Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast

Spa Services while on Vacation

2008-02-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

About 5 years ago, if you went on vacation and wanted to pamper yourself with a massage or spa treatments you would have to look to find a Spa in the area of your accommodations. A couple of years ago some luxury inns started a Spa on site. Today there is another option. Today even the smallest B&B can bring the Spa to you with services at the B&B or even in the privacy of your guest room. I'll bet you never thought you could find a Spa or Spa Services in the world's largest Amish community. Well guess again! One such example is at Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast in Holmes County, Ohio. The B&B works with a private Spa who will bring couples massages, a variety of individual massages, and mini-services for bachelorette parties and girls get aways right to the B&B. Guests who really want to pamper themselves can book the Garden Gate Suite with a Jacuzzi and fireplace and receive massages right in their guest room. Guests staying in standard guest rooms can receive the services in a newly designated Spa room which is located on a veranda style porch over looking the beautiful countryside. While it is best to book these kinds of services in advance to insure availability, the innkeepers will also try to make last minute arrangements after you have checked in. Sometimes with just 4 hours notice they can bring the Spa to you! Some lodging establishments will arrange for just relaxation massages or Swedish massages. These services are sometimes delivered by someone with a certificate in massage and others are delivered by a licensed massage therapist. If the guest has a preference they should be sure to ask. The Spa at Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast offers both types. Some spas offer wellness massages and programs or use Chinese techniques. There is quite a variety of the kinds of massages that you can receive.
This article was written by Carol Steffey
Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast

Ohio Wine Tour and Tasting

2008-01-24T16:20:00.000-08:00

Whether you consider yourself a "wine snob" or an amateur that likes the taste of wine,you can sample many Ohio wines thanks to a group of bed and breakfasts in Northeast Ohio that have put together a package:

Tuscarawas Valley B&B Wine Tours in Ohio
This 2-night package is a must for wine lovers. We'll provide the designated driver, tons of wine tasting and a box lunch! Check-in on on your first night and unwind at your choice of bed and breakfasts. The next morning, after breakfast, your chauffer will pick you up at the B&B for an all-day adventure. Your stops will include: Breitenbach Winery which is Ohio's 2nd largest winery and they have produced many award winning wines; Raven's Glenn Winery which is located on the banks of the beautiful Tuscarawas River and has also produced many award winning wines; Swiss Heritage Winery & Broad Run Cheesehouse. The cheese house was established in 1933 and they have won countless awards for their exceptional quality. They will provide a gourmet box lunch at this stop. Swiss Heritage Wines are a blend of the traditional old world and the expertise of some of New York's most respected wine makers; Perennial Vineyards Winery is located in an old dairy barn dating back to the mid-1800's. Upon entering you will pass some of the vines that are producing award-winning wines; and Silver Moon Winery where they have over 50 different wines you can taste and even the opportunity to make your own wine! At the end of an unforgettable day your chauffer will return you to the B&B for another relaxing evening. Have a leisurely breakfast before checking out the following morning.
This tour is offered on weekends and weekdays throughout 2008. Tour dates are: March 28-30, April 25-27, May 23-25, June 9-11, June 25-27, July 4-6, July 24-26, August 11-13, August 22-24, September 25-27, October 8-10, October 30-November 1, and December 12-14. You have a variety of bed and breakfasts with different packages:
Garden Gate Get-A-Way B&B (330) 674-7608 www.garden-gate.com
Olde World B&B (330) 343-1333 www.oldeworldbb.com
Cornerstone B&B (330) 852-4782 www.thecornerstonebb.com
Hilltop Manor B&B (330) 674-4109 hilltopmanorbandb.com
Trainmaster Inn B&B (740) 922-8888 www.trainmasterinn.com
The Lodge at Fair Oaks B&B (330) 343-3460 www.lodegeatfairoaks.com

Author: Carol Steffey, Garden Gate Get-A-Way B&B

Special Experiences in Holmes County Amish Country

2008-01-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

So you have come to visit Amish Country for the day, or even spent a night or two. You drive up and down State Route 39, US 62 or State Route 241. You visit a cheese factory, stop in an Amish-made furniture store and eat a hardy chicken dinner. There are so many ways to experience Amish Country that you are really missing out! For instance, some people pay a local tour company for "concierge" services. They have the tour guide map out a route to visit an Amish quilt maker, a furniture store, an Amish basket maker, Lehman's Hardware and a bulk foods store that they can drive on their own at their own pace. Why??? Did you know that one local bed and breakfast in the Berlin area does this free of charge for their guests. At Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast they have created several itineraries that guests can choose from or they will customize an itinerary just for you. This is all part of their excellent customer service and you don't pay any extra for this service! Many times the city tourists are disappointed when most of Amish Country closes up around 5 p.m. Many of the bed and breakfasts in the area offer packages where you can visit a spa, participate in a murder mystery, take a tour, get a horse and carriage ride and more. Some people call Carol Steffey from Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast the "package queen". Some of her 2008 packages includes: Ladies Spa Get-A-Way, Amish Cultural Tour with Dinner in an Amish Home, Pre-Valentine Gourmet Dinner & Spa, Valentine Romance Package, Winery Tour with Gourmet Dinner, Murder Mysteries, Tuscarawas Valley B&B Wine Tour, Moonlight Serenade Romantic weekend with acoustic guitar & picnic, Mothers Day Weekend garden and spa package, Culinary Delight Tour, and more! If you really want to experience Amish Country you need to stay at a bed and breakfast. The owners know their Amish neighbors, know their area and offer a completely different look at the area. Most hotel staff don't live in the community and cannot even tell you where to eat, let alone plan a package, itinerary or tour. Bed and Breakfast owners usually keep up with special events in the area such as the annual January Pajama Party, or the Corvette Cruise-In at Roscoe Village or the Christmas Events in the area. Don't cut yourself short with just a day trip, but find a bed and breakfast that suits your tastes and really experience Amish Country.
Submitted by Carol Steffey
Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast

Christmas in Amish Country

2007-12-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wonder how, or if, the Amish celebrate Christmas? Well they do! An Amish Christmas, however, is quite different from the way most of us celebrate Christmas. You won’t find Santa, or a Christmas tree, or extravagant gifts, garland and bright colored decorations, etc.
The Amish keep “Christ” in Christmas. If you visit an Amish school around the holidays their Christmas program is based on the Bible. Their celebration is all about the birth of Christ.
They will exchange gifts but you won’t find new cars, diamonds or furs in their gift boxes. They usually give something simple. A young woman may receive some cloth to sew herself a new dress. A young man may receive a pocket knife or flashlight. A child may receive a game, puzzle or toy, but not 20. Spouses who exchange a gift may give each other something like a new egg beater or a thermal travel mug to drink coffee while driving in their Amish buggy.
Like many of the rest of the world, their families will gather to share a meal. You may find traditional foods like turkey, mashed potatoes, noodles, etc. But they also have things that they might make just for the holidays like Monster Cookies. Monster Cookies have several add-ins like M&M candies, nuts, chocolate chips, coconut, etc. They are more expensive to make, so you won’t find them on the table just any old day.
Singing is a very popular pass time and you may find singing in an Amish home at Christmas time. At some gatherings each family that comes to the dinner/gathering will sing a song to all of the others. Some of the songs may be a church or school song, and some will be originals that they made up just for the holiday.
You may also find them playing games at a holiday gathering. They like card games like Dutch Blitz, board games, and homemade games and brain-teasers.
You may hear them speak of “old Christmas”. While they may have a special celebration on December 25th, they celebrate Christmas on January 6th or Old Christmas. If you visit an Amish community on January 6th you will find their businesses closed.
If you visit a community like Holmes County, Ohio, which is home of the World’s Largest Amish Community, you may have the opportunity to take a tour that describes the Christmas traditions and takes you to an Amish home for a meal. Many times if you are staying at a bed and breakfast they will arrange for you to meet the Amish, take a tour and/or have a meal.
This article was written by Carol Steffey at Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Bed & Breakfast?

