1st time here and such a awesome place. Great renovatiin, attention to detail. Location is…read moreperfect. You have to be some type of person to come here and not just see simplicity, elogance and beauty in one space.

My wife and I just finished a wonderful winter escape at the Blue - Inn on the Beach for our…read moreanniversary. The drive to Plumb Island through Newburyport was the perfect introduction to our romantic, north shore getaway. Being from Phoenix, we look forward to our cold, winter adventure each year and neither of us had been anywhere north of Boston before. Before our arrival, communication with the Blue was informative and hand a personal feel. Obviously, the Blue caters to summer beach-goers, and the reserved parking area near the hotel would definitely be a huge plus for folks competing for parking spots, but in winter, there are very few people or cars on the entire island. The Blue is a quaint little hotel nestled on the beach in a neighborhood of New England beach homes. We were happily greeted at the front desk by Blue staff and the General Manager. They tendered to our every need and surprised us with a fabulous fruit and chocolate anniversary gift waiting for us in the room. The room was beautiful with a classic and modern beach feel. Sliding glass doors open up to a wooden deck with a fabulous view of the Atlantic Ocean. We could hear the crashing waves while sitting inside beside the gas fireplace to read. It was magical! Also magical was the bed! We haven't slept that well in years! The bed was so comfortable and my wife loved the pillows so much that she bought the very same ones for home the day we returned. And don't forget the two hot tubs! There is nothing quite as enjoyable as relaxing in a steaming, bubbling hot tub while it's snowing all around you. Honestly, the "hot tubs available" filter was probably what highlighted the Blue to me during my search for this trip. One hot tub is on the second floor deck, overlooking the beach and the second is hidden under the pine trees at the end of a short sidewalk across the street from the main building. Both were large enough for probably 6 people, clean and well maintained. Again, it was February so we had them all to our crazy selves the whole week. The beach is beautiful! There is direct, private access from the second floor of the Blue, via a wooden boardwalk. The beach is sandy with very few rocks. I didn't see any seaweed or anything washing up on shore, but it was February, so I didn't expect to see a whole lot of anything living coming out of the water. Every morning we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise over the ocean while we drank some local coffee delivered direct to the room. Oh yeah, breakfast! Each morning the staff dropped off and adorable wicker basket with fresh, local breakfast offerings plus that wonderful carafe of coffee. We had different breakfast each day, to include quiche, overnight oats, fresh fruit, biscuits, and bacon. Just the right amount for the two of us and we couldn't wait to see what breakfast surprise would arrive each morning. Although Plumb Island may feel remote from the business of the Boston-metro area, the location was great for dipping down to Salem without hitting any traffic, or popping up to New Hampshire for a sleighride through the forest. One morning, after a small nor'easter blew through, our SUV got stuck in the parking lot snow. No worries! The General Manager of the Blue came out to hail down a plow and personally helped push us out. Now that's service! Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Blue -Inn on the Beach to anyone looking for a romantic beach getaway. If you're looking for a less Metropolitan vacation with the proximity to get to Boston in under an hour, the Blue can't be beat. We will definitely be coming back. Maybe even in the summer next time!

Was there for a baby shower. First tea experience. Was fun and recommend. The lemon and blueberry…read morescones were delicious as well as the mini croissant sandwiches. Will be back.

The server was great! I believe her name was Nia, she complimented my clothing and all around made…read moreme feel very welcomed, the food was great as well. would come again!

Outstanding Place to Stay!…read more It is a beautiful very well maintained historic home, with an amazingly accommodating host. The breakfast was great, the location perfect, and with such a great host it made for a wonderful long weekend stay. I would definitely go back!

Beautiful room, really comfortable bed, delicious breakfast, wonderful communication with staff!…read moreLoved our stay here!

We chose the Gazebo Inn for our pre-wedding mini moon celebration. We absolutely loved our stay and…read moreenjoyed all of the amenities. We especially loved the large salt water hot tub and mid-day snacks (mixed nuts and large chocolate chip cookies - which were delicious). They also offer a mixed drink and wine at the self serve bar during the day. We stayed in the King 7 room and it was spacious. We loved the rain shower head. I also highly recommend the chocolate sampler box add on! We had the chocolate and champagne available at check in which was a nice touch. The hot tub was often quiet around 8pm and made for the perfect end of evening activity. They have an ample selection of towels and robes by the pool that are available to use. We also enjoyed a couples massage offered by the inn. Breakfast was very yummy! Each day there is a large selection of options you can pick and choose from. They had the breakfast offering for the day displayed and then you check off what you want with a marker on a short form. The inn is about a 10 minute walk from Footbridge beach, which was awesome. Overall I would recommend for any weekend getaway or celebration!

