-winning restaurants for fine dining and casual dining. Residents and tourists alike also flock to the great variety of food trucks satisfying their appetites.

Morehead Manor offers four different areas to their guests to stay:

 

In The Tiger Room, guests rest comfortably in a king-sized, wrought-iron, canopy bed that is surrounded by windows.  This airy room that overlooks the beautiful rear garden. Read an adventure novel as you are nestled in the comfortable reading chair, wrapped in one of our plush robes, imagining all of the exciting places that the antique Louis Vitton trunk resting at the foot of the bed has visited.

 

 

The Magnolia Suite is the spacious original Master bedroom features a king-sized wooden canopy bed with lights in the headboard, perfect for romance or reading a good book. The sitting area in the main room is furnished with two high-back chairs near an electric firebox. A separate sitting area has a love seat/sleeper and a roll-top desk. The private bath features a tub and shower. This room can accommodate up to 3.

 

 

The Eagle’s Inn features two full-sized beds, spacious enough to accommodate up to 4 people, perfect for those guests visiting the local universities or travel companions that prefer having their own comfortable sleeping beds. The full bath features a deluxe 7-head shower. You can enjoy one of the room’s many novels in the reading recliner or even pen your own at the writing desk.

 

 

The Jasmine Room is comfortably appointed with a queen-sized bed. Relax in the reading recliner as you take in a book, the flames from the electric firebox, or just enjoy the views of the front garden.  The large bathroom with tub and shower is perfect for relaxing.  There is a desk available.  Reserve this room and enjoy the complimentary homemade dessert and beverages as you unwind from the day.

 

 

Plan your visit to Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast today!

Monica and Daniel Edwards
914 Vickers Ave
Durham, NC  27701
(919) 687-4366 | Toll Free: (888) 437-6333

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Posted in Events, Food, History

Labor Day Weekend Road Trip

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Labor-Day-weekend-road-trip

Some of your bed and breakfast guests will be traveling by car and we hope they have a lovely Labor Day weekend road trip.  First, some fun facts about how the Labor Day holiday got started in the United States.  Did you know the United States workers’ unions chose the first Monday in September because it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving? The first Labor Day was observed on September 5th, 1882.  

Labor Day was created to rally for the adoption of eight hour work days and other more suitable working conditions.  Labor Day now carries less significance as a celebration of working people and more as a great way to finish the summer. Schools, government offices, and businesses are closed on Labor Day so people can get in one last road trip to the beach or have one last cookout before the weather starts to turn colder.

AAA is a company known in the lodging industry for their AAA diamond rating approval system. Guests can be reassured that those properties have been selected on the basis of merit alone.   Chief Operating Officer Marshall L. Doney explained, “With Labor Day symbolizing the American workers’ contributions to the strength and prosperity of our country, it’s only fitting that millions are choosing to celebrate this positive direction with an all-American road trip.”

AAA offers a Fuel Cost Calculator on their website.  Drivers can select, from about 125 different locations in the United States, the closest starting city and destination location. They can indicate their vehicle’s make, year, and model.  Drivers can select “one-way” or “round trip.” The Fuel Cost Calculator will show you the miles, gallons used, and fuel cost.  The fuel price data is provided by Oil Price Information Service.  You can put a link to this Fuel Cost Calculator from your own website.

We have tremendous respect for innkeepers who consistently get great online reviews from previous guests for their hospitality.  Remember you can team up with complimentary local businesses to set up packages for your guests.  Innkeepers, while entertaining guests:

Remember, when hosting, it is the little details that make a big difference.  Your phone communication is a great way to start the process of building relationships with your guests so that they become repeat guests and refer their friends and family to stay at your B&B. You may even often a frequent stay and referral program to help you gain more business and rewards your guests for returning and referring.

Innkeepers, we know you stay busy.  For those of you who want to focus on innkeeping and give the blogging and social media responsibilities to a knowledgeable and dedicated company, think of Bed and Breakfast Blogging as a great solution.  We can provide fresh blog content the search engines reward with higher rankings as well as an active and positive social media presence so you stay top of mind to potential and returning guests.

 

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Amenities, Blog and Social Media, Food, Guests, Marketing, Promotion

Cedar Cove’s Thyme and Tide B&B

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Read the books (with beautiful Andie MacDowell on the cover!) that inspired the brand new primetime #CedarCoveTV series!Bruce Boxleitner & Barbara Niven co-star as "Bob & Peggy Beldon" owners of the local B in "Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove." SO CUTE!

