Magnolia Place Bed and Breakfast delivers delectable morning fare. It’s almost the prime driving factor when choosing this BnB in the small, picture-perfect community of Hector, in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
But there are lots of other good reasons to book here as well.
A Lively and Beautiful Location
Located on Seneca Lake, the inn is a hop, skip, and jump from wineries, cideries, hiking, and biking. Educational institutes nearby include Cornell University and Ithaca College. Plus, it’s right around the corner from the village of Watkins Glen where you’ll find shops and eateries, Watkins Glen International Speedway, and gorgeous Watkins Glen State Park.
Cheery and inviting, the BnB is a converted 1837 farmhouse. Painted a sunny yellow, with white trim, it offers four suites and five guestrooms.
Many of the guestrooms have a private entrance to the two-story, wraparound porch. Throughout the building are cozy sitting areas, and the main salon features a baby grand piano and a glowing pellet stove.
Magnolia Place Room Amenities
The suites feature spacious bathrooms with jetted spa tubs and some have fireplaces.
The Harvest Suite is the largest, with two rooms, a private deck, and a private outdoor hot tub.
Many rooms have four-poster or canopied Queen beds.
The Champagne Suite features two large windows with lake and vineyard views. Its ensuite bathroom has a two-person jetted spa tub for relaxing at the end of a busy day, plus there is a separate shower.
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Room amenities include complimentary bottled water, coffee, tea, hot cider, and hot chocolate.
An iron and ironing board is available and if you need to get out stubborn wrinkles from delicate fabric you can ask for a clothing steamer. A nice touch in the bathroom is artisanal soaps made in the Finger Lakes.
The hosts have also thoughtfully made available wine glasses, corkscrews, cheese boards, and knives.
Make Sure You Enjoy the Outdoors
There is free WiFi and onsite parking and outside you’ll find a firepit and lounge chairs. If you are lucky, you may get to meet the resident therapy Labrador Retriever.
Afternoon or evening is a great time to to grab a libation, perhaps a vintage from a local winery, and settle yourself on one of the porch’s loungers or rockers. The sunset views are stunning.
To make your stay just a little more special, there are several “indulgences” that you can order ahead of time or during your stay. These include the Finger Lakes Creamery Platter with local cheeses, fruit, and gourmet crackers.
Another option is chocolate-covered strawberries, or a full-blown Magnolia Sweets Platter with strawberries, chocolate truffles, toffee, and almond bark. Fresh floral arrangements are available as well and must be ordered in advance.
The Magnolia Place Breakfast is Magnificent
A full country breakfast is served in the Garden Room. There’s locally roasted coffee, juice, fruit, and freshly baked pastries.
Hot entrées might be a broccoli/tomato smoked gouda egg souffle, or lemon-ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote. Sometimes there are poffertjes, small, Dutch, fluffy pancakes. The hot dish always comes with a meat of the day, usually bacon or sausage.
Magnolia Place is also a comfortable spot that welcomes family reunions, friend getaways, and small meetings. There is a one-night stay minimum on weeknights and a two-night stay minimum on weekends for groups and the entire inn must be reserved for these retreats. Breakfasts, lunches, and welcome receptions can be customized for a group event.
Rates start at $265 a night for the suites, and $205 for the guestrooms. Costs for the in-room “indulgences” range from $30 to $50. You can also check rates on Expedia or Hotels.com and make your reservations there.
Hotel feature by Toronto-based travel writer Maureen Littlejohn. Photos © Maureen Littlejohn. Visit Finger Lakes arranged for her stay as she researched a larger piece. As always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
