Streams and Dreams Bed and Breakfast, near Swallow Falls State Park, is nestled a few hundred feet from the Youghiogheny River on a trout stream tributary called Hoye's Run. A few miles form the tourist attractions of Deep Creek, my 16 year old daughter and I came to visit the old growth forests along the river instead, and chose this lodging for its beauty and peacefulness along the waterway. We had very recently visited Pennsylvania's Clarion River and Cook Forest old growth forest and wanted to compare the two preserved woodlands.
Streams and Dreams was as advertised. Owner Don and Karen Hershfeld have settled in a little piece of paradise and are kind and attentive hosts. Understanding our desire to learn about the ecology of the area, Don, a retired limnologist, taught us much about the particular attributes of the Streams and Dreams stream that make it exceptionally high quality and took us on a ramble to see the river as well. Karen, knowing we were vegetarian, went out of her way to provide us with the yogurt, fruit and cereal we usually eat in the morning. This same sense of hospitality was also manifested in the abundantly stocked kitchen commons. I have visited many bed and breakfasts, but hers was the most generously stocked, with teas, coffee, and instant hot chocolate and apple cider mixes.
As for the accommodations, the room was immaculate. Since we were visiting mid-week on a Tuesday, we were offered a larger room with private bath at no extra charge. This room had a sleeper sofa so that my daughter and I could have our own beds. It also had windows overlooking the babbling stream.
After a restful night's sleep, Don provided us a hand-drawn map of some trails "less taken" that would offer us other glimpses of the forest we had come to see. Then as a special treat, he offered to show my daughter and me how he teaches fly casting. It was a great lesson! A real treat for my daughter and for me. Then we were off to the forest, and we did take Don's advise and had one of the loveliest walks you could hope for. We saw warblers and cedar waxwings along the water and waterfalls and in the sunny blow down areas from last autumn's super storm Sandy, woodland butterflies and wildflowers.
This October, we hope to make a return visit to Streams and Dreams about Columbus Day weekend. Don says that it is usually at this time that Hoye's run is alive with the activity of brook trout spawning. His advise is to be sure to bring a camera because the leaves will be turning then, and the colors of creek will become especially beautiful. Something to look forward to indeed! read more
