Be Our Guest: Part One of an Innkeeper's How-To Tutorial for Summer Houseguests

The number one question I get asked when I tell people about my experience as an Innkeeper is, “How can we make our home look/feel like a bed & breakfast?” This prompted me to start a how-to guide (with multiple installments of course). The guide will feature ways to make your bed look luxurious, how to make houseguests feel welcome, mouthwatering breakfast and dinner ideas (especially for multiple guests), picnic packing, plate garnishing, gardening tips, décor, and flower arranging 101. 

Today’s post will feature Welcome Basket varieties. My next edition will include diagrams on how to fold a fitted sheet like a pro (because it took me 30 years around the sun to even grasp the concept that a fitted sheet could be folded and not just balled up and thrown in the linen closet), and how to make the bed look like it belongs in a boutique hotel.

Part Un—Welcome Baskets

Making your home as memorable and inviting as possible requires attention to detail when it comes to those little touches. I have found that guests at an inn go bonkers for handmade items/amenities (fresh cookies, little soaps), feeling taken care of (itineraries available, maps, brochures, area guides) and out-of-the-blue gifts or tokens of appreciation. My number one recommendation is to present a welcome basket, either upon arrival or on their bed. The welcome basket can contain a variety of necessities or novelty items, but it shows your guests that you took the time to think of them and ensure that their needs were met from the very beginning.

In the hospitality industry, we understand that you may host many different types of guests (some outdoorsy, some higher maintenance, some foodie, some simple). Their personalities and their weekend itinerary should be reflected in the content of the welcome baskets.

It’s a nice touch to add some local flavor from the area that they are visiting. I live in Lancaster, which is a huge farming community with Amish roots, so I like to throw in seasonal fruits, Amish-made baked goods or jam, and Hershey chocolates (given our proximity to Hershey headquarters). If you live near the beach, it may be more acceptable to include salt water taffy, seashells, boardwalk kettle corn and a few postcards. If your guests are coming for a mountain visit, include local beef jerky or roasted nuts. This will entice your guests to explore the area and give them something delicious to snack on. 

Toiletries are an obvious. If you have people staying with you, it’s usually expected that you will provide at least the first night of toiletries. This can include mini shampoos/conditioners (any dollar bin at Target, Walmart or K-mart), soap (I recommend spending the extra few dollars on a bar of handmade, local soap—maybe a neutral scent like Goats Milk & Honey), a washcloth/tea-towel, and toothpaste are the basics. You can also include a toothbrush, shower cap, loofah, razors, pack of tissues, makeup remover packet, nail file/kit, lotion, eye drops, sewing kit, get creative! Really think outside the box and consider anything and everything small that could potentially make someone’s life a little less stressful if they forgot to pack something.

So you have your basic content: the local treats, the soaps, the necessities. Now it’s time to get creative with the fillers. I tend to lean toward adding two water bottles (maybe Perrier or Figi), or a mini bottle of champagne if they are celebrating a special occasion. Some people add cheeses and half a baguette wrapped in artisan paper, others lean toward candles, fresh flowers or a small potted plant. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with artistically packaged snacks or light reading material/crossword puzzles. Fillers should also include things like the WiFi password written on a nice handwritten card, the local to-do pamphlets mentioned above, any coupons for activities they mentioned doing, and a contact card with your information in case they get lost or run into car troubles. I like providing a description of my favorite restaurants because oftentimes guests want the encouragement to go off on their own for a night.

You got through the hard part of figuring out what to stuff in there—now you have to decide what to put it in! Remember, the key to making a welcome basket look professional is the contrast in sizing. You want to put your taller items in the back to give it some height, shorter items in the front and then a mix of short and tall in the middle. If you need to give the contents more height, boost them with fake straw, moss or even colored tissue paper. A basket should look full but not overstuffed, and if you are lacking in content, then go with a smaller container (maybe a strawberry carton).

