It's a
Nice Place to Visit...
...and you WOULD want to Live There
Newport's
Marshall T. Slocum House B&B
Earns Its Pineapple
When most visitors first set eyes on one of the fabled Newport
mansions, their immediate reaction is something like:
Ooh. Wow. What a Fabulous Place.
Closely followed by:
I can't believe that people actually lived like this. Or even, I could never feel at home in a place like this.
After all, how would you ever find the remote in a 70-room, Italian Renaissance-style palazzo?
There are bed & breakfast inns that elicit a similar reaction. You're immediately awed by their antique appointments, lacey coverlets and elaborate breakfast spreads. But you also feel as if one wrong, klutzy move could destroy an heirloom and draw the scornful looks of your hosts for the remainder of your stay. That you need to tiptoe to your room if you come in at night after 10. And God forbid you don't like what's served for breakfast... or the coffee is cold.
At the Marshall T. Slocum House Bed & Breakfast in Newport, Rhode Island, you'll instantly feel as if you're staying with family. That doesn't mean, of course, that you have an invitation to break stuff--just that you'd feel as though they still loved you, even if you did.
The pineapple has been the symbol of Newport hospitality since the mid-1600s,
when Newport sea captains would place pineapples brought back from the West
Indies outside their doors as a sign that they had returned from their seagoing
voyages and were welcoming visitors. At the Marshall T. Slocum House, innkeepers
Joan and Julie Wilson, a mother-daughter team, are the pineapple personified. From their warm, genuine
greeting on our arrival, to the wine and hors d'oeuvres that were set in front
of the common living room's cozy fireplace, it took no time at all for us to
feel as if we were staying with family or old friends.
If you had friends or family who lived in Newport and
were kind enough to invite you to come and
stay, you'd want them to own a place just like this. Dating to 1855, the Marshall T.
Slocum House is historic, but not fragile. Guest room and common area
furnishings are lovely, yet livable. The wicker rockers and nostalgic swing on
the front porch are inviting when the weather's warm. Three-course breakfasts
are hearty, but not too pretty to eat. And your location is perfect for
exploring all of Newport's sights--the shops and restaurants on the harbor are a
five-minute walk away, and beaches, the Cliff Walk, and Newport's mansions are
just a 10-minute stroll from your home base.
And Julie Wilson's involvement in the
fabric of daily business and politics in this seaport Rhode Island town means you'll have
access to an
insider's intelligence on everything from where to park and dine to what's
going on in town--both in the public eye and behind the scenes.
The Wilsons offer guests a variety of seasonal
packages that include special touches such as dinners, tours,
and concert tickets. And if it's at all possible, you'll want to include a
Wednesday night in your stay. Why? Wednesday nights are lobster
nights at the inn, and guests who stay three nights or longer are treated to
a free lobster dinner prepared and served right at the inn. And these lobsters
are fresh--they probably spent last night minding their own business in the
waters off of Newport.
Best of all, unlike friends and family who might invite you to stay with them once a year if you're lucky and bring good gifts, you're literally welcome at the Marshall T. Slocum House any time you fancy an escape to a vibrant, oceanside town. From spring's blossoms, to the booming summer festival season, to fall's colorful shadings, to October's Haunted Newport events, to the holiday season when the mansions are decked out for Christmas, Newport offers an ever-changing swirl of activities, and this comfortable B&B is the perfect place to put up your feet after a day of embracing it all.
For rates and reservations, call the Marshall T. Slocum House at (401) 841-5120 or toll free 800 372-5120, or email the innkeepers.
The Marshall T. Slocum House is centrally located in Newport, Rhode Island. Detailed directions are available at the inn's Web site.
Marshall T. Slocum House Bed & Breakfast
29 Kay Street
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 841-5120
800 372-5120
Email:
info@marshallslocuminn.com
Web site:
http://www.marshallslocuminn.com
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All photos (c) 2000 Kim Knox, licensed to About.com, Inc.
