st. augustine bed and breakfast











Inn Style in St. Augustine: Easy Elegance at the Inn on Charlotte
08/19/2009 www.BlackDressTraveler.com 
Lynne Fairfield, Inn on Charlotte owner, enjoying her oh-so-pretty porch.

It is not surprising that America's oldest city, St. Augustine (Florida), has more than its fair share of quaint inns and bed & breakfasts. How does one choose where to stay with so many options? Well, if your criteria include a luxurious bed, a well appointed room, gourmet breakfast, and a welcoming innkeeper then the answer is easy: make the simply divine Inn on Charlotte your home away from home while visiting the city of Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth, cobble stone streets, and bay breezes.

Owned by hospitality veteran, the beautiful and gracious Lynne Fairfield, the Inn on Charlotte is conveniently located just steps away from St. Augustine's main attractions, including the lovely bayfront. (to learn more about tourist attractions, click here to read about my previous trip to St. Augustine). I have never been much of a bed & breakfast girl but now I realize that those other B&B's were not a good match for my travel style. Staying at a bed & breakfast is almost like staying with a friend and I'll be honest - I love my friends but there are very few that I actually enjoy staying with. A good innkeeper has to possess the right combination of professionalism without being distant and warmth without being clingy. They have perfected this magical formula at the Inn on Charlotte. From the moment I arrived, I felt at home and at peace. When I wanted to chat, Lynne and her fabulous assistant Sharon were charming and a real joy to spend time with. And when I just wanted to relax, they were respectful of my quiet time on the porch.

Tiffany's Studio with the fantastic bed - see the step ladder!

The Inn is an elegant brick home that was built in 1918 for a local attorney and was tastefully restored in 2003. Gorgeous antiques and reproductions pay homage to the Inn's past while modern amenities such as whirlpool tubs in every room, cable television and WI-FI accommodate the needs of the modern traveler in each of the Inn's 8 rooms.

The sunny and spacious Tiffany's Studio is where I nestled for two glorious days. The room's decor was inspired by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the legendary artist and designer whose famous stained glass windows can be seen in all their glory at nearby Flagler College. In fact, all of the rooms at the Inn on Charlotte are named after a prominent person in St. Augustine's history. My room had tasteful Tiffany inspired accents such as lamps and stained glass panels in the bathroom windows. And the bed, how glorious. Plush and inviting, the little step ladders on each side of the Queen bed made me feel like a princess. Next time, I will pack my tiara to make the experience complete!

Outside of my room, I spent a great deal of time relaxing with a book and a glass of wine or sweet tea on the Inn's shady porch. As visitors walked by, many of them would stop and comment on the loveliness of the Inn on Charlotte. I would raise my glass and smile - that's what you do in the South! The Inn keeps a small refrigerator in the living room stocked with iced tea and lemonade that you can help yourself to during the day. In the evening, red and white wine magically appear in elegant crystal carafes along with fresh baked cookies and savory homemade cheese pennies.

Breakfast quiche with oven roasted potatoes and fresh banana bread.

The Inn on Charlotte takes their responsibilities as a bed & breakfast very seriously and realize that where you lay your head at night and what you eat in the morning define the experience. Stepping out of my Princess bed, I was greeted both mornings with breakfasts that were visually appealing and absolutely delicious. Cleaning the elegant China plate of stuffed French toast and quiche with sausage and granny smith apples was a pleasure with every bite.

I have a very simple test for judging how much I enjoyed my stay at a hotel: do I get up eager to leave or does a bit of melancholy enter me as check-out time approaches? I handed over the keys to Tiffany's Studio begrudgingly: bye bye Princess bed, farewell sweet porch, adieu delicious breakfast. Maybe I'm still not a bed & breakfast girl, but I am certainly an Inn on Charlotte girl!

(The Inn on Charlotte is currently offering a special rate. Stay any 2 MidWeek (Sunday - Thursday) Nights in August and September 2009 and receive the 2nd night for only $19.18. Applies to rooms $169 and above. Click here for more details. )

To learn more about the Inn on Charlotte, visit www.innoncharlotte.com. To learn more about St. Augustine, visit www.getaway4florida.com


Best Places to Live 2009
U.S. News looked at areas with strong economies, low living costs, and plenty of fun things to do
By Luke Mullins
Posted June 8, 2009

St. Augustine, Florida
As the nation's longest continually inhabited European-founded city, St. Augustine, Fla., considers itself the oldest city in the United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish Adm. Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, this community of 13,000 residents on Florida's northeastern coast has managed to maintain its colonial charm. Take the Castillo de San Marcos, for example. This remarkable stone-and-mortar fort is located right in the heart of St. Augustine's cobblestoned historic district. And even though 300 years of violent storms and enemy firepower couldn't penetrate its walls, visitors can enter the 20.5-acre monument site today for just $6.

But St. Augustine's appeal extends beyond the history books. With a highly educated workforce, world-class golfing nearby—the immaculate TPC Sawgrass course is located just up the road—and that refreshing Atlantic breeze, this "ancient city" offers enough activities to satisfy even the most fanatical outdoor sports enthusiast. "Fishing, kayaking, boating—we have just about everything," says Donald Edwards, a clerk at the Avid Angler fishing shop. "I wouldn't live anywhere else."