 
Necessities:

· Local goodies, fresh fruit, baked goods

· Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste)

· Washcloth, hand towel, tea towel

Filler Items:

· Misc. toiletries (toothbrush, shower cap, loofah, razors, tissues, makeup remover, nail kit, lotion, eye drops, sewing kit)

· Beverage bottles (Fiji, Perrier, Champagne, wine, soda, cute plastic drinking cup with lid, mug)

· Gourmet snacks

· Candle

· Plant, flowers, herbs for scent

· Magazines, books, crosswords, newspaper

· Local brochures

· Contact card

Basket Ideas:

· Milk basket

· Small crate

· Wicker basket

· Strawberry carton

· Bushel and a peck

· Large tin

· Painted flower pot

· Large jar or canister

· Colorful box

Looking for a Last Minute Getaway this Weekend? Follow your Spirit of Wanderlust to this Quaint Mountain Town

It’s the beginning of June and summer is upon us—that means time to plan the last minute getaways! For those of you who may be local to the PA, MD, NY, NJ area, I will be sharing my experiences in a scenic little mountain town called Hawley, PA. Hawley is located in the Northern part of the Pocono Mountains and boasts stunning views, a refurbished Silk Mill (which is now home to a bevy of eclectic little shops) and charming places to stay.

If you are whisking your kids away on an impromptu family vacation, there is no better place to awaken your children’s excitement than Woodloch Resort. Woodloch is a sprawling, all-inclusive,

family-friendly resort that is so large it should have its’ own zip code. As you pass through the impressive tree-lined entrance, you will see a variety of lodging options, on-campus restaurants, snowtubing hills, lakes, archery stations, playgrounds, indoor fun-rooms and your favorite TV characters nonchalantly strolling along the wooded paths (Sponge Bob, Scooby Doo, Cookie Monster, Dora the Explorer, etc.). 

Upon check-in, the concierge gives you a colored rubber bracelet which will grant you access into any of their impressive facilities. You can choose from magic shows, indoor playgrounds, lakeside games, water parks, the list goes on and on. The bracelet will also make you an honored guest at one of their all-you-can-eat dinner services (they determine which dining hall you will attend based on the location of your lodging so that it doesn’t get too crowded). The dinners are themed so the characters will make a special appearance mid-way! Rylan’s favorite part of the dining experience was seeing “Bob Bob Pants” (Sponge Bob Square Pants) and eating 3 different kinds of dessert. If you partake in too many activities and would prefer to lounge in the comfort of your spacious guest room (many with lake-front balconies), Woodloch Resort has convenient store options that sell fresh cheese, upscale/healthy snacks, milk and other beverages and souvenirs. 

Every detail is covered at Woodloch and you won’t need to leave the campus for any reason. They even have convenient shuttles that come around every few minutes and take you to your desired location (trust me, the place is HUGE—there is no way it is entirely walkable). Not only do they have amazing amenities and cheerful concierge, but it is completely affordable! My mom, Rylan and I snagged a February special of a gorgeous guestroom for 2 nights, all-inclusive (dining as well) for around $160/night. This includes the kid-friendly activities! And for the exhausted adults who may need a minute to yourselves, Woodloch does offer a few nightlife options as well (though I’m sure you won’t get to see Sponge Bob). 

Hawley is not just a town with giddy children running amuck, though. Hawley is also home to the most charming, cozy Bed & Breakfast, the Settlers Inn. This little mountain inn is located on somewhat of a centralized, main road, but you still get the benefit of the breathtaking mountainous views, while having proximity to the Wine & Beverage store. In all honesty, with the Inn’s elegant and rustic breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, you may not need to venture out at all! 

Even the way the Settler’s Inn smells is beyond delightful. When you walk in the ornate front doors, you are greeted with the oaky musk of the grand fireplace and the sweet floral scent of the soaps in the gift shop (their heavenly hand soap smells like someone bottled clean mountain air and fresh flowers). On the left of you, their cozy Victorian dining room is bustling with relaxed guests and hospitable staff. Every table is full of house-made breads and butter florets, and decadently plated and inventive cuisine. My breakfast experience was pumpkin waffles with a blackberry reduction, topped with curried ricotta and candied nuts. It was a new level of ecstasy. My lunch rivaled my lavish breakfast with a simple shrimp flatbread topped with drizzled balsamic, heirloom tomatoes and artisan greens from their outdoor garden.

   The rooms embrace a vintage Arts & Crafts style décor and are adorned with luxurious sheets, fluffy down comforters and delicate artwork. The color schemes are tranquil and inviting, and the bathrooms are clean and airy with a lavish whirlpool tub, stand up shower and high-end soaps. Although the rooms sit atop the restaurant and main area downstairs, you can’t hear any of the background noise. 

Whether you are traveling with the whole family or looking for a romantic rendez-vous, Hawley has just the right amount of charm and clean mountain air to refresh your spirit. If you find yourself venturing up that way, feel free to contact me and I can give you some pointers on places to go for hikes, kayaking, dining, or shopping. Happy travels, friends!