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Archive for the ‘At the Bed and Breakfast’ Category

Historic Garden Week in Lynchburg, Virginia

17 Apr

April 21-28, 2012 is Historic Garden Week in Virginia.  On Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Lynchburg, Virginia is proud to host visitors to our city and locals to our Garden Day Tour.

Sponsored by The Lynchburg Garden Club and the Hillside Garden Club this year’s tour includes admission to 6 locations:  The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast at 404 Cabell Street, 301 Cabell Street, Point of Honor at 112 Cabell Street, 4935 Mountain Laurel Drive, 4924 Mountain Laurel Drive (all in Lynchburg) and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest at 1542 Bateman Bridge Road in Forest. 

The houses and gardens will be open for touring between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  You may visit the properties in any order.  Contact the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce at 434.847.1811 for information about purchasing tickets, in advance, to this day of nature and heritage.  Tickets may be purchased at each location on Garden Day.  

The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast has limited availability should you wish to stay the night before or after the tour.  Call us at 434.846.1388 to inquire about your luxurious accomodations while celebrating Historic Garden Week in Virginia.

 

First Day of Spring!

20 Mar
at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, Lynchburg Virginia

Saucer Magnolia

 

Today we celebrate the first day of spring, but to our bushes and trees, spring came several weeks ago.  We have a saucer magnolia tree next to our patio and it started blooming in February.  Yes, this tree is supposed to bloom in the closing days of winter or beginning of spring, but in years past the blooms appear one day and are typically gone a few days later when the frost causes all the blossoms to drop from the tree.

 

at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast Lynchburg, Virginia

Saucer Magnolia in full bloom

With the mild weather this year, the blossoms have lingered for over three weeks.  The aroma when opening the back door is unbelievable and as the blooms fall, making way for the leaves, we have a carpet of pink pedals covering the patio.  To say this has been a spectacular year in our back yard is an understatement.

In addition our Camilla bush is in full bloom and the 300 daffodil bulbs I planted last fall are also in full bloom.

Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, Lynchburg, VA

Camilla is in bloom

 

We will soon be putting in our garden and getting ready for Garden Day.  Yes, we our home will be on tour for Historic Garden Day next month.  Will keep you posted.  We are expecting over 1600 people (based on last year’s figures) to see our home on Garden Day.  Obviously they will be here to look at the house, not the gardens, although we are making some progress on getting the yard in shape.

We would love to welcome you to The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast this spring or summer so that you too may enjoy our restful patio or wraparound front porch.  Don’t you deserve some time to relax?

 

Chocolate-Mint Crackle Cookie Recipe

13 Mar

Chocolate Mint Crackle Cookie

 

Guests arriving to stay at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, in Lynchburg, VA, are greeted with home-made cookies in their room upon arrival.  This month our welcome treat cookie is a brownie-like cookie that looks like it has been shattered.  Filled with minty goodness they have been a big hit!

Chocolate-Mint Crackle Cookie

  • 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon pure mint extract
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

 

1.  Melt chocolate in heatproof bowl by setting it over a pan of simmering water, (but not touching the heatproof bowl) stirring constantly.  Add the mint to this mixture.

2.  Whisk together flour, baking powder and cocoa in a small bowl.

3.  Whisk together sugar, eggs and melted butter in a medium bowl.  Gradually whisk in melted chocolate and mint extract until smooth (from step 1 above) .  Stir in flour mixture (from step 2 above).  Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours.

4.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Roll tablespoons of dough into balls using your palms, then roll into confectioners’ sugar to coat.  Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing each 1-inch apart.  Bake until slightly firm in the center, about 15 minutes.

5.  Let cool slightly on sheets set on wire racks.  Transfer cookies to racks and let cool completely.

**Dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or rolled into balls and frozen for up to 2 weeks.  Roll in confectioners’ sugar just before baking.

***Store cookies in an air-tight container, at room temperature, for up to 3 days (but they won’t last that long!)

Enjoy!!

 

 

“One Night Love Affair”

31 Jan

Everyday in February is Valentine’s Day at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, in Lynchburg VA!

Visit and celebrate a “One Night Love Affair” anytime during February with your special someone.  Enjoy a one night stay in your choice of rooms, our delicious 4-course champagne breakfast, a rose in bud vase, 6 chocolate dipped strawberries and a chilled bottle of Prosecco.  Cost of room of choice for one night ($179-$219) plus $75.00.

