Wonderful hosts welcome dogs as warmly as they do you!
Imagine sitting in a lounge chair, gazing at gorgeous gardens. while listening
to water gently flowing from fountains and skipping over rocks in a narrow
river just a step away.
Birds flit among a gazebo and apple trees.
Some settle in colorful
birdhouses hung in rows on a facade.
Nearby, weather-worn signs and items from
another era bring a smile to your face.
Your soul is drifting into a cocoon of nostalgia nestled in the bygone days of Montgomery Center in Vermont.
Your soul is drifting into a cocoon of nostalgia nestled in the bygone days of Montgomery Center in Vermont.
Then you see the face of a huge bull dog staring right back at you, and
he has a pipe in his mouth! Are you dreaming? No, you aren’t. You’re at a very
special inn with a very funny-sounding name. Welcome to Phineas Swann B & B
Inn!
A true pet-friendly haven
Best of all, your dog(s) at your feet looking very content. You’re
thinking how lucky you are that you didn’t have to leave your pup at home. No
separation anxiety. Yippee! Both of you can wake up to this utopian piece of paradise
for as long as you want. That’s because the folks at Phineas Swann Inn know how
important it is for you and your canine to enjoy a stress-free holiday
together. No wonder it ranks among America’s top three B & Bs for
pet friendliness.
This is the place to park your pup
The humor is dog darn good!
Two extraordinary people make this B & B a beautiful experience
Married couple, Lynne and Darren Drevik – the inn’s hosts – were both
born with a huge hospitality gene. Not a trace of pretension or personality
stuffiness in either. The minute you walk in, you notice how happy they are;
their good- -natured manner and casual ease probably comes in part from knowing all
about leaving behind city clamour in search of calm and inspiration in nature.
I was looking for that too when I booked my reservation at this acclaimed B
& B.
In 2013, Darren and Lynne quit their high-powered jobs in New York City to change
their lives in a meaningful way. Lynne was a logistics manager at Colgate, and
Darren had corporate writing contracts – fresh off his chief editor position at
two newspapers in Georgia
and South Carolina.
He’s written a novel titled, “Appalachian Trail”, and his recitation of Chaucer’s
“Canterbury Tales” is impressive. Ask
him to speak Spanish using his native Tennessee
accent. Very entertaining!
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| Darren Drevik |
After looking at three Bed and Breakfasts for sale, the couple settled
on the Phineas Swann B & B – named after a man who once lived here with his
13 children in 1880. They kept the funny name, and even have a book with his
photo in it.
Charm and authenticity
Lynne is an avid antique collector, so many of the treasures you’ll see
at the inn reflect back to 1780 when Montgomery
Center was founded. The
furniture, unique items and décor are a harmonious blend of country chic and
old-world ways.
Having passed through five owners, the historic building was
not always a B& B. It was an 1880 farm-and-barn dwelling that underwent renovations.
The result is a remarkable B & B that features nine country-style bedrooms
each with its own fireplace and ensuite bathroom (save for one). Rich in
wainscoting, with original oak floors in many areas and graceful crown molding,
each is utterly appealing, peaceful, and private. Six of these rooms are ready
to welcome your cherished dog. Another perk: all rooms have phones and your
call is free anywhere in North America!
Ambiance and pleasure in
loving comfort
If you’re not punch-happy about pets, don’t worry; you’ll never see them
in the inn’s main large house which comprises several inviting rooms.
The living
room boasts really comfy couches and period armchairs that act like lazy boys.
Stained glass windows are a stand-out feature in the main house.
The fireplace enhances the warmth of this sitting area as it captures the
ambiance of the room’s former farmhouse roots.
Updated with charm and class,
this main room beckons you to lounge as long as you wish while munching on all
the free snacks and beverages and the amazing chocolate chip cookies freshly
baked every day by Barb, the inn’s consummate chef.
A spacious dining room with separate wooden tables looks out onto the splendid
floral ground that also includes a Jacuzzi – all part of your sensory pleasing
experience.
Pampering for everyone – dog
or no dog
As mentioned, dogs are not allowed in any part of the main inn, so
upstairs, three pretty rooms awash in pastel colors house non-dog accompanied
guests. It’s the unattached buildings
just outside the main inn that are designated for canines, such as the stunning
carriage house with its four spacious bedroom rooms – two upstairs, and two
downstairs (I stayed in the upstairs “terrier room”).
Big beds, big space, beautiful colors
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| An original light in the Carriage House |
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| A painted snowboard greets you at the landing of the Carriage House |
Picturesque rooms
The carriage house, along
with the other dog-friendly suites, even comes with towels for your canine
companion.
Conveniently located, the carriage house is a mere stairwell and veranda
away from the main house. The River house that faces a small section of the Trout River
has two separate upstairs/downstairs apartments that also welcome your dog.
Gardened grounds – most planted by Lynne – are there for your dog to enjoy.
Lynne and Darren have three of their own dogs that are not free to roam
into your space. But they do own over
500 ceramic dogs. You can’t miss them; they’re everywhere: on shelves, tables,
high chests, low chests, even the floor, Can you spot your breed?