Everything went well! My husband and I frequently stay at bed and breakfast inns but the Gazebo is…read morethe ONLY place we have returned to over and over. The staff is exceptional, Pete has this place running like a top! This time we stayed in Barn Suite 2 and I think this may now be my new favorite room. The shower is unbelievable and the room well appointed. And breakfast? The best! They make scones daily and each day is a different main breakfast. They also provide ice tea and either a sangria or other type drink along with house made cookies (best I've ever had) as well as Whoopie pies and mixed nuts and snack mix.

Amazing breakfast and hospitality. The owner, Rita, gave plenty of good suggestions for places to…read morevisit and restaurants to go to.

I usually find bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) kind of intrusive. Needing to eat breakfast with random…read morestrangers, make chit-chat--not usually my thing! So I was pleasantly surprised by how awesome Around the Corner is. The proprietors, Rita and Peter, really make everyone feel at home. They introduce guests to each other and create an atmosphere where it's actually a pleasure to meet the other people staying there. I have dietary restrictions that Rita (the breakfast chef) was able to gracefully accommodate. The rooms are beautiful, with lots of detail, and plenty of books to borrow while you're there. Very peaceful and quiet at night. Each room has a window air conditioner/fan unit which helps keep the temp comfortable. I got to explore Exeter and the surrounding towns. Some highlights: the Fly By Cafe (downtown Exeter, has a UFO theme); Wallis Sands State Park, a peaceful beach; Folsom Tavern, where George Washington had a meal. I always felt comfortable asking for recommendations or sharing my thoughts on what I'd seen with the proprietors and other guests. Very un-snobby place. A couple quirks: The parking situation is pretty crowded and that can get stressful if the B&B is full. Also, be aware that some of the bathrooms are shared--be sure to check in advance if having your own bath is important to you. Overall, such a lovely and fun place to spend a few days!

My bf and I stayed here in March. I found the website online and was convinced it would be…read morewonderful because of the gorgeous pictures of the place and the stellar reviews I found all over the internet. When we got there, we found the owner and his girlfriend cooking dinner. They were very nice and welcoming. I knew to expect the owners living quarters to be really close to the guest rooms because of some of the reviews I read but since the room we were in had a private entrance we weren't worried, we figured we could come and go and have the privacy we were looking for with no problem. We told Ted that we were late sleepers and not to worry about providing breakfast for us (the website says breakfast is served between 8:30-9:30). We would much rather sleep in and then grab brunch somewhere and we didn't want to hold him up from whatever he may have had planned for the day. He seemed somewhat resistant to the idea of not providing sustenance for us so after a little discussion, J and I told him "okay, how about 10:30?" He said he would leave certain items out for us. The house and our room really were gorgeous! Ted is an architect and he has done a really great job on the house and grounds. We stayed in the pond room which had cathedral ceilings, a two person jacuzzi, a gas fireplace, double glass doors, lighted double sinks that automatically turned on when you walked into the room, a whole wall of windows, decks, and heated floors. We were really happy with the room. It was very clean and decorated with a subtle nautical theme. From the moment we got there, we kind of felt like we had to whisper in our room. Probably because there wasn't any other guests there that weekend and the owner was having dinner 20 ft from our door. I know they probably couldn't have heard us but it did make me feel more uncomfortable than I thought it would. In the morning, we were woken up bright and early by the sun coming through the large, high windows in our room. No wonder breakfast is so early, how can anyone sleep through that? However, I do have to say that if I wasn't a cranky morning person, this would be a really enjoyable way to wake up, sun and beautiful blue sky and trees to look at while lying in bed. We pulled ourselves together and quietly went to the kitchen for breakfast. Ted said he would leave things out for us so we assumed we'd be alone. He immediately came around the corner when we got to the kitchen so it felt like he may have been waiting for us. He served us cantaloupe slices with yogurt, granola and berries and a tomato and basil quiche, which was all very good. What wasn't good was that he talked to us from the kitchen the whole time we were eating, so we had to keep turning around in our chairs to respond to him. It was uncomfortable and awkward (if he had sat down with us, it wouldn't have been as bad). During our weird breakfast conversation, it comes up that J is a software engineer and next thing you know, Ted is asking for help with a website he is working on. I have no problem with J helping someone out, but DUDE we're on vacation and we are paying you good money, don't ask for business help while we are trying to relax. It just wasn't appropriate. I said "Maybe when we are on our way out on Sunday he can help you for a bit". After that, we pretty much chose to use our private entrance to the room when we came and went from the house. We didn't feel like discussing in great detail every time we came back from somewhere, what we had done and where we had gone. I think Ted meant well, he had a lot of advice and suggestions for things to do and he was a really nice guy but it just didn't mesh with our style. For the most part, we like to be left alone when we go away and Ted didn't seem to pick up on the signals we gave him. I think this B&B would be really great for an older couple, for some reason I feel like older people are more open to this type of attention. On Sunday when we packed up, J was heading out to take some things to the car and Ted followed him outside for help on his website. He spent more than an hour working on something with him, while I sat in our room waiting. We probably won't go back. Gorgeous place, beautiful backyard and pond, and nice trails that lead to a running path and the harbor. I really liked the physical surroundings but didn't really feel relaxed because Ted was overly available and obviously in closer earshot than we would have liked. A week later, Ted called and asked BF to go on trip advisor and write a positive review of our stay!! No wonder I found so many good reviews online. 5 stars for aesthetics and 1 star for invasiveness! It wasn't horrible but it was not our style. **Updating this review in March '09: Ted called J a month or so ago and said he found this review and apologized and offered us a free night at the B&B. Not sure if we'll take him up on it but nice that he tried to make amends.**