The fictional Thyme and Tide Bed and Breakfast is featured in Cedar Cove, the #1 rated Prime time drama of 2013.  This television show airs at Saturdays at 8 pm EST on Hallmark Channel USA.  Season 2 premiered July 19 of 2014.

This program starring Andie MacDowell as “Judge Olivia Lockhart” is based on the Cedar Cove books written by bestselling author Debbie Macomber. Bruce Boxleitner & Barbara Niven co-star as “Bob & Peggy Beldon” the innkeepers of the Thyme and Tide B&B.

Season two of your favorite Hallmark Channel USA summer series, Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove TV premieres SATURDAY JULY 19 8/7C! Sometimes the smaller the town, the bigger the heart.

Cedar Cove is a small town with endearing characters and a beautiful bed and breakfast.  When Peggy responded to Bob’s question about what was on the menu and detailed for Bob all that she was cooking for their guests, he lovingly spoke into her ear, “this is why you make is so hard for people to go home” as he hugged her. Bob and Peggy Beldon exemplify the many positive traits of innkeepers:

    • Warm, friendly, and showing hospitality
    • Attentive to the needs of their guests
    • Excellent cooks (Peggy grows her own spices)
    • Caretakers of the property (Bob is the handyman)

This popular television program will remind people that bed and breakfasts have the comforts of home and the amenities of hotels. If you are not watching Cedar Cove already, I highly recommend it. You can even have Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove books on your book shelves for your guests to read!

For those of you who have see this television show, what do you think of it?  I would love to read your comments!

Posted in Amenities, Food, Guests

Healthy Breakfasts: Berries

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healthy-breakfast-berries
Healthy breakfasts: berries may be small in size, but blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries are big on taste as well as rich in three areas: antioxidants, fiber, and folate. Eating berries can help improve your health, wellness, and weight. Better yet, berries can be enjoyed all year long.

All fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, but nutrient-rich berries are some of the absolute best choices. There are powerful antioxidants found in berries, including Vitamin C, may help:

  • Prevent and manage arthritis
  • Slow age-related memory-loss
  • Decrease inflammation in joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis
  • Reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration
  • Make skin more radiant
  • Make hair more healthy

Berries also contain fiber and folate. Fiber aids in weight loss and helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Folate may protect against cardiovascular disease and age-related memory loss, and since folate contributes to the production of serotonin, it may also help avoid depression and improve one’s mood.

In addition to antioxidants, fiber, and folate, berries are “juicy foods,” which means they contain mostly water. Juicy foods are great for losing weight because they fill people up quickly, since their high water content bumps up the volume while driving down the calories.

Remember, if fresh berries cannot be found, frozen (unsweetened) berries are a great substitute during the off-season months — and just as nutritious! Delicious serving ideas include:

  • Adding berries to a bowl of warm oatmeal during breakfast.
  • Putting berries on top of pancake batter as it cooks for berry delicious pancakes.
  • Drizzling chocolate to cover strawberries as a romantic snack for couples.
  • Stirring fresh raspberries into Greek yogurt to amplify its deliciousness.
  • Combining frozen berries with bananas and low-fat milk to make an afternoon smoothie for guests.

    • Offering berries to your guests is a healthy and delicious way to fuel their bodies. Guests love the taste of berries and innkeepers love their smiles and return visits!   Be sure to put pictures of your breakfasts on social media! People can “like” your posts on Facebook, “re-tweet” your tweets on Twitter, and pin your pictures on Pinterest!

 

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Food, Guests, Promotion

Great Conversation Starters While Hosting Guests

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great-conversation-starters-while-hosting-guests

It is always a good idea to have some topics of conversation in mind if you regularly host guests at your bed and breakfast.  Having a mental list of what to talk about means you will feel comfortable interacting with perfect strangers at any time. The biggest secret to being a good conversationalist is simply allowing other people to talk about themselves. Why? It is a subject they probably know well and are comfortable talking about.

Since they are likely to be out of town guests when they visit, this automatically gives you some conversation topics, including the reason for their stay at your B&B.

