B&B Review: Stepping Stone, Beaver Mines
This past weekend Darlene and I stayed at a very nice Bed and Breakfast in southwestern Alberta near Pincher Creek. This was the fifth time that we have stayed at a B&B and it got me thinking that I should post some reviews online. Word of mouth is the supposedly the best advertising and I think a review is the closest thing possible on the web.
Setting:
Stepping Stone Cabins & B&B is located in the small hamlet of Beaver Mines, Alberta just12 minutes from Pincher Creek, a larger centre with all your regular amenities. Stepping Stone is set in a small Aspen forest within Beaver Mines. The view out our window revealed yellow and orange Aspen leaves with the sun shining nicely through. Only a short walk from the B&B you can take in gorgeous vistas of the Rocky Mountains to the west and an unending view of the rolling prairie to the east. Also in view are Pincher Creek’s famous windmills, the most windmills in any single location in Canada. During our days we did a short hike part way up Tabletop Mountain, walked around Lake Beauvais Provincial Park and did some sightseeing of the windmills. Given enough time we could’ve done a host of other things in the area, including Waterton Lakes National Park, Castle Mountain Resort and much more.
Accommodation:
We were housed in the Turtle Cabin, a room and kitchenette located in a separate building from the main house. The separation from the main house was nice, since we had our own entrance and could come and go without disturbing anyone. The kichenette had everything we needed for a few simple meals: tea kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge and all the plates and cutlerly two people need. We had access to the common bbq and made a nice dinner of chicken and bbq veggies one night. The cabin had a sizeable bathroom and a small siting room with a tv/vcr combo. There was a small movie selection and we enjoyed watching a few older movies in the evenings. In addition there was a small library of books and I enjoyed reading almost half of a great book by Charlie Russell called Grizzly Heart.
Breakfast:
The mornings were definitely something to look forward to each day. One day we were greeted by hardy pancakes and fresh fruit while the next day we were greeted by tasty omelettes, hash browns, scones and fresh fruit. To drink we were given our choice of tea, coffee and cold juice – which we choice the tea and juice each day. We left breakfast each morning with our stomachs definitely satisfied.
Extras:
One of the perks of the place was the hot tub in the common area between the two cabins. Given the freezing temperatures at morning and night the hot tub was a nice respite of warmth on one of the evenings.
The hospitality of Kevin, Jolaine and the two young girls was also excellent. They were interested and asked questions, but were not overbearing. We enjoyed spending time during breakfast chatting and learning about the area.
Recommend?
Definitely! I would definitely recommend this B&B to people who enjoy excellent breakfasts, a warm hot tub and like making their own meals. On top of all of that the beauty of this region rivals anything Banff and Jasper have to offer.
B&B Canada link: http://www.bbcanada.com/5270.html
B&B Review: Ye Olde Walkerville, Windsor
On our way to a wedding in Ohio we decided to break up the trip and stay in Windsor. It was a quick overnight stop, but it was memorable nonetheless. Ye Olde Walkerville B&B is a classy joint with elegant decor that has been carefully restored by the owner.
Accommodation:
Our room was small, but nicely designed in a older Victorian style. There was a small television mounted high on the wall, which isn’t my favourite place for a television but it may have been the only place for it. The rest of the building has been incredibly restored from a decrepit house to a beautiful bed and breakfast. Much of the design respects the origins of the building and its remarkable character. It’s a single building so privacy is as much as can be expected from a room in a house.
Breakfast:
Our host provided us with a great meal. All I can remember is having bountiful leftovers of homemade waffles. The food was more we could handle, perhaps over proportioned, but generally that’s hardly a bad thing. Beyond quantity the food was tasty from what I recall.
Extras:
There weren’t a lot of extras, but neither did we have time for them on this trip.
Recommend?
The price is a bit steep for the Bed & Breakfast basics, but worthwhile if you value a high-quality breakfast and a gorgeous building.
Website link: http://bbcanada.com/yeoldewalkerville
B&B Review: Tarry-a-while, Banff
It for a our second year anniversary that Darlene found a nice B&B in Banff, Alberta for us to stay. Tarry-a-while is the historic home of Mary Schaffer and is now turned into a Bed and Breakfast. We stayed in the Mary Schaffer suite and enjoyed it’s classic and clean design. The atmosphere of the room was wonderful and made us feel a touch like we were back a hundred years ago in Banff’s early days.
Setting:
I don’t think I need to say much about the wider setting of Banff. It’s naturally beauty is widely known and Darlene and I especially enjoyed this stay there during the winter season. The B&B itself is set within the town of Banff but still has plenty of tree cover around the property, making it feel like a slightly less urban environment.
Accommodation:
In addition to what I said above, the room was located on the main floor, apart from any other room and allowed for freedom to come and go as we pleased. The room was also very spacious, including a sitting chair where my wife spent time reading.
Breakfast:
We stayed there two years ago so I don’t remember a lot of the details of the food. I do recall that we had a bountiful breakfast with some creative arrangements of traditional breakfast foods. I think we had special breakfast sandwiches -a style of omelette with meat between an english muffin.
Extras:
One of the perks of staying here was the free passes to the Whyte Museum. We toured the Whyte Museum the following morning and were surprised how long we stayed there. There was a wide selection of galleries, including local youth art photography as well as more traditional galleries and displays of local Banff area history.
Recommend?
The summer rate is a bit steep for what you get, but we stayed during the off-season so our rate seemed a bit more reasonable. If you are already considering going to the Whyte Museum and eating out for breakfast the value begins to get more reasonable for a stay in Banff. This is a good stay for someone looking for a beautiful clean room, a great breakfast and a little piece of local history.
Website link: http://www.tarry.ca/schaffer.html
Official website of Jonathan R. Schmidt