Page 8 - Indulge November 2017

WEEKENDERS
INNS
WELCOME
THOSE HOME
By Jack Romig
Ahotel may be just a hotel,
somewhere to sleep and perhaps
eat along the highway.
Some hotels, though, are special enough
— thanks to their beauty, comfort, history or
a mingling of these and other qualities — to
become destinations in their own right.
Eastern Pennsylvania abounds in such
places, whether they call themselves inns,
boutique hotels or B&Bs. Here are five notable
for making visits pleasant and memorable.
The Inn at Birch Wilds, Lehighton: The
property on which this inn opened about
a year ago was a farm for centuries, the
oldest structure built in 1750. In fact,
said Cheryl Rodger, who operates the inn
with her sister Rhonda Roman and their
husbands, “wilds” suggested itself as an
old-fashioned name for a farm.
Modern rustic is the style, Rodger said.
“It’s more like a lodge. Old furniture’s not very
comfortable, so we looked to find things with
a rustic feel that were more comfortable.”
The inn, appealingly set among its
namesake birches, is a vantage point for
gorgeous views of the Kittatinny Ridge. It’s
handy to the attractions of Jim Thorpe.
Guests can order in-room breakfast at no
extra cost. Plans are to expand from four
rooms to seven, and to create parking and
spaces for future festivals and special events.
Visit innatbirchwilds.com.
Main Street Inn, Kutztown: Since
2008, Kutztown has been served by the
Corrado family’s Main Street Inn, which
began as a B&B but soon styled itself a
boutique hotel. For assistant innkeeper
Angela Corrado, that means a Victorian-
looking eight-room establishment striving
to anticipate each guest’s wishes.
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A block from KU, the inn draws students’
parents, business visitors to the university and invested in extensive restorations to return
those attending special events there. Others
are in town for the Hawk Mountain bird
sanctuary, the Kutztown Folk Festival, and
nearby wineries.
“We offer immaculate amenities,” she said.
“Without being uptight about it, we think of
everything.” The rooms provide the expected
comforts of larger hotels in an especially warm
and comfortable setting. Guests have access
to a courtyard with fire pit, a guest kitchen,
and a complimentary beer and wine happy
hour. Visit kutztownmainstreetinn.com.
Glasbern Country Inn, Fogelsville: A Valley
destination for more than 30 years, this
37-room inn offers beautifully created rooms
in farm barns and cottages, some dating to
the 1700s.
Situated near one of the region’s highway
and commercial hubs, the inn often hosts
business meetings and executive retreats.
On weekends, many guests arrive for farm
weddings. Others seek a romantic getaway,
drawn by an atmosphere of rustic elegance.
“This is a 150-acre working farm, and
it’s very restful and comforting,” Howat said.
“People like to book a massage at the spa on
the property, or just sit by the pool or on a
veranda to relax.” He says the inn is especially the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, or
proud of its onsite restaurant, serving fresh,
locally sourced ingredients in a handsome,
high-ceilinged space. Visit Glasbern.com.
The Historic Benner Mansion, Allentown:
This downtown restoration, a B&B since 2010,
offers an experience very different from the
country comforts of many small hotels.
The sumptuous 1914-vintage home of
Captain Nolan Benner, once aide to General
Harry C. Trexler, lay in vandalized disrepair
by the 1990s. Current owner Sam Bennett
the Italianate Palladian showpiece to its
former glories.
The mansion recalls an era of luxury. It’s a
window on Allentown history, but also a haven
convenient to major attractions in the city and
beyond. Amenities include spacious private
baths, premium mattresses and linens, flat-
screen TV, parking, breakfast in a grand room,
and, Bennett said, “me as a historic tour
guide.” Visit historicbennermansion.com.
The Parsonage, Jim Thorpe: When Michael
Rivkin and his partner, chef Jeffri Coleman,
returned to their native Pennsylvania to open
a small inn, they made the farm-to-table
idea central to their work. Breakfast at their
B&B begins with the best and freshest local
ingredients, Rivkin said. “We want to offer fun
and creative menus, something of extra value.”
Rivkin and Coleman, enthusiastically
greeted last year by their Jim Thorpe
neighbors, welcome their guests just as
warmly. A second-floor coffee lounge is
open 24/7; wineglasses and corkscrews
are always at hand.
Four comfortable, well-appointed
rooms are available to guests who plan
nearby whitewater adventures, rides on
romantic getaways in this unique town.
The innkeepers, world travelers themselves,
have filled The Parsonage with so many
artworks and antiques that it resembles
a museum with guest rooms. Visit
theparsonagebandb.com.