You must mention this package add-on when booking your stay, call us at 434.846.1388.  A delightful mini-getaway to show your special someone they are loved.

Fine print:  reservation must be booked at least 48 hours prior to your arrival date.  Package add-on cannot be combined with any other offer, special, voucher or discount.  Call for details.

 

Top 10!!

24 Jan

The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, Lynchburg, VA is proud to announce that we have been chosen as a “Top 10 B & B in the US” of BedandBreakfast.com in the best of BedandBreakfast.com awards.

The Carriage House Inn is recognized as tops in the country providing the best travel experience, hospitality and customer service, according to the seventh annual Best of BedandBreakfast.com awards, 2011-2012.

Award winners are selected based on the quaility and quantity of the traveler reviews from the past year on BedandBreakfast.com, as well as the quality of the inns’ photos, listing descriptions and overall online customer experience on BedandBreakfast.com.

“The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners, including The Carriage House Inn, really exemplify the special experience that travelers expect from staying in a bed and breakfast,” says Martin Slagter, vice president of HomeAway, Inc, which owns BedandBreakfast.com.  “Take one look at The Carriage House Inn’s reviews and you’ll see guests who share stellar accolades for its accommodations, breakfasts, amenities and outstanding hospitality and service.”

Is it time for you to discover why we have been honored to recieve this special award?  Call us at 434.846.1388 or visit our web site at www.TheCarriageHouseInnBandB.com.  We look forward to welcoming you as you travel to/through Lynchburg or as a close to home getaway for the locals.

 

Selected as Number One!

08 Nov

Northern Virginia Magazine, September 2011 (pages 46 and 47), has selected us as one of the best places to “get away, get together, and get romantic” on the east coast (New York to North Carolina)!

“Custom romance” is available for you and your loved one at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia.  We personalize guest packages to fit your needs and wants which elevates your stay to a must-visit for lovers.  Choose from champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, flowers or balloons.  Be a bit more active and choose from hiking or biking trips on Lynchburg’s 14 miles of trails, tasting wines at over 17 wineries located within an hour of the bed and breakfast, tour museums and historic homes or Civil War sites, kayak or canoe the James River or go antiquing for treasures.  Totally relax on our wrap-around front porch or in our parlour just talking, reading and enjoying quiet time together away from the daily stresses of work and family.  Or take advantage of our on-site massage and body works studio and be pampered and relaxed to a deeper level.

Each guest room has it’s own ambiance and special features, call us and we can assist you in selecting the one that’s right for you.  We’ll help you plan your stay, make dinner suggestions and reservations and allow you to have a romantic getaway that fits your personality.  And of course each morning you will be treated to our legendary  four-course breakfast, featuring our signature recipe of the month one morning.  Experience the past by staying in our circa 1878 mansion or circa 1910 carriage house.

Call us at 434.846.1388 to start your getaway.  Visit our web site and learn about all we have to offer, www.TheCarriageHouseInnBandB.com   We look forward to your visit!

Kathy & Mike

 

Old City Cemetery Candlelight Tours

25 Oct

It’s that time of year again….when Old City Cemetery, in Lynchburg Virginia, conducts it’s Candlelight Tours.  Visit various sites throughout the cemetery where professional actors will portray the lives of several of the cemeteries “residents.”  Always interesting, educational, moving and sometimes funny the stories told delight people of all ages.  And when else can you walk around a cemetery after dark?

The tours take place on October 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29, 2011 beginning at 6:30pm each evening.  The last tour will depart from the visitor center at 7:50pm.  Each tour lasts about one hour, travels over uneven ground, cobblestones and walkways so wear good walking shoes and bring along a flashlight.

Guests staying at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast at least two nights, including a tour night, will receive complimentary tickets to one tour (limit two per room.)  As in year’s past advance reservations and tickets are necessary and tickets will sell out prior to the 21st.  Call 434.846.1388, mention this package, book your accomodations and secure a tour time.  Your tickets will be waiting for you upon arrival.  This package cannot be combined with any other special, package, voucher or discount.  Subject to availability.

While staying with us enjoy a breakfast featuring our signature dish for October, Pumpkin Waffles (see post 10/4/11 for recipe.)   

 

 

Ghost Walks

18 Oct

Are you intrigued by ghosts, spirits, things or events that can’t quite be explained?

Then you will want to attend one of the Ghost Walks presented by the Lynchburg Historical Foundation and Tharp Funeral Home.  This years event will take place in the historic district, in Lynchburg, VA known as Diamond Hill.  On the nights of October 20, 21 & 22, 2011 walking tours will take place about every 30 minutes starting at 6:00pm until 8:30pm.  As these walks cover uneven ground and brick and slate sidewalks please wear comfortable walking shoes and perhaps bring along a flashlight. 

Guests staying at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, for at least two nights, during this weekend will receive complimentary tickets to a Ghost Walk (limit two per room.)  Advance reservations are required.  Please call us at 434.846.1388, mention this package, arrange your accomodations and tour time.  This package cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, package or voucher.  Subject to availability.

And while here you will enjoy our signature dish for October, Pumpkin Waffles (see post for 10/4/11 with recipe to whet your appetite.)

 

Jefferson’s Passion was Literature!

11 Oct

On Sunday, October 9th we took a break from working at The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast, Lynchburg’s premier bed and breakfast to attend the final session of Thomas Jefferson’s “passion” series at his retreat, Poplar Forest.  A brisk but sunny day was the perfect backdrop for a wonderful late afternoon lecture by Richard Goodman, renowned author.  He spoke of and enlighted a full house about the time when Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Adams were living in New York while working to put democracy into practice.  Can’t you just imagine the discussions, disagreements, suggestions and conversations these distinguished gentlemen participated in?  How might we use their knowledge and foresight to assist us with today’s problems?

The series of three lectures were educational, insirational and enjoyed by all who attended.  If history is of interest to you check the Poplar Forest web site, www.poplarforest.org/events or our blog for upcoming events in and around Lynchburg.  Located about 20 minutes from our inn in Lynchburg, Virginia we are the perfect place to spend the night when exploring this architectural treasure.  Call us at 434.846.1388 or visit our web site www.TheCarriageHouseInnBandB.com to check our availability.

 

Get Downtown 2011!

14 Sep

Lynchburg celebrated its third annual “Get Downtown” Celebration this past week.  Main Street was closed to vehicular traffic and students and residents alike came to see street performers, listen to some great music and taste the food of our great downtown restaurants.

Crowds gathering downtown Lynchburg

The number of people that turned out was impressive!

Vice Mayor Cesar Johnson and his lovely wife

In the crowd was our councilman Cesar Johnson who just happens to be the Vice Mayor.   I frankly don’t know what a vice mayor does, but I assume he is working on bring more “vice” into our city.———-Cesar, I warned you that I would be posting something in our blog about you.

 

I can see everything and it's great.

Of course there were so many people the best way to get a clear view of the celebrations was to put on your stilts.

 

Roller Derby Babes, downtown Lynchburg

If walking around wasn’t your thing you could skate, but be careful, Lynchburg has a roller derby team and the gals were out in force trying to show other skaters they aren’t just another group of pretty faces.

Chef Urs of Main Street Eatery fires up the grill

Urs, the chef and owner of Main Street Eatery took over the sidewalk in front of his restaurant and fired up the grill and you know whatever he cooks is great.

 

Susan Stoner helps a customer at The Corset Corner

Susan Stoner, owner of the Corset Corner, helps a customer.  If you need lingerie, this is the place to shop!

Happy Clown

The happiest clown downtown!

With so many people wandering down Main Street, you know someone has to be clowning around!

Music on the streets of Lynchburg

Clasical music for the masses.

If you wanted some culture there was even music for you.

 

There is so much to see and do downtown that Tony Cam, manager at the Holiday Inn couldn’t contain himself and broke out in song…You have to hear and see this YouTube Video,  “Get Downtown.”

If you missed the celebration it will be back next September, but you don’t need to wait until then.  As Tony says….Get Downtown.

 

One of the reasons we purchased The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast our home was because of the rebirth of the downtown area.   It is a great place that is within walking distance.  Our guests love the charm and character of our restaurants and the food has always been great.  While there is so much to see and do in and around Lynchburg, Virginia a trip downtown is a must, don’t wait until next years celebration, Get Downtown!