Guests often times ask us about the history of our Bed and Breakfast Inn, which we are happy to share.  Harvey Kingsley was a very considerate fellow who took his wife’s small stature in mind when he built the house back in 1886.  The main stairway is a very good example of this as the rise of the stairs are shorter than a typical stair and the original oak wood banisters are shorter than typical banisters as well.  Obviously, the stairway is also beneficial to any of our current guests with physical restrictions as well.  Perhaps Harvey was even looking into a glass ball and forseeing the future of his home as a bed and breakfast one day as well.

An easy and delicious variation on banana nut loaves is to use semisweet chocolate chips instead of the nuts.  It’s an easy substitution with a couple of slight modifications.  Use the same of amount of chocolate chips (I prefer semisweet as a tasty contrast to the sweetness of the banana loaf) in the same amount as the nuts required in the recipe.  Try to use the mini chips if possible as they do not fall to the bottom of the batter as easily.  Also, pour about an inch of the batter in the pan or tins before adding chips to the remaining batter and then spooning the remainder on top.  This will prevent the chips from going to the bottom of your pan, where they will scorch.  Try it sometime, our guests love them this way!

It’s always great to look out the window in the morning and see a flurry of birds enjoying themselves in our bird baths, hanging out on the bird feeders or singing their lungs out.  Today was definitely one of those days when the birds all seemed to be so very happy that our warmer weather has returned and that another Michigan Spring is in full swing.  It would appear as though another beautiful winter season has come to an end as the birds are all happily singing today.  It’s obvious that it is going to be another beautiful spring, summer and fall season here in West Michigan.

Our most popular suite is our Northern Spy Suite and with good reason.  It is a fantastic romantic escape which comprises all of the top floor of the Inn.  The turret of the Inn itself is the sitting room of the suite with a 20-foot high ceiling.  The arched ceilings of the suite itself create a chapel like feel and the bath features a large two-person whirlpool tub.  Whether celebrating an anniversary, honeymoon, romantic getaway or other celebration, this suite is the ideal retreat offering guests lots of privacy and romantic touches.

Our gift cards can be in any denomination, for a set dollar amount (i.e., $400) or for a specific suite, room, package or any of the wonderful add-ons we offer at the Inn (ie., “Two night stay in the Northern Spy suite with Anniversary Packages and dinner at Salt of the Earth restaurant.”    They are valid up to five years from date of issue and are fully transferable.  Upon ordering, we immediately send them out along with two brochures so that they can be gifted within a couple of days from the date of order.  A very thoughtful and useful gift that your loved ones will very much appreciate.