ABOVE PHOTO: Akwaaba Mansion
By Lisa Jean Francois
Tax season is here which means many of us will have a few extra dollars to invest in a quality respite from everyday life. The summer months are a short and cherished time of year, so I intend to spend a few of those dog days where I can kick my feet up at a black-owned home-away-from-home. If you’ve never stayed at a bed and breakfast, here’s what you can expect: A home-like atmosphere where only breakfast is served and the inn-keepers are on hand to ensure you are well looked after. While you can probably locate a bed and breakfast near any major city, only a handful of them are black-owned. The following list includes black-owned bed and breakfast spots that have a 5-star rating on Trip Advisor. For more options see this list provided by the African American Association of Inn Keepers.
Massachusetts
Captain Farris House
This beautiful bed and breakfast is ideally located on mid Cape Cod in the historic Bass River Village of South Yarmouth. The Captain Farris House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beautifully restored, this circa 1849 Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast Inn is beautifully furnished with antiques and elegant window treatments reflecting romance and a peacefulness of an earlier time.
The Inn of Treasured Memories
Make yourself at home at this elegant Cape Cod bed and breakfast inn. Enjoy the on-site resistance pool or take a leisurely ride on one of the nearby bike trails. All of the amenities of home await you in your private quarters or you can choose from one of the inn’s several sitting rooms to relax or read undisturbed.
Oaks Bluffs Inn
The Oak Bluffs Inn is a perfect place to stay while visiting Martha’s Vineyard. The Inn is located at the top of the main street in town directly across from the two finest restaurants on the island. The harbor and beach are a five minute walk down the street, past many shops and restaurants. The Inn has nine bedrooms, all with private bath, air conditioning and including a continental breakfast.
New York
Thee Matriarch Bed and Breakfast
Akwaaba Mansion
Akwaaba is a beautifully restored 19th century mansion in the Stuyvesant Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Only 15 minutes from Manhattan, it stands along side some of the most remarkable brownstones in the city. Enjoy refreshments under the chestnut tree in the secluded garden or unwind in the jacuzzi in your room. And indulge yourself further with a massage in the privacy of your room.
South Carolina
Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast
This lovely 100-year-old Victorian inn is located in the heart of Orangeburg, South Carolina’s downtown. Each of the eight rooms is named for women who have touched the lives of the owners. Beautifully restored, it can accommodate events from business retreats to family reunions or even weddings.
–Contributed by African American Association of Inn Keepers; blackgirllonghair.com
[Part 2 of Black owned bed and breakfasts in next week’s issue]
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