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One of the best bed and breakfasts in St. Joseph Island Ontario,
as recommended by Janette Higgins.
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Near North and Northern Ontario
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Sunset Bay Bed and Breakfast
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Paul and Rilla Higgins
R.R. 1, 2195 Hwy 548
Richards Landing, Ontario
Canada, P0R 1J0
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| Phone: 705-246-2177 |
| Fax: 705-246-0481 |
| This bed and breakfast is built on the site of one of St. Joseph Island's several pioneer homesteads. |
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St. Joseph Island, Ontario map
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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
Paul and Rilla Higgins have come home to run a fine bed and breakfast at Sunset Bay on St. Joseph’s Island, a largish island of pioneer homes and summer settlements not far from Sault Ste. Marie. This is where Rilla grew up and where she and Paul met when he came to teach in the one-room schoolhouse. Between times they lived on the prairies. Sadly the old homestead burned down a few years ago. In its place the Higgins have now built a fine cedar-sided home with vaulted ceilings and immense windows to take in the marsh and lake views.
Upon arrival at the bed and breakfast, we were asked to remove our shoes – a more common request now that newