Sometimes a bed and breakfast is more than just a cozy place to spend the night and grab a bite to eat in the morning. Sometimes it is a venue that brings folks together for a memorable event.
I am very, very lucky. My sister and brother-in-law own one of the best bed and breakfasts on Cape Cod. Okay, I might be a bit prejudiced –but what better place for a party! So, when we needed a place to assemble our family and friends to celebrate my husband’s 70th birthday, the Old Manse Inn was our first choice. Since our family and friends are scattered around the country, it isn’t often that you can find an excuse to pull them all together for a weekend. In the riotous melee that ensued, full of children and relatives and friends who had not seen each other in a while, we managed a fairly well-organized, catered (thank God!) weekend of fun activities and catching up. My husband reconnected with a first cousin that he had not seen in 60 years! Our two grandchildren were often found helping out in the kitchen and were absolutely adorable when they served breakfast on Sunday morning while their grandfather took over the kitchen and cooked for everyone.
The wonderful thing about the Cape is that there is something there for everyone. Our tribe was, at any given time, strewn all over the area taking in the sights, shopping, enjoying the parks or just hanging out together and catching up. The Inn is well suited for such a crowd, and the weather cooperated allowing folks to spill out onto the front and back patios, ride bikes, play golf and just explore. It is an easy walk to the library, General Store or the beach. The Cape is home to many wonderful, reliable caterers, and the Inn’s kitchen lends itself well to cooking for a crowd. We had no trouble enlisting the services of a wonderful, local caterer and another terrific Cape Cod resident, and phenomenal baker, made us two, beautiful birthday cakes.
All in all, everyone had a wonderful time, including the two innkeepers. This isn’t the first family event the Inn has hosted – my nephew got married there two years ago – but each event reminds us how much fun it is to get together as a family and celebrate. I highly recommend you keep the Old Manse Inn in mind the next time you need a place to gather together your friends and family. I know Karen and Rich would love the opportunity to help you plan an unforgettable affair.