  • Are you celebrating a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, reunion, etc.)?
  • What attracted you to visit us in this area?
  • Does our area have a leisure activity or event you will be participating in?
  • Where else have you been on vacation?
  • What was your most favorite vacation destination so far?
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

People love talking about what they eat or want to eat.  Think about the popularity of Food Network and online recipe websites!  Inquire about their favorite foods including breakfast dishes.  During the time they book the room is the best time to find out if they are allergic to any foods or on a restricted diet since you, or your staff, will be cooking for them.  If you realize that question was never answered, take the first opportunity to ask.

  • What is your favorite food?
  • If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • Where do you like to go when you eat out?
  • Do you like to cook? If so, do you have a signature dish?
  • Are there any foods that you would like to try?

If they bring up their family, then it is perfectly acceptable to have a discussion centered around that.  Most people love talking about their family.  However, we need to be sensitive to people who may have strained family relationships, family members who are ill, infertility issues, or some other personal struggle in their lives.

  • Do you have any siblings?
  • What is your favorite childhood memory?
  • Did you have a pet growing up?  Do you have any pets now?
  • As a kid, how did you most like to spend your time?

Another topic of conversation could be about sports.  Since there are so many different sports, it is a safe bet that they, or someone they know, have an interest in sports.  They do not need to be a talented athlete to enjoy watching sports.

  • Do you play or follow any sports?
  • Who is your favorite athlete?
  • How do you like to exercise?
  • What is your favorite sports team?

Ask them about their technology and entertainment preferences.  This can lead to lively discussions about favorites.  Then you can mention (if it is available for them) that you offer a free Wi-Fi connection and/or a book, CD and/or DVD collection available for guests to borrow.

  • What are your favorite TV shows?
  • What kind of movies do you like?
  • What was the last movie you saw?
  • Who is your favorite actor/actress?
  • What is your favorite movie of all time?
  • What type of music do you like to listen to?  Who are your favorite musicians?
  • Do you like to read?  If so, what kind of books do you read?
  • What’s your favorite board game or card game?

Carefully ask about work, but try not to make it sound like a job interview.  Remember that your guest(s) may be studying, retired, or “between jobs”.  Also keep in mind your guest(s) may be traveling on business while they stay with you.

  • What do you do for a living? Where do you work (or study)?
  • What was your first job ever?
  • When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  • What do you like best about your job?
  • If money was no object yet you still wanted to work, what would be your dream job?

The key is to keep it light. The goal is to build rapport with your guests.  Stick to topics that are interesting and entertaining to talk about.  Most people are looking for polite and lighthearted topics to discuss–it is wise to avoid controversial topics like politics and religion. Leave them with a great impression so they give you and your B&B a positive testimonial about your hospitality via your online guest book.

 

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Food, Guests, Promotion

Union Gables Inn and Suites

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I want to share with you my interview with the Head of Marketing, Carla Smith, about bed and breakfast Union Gables Inn and Suites of Saratoga Springs, New York.  So why do people love staying at Union Gables Inn and Suites?

We offer all the luxury amenities like an outdoor pool, free wifi, plush bathrobes in the room, as well as the personal touches and comforts that only a locally owned bed and breakfast can provide like freshly made cookies and complimentary wine each evening. What we receive the most praise from guests about after they have stayed with us is how much they enjoyed getting to know and interacting with the staff. Jane, the Innkeeper, has a personality that brightens everyone’s day and she makes each guest feel at home at Union Gables. Creating that personal connection is the greatest benefit, although the outdoor pool, private parking lot and pet-friendly rooms are also greatly appreciated by guests.

Since you have seven pet-friendly rooms, how many guests bring pets?  What pets have stayed at your inn?
As we are one of the only pet-friendly bed and breakfasts in the area, guests often come to us because it is luxury lodging that they can enjoy with their beloved canines. Guests looking for pet friendly rooms compromises approximately 30% of our bookings. Once we had a guest bring a bird for a weekend stay, but mainly the staff gets to gush over guests’ dogs and spoil them with bones!

What is your most popular room and why do you think that is the case?

