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White Swan Tavern
This is just the beginning of a very mini TR. I'll post more upon return to a large keyboard. In the meantime, take a look (I'm in the Sterling Suite):
https://whiteswantavern.com |
As one might expect, growing up in an area would preclude staying at its hotels. If you like historical towns, Chestertown could be for you: https://townofchestertown.com/
You can get there by car or boat. There used to be an airport for small planes, but I don't know if that still exists. From the south/east you cross the Chester River bridge and your first view is of pretty colonial homes on the water. Watch one-way streets signs for driving along aptly-named Water Street. Chestertown celebrated its 250th anniversary when I was in elementary school. It was an early thriving port and Washington really did sleep there. Some of his possessions can be found at Washington College (10th oldest in the nation). I spent one night at the White Swan Inn and was delighted. I passed Water Street and turned left on Queen which also has some pretty homes. Took a right at High Street (the main street in the historical district). White Swan is on the right: https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...86a6dec322.jpg There is a parking lot in the back and a nice patio. The gate in the white picket fence above leads to a walking path to the patio: https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...15598c14ef.jpg |
OK, first to the Sterling Suite. It had been Sterling Drug Store but was added to the tavern in the 1980s. I didn't look at the other suites as they were either occupied or up stairs. There are a couple of single steps about the tavern so it is not wheel-chair accessible. If a step here or there is OK for you, it's do-able.
My rooms include a bathroom with a tub, a bedroom and a sitting room: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...bc12574067.jpg The fabrics look new and are exquisitely matched on the canopied bed, and https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...af65e8fb77.jpg a nice chair in the bedroom. The red door is to the hotel. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e9695ad1e2.jpg The sitting room faces the sidewalk. There is a large picture window with one-way glass. Except for a more modern couch and carpeting, the Colonial look is spot-on. I brought my strip and needed it to plug in chargers and set it up in this room: https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6834d72828.jpg Sorry it's so dark--was better IRL: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3600e35014.jpg Tomorrow, I'll take shots of the public rooms when the light is better! |
oh, nice choice. I love these colonial style inns, taverns, B&Bs of which IME there are surprisingly few in the UK compared with the east coast of the US. [not to mention the lovely one I stayed in in Tacoma WA].
And great photos too - love the diagonal aspect. looking forward to more. |
I already had this inn on my radar as a place to stay on a possible trip to the Eastern Shore, and I am glad to see more detail about it. It looks like a wonderful place.
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Thanks ann and Vt! Ann, is it a fair statement to say that the true Colonial decor is really English? Imports were for the wealthy only. It would take a few decades for American-made furniture to be made in factories.
White Swan Tavern is on the left not the right when approaching from the direction I described above! Sorry. Saturday I awoke well before my 9 a.m. breakfast time (I reserved upon checking in) so walked around a bit and took photos. Upon entering through the front door, this room is on the left. A ghost occupies the area around the clock: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a58fecfe4f.jpg The clock faces this side of the room. Overflow for dining room? https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a302cbab0a.jpg Main dining room is on the right upon entering. Server Sybil said she'd make a fire if I wanted one: https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f78bc0b28c.jpg Second room to the left of entry is a very inviting lounge that overlooks the patio: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...817082f10e.jpg Second room to the right has a bar, a museum area, and leads to the sign-in table and the back door. The tavern's signature pottery has been remade (or they still have a lot left): https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2dac0f2595.jpg With the bar behind me, the sign-in table and the lounge: https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ab2d413989.jpg Breakfast included OJ, Warmed, 1 large pecan muffin and 2 excellent wheat croissants. There was a table covered with dry cereals and yogurts: https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7e0c9eca8d.jpg I left early to attend a service at this lovely old church: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e74dd507aa.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Pa...lee,_Maryland) |
Forgot to mention that tea is served at the tavern during the week. Also spotted was as sign for Chester River cruise.
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<<Ann, is it a fair statement to say that the true Colonial decor is really English? Imports were for the wealthy only. It would take a few decades for American-made furniture to be made in factories.>>
Definitely, TD. Very much english country house style with flowery chintz furnishings, slightly mismatched furniture, and the Grandfather [long case] clock. As you say they would soon have been making their own but the rich were still importing what they couldn't get in their new home - the B&B in which I stayed in Tacoma had a large window in which the glass had been imported all the way from Waterford by the house's Irish owners. What an extraordinary journey that glass must have had, |
Looks like a comfortable and lovely place to stay but do they serve breakfast before 9am? It must be even prettier during other times of the year.
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Please get to that TR, annhig! The Waterford window sounds amazing. I want to say breakfast was from 7 to 9:30, dfrosty, but don't quote me. They asked for a time so they could put the breads in the oven.
