The Bridgewater is owned and operated by Katherine and Steve Mistilis. The structure dates from ~1890 and was built, along with 5000 others, by Julius Rosenwald (early half-owner and GM of Sears Roebuck) as a school for black children. Rearranged internally as a residence, it now features a huge kitchen, dining/sitting room, and two very large available bedrooms, each with its own bath, large bed, and additional smaller bed.

The Bridgewater is located in the suburbs of Memphis, about 18 miles from the riverboat docks and 20 miles from Graceland. It's just a few minutes off I-40, so getting around is easy.

Kay and Steve are just wonderfully dear people. Both of their careers span decades in the culinary business, so you won't find better food or presentation anywhere. Excellent coffee, newly squeezed orange juice, and fresh strawberries all complement the staples - Belgian waffles and a delicious concoction of hashed browns, poached eggs, ham, and a bit of buttery sauce on top. Yum! They're also friends with local restauranteurs if you need a good place for dinner. They steered us to Jim's Place East - about five minutes away and at least 3.5 stars in our book.

These folks have traveled widely and can regale you with enchanting stories for hours on end. Steve is Greek, as was most of our party, so we compared recipes, family histories, and tales of adventures all over the world.

This is as good as it gets. Highly recommended.