My bf and I stayed here in March. I found the website online and was convinced it would be wonderful 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.** read more

Two weekends ago my friend and I spent a lovely weekend in Marblehead at the Fox Pond Bed and Breakfast. 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! read more

We were at the Fox Pond Bed and Breakfast just this past weekend and truly enjoyed the comfort and beauty of staying in such a lovely place. The house is beautiful and each detail in the Pond Room was delightful. The Pond Room (on the first floor of the house) has a very nice sitting area, private doors out to the back deck, exquisite bathroom (including a great shower and whirlpool bathtub). The pleasure of waking up to the birds and the wildlife in the backyard started the day out peacefully (there were even binoculars on the windowsill and a bird book on the end table if you enjoy looking up birds). We enjoyed learning about the house and the area as Ted prepared a very nice fresh breakfast every morning. We did not spend much time around the house in the daytime as we were visiting family in the area, but we enjoyed the ease of coming in every evening to relax, light the fireplace, and watch a little television or read. Our plane had been delayed and we arrived after a long drive in the pouring rain and Ted was very kind to us at our arrival way past the time that people usually check into the house. We had one breakfast that we shared with the other guests in the house and we enjoyed getting to meet them and hear of their plans on their trip to the United States. That is one of the beauties of staying at a B and B, that you get to talk to the owner about the house and area and the other guests that you are sharing the house with. We enjoyed meeting the other guests; however, other than breakfast we did not hear anyone else in the house, nor did they hear us coming and going at our leisure. Sophie is a beautiful dog and she enjoys getting to know the guests. One evening when we came in she was sleeping in front of the door to our room and greeted us happily. We chose not to invite her into the room, because I sometimes have allergies to dogs and I did not have any problems in the room or throughout the house. As you can tell, we enjoyed our visit and would love to stay there again in the future. The trees were not yet blooming and I would like to return when the yard was in bloom. Ted was very helpful in giving us easy directions to areas I needed to get to and helping me with the travel plans. read more

I found Fox Pond B&B through the vrbo website as a possible place for my parents to stay over our wedding weekend. I contacted Ted to reserve--he could not have been more accommodating and helpful. We made the arrangements, and I drove up to Marblehead a few times prior to the date to meet Ted and inspect the house. It is breath taking! Nestled in a very quiet residential area on the outskirts of Marblehead, the B&B borders a nature reserve lined with walking trails that lead into Marblehead center. When my parents arrived, for the first two nights, they stayed as B&B guests and then, once the other guests had left, they took over the whole house (from Friday to Tuesday). For the first part of their week, my mother and father had a wonderful stay with Ted. They raved about his breakfasts and the stunning beauty of both the house and the location. They stayed in the Pond Room--the large room in the back of the house. This room has a private entrace, which does afford more privacy. The room (well, the whole house, really) combines a wonderful mix of ecclectic antiques with state-of-the-art amenities (the bathroom was impressive with marble showers, jacuzzi bathtubs and underlit glass sinks)! My mother and Ted hit it off immediately, and Ted assured her, after she spent the morning weeding the garden (this is how she likes to spend her vacations!), that he felt comfortable leaving the house in her hands. The rest of the stay was just as marvelous--several other family members and close friends slept at the house, and all remarked on how gorgeous and comfortable their stay had been. Ted had generously suggested the grounds as a possible location for our wedding photos--we took him up on his offer and are eagerly awaiting the results from the photographer. I whole heartedly reccommend this B&B to anyone who is looking for a friendly, bucolic retreat. It is a B&B, so there will be more intimacy than there would otherwise be at a hotel, but Ted is warm, friendly and flexible--eager to make his guests' stay memorable and fun. read more