My husband and I had never stayed at a Bed & Breakfast Inn until our stay last week for 5 nights at the Bayberry Inn located on Wesley Ave. near 8th St. in Ocean City, NJ. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME! We really didn't know what to expect, but here is what we found: a quaint little hotel with 8 different super-clean, super comfortable rooms. Each room has its own bathroom and either a queen or king bed. (We stayed at the top of the stairs in the "Rose Room," and the Pansy Room next door to us looked really sweet). There's also free parking in a lot adjacent to the Bayberry Inn. The amazing Ocean City beaches and boardwalk are less than 2 blocks away. The energetic, super-friendly Bayberry Inn proprieters Dave and Bonnie also provide beach towels, beach tags, and beach chairs AND... a wonderful, home-cooked breakfast every morning at 8:30 am. Breakfast begins when you hear "Pearl" (Dave & Bonnie's little dog) barking for you at the base of the stairs (she's not really loud enough to wake you up) urging you to come down to breakfast to sneak her a nip of bacon or a bit of muffin. You will be served delicious juices, freshly-brewed coffee, tea, baked eggs, sausage, perhaps french toast topped with cinnamon sauce -- every morning is a new "Martha Stewart-like" experience. The neatest thing we discovered about this B&B is that you actually get to meet your fellow guests! Unlike in a motel or hotel where you never really speak to anyone around you, there we were -- half-awake at 8:30 am, sharing our stories about everything from raising children to where to go for the best seafood in Ocean City. After breakfast, many of us would move to the huge porch where even more coffee and juice awaited us (and each afternoon, you'll find iced tea and cookies there). We also slept well, REALLY WELL, at the Bayberry Inn. Maybe it's the fact that we were sleeping in a big, comfortable old house filled with beautiful antiques that's been a home to so many generations... or because we were just so tired from the invigorating sun, sand and surf of Ocean City at the end of each day, we simply passed out into our comfy bed each night. Another bonus about the Bayberry Inn: it's much less expensive than staying in an overcrowded, noisy Ocean City hotel or motel. And it's quiet, peaceful, and restful. Each room has it's own air conditioner unit, so you can contol the air temp., which is nice. Fresh towels every day. A mini-refrig. and TV in each room.The only drawback we found was that if you are elderly, there are some stairs to get into the house, and also stairs to get upstairs to the rooms. But having met Bonnie and Dave and experienced their kindness and positive, CAN-DO attitudes (they also own a B&B in New Holland, Pennsylvania) - near Lancaster) they would probably find a way to carry you up the stairs if need be. Overall, we had a fabulous experience at the Bayberry Inn, and we will definitely return. A little secret: Dave and Bonnie do a New Year's Eve Dinner each year, which sounds super-fun. Might be worth a trip to OC in the dead of winter for some much-needed glad tidings and joy!
