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One of the best bed and breakfasts in St. Catharines Ontario,
as recommended by Janette Higgins.
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Toronto Area and Niagara Region
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Morningstar Cottage Bed and Breakfast
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Denise Bradden
2440 Decew Road
R R 1
Fonthill (St. Catharines), ON
Canada, L0S 1E6
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| Phone: 905-688-4841 |
| A delightful cottage-style B&B in a lovely rural setting near St. Catharines. |
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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 a St. Catharines bed and breakfast I recommend. Janette Higgins
Morningstar Cottage Bed and Breakfast, just outside St Catharines, is a larger version of my own house so it’s no wonder I felt right at home. Both have pine floors, sloped ceiling bedrooms and a cosy feel. Morningstar Cottage is considerably older though, having been built by one John DeCew circa 1815. It is just down the road from the house where Laura Secord went to famously warn of the American invasion during the War of 1812. Host Denise Bradden fell in love with the home’s character, including the beamed ceilings, and has had it designated historic. You may have to forego just a bit of your privacy (baths are private but not en suite) but that’s more-than-fair exchange for a dose of nostalgia in a unique location.
I’d actually found this bed and breakfast the year before and determined to go back to stay. I was tickled that it was on a pleasant rural road surrounded by two or three lakes yet just a 10-minute drive from downtown St. Catharines. Then when I stayed, I found out that you can exit the back door, stroll past Denise’s lovely perennial gardens and shaded gazebo and in about 20 minutes find yourself at Brock University. Turns out that walk will have been along the Bruce Trail. Bonus! Of course, you could drive to Brock in a couple of minutes making this a great spot for parents or others visiting the university.
My friend and I stayed in the Chestnut Room, a fresh yellow and white twin-bedded room with a sink and small sitting area at one end. We especially appreciated the rustic coffee table, not often found in seating areas of B&B bedrooms. Our bathroom was next door. It has a shower and toilet – the sink is in the room. The other guest room, called The Walnut, has a queen bed and its full bath with shower in the tub is adjacent. Back downstairs we enjoyed the lovely, privately-situated guest parlour for a glass of wine before dinner.
Next morning Denise served breakfast in the dining room which has a real back-to-the-past look about it. It’s nicely spare with a warm ambiance lent by the deep red floral wallpaper. We started with fresh baked peaches on multi-grain toast. The follow-up was crepes with caramelized apples and some melted brie cheese. After breakfast, we learned that Denise had been born in London, England but grew up in Sussex. She bought the house when she retired from the healthcare business because the scenery around it reminded her of Thomas Hardy territory including hilly drives along curving roads. She even mentioned that there's a shy ghost in residence though we saw no evidence. As for us, after breakfast we headed over to Lock 7 on the Welland Canal, about ten minutes away, and watched as one of the huge freighters came in.
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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Morningstar Cottage Bed and Breakfast, St. Catharines, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://bbcanada.com/morningstar |
| Best to call: |
Evenings |
| Languages: |
English |
| Season: |
All Year |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S $85-105, D $90-110 (no taxes) |
Currency converter
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| Cards: |
Cash, Cheque, VISA, |
| Restrictions: |
Enquire about children; smoking outside only; no guests' pets |
| Facilities: |
2 guest bedrooms with private-use bathrooms (1 twin with sink in room and toilet/shower in adjacent bathroom; 1 queen with full bathroom adjacent) guest sitting room; central air |
| Parking: |
in driveway |
| Breakfast: |
full |
| In Residence: |
Pickle, the cat |
| Location: |
a 20-minute walk along the Bruce Trail takes you to Brock University (or a 3-minute drive); 10-minute drive to downtown St. Catharines; scenic rural setting near lakes |
| Directions: |
From the QEW exit onto Hwy 406. From 406 exit at St. David's Road West. At 3rd set of lights (merrittville/Glenridge) turn left. Take first right onto Decew Road. B&B is 1 km along on right. |
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