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My husband and I like staying in small inns and B and Bs but breakfast timing can be problematic. Many places don't serve until 8 which is late for me. I am ok if they also offer coffee earlier.
In late November we stayed at a very nice B and B in my husband's home town in PA. The night we were there the only other guests were our BIL and SIL who had arranged to eat at 8. We said that would be ok with us, too. The owner said she had been under the impression we wanted to eat that early so we could get going early and seemed surprised that we lingered over breakfast/coffee. It did not seem to occur to her that we might be getting very hungry if we ate later. |
<<It did not seem to occur to her that we might be getting very hungry if we ate later.>>
perhaps only slugabeds patronise her establishment, VT. As for your need for early morning coffee it really did surprise me to see that the British custom of supplying in room tea and coffee making facilities as been so slow to grow on your side of the pond. It's even taking off in parts of Europe but very rarely in the US. |
Vt, innkeeper probably used to folks getting on the road rather than being hungry!
Now that you mention it, Ann, I think there were more coffee/tea stations in the past than now in the USA places I've visited. Theft? Breakage? Economy? Sanitary? Don't know. |
Originally Posted by annhig
(Post 17041673)
As for your need for early morning coffee it really did surprise me to see that the British custom of supplying in room tea and coffee making facilities as been so slow to grow on your side of the pond. It's even taking off in parts of Europe but very rarely in the US. I can't remember a hotel without a coffee maker and tea/coffee options. Not a kettle, but a way to heat water to make tea or coffee. Most of the hotels I stay at (mid range chains) have free coffee in the lobby in early mornings. |
Most of the hotels and motels we stay at have in room coffee machines. The quality of the coffee is usually terrible, unfortunately. I usually go to the lobby or breakfast room (or in a city outside to a place that sells better coffee). Most but not all inns and b and bs have some coffee in the lobby or a kuerig coffee maker in the hall or near a breakfast room. We stayed at a nice b and b in Cambridge MA that had excellent breakfasts with good coffee but no pre- 8 a.m.coffee options. There was a Whole Foods store right across the street so I went there when it opened at 7.
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<<At inns or hotels?
I can't remember a hotel without a coffee maker and tea/coffee options. Not a kettle, but a way to heat water to make tea or coffee. Most of the hotels I stay at (mid range chains) have free coffee in the lobby in early mornings. There is invariably a kettle with tea bags, instant coffee and milk in every hotel, inn or B&B room in the UK Starrs, and I was amazed to see one in the hotel we stayed in in HK as well as in Switzerland, but they have a lot of UK guests. In Italy I've rarely seen them [Italians rarely have a kettle] but in Spain the trend now seems to be for Nespresso or similar machines - I hate them as I don't have one at home and I always end up flooding the table it's on. I don't remember seeing any water heating options in any room I stayed in in the US, though I agree that they are often available in the lobby. Not much use if you want a nice cup of tea in bed in the morning. |
No idea why that posted and it won't let me edit or remove it.
This is what I intended to post: <<At inns or hotels? I can't remember a hotel without a coffee maker and tea/coffee options. Not a kettle, but a way to heat water to make tea or coffee. Most of the hotels I stay at (mid range chains) have free coffee in the lobby in early mornings. There is invariably a kettle with tea bags, instant coffee and milk in every hotel, inn or B&B room in the UK Starrs, and I was amazed to see one in the hotel we stayed in in HK as well as in Switzerland, but they have a lot of UK guests. In Italy I've rarely seen them [Italians rarely have a kettle] but in Spain the trend now seems to be for Nespresso or similar machines - I hate them as I don't have one at home and I always end up flooding the table it's on. I don't remember seeing any water heating options in any room I stayed in in the US, though I agree that they are often available in the lobby. Not much use if you want a nice cup of tea in bed in the morning. |
no, no good. let's try again:
There is invariably a kettle with tea bags, instant coffee and milk in every hotel, inn or B&B room in the UK Starrs, and I was amazed to see one in the hotel we stayed in in HK as well as in Switzerland, but they have a lot of UK guests. In Italy I've rarely seen them [Italians rarely have a kettle] but in Spain the trend now seems to be for Nespresso or similar machines - I hate them as I don't have one at home and I always end up flooding the table it's on. I don't remember seeing any water heating options in any room I stayed in in the US, though I agree that they are often available in the lobby. Not much use if you want a nice cup of tea in bed in the morning. |
hooray!
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Did you walk through the graveyard at the church? Tallulah Bankhead is buried there. I have a lot of relatives in that graveyard but they moved all records so only found a few of them. My Great Grandmother was a Maslin and my Mom had me take her there looking one time. My Dad's side of the family is there also. I do love that church.
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