Article Advise

submitted: Sep 4th 2008 | by: JaneLeisteiner | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 852 | |

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.

Enjoy tea time at a historic Massachusetts bed and breakfast at the Captain's House Inn. Located in the Cape Cod village of Chatham, this historic inn offers a complimentary cream tea each afternoon with a variety of cookies, cakes and scones. For an additional charge, inn guests and the public can also enjoy a full English Afternoon tea with the addition of sandwiches and other savories. Private luncheon teas also are popular. In December, the innkeepers offer a special holiday tea menu that will definitely bring in the season on a high note. Be sure to book a stay at the inn, as well, the home and gardens are everything you could want in a Massachusetts bed and breakfast. The romantic rooms, delectable breakfasts and plenty of amenities consistently earn the inn a four-diamond rating.

At Halcyon Place Bed and Breakfast in Campbell, New York, guests can enjoy a summer tour of the inn's herb gardens and then enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea. The menu of sweets and savories are homemade using herbs from the inn's gardens. Innkeeper Yvonne Sloan begins these Wednesday tea events with a presentation about growing herbs and using them in recipes.

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.

Holidays and bed and breakfasts just seem to go together, and Rosewood Country Inn in Bradford, N.H., is no exception. Throughout December, the innkeepers host a Holiday Tea and Tour. First you tour the inn, which has been in operation since the late 19th century and has seen guests such as Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin pass through its doors. After the tour, enjoy treats such as white chocolate and raspberry scones or perhaps lemon snowflake cake.

About the Author

Jane Leisteiner enjoys tea and blogging about B&Bs. For more information on Georgia bed and breakfast inns or Atlanta bed and breakfasts travel in general, check out the iLoveInns website.

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