My stay this past weekend at Manheim Manor was fantastic in every way. I took a trip to Pennsylvania Dutch country and found this place due to its awesome reviews, and now, after having stayed there for three nights, I see why everyone has been so glowing. Here are a few of the reasons that I thoroughly enjoyed staying at Manheim Manor:
-Todd & Lorene: These two are truly some of the most gracious hosts you could ask for. In addition to just genuinely being nice and thoughtful people, they are also full of history about the home, the area around Lancaster, and more. When more guests were coming in the other nights and parking was getting tight, Todd called me to let me know a special place I could park in the back of the house. They are engaging conversationalists and make it a pleasure to stay here. I had mentioned to them that I was a cyclist and hoped to find some nearby biked trails, so Lorene printed out trail maps for me that I ended up using the next day to go on a ride.
-The room: I stayed in the Peaches & Cream room, which has a great screened-in patio that made for a wonderful place to sit outside and read in the evenings. This was really one of the selling points for me as I wanted to stay somewhere where I had some private outdoor space, and this fit the bill. The rooms at the Manor aren't huge, but that was totally fine as I didn't have that many things with me anyway. The bed was quite comfortable as well, and despite the traditional nature of the home, they also had a Roku for streaming, which I ended up using one evening for Hulu.
-The house and history: Built in the late 19thcentury, Manheim Manor is an exercise in historical exploration, in the best way. There is a downstairs library with a great collection of books ranging from Shakespeare to mystery books that I read as a kid (Nancy Drew, anyone?). There's an upstairs library of VCR tapes that brought back memories from just looking at the covers. Lorene took me on a tour of the house and showed me a variety of interesting historical points in its various rooms. The property also features a great outdoor seating area in the backyard.
-The food: This is really a high point! In addition to being an innkeeper, apparently a great handyman, and many other things, Todd is also a refined chef and makes culinary creations that wow people every day. From the blueberry pancakes to the orange scones to the broccoli and cheese quiche...wow! Having been very fortunate to have visited many a highly regarded restaurant across the world, I can easily say that Todd's breakfast rivals some of the best morning means I've had in Paris, Tokyo, and beyond. There is also a great collection of tea and many other things that make breakfast at Manheim Manor the best part of waking up.
Now for the bad...I don't have anything to say. I always try to have one point that's not overly positive so that my reviews seem more "real," but I honestly can't think of anything that isn't glowing to say about my stay. Lorene and Todd are wonderful, and all the other guests I met during my stay were friendly and neighborly as well. I have no doubt that upon my next visit to the area, I'll stay here again. read more