The bells are ringing for me and
my gal
Phineas Swann Inn creates a fabulous four-season environment for
romance, weddings and more group affairs. Darren is also a pastor, and so when Lynne purchased a very big antique
church bell, Darren was inspired at Lynne’s urging to build an open-air darling
cupola on the grounds. When couples marry, they swing the rope attached to that
bell, and love is sealed forever.
Wedding receptions take place under the enormous white tent top where
over 145 guests can be seated most comfortably to enjoy the evening along with
the gourmet food, prepared by Lynne, Darren and Barb. The newly weds can choose
from one of three options: pasta, fish or chicken.
Lynne and Darren have their own
gift: the newly married couple can enjoy their honeymoon night free and toast
their union with a free glass of champagne.
I fell in love with Phineas Swann B & B Inn, and went on the hunt
for a husband to be, just so I could get married under that cupola where both
of us could swing the bell and live happily ever after. I found no hubby but the
inn’s morning meal sufficed as a sweet substitute.
Breakfast is a belly-full of variety
Deb has been at the inn for years, and she is a master cook and baker.
In fact, when I landed, she was in the middle of making the wedding cake for an
incoming wedding. She also makes gluten-free food goodies. During my four-day
stay, I savoured Darren’s homemade black berry sauce. It was poured over thick,
tender black-berry-filled French toast... A tasty veggie round sausage was also
served, and on another day, I gobbled up the soufflé-type baby Dutch pancakes
topped with apples. I also tried their smoked bacon. All food is freshly
prepared and most ingredients come from the farmlands that dot the area. Of
course, there is Greek yogurt served with blueberries, an array of cut-up fresh
fruit, juices and cereals to fill you up even more!
Music nights, fall foliage tours and sleigh rides during winter also
define Phineas Swann Inn’s way for enjoyment. To prepare you for those harsh
winters every Wednesday, ladies from
the 9-member co-op store, called Fabric
Folks (located across the street) flock to the Phineas Swann to knit, sip wine and
dig into Barb’s cookies.
Lynne also has her knitting needles in hand. Is there
anything this wonder woman can’t do? Did I mention she just became a
grandmother too? Congratulations, Lynne!
In Vermont, this is the perfect place to hang your hat. There's no other better B & B to stay at -- with our without the dog.
I'll be back with my dog, Zak.
Phineas Swann B & B Inn is located at:
195 Main Street
Montgomery Center, VY 05471
Call: (802) 326 4306.
For information and
reservations, click here: www.phineasswann.com.
You can also email them at: info@phineasswann.com
Phineas Swann B & B Inn is ideally located. It’s only eight miles
from Jay Peak Resort, and sits amidst breathtaking Green Mountain
scenery. I definitely wanted to explore the North East Kingdom, and so Lynne arranged two
half-days for me to pursue a personal custom-guided excursion given by
Montgomery Adventures.
Click here to read about my adventures and the amazing man who brought me into the wilds.
Click here to read about my adventures and the amazing man who brought me into the wilds.
A salt cave and more healing therapies await you
Also across the street from the Phineas Swan inn is one of the North East
Kingdom’s most unique
healing hideaways. Called, Vermont’s Salt Cave
and Halotherapy Center, this cozy place houses a salt
cave. But its creation came with a cost for owners Sarita and Nafis Khan whose
vision to promote well-being and holistic health is their great passion.
Creating this salt cave involved the transporting of thousands of pounds of
pink salt from Poland.
After much arduous work, the former barn morphed magnificently into a magical
healing salt cave.
“We actually imported 20,000
pounds of pink salt from Poland.
4,000 pounds is the amount of crystal salt we placed on the floor which is
reminiscent of a beach. The remaining 16,000 pounds are from the salt
boulders and rocks that have created the wall of the cave. We only used
white cement over foam to create the stalactites on the ceiling. This way
there was no need to use any glue as the walls are mortared together and the
cement is on the ceiling, not salt.”
There are also 52 salt lamps
embedded into the walls and floor releasing negative ions for relaxation and
air purification.
You will be walking on those 4000 pounds of glistening crystal salt to
get to your resting lounge chair. For the next 45 minutes, you’ll enjoy the
soothing sounds of two waterfalls while benefiting from their heavily saturated
negative environment – a toxin flusher – so to speak.
The spa offers a 30-minute treatment where you simply rest your
hands and bare feet on specially heated Himalayan salt block. Research shows
this is great for joint and arthritic issues. I sat for a minute just to “try”
it and it was very relaxing.
This spa has much to offer: an infra-red sauna hot stone treatment,
massage, Reiki and sound healing. I loved all the natural products they sell
and the colourful salt lamps you’ll see in their boutique. Meeting Sarita and
Nafis has its own healing effect. They give you their full attention, and their
caring is sincere. Prices are a steal!
Visit: www.vtsaltcaves.com.
Email them at: relax@vtsaltcaves.com
