A Best of BedandBreakfast.com award winner, the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina offers seaside accommodations just minutes from Mystic, CT. Ask boaters about the Inn at Harbor Hill marina, and they’ll tell you it’s the perfect stopping point for those traveling to or from Long Island Sound. Ask inn guests, and they’ll rave about the great water views. Anyone who loves being near the water and the chance to watch boats will enjoy it here. Even if boats are not your bag, the welcoming hospitality at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina makes this a great choice for visitors to Mystic Country.

Located at the top of the gangway from the Harbor Hill Marina, Dave and Sue Labrie have created a welcoming retreat with a whimsical, nautical feel. Enter into the living room, and you’re enthusiastically greeted by Dave, Sue or one of the assistant innkeepers, and given a tour of the inn. Here B&B also means beverages and biscotti, which are available 24-7, along with a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drinks. I stayed in a water view room, and I encourage you to make your reservation early to reserve one of these rooms. The picture window looks out onto the marina through glass so spotless, my photos of the marina came out as though there was no window there at all. While the rooms aren’t palatial, there is plenty of space for two people to be cozy, especially with an eco-friendly fireplace adding to the ambiance. The rooms have all the modern amenities including complimentary wi-fi, telephones and TVs.

I think what stands out for me most here is the warm hospitality of Dave and Sue, who are genuinely interested in their guests. They’ve created printed itineraries and directions to just about anywhere guests might want to go, and will make recommendations for things to do and places to see, eat and enjoy. Here’s one inn where you enter as strangers and truly do leave as friends. Whether visiting for business or boating, The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina offers welcoming “slipshape” accommodations.The INNside Skinny: Come by boat and stay at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, and $1.00 per foot comes off your transient slip fee. Check out the many value-filled packages offered year-round for additional savings, too.

More INNformation:

Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, 60 Grand Street, Niantic, CT 06357, (860) 739-0331, info@innharborhill.com

Skippers Seafood, 167 Main Street, Niantic, CT, 860-739-3230, www.skippersseafood.com

During my childhood, I often vacationed at Florida beaches. The drive always seemed to take forever, especially those long stretches of nothingness that provided absolutely no fodder for automobile bingo. However, a recent drive to a New England oceanside destination was pleasantly different. The countryside I meandered through was picturesque and punctuated with exclamation points of history at every turn. There were no areas of nothingness or sameness in these parts, nor were there topographical clues that I was approaching a magnificent and expansive ocean vista.  

I have an affinity for bold colors artistically woven into a color scheme of interest and good taste. However, I love the crisp white color motif found throughout A Beachhouse Oceanfront B&B. The beaches of New England do not have the sugary white sands of Florida beaches. Yet, the monochromatic whites gracing the decor of this charming B&B beachhouse suffices for me and conveys an airy beach feel. Located on a private beach, just 20 feet from the ocean, the sound of swooshing waves and salty breezes completes the beachside magic. From the inn's common areas and sundeck, guests are able to enjoy the beauty of Cape Cod Bay and beyond. Though the guestrooms (two) and baths are not capacious, they are welcoming and comfortable. For guests desiring a larger area, the garden level's Sandcastle Room (shown above), provides more space as well as additional privacy.  

A delicious breakfast is prepared and served each morning by Denise and Jack, the resident owners/innkeepers who have a knack for making guests feel special and wanted even before their arrival at the inn. The beautifully presented meal is enjoyed by guests either in the seaside dining room or alfresco on the sundeck. Breakfasting at Oceanfront B&B, while drinking in the ever-changing ocean view and chatting with the inn's gracious hosts and other guests, provides the perfect elixir for beginning a new day in old Cape Cod.

Fine dining opportunities are available for guests staying at A Beachhouse Oceanfront B&B, including special privileges at the nearby White Cliff's Country Club where upscale dining may be enjoyed in a high-style atmosphere. In addition to enjoying a delicious dinner in the dining room of White Cliff's Country Club, I also enjoyed a delectable lunch at Isaacs' Restaurant (shown above left) in the midst of historic Plymouth with an unobstructed view of The Mayflower II (shown above right).

   

Even though I am a veteran member of "GRITS" (Girls Raised In The South), I am convinced I must have some New England blood running through my veins as well. I felt drawn to this beautiful area of the country long before I ever breathed its air, and it only took one visit to put New England "in my blood" if it were not there before. As I drive down the winding country road leading to Stonecroft Country Inn, I feel myself falling in love with this part of the country all over again. Once I arrive at Stonecroft, I want to explore both houses, as well as the grounds, all at the same time.

Stonecroft Inn, an early 19th century sea captain's estate spanning 6.5 acres, is situated in an Edenic setting made even more picturesque by native stonewalls, an old barn, and verdant lawns. One of Stonecroft's most distinctive features is its offering of two totally different properties as part of the same outstanding inn: The 1807 House (left photo at top of page) and The Grange (right photo at top of page). For purists, the original 1807 Georgia Colonial house provides a true glimpse into early America. This house features wide plank flooring, woodburning fireplaces, common rooms for guests to enjoy (one includes a complimentary refreshment area available 24/7), a cozy library, and a charming dining room (left photo above) where a full-country breakfast is served each morning. I stayed in Sarah's Room (photo below on far left) in the newly renovated "Grange," a post and beam barn boasting luxurious accommodations with gas fireplaces and over-the-top bathrooms. 

I love the inn's lush garden area embellished by a leaf covered arbor, a mesmerizing waterfall trickling into a small pond, and the individual firepits (middle photo below) for guests to enjoy on chilly nights. Piped in music adds to the natural serenity. The "croft" (far right photo below), from which the inn derives its name, is a favorite spot for weddings at the inn. The property's woodsy backdrop is especially magnificent during its autumnal splendor.     

Stonecroft provides an ideal base for exploring popular areas of southern New England, including Mystic, Stonington Borough, Long Island Sound, and Newport. After a day of sightseeing, there is no better way to end the day than having dinner at the inn's highly acclaimed restaurant located in The Grange and featuring creative regional cuisine prepared by an award-winning chef. The atmosphere provides an elegance that will not disappoint the most discerning guest.

For me, Stonecroft Country Inn exudes the beckoning character and charm of New England. Jason and Cathi, the brother-sister/owner-innkeeper team, have a contagious enthusiasm for Stonecroft which is evident whenever one is in their presence. After just one night, I caught Jason and Cathi's enthusiasm about this unique property and became anxious to share my discovery with others. It is an inn I would love to experience any season of the year.

I love this time of year in my “back yard.”   The trees in the Hudson Valley are not yet at peak but each day brings more color.   Farm markets have an abundance of local produce and you can pick your own apples and pumpkins at orchards and farms along the Hudson River.  Enjoy the many valley wineries that are open to visitors, including the country’s oldest vineyard.  The first commercial winery in the Hudson Valley, Jacques Brothers Winery, was established in 1837 for the production of altar wines. Renamed Brotherhood in 1885, the Washingtonville winery is the nation’s oldest continuously operated winery.

There is much to do in the valley but this coming weekend is the official opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson.    A former railroad bridge built 121 years ago has been renovated into a pedestrian and bike bridge that spans 6,700 feet across the Hudson.   The view is spectacular.  

While visiting the valley be sure to take advantage of the fine area restaurants as well as the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.   Reservations are suggested for most CIA restaurants but the Apple Pie Café is a walk in.    

As for lodging in the area, there is a wonderful and varied selection of bed and breakfasts.