Guests always ask us which room is our favorite, and it is honestly almost impossible to choose one because each room has a unique charm and various antiques. The two that are requested most by guests are the Bill Room and the Pond Cottage. The Bill Room is in the main mansion of the Inn on the second floor and is one of the largest rooms we have. Its unique feature is a private outdoor porch overlooking Union Avenue that is perfect for morning coffee or an evening glass of wine. The Pond Cottage allows people more privacy because it is a one bedroom cottage in the Japanese garden area of the grounds and has a private outdoor patio so guests can have an area to themselves surrounded by the beautiful gardens.

Are the rooms with names named after people you know?

The rooms were originally named after the individuals who resided here when the property was state-owned in the 1900’s. A few names have been changed over the years after members of the owner’s family.

Do you have regular guests that visit at least once every year?

We actually have regular guests that visit as often as once a week or once a month and that have become very close friends. We offer a discount to Skidmore [College] parents as they visit their children or attend sporting events regularly, so they comprise a significant portion of our regular guests. We also have many guests that come back each year for the Saratoga Race Track or for annual events in Saratoga like the Flurry Festival or the Food and Wine Festival.
From what locations have your guests visited from?
We have had guests from as far away as Australia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
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Your website shows your award-winning gardens you have, do you have a landscaper or gardener to help you or are you a master gardener?
The owner is the master gardener, credits for the beautiful gardens go to his vision and hard work of him and his maintenance staff.
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The heated pool is a nice touch!  Since it is heated, what months does it get used?
Thank you! The pool opens in May and closes in September or October depending on how quickly the winter weather strikes in the Northeast. 
I am impressed at how well you blend antiques with modern day technology such as flat screen televisions in all the bedrooms.
Since you mentioned blending the old with new, our mission has been to tastefully merge the historic, Victorian culture of the Inn with modern technology and luxuries. We would like to preserve the history of the Inn and the antique decor while advancing into the modern century.  For example, we have purchased a GE Wattstation 240V electric vehicle charging station in order to provide an electric vehicle parking spot in our private parking lot. Guests can charge their vehicle in 4-6 hours while they enjoy a luxurious and comfortable night in Saratoga Springs.  We are now the only bed and breakfast in the state of New York with a 240V electric vehicle charging station.  Saratoga Springs is halfway between the major cities of Ottawa, Montreal, New York City and Boston so Union Gables is now part of the network supporting sustainable travel between those cities.
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Since you are a bed and breakfast, I have to ask, what is your most popular breakfast dish?

We judge the most popular dish ordered for breakfast by how often it is ordered and how clean the plate is after the guests have finished. The chef’s Cinnamon Baguette French Toast guarantees a spotless plate returned every time. Everything we serve is cook to order and the freshness makes a difference. Bruce, the chef, drenches the baguette in the cinnamon egg mixture and browns it on the griddle, then it is baked in the oven until the center becomes a delicious custard. It is served topped with powdered sugar and the guest’s choice of blueberries, strawberries, or bananas and paired with pure Vermont maple syrup.

How many innkeepers and members of the staff are there?

There are the owners, Tom and Barbara Fox; the Innkeeper and Manager, Jane; the Chef, Bruce; and Me, the Assistant Innkeeper and Head of Marketing. We also have various cleaning and maintenance staff. Tom and Barbara have a close connection to the Union Gables Inn, as this was where they met and married. Because Saratoga Springs was the place for horse lovers to show art and Barbara is an equine artist, it brought her to the area and this is where she met Tom. The Inn has a few paintings in the main foyer that she has painted. Tom and Barbara both take pride in maintaining the beauty of Union Gables as a historic icon to Saratoga Springs, and hope that it will bring enjoyment to those that stay here.

Carla, what do you enjoy most about what you do at Union Gables?

When after a stay at Union Gables, a guest tells me that their experience at the Inn and of Saratoga could not have been more perfect. I get the most joy out of personalizing someone’s stay to make sure their individual needs and goals for their trip are met. I was born and raised in Saratoga, so the greatest pleasure is welcoming visitors to the city I am proud to call home and providing local tips and recommendations that allows them to enjoy Saratoga just as much as the locals do. 

There is so much that Union Gables Inn and Suites offers their guests.  They are located in the heart of Saratoga’s Historic district known as the ‘Magic Rectangle’, one and a half blocks from the Saratoga Race Course on Union Avenue and two blocks to the Historic Congress Park.   Check out their photo gallery and make a reservation to be the guests at another bed and breakfast!

Posted in Food, Gardening and Lawns, Guests
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