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One of the best bed and breakfasts in Gravenhurst in Muskoka Ontario,
as recommended by Janette Higgins.
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Near North and Northern Ontario
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Blaincroft Bed and Breakfast
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Bryan and Marsha Blain
180 Hughson Street
Gravenhurst, ON
Canada, P1P 1H2
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| Phone: 705-684-8994 |
| A yellow gabled cottage off the main road offers friendly respite in Gravenhurst, the gateway to Muskoka. |
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Review by Janette Higgins
author of The Best Places to B&B in Ontario: A Selective Guide
Six editions of the book were published to critical and popular acclaim. Janette now publishes her B&B
reviews and holiday reports online.
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Note 1 to reader: Every Ontario bed and breakfast receives my consideration. I travel incognito, pay where I stay and write reviews of the top 5%. Here is one I recommend. Janette Higgins
Centrally located near downtown Gravenhurst, Blaincroft Bed and Breakfast has just the sort of B&B location I seek out in an urban setting. It’s on a quiet side street in an attractive residential neighbourhood within walking distance of downtown. As for curbside appeal it’s all there. This well-maintained yellow-and-white gabled Victorian cottage has beautiful gardens and heritage architecture hinting at pleasures to come.
And, indeed, the delights continue inside. Retired educators (he a professor, she a teacher) Bryan and Marsha Blain bought this place a few years ago. It had been expertly restored by the previous owner and they simply redecorated. It's all done in a lighthearted way with great taste. Upon entering, a glance to your right reveals a comfortable parlour with tongue-in-groove ceiling and a reproduction cast iron fireplace highlighted by a mantle hand-carved with hummingbirds and flowers.
As you’re led upstairs by your friendly hosts to one of the two guest bedrooms you’ll pass a small nook on the landing with reading material and a rocking chair. The rooms are equally large, equally attractive and their tasteful décor provides a serene environment for your stay. Both have queen size beds, down duvets, quilts hand-stitched by Marsha, and 400-thread count ironed cotton sheets.
The front room has apple green walls which play off the windows’ white California shutters. Hits of blue and yellow provide spark. In the room you’ll find a TV/DVD player, a love seat which hides a sofa bed, and a tea tray with assorted drinks and cookies. Important to many of you will be the reading lights on both sides of the bed and a tri-light over the love seat. The bathroom’s sloped ceiling is papered in sprigs of blue flowers and the soaker tub contains a hand held shower since there was no room for a shower stall.
The back bedroom’s colour scheme is coral, green and cream. A boudoir chair and ottoman, upholstered in crisp green gingham, invites you to set a spell and partake of some refreshment from the tea tray. There’s also a maple desk and dresser with brass tri-lights. The en suite bathroom has a Jacuzzi tub and another hand-held shower but, again, no stall. And, yes, the tub is big enough for two.
Next morning you’ll have breakfast in the sunny dining room furnished with depression-era oak. Bryan and Marsha like to provide breakfast at 9 AM but if you come down earlier, they thoughtfully provide coffee and tea. You’ll start with OJ and some kind of home-baking right out of the oven. Then seasonal fruit or perhaps applesauce with crème fraiche and candied walnuts. Your main course will be either sweet like cornmeal pancakes with lemon and blueberries and local maple syrup; or savoury like Bryan’s hearty western omelet with home fries. After, you’ll have Muskoka at your fingertips – after all Gravenhurst is the gateway to Muskoka.
Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting the hosts know you read my review of their bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins, Travel Writer
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Reviews of Janette Higgins'
favourite places beyond Ontario
More of Janette Higgins' reviews
of Ontario's best bed and breakfasts
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Blaincroft Bed and Breakfast, Gravenhurst in Muskoka, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://bbmuskoka.com/blaincroft |
| Best to call: |
9 AM to 9 PM |
| Languages: |
English, French |
| Season: |
All Year |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S or D $130 (no taxes) |
Currency converter
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| Cards: |
VISA/MC/cash/cheque |
| Restrictions: |
Enquire about children; no smoking; no guests' pets |
| Facilities: |
2 rooms with en suite bathrooms (1 jacuzzi tub; 1 soaker tub; both with telephone/handheld showers; parlour for quests; central air downstairs and a/c in bedrooms |
| Parking: |
in driveway |
| Breakfast: |
full |
| In Residence: |
no pets |
| Location: |
Gravenhurst is in Muskoka and is a 1.5 hour drive from Toronto |
| Directions: |
From Hwy 11 N take the Bethune Rd, exit at the first set of lights at Hwy 169. Turn left and follow Hwy 169 through town. Two blocks past the stoplights in town turn right on Mary St. Go 1 block north to Hughson. Bed and breakfast is on corner. |
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