Savor Tea Time at Bed and Breakfasts from Georgia to Vermont
Perhaps Author Henry James said it best, “there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Ask any innkeeper and they are sure to agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. Innkeepers all over the country offer afternoon tea and many pour their efforts (no pun intended) into creating creative theme teas and parties. Plan a baby shower tea, a little girl’s birthday tea or perhaps a booklover’s tea party. These are just a few of the special teas you might enjoy at a nearby bed and breakfast.
High tea is always in season at Hillbrook Inn in Charles Town, West Virginia. The historic English Tudor inn is a beautiful setting for any special occasion. For a little girl’s birthday, the innkeepers have created a fairy tale tea complete with table centerpieces of teapots filled with flowers. The inn’s six-course high tea includes a variety of sweet treats and savory items all prepared by the inn’s executive chef. In the summer months, guests can enjoy their special tea in the gardens of this 17-acre estate.
Cliffside Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, was named by tea authority Bruce Richardson as one of the 20 best tea rooms in America in his book “The Great Tea Rooms of America.” Unlike many hotels famous for their afternoon teas, the Cliffside changes the menu daily. Tea sandwiches might include salmon and capers, egg and caviar, pesto with tomato and mozzarella, cucumber and radish, cranberry and pear chutney, or crab with lemon zest. Sweets include artisan chocolates, cookies, brownies, pies, fruit tarts and cakes and there are always fresh scones with Devonshire cream, handmade English marmalades and fruit butter curds. The tea is hand blended exclusively for the inn. Tea is served in the parlor in winter under the enchanting glow from the Victorian lighting and dancing fireside flames or in summer on the veranda and outdoor garden tables.
For a tea that is truly seaworthy, the innkeepers at Kitt Shepley House B&B (also in Newport) offer a tour of the harbor while enjoying afternoon tea aboard their own private boat. This special package, named the High Tea on the Sea, includes all the trimmings from the tea sandwiches and sweets down to the fine silver and china.
In Chatham on Cape Cod the Captain’s House Inn serves a complimentary Cream Tea for their guests featuring scones, cookies and cakes. For a small charge both guests at this Massachusetts bed and breakfast as well as outside guests, can enjoy a formal English Afternoon Tea served by British interns. Traditional finger sandwiches, savory pastries and sweet treats are served. As a new twist, you may also do a “Tea Flight” — sampling six different teas, which the chef has paired with appropriate delicacies. This Massachusetts bed and breakfast was a sea captain’s home dating back to 1839 with each of the 16 rooms featuring a fireplace as well as most modern amenities.
Summertime at Halcyon House B&B means garden tours and afternoon teas. This historic Campbell, New York, bed and breakfast is host to special Wednesday Afternoon Teas throughout the season. The event begins with a tour of the inn’s extensive herb garden followed by a short presentation by innkeeper Yvonne Sloan about growing and preserving herbs. Then the tea is served along with a selection of savory and sweet treats, all prepared using the inn’s own herbs.
If you are searching for a retreat outside Atlanta, try this bed and breakfast for your next tea party. The Traveler’s Rest, a Montezuma, Georgia, bed and breakfast, is two hours out of the city near the Jimmy Carter Historic Site. The inn is located in a restored Victorian home, so it’s the perfect setting for a memorable Southern-style afternoon tea. Innkeeper Adele Goodman has hosted a variety of tea parties, such as Red Hat Society teas and mother-daughter teas. Guests take tea either in the dining room or on the wraparound porch.
At the Richmond Victorian Inn in Richmond, Vermont, the innkeepers have perfected the art of afternoon tea. They offer teas for wedding showers and book clubs, as well as princess tea parties for children. On Sundays, an English tea is served in the afternoons. Enjoy fresh, home-baked scones and teas made by the nearby Vermont Liberty Tea Company. The inn is just a short drive from Burlington, and one could hardly think of a more perfect day than driving along winding Vermont roads, looking at the fall foliage and perhaps shopping for antiques and then returning to your country inn to enjoy all the pleasures of an afternoon tea.
During the holiday season, the innkeepers at Rosewood Country Inn in Bradford, New Hampshire, go all out. Each December, they host a special Holiday Tea and Tour. The historic inn has a rich past as lodging, hosting guests such as Jack London, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin. After the tour, you’ll enjoy lavish homemade treats, such as a lemony snowflake cake and freshly baked scones.
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September 04 2008 09:03 am | travel-tips