Two weekends ago my friend and I spent a lovely weekend in Marblehead at the Fox Pond Bed and…read moreBreakfast. This gem is nestled in a quiet neighborhood bordering a 37 acre sanctuary with trails that lead down to Salem Harbor. I looked at a number of B & Bs before finding this obvious and rare jewel of a home. Ted and Sophie, our hosts, were flexible as we arrived early and left a bit late since the off season is easier on everyone. This home has been meticulously redone, as have the beautiful grounds. Indeed, this property is featured in a number of architectural, gardening, and home magazines. The obvious care and attention to detail is very very unique. Our host, Ted, and his lovely dog, Sophie, made us feel right at home. Ted has an easy way about him that makes one feel like family the second you walk through the door. As is common with Bed and Breakfasts, you are a part of the family while in residence - that's the charm. The breakfasts were lovely and we invited Ted to join us as we learned about the house, its history, and received numerous tips about local attractions, restaurants, shops, and some of the local North Shore news. All in all our stay was wonderful. Ted opened his home to us and helped make our stay a memorable and relaxing time. I most enthusiastically recommend the Fox Pond B&B; we'll be back!

Planned a bridal shower at the venue for 30 people. Told the owner well in advance that we would…read moreonly have 17 people attending. He then charged me over $400 for sangria the day of the event. I ended up paying almost $150 per person for tea sandwiches and sangria. I brought all of my own decorations and all the desserts. I order fruit skewers and never received them. The owner is a crook. For $150 would should have been served filet mignon!! Book your event here if you want to over pay!! Criminal!!

My wife and I stayed here while traveling through the area. This is a nice home, nice furnishings,…read morethe room was acceptable, the breakfast by the Inn keeper was delicious. When we arrived there was a large event taking place down stairs, which meant none of the common areas were available to us, just our room. The large group made it noisy, even upstairs in our room. If we had known there was going to be such an event we would have canceled and stayed else where!

I booked at this Inn for the last day of the Indigenous People's day weekend to wake up on my…read morebirthday, take some photographs of nature and then head home to be with family. A bad nor'easter was forecast with AAA warning against driving and some east coast governors warning against being on the roads. I'm 69 and a lung cancer survivor so I tend to err on the side of safety. I emailed the Inn and asked if my booking could be transferred to the Tuesday of the following week, or the Monday of the week after that. I still work so my bookings depend on when I have time, and too, I was careful to keep it near a similar day to what I had booked. Even though it is low season I wanted to be sure to not inconvenience the Inn. I was met with arrogance and a "sure everyone wants good weather" response, which was flabbergasting. They suggested I come the following day - still high winds and lashing rain - and if not I would forfeit the money I paid close to $400. I was stupefied by their response and will ensure that I warn everyone of this place of bad manners and poor business nous.

I had an absolutely AMAZING experience at the Inn at Castle Hill! The rooms are so thoughtfully…read moredecorated with stunning views. I was in the Teller room, one of the smaller ones on the third floor, and it was so cozy and comfortable! The bathrooms are on the smaller side, but still very manageable, and the whole place is air conditioned during the Summer. The breakfast is amazing and you get a whole bunch of different options, on top of lemonade, iced tea, and cookies served throughout the day. The real special times are before and after the estate opens for the day, because you really feel like you have the place to yourself. I walked up to the mansion for sunset, and it was stunning! They can also help get you booked on guided house or kayak tours, and you get free access to Crane Beach with towels and tote bags! If you're looking for a peaceful coastal getaway, this is the place!

This charming, antique farm house is returning to it's former role as a Bed & Breakfast. The…read moreproperty is a great venue for lots of events, especially the rustic barn. This amazing couple is working hard to showcase all the beauty this home and property have to offer. The beds are comfortable, the rooms are spacious, the food served is beyond what most would expect. Now with the addition of the goats and fowl, joining the house cats, it has broadened it's farm appeal. Helen and Keith endeavor to fulfill all of your comforts for a relaxing country visit.

Newly remodeled rooms freshly painted brand new TVs in the room free Wi-Fi weekly housekeeping…read moreplenty of dumpsters on site to get rid of your extra trash. Extra friendly staff under New Management extended stay weekly rates available open year long