Whether you are an Experienced B&B Guest or a First Time Visitor, you should understand that Bed & Breakfasts are like snow flakes, no two are alike and no two visits will be the same, nor should they be! That is the "why" for staying at B&B's and not chain hotels. If you are the type of person who craves the familiar, wants no surprises, and does not consider travel an opportunity for a new adventure, then you probably do not want to sty at a B&B . However, if you enjoy meeting new people, sharing your story with potential life-time friends or just love to check out other people's homes, then a B&B stay might be exactly what you are looking for.
Bob and I always stay at B&B's when we can. We have enjoyed a couples massage on a porch in Hawaii, relaxed with a cup of coffee watching the sunrise in Saugatuck, crept past our Wisconsin host sleeping on his sofa on our way to the only bathroom in the house, eaten gourmet breakfasts in South Dakota and walked away from the table hungry at more than one place. Like I said, every B&B is different and every experience is unique and well-worth the stay.
So what can you expect at The Grand Kerr House...
CHECKING IN -
When checking in at The Grand Kerr House, you will be greeted by Bob and/or myself. We will have some paperwork for you to fill out and we may need to collect the balance for your stay. We will be happy to spend (literally) hours walking you through the house, sharing her history and our story. Or we can quickly acclimate you to your surroundings, escort you to your room and then leave you to your own resources. Just let us know what works for you and we will accommodate your needs.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU -
We love to get to know our guests! We will ask you what brings you to Grand Rapids, Ohio and how you found us. Sometimes this leads into exchanging information about family and work, sometimes the conversation ends there. We will ask if you have had dinner yet and, if not, suggest local restaurants. If you ask, we will tell you about the wonderful boutique shopping, the kayak and bicycle rentals, historic sites and walking paths in town. Hopefully, we will not take up too much of your time. We will not be offended if you glance at your phone, clear your throat or just outright tell us that you just want to be left alone. We like to think that we can take a hint.
THE COMMON SPACES -
The Grand Kerr House offers several areas where you can sit and relax while talking with others, napping or reading a good book. When first entering the house, there is a small "Library" off to your right. This is a cozy spot for reading or napping on your own. To your left, there is the Front Parlor sometimes referred to as the Formal Parlor or the Ladies' Parlor. This room has a comfortable sofa, several welcoming chairs, and a pair of rockers strategically placed in front of the fireplace. Next, there is the Center Parlor known as the Informal Parlor or the Men's Parlor. This room is furnished with more traditional Victorian seating and offers intimate conversation and reading spots. The dining room has 24 hour coffee and tea available along with board games and playing cards. We believe that the house loves to be enjoyed by people and we strongly encourage you to experience every room during your stay.
YOUR GUEST ROOM -
We will show you to your room and point out the in-room fireplace and phone charger, tell you there are robes and slippers in the closet and leave you with homemade cookies. We offer one room on the first floor and three rooms on the second floor. There are two rooms with King Size Beds and two rooms with Queen Size Beds. There are no televisions for guests but the WiFi has a great signal for your laptops and iPads if you need to stay connected with the world 24/7.
THE BATHROOMS -
This is the part of the house that most guests are hesitant/nervous about but we've never had a complaint from anyone who has stayed!
The Spring Room, located on the first floor, has an attached bathroom with the home's original copper soaking tub. It's a long, deep tub that provides a wonderful hot soak. We believe it may be one of the oldest tubs still in use in North America. Imagine soaking in a tub where a Civil War Veteran once bathed. That's a piece of history you can't experience in many places.
The second floor bedrooms share a communal bath area. This area is located across the hall from the guests rooms and offers two vanity areas, two half baths and a shower room. It is a bright, clean area and we receive lots of positive feedback about the design and layout. This area really should not be the determining factor when deciding to stay or not to stay with us but we understand if it is a concern. However, we promise that you will not be disappointed once you actually experience it.
BREAKFAST -
Breakfast is normally served from 8:00 to 10:00 am. For breakfast we have several options - you can eat at the dining room table with the other guests, you can request to be seated separately in another room or at another time, or (weather permitting) you can be seated on the porch. Let's face it, some people prefer to eat alone but there is nothing we enjoy more than hearing the conversation and laughter of houseguests sharing stories over breakfast.
Bob's breakfast specialty is omelettes but we will often ask our guests to close their eyes, imagine their favorite breakfast and tell us all about it. Breakfast always includes fresh fruit, orange juice, pumpkin bread or rolls and lots of hot coffee. We always does our best to make sure you never leave the table hungry.
So that pretty much sums up The Grand Kerr House and what you can expect to find here - great accommodations and wonderful hosts! Who could ask for more? We hope you come to stay sometime and experience it all for yourself - it truly is a one-of-a-kind snowflake!
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