2007-12-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

It’s Friday afternoon and travelers are calling around trying to find a room for the weekend. The phone rings, the innkeeper answers, “Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast, this is Carol”, and the person on the other end says “A bed and breakfast! I don’t want to stay at a bed and breakfast!” and she hangs up. B&B owners all over the United States experience similar reactions to people wanting to stay in a bed and breakfast.
What is a bed and breakfast anyway? A B&B is a home where the owners opened up extra rooms to travelers and/or put an addition on their home to accommodate travelers. Each bed and breakfast is unique so you need to ask questions to get the kind of accommodations that you are looking for. Some of these lodging establishments have you share a bath with another guest room and some offer private baths. Some bathrooms have shower stalls and some have bath tubs. Some have a private entrance to your room and others make you walk through their home or upstairs to get to your room. Some have double bed, queen beds or king beds. Some specialize in traditional or standard rooms. Some have luxurious Jacuzzi rooms or rooms with fireplaces. Some offer a continental breakfast and some have a gourmet, sit-down breakfast that is served in courses, or anything in between. Some are in the city and some in the country. Some are on a lake and some have beautiful gardens, etc.
How is a bed and breakfast experience different from a hotel experience? Many B&B’s cater to adults so you won’t hear children running up and down the halls and slamming doors. Many B&B’s offer a home-cooked breakfast, not something frozen and thawed from a restaurant supply company. Many B&B’s put a higher thread-count sheets and nicer blankets on your bed to help you have a more comfortable rest. You will also usually find nicer towels and amenities in the bath than you would at a hotel. The biggest difference is the personal touch! If you have never been to the area, a B&B owner will help you find a nice place to eat within your budget. They will tell you the attractions that you just don’t want to miss. They may tell you about that little, out-of-the-way place that a tourist wouldn’t normally find on their own and hotel wouldn’t mention. They will help you plan for a special birthday or anniversary with various packages or reservations. For instance, they might put a cake in your guest room, make dinner reservations for you and then set up a horse & carriage ride after dinner to top of the special occasion. If there is something that you are looking for, shopping for, or wanting to see they can usually tell you if it is available in their area and how to get there. At a bed and breakfast the guest is a V.I.P. and the innkeeper does what they can to make you have a special experience and want to return.
This Blog was written by Carol Steffey, Owner of Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast in Holmes County Ohio (home of the world’s largest Amish Community). For more questions or information about a bed and breakfast stay you may contact Carol at (330) 674-7608 or email at info@garden-gate.com.
www.garden-gate.com

Visiting the World's Largest Amish Community

2007-10-04T14:02:00.001-07:00

Many visitors who come to Holmes County to see the Amish come back to our B&B at night and say how disappointed they were because they traveled from town to town and there were no Amish shops. The Amish who own businesses usually have them on their homesteads or farms. Most of them do not have fancy, commercial signs, but they will have a piece of wood that has been white-washed with hand paint letters saying "Baskets" or "Candles". At our B&B we have created some maps to send our guests on the back roads to find those Amish-owned businesses. Some maps have a variety of businesses and others concentrate on Amish-made furniture or quilts. Some of our favorite places include a candle-maker, a furniture maker, blind broom-maker, basket maker, Amish general store, etc.
The candle maker did not start her business until she was 70 years old. She hand-dips and carves candles with bows, hearts, swirls, etc. Some candles look like a light house, some candles are appropriate for a wedding, and they all come in just about every color in the rainbow! She will even offer to drill the candles for you. This is a technique where the top of the candle is drilled down about 2 inches and filled with a small oil lamp. You will never have to burn your candle down but simply replace the oil instead.
There are many furniture stores in our and the Amish are known for their excellent workmanship. Most of them will customize almost anything that you want. The key is to shop around. We have found that the more off the beaten path the furniture store is, the better the price you will receive. There is one store in particular that we map out for our guests that about 99% go back to and purchase their furniture from.
Move over Longaberger and make room for the Amish basket makers. You won't believe how inexpensive the Amish-made baskets are and how well they are put together. Many have hardwood tops or bottoms with leather handles. Be sure to bring lots of cash.
There are several general stores throughout our area where the Amish shop. They carry everything from kitchen wares, to tools, to baby clothes, to books, toys, gift items, wedding supplies and gifts, and more. Let us map out directions to a few of our favorite for you.
Our favorite quilt shop is owned by some Amish sisters that never married. You actually enter their home and can see how their home is built. They have a couple of rooms with their wares. One room is all quilts that are beautifully stitched and embroidered. The other room has smaller items such as potholders, table runners, placemats, lap quilts and more. This is a must see for quilt lovers and sewers.
Come stay at Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast and let us show you "our" Amish Country. You won't be disappointed!

Carol Steffey,
Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast

Amish-made Furniture

2007-09-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

People travel from all over the United States to purchase Amish-made furniture. Not only is it beautiful, sturdy, made with quality, but you can customize about any piece to meet your ideas and/or decor. When you come to shop for Amish furniture be sure to look around. You will find similar styles in many of the retail stores but you will also find a wide variation in pricing. Stores on State routes in popular towns tend to have the highest prices. We have made a customized map for our guests to take them to several furniture makers/stores. A large percentage of our guests all purchase from the same store. If you are in the market for Amish furniture be sure to ask for our Furniture Shopping Map when you check-in at our B&B.
Carol Steffey
Garden Gate Get-A-Way B&B

We're among Top 10 B&B's in USA

2007-09-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

BedandBreakfast.com holds an annual contest to determine the top 10 overall best bed and breakfasts in the United States. They also have awards for best food or best hospitality, etc. Guests who have stayed in the nominated lodging establishments review the B&B with bedandbreakfast.com Winners are based on qualitative and quantitative reviews. This September, Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast was named one of the Top 10 Best Overall B&B's in the United States for 2007-2008!

Carol Steffey
Garden Gate Get-A-Way B&B