Click here to read the full article>

The 10 Most Romantic Florida B&Bs
Need a little pampering? These inns are just the ticket
Click-2-Listen

By Mary Thurwachter, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 27, 2008

You can get by this Valentine's Day with red roses and chocolates in a big, heart-shaped box. But if you really want to keep the flame of romance burning, spring for a night or two in an intimate bed-and-breakfast. Nothing evokes closeness like a getaway to a B&B with a great four-poster bed, fine linen sheets and plump pillows. Nothing says lovin' like toasting your union before a crackling fireplace or in a tub for two brimming with bubbles and surrounded by candles.

Florida is blessed with some of the finest bed-and-breakfasts around. Some of them are on sandy shores with palm trees and hammocks. Some come with horses who lead guests down happy trails. All of them include yummy breakfasts you don't have to make.

Inn on Charlotte in St. Augustine

From fine, locally made French chocolates to Eggs Benedict fit for a king and queen, it's gourmet all the way at the Inn on Charlotte.

Expect first-rate breakfasts. Owner Lynne Fairfield, with 25 years' experience in the hospitality business, and her sister Valerie Wright, a graduate of London's Le Cordon Bleu, sometimes give cooking classes at the inn.

And the food isn't alone in its grandness. Attention to detail inside and out, and the use of antiques and fine reproductions give this Old Town inn a luxurious feel. Most rooms have Jacuzzis, a welcome retreat after an afternoon's hike down brick-lined streets. Also welcome — and relaxing — are the inn's porches, comfortably furnished with wicker rockers and chairs and perfect spots to catch late-day breezes.

The Castillo de San Marco, a historic fort, the Bridge of Lions, horse-drawn carriage tours, evening ghost tours and the shops of St. George Street, are within walking distance. Parking can be challenging in this heavily visited tourist town. That's why it's wise to park you car at the inn, or a block away at a parking lot reserved for guests, and hoof it to shops, restaurants and attractions. Another good option — take the trolley.

Toast your love with complimentary mimosas, available on request during breakfast on weekends and holidays.

For reservations or more information, call (800) 355-5508 or see www.innoncharlotte.com. Rates range from $139-$259.

ST. AUGUSTINE nameD A TOP 10 DESTINATION BY AMERICAN EXPRESS
Oldest City One of Only Two American Destinations Selected!

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Sept. 8) St. Augustine has been named by American Express as one of the ten “surprising, exciting, and cutting-edge places” in the world where Americans can enjoy one of their favorite travel pastimes.

A survey of American Express cardholders revealed that 87 percent selected vacation destinations based on their personal interests. The top ten interests named were culinary, family events, music, fitness and exercise, education/learning, history, the arts, wine/champagnes, fashion/shopping and sporting events. American Express then selected ten “unexpected’ destinations worldwide where these interests could be enjoyed. Their history recommendation was St. Augustine, Florida.

American Express said: “Not many history buffs would consider St. Augustine, Florida their ultimate destination. However, this city celebrated its 400th birthday back in 1965. Founded by the Spanish in 1565, it is where the nation’s first schools, hospitals and banks were built. St. Augustine lays claim to the first European birth in the New World and is the oldest town plan in the United States. It was here where the first Thanksgiving actually took place, not at Plymouth Rock.”

St. Augustine was one of only two American destinations to make the list. The other was Virginia’s wine country. The other recommendations made by American Express were: Culinary –Vietnam; Family Events – Lake Garda, Italy; Music – Iceland; Fitness and Exercise – Madagascar; Education/Learning – Kerala, India; The Arts – Beirut, Lebanon; Fashion/Shopping – Durban, South Africa; and Sporting Events – camel racing in the United Arab Emirates.

The American Express selection is the latest in a series of travel-related accolades recently bestowed on St. Augustine – a city of only 12,000 residents located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida. In August, ABC’s “Good Morning America” in conjunction with Travel + Leisure magazine, named St. Augustine as their number one pick for a place where Americans could feel like they were in Europe – without the cost of actually going to Europe. In June, USA Today selected St. Augustine as one of their ten recommended American destinations where visitors don’t need a car to enjoy their visit.

For more information on vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, call the Visitors and Convention Bureau at 1.800.653.2489 or visit www.Getaway4Florida.com .

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches
Visitors and Convention Bureau
88 Riberia Street, Suite 400, St. Augustine, FL 32084
contact: Jay Humphreys, 904.829.1711 x306 jhumphreys@getaway4florida.com

Melanie Lawson Welcomes Lynne to WJXT-TV Channel 4

In June, I was invited to appear on Jacksonville Channel 4 TV to prepare two of my guests’ favorites – Breakfast Enchiladas and Cheese Pennies that we bake just for our afternoon social hour. Melanie Lawson and the entire crew couldn’t wait until it was time to sample the finished dishes and I can’t wait to return and share more of our Inn’s ‘kitchen secrets’!

My recipes follow for your enjoyment.

Lynne

Click for recipes:
Breakfast Enchiladas
Cheese Pennies

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us 800-355-5508, 904-829-3819, email us, or use our online request form.

 


 


 


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