Maison Beliveau Bed & Breakfast is located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The French country-style inn sits on 165 rolling acres and features five spacious guest rooms. Joyce and Yvan Beliveau turned their private property into a B&B, where guests enjoy hiking the property's trails and relaxing in the gazebo by the pond or hilltop pavillion. Joyce kindly took some time to answer questions for us about her lovely B&B and her city. Please keep reading for the interview!
1. What do you enjoy most about being an innkeeper?
I LOVE preparing breakfast and hearing guests who have never met before sitting at the breakfast table howling with laughter. It always makes me smile!
2. How long have you been an innkeeper?
I have been an innkeeper for 3.5 years.
3. What was your inspiration for your creating your inn?
Our 165 acres are spectacular. My husband and I would often sit at the hilltop pavilion sipping wine, watching the sunset, and say, "We have to share this place with others!"
4. Why did you choose this inn and this city?
The inn is our private home, which we converted to a B&B once we decided to share our property with others.
5. What sets your B&B apart from others?
Our B&B started as an old farmhouse that is now blended in with two add-on renovations. My husband is a builder and has created a B&B floor plan unlike any other. It has a European feel with two fieldstone fireplaces, yet the brightness and clean feeling of a new inn. We have an on-site vineyard (wine to be made later this year). We often set breakfast up at the picnic table in the vineyard, which overlooks the valley. My husband also leads 8 a.m. weekend hikes on the property before breakfast, now dubbed the 8AM Hiking Club.
6. Why do you think travelers should choose B&Bs over hotels?
B&Bs are all different and each B&B experience is different. Hotels are pretty routine.
7. Does your B&B have any special history?
The original part of the house was built by one of the first builders in Blacksburg, Virgina. Many children were raised here. We wanted to add on to the history with renovations, carrying the history forward.
8. What makes your town worth visiting—are there any interesting local attractions or activities?
Blacksburg, VA is awesome! We’re a small town with a large university, Virginia Tech. Recreation includes rafting, fishing, boating on the New River, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and biking the state bike route, which is just a mile from our inn.
9. Do you have any food specialties?
I love cooking for my guests and trying new recipes. Guests love my rosemary sausage strudel served with a potato casserole garnished with a sprig of rosemary. My herb garden is right outside my kitchen. I use fresh herbs a lot, both for flavor and garnishing.
10. Do you have any special offers coming up?
We are offering a "Valentine’s Enchanted Evening" Package: It includes a one-night stay in room with fireplace and air jet tub (large enough for two!), roses and chocolates in the room, a four-course dinner with bottle of wine, and a couples board game for use in the privacy of their room. It’s $435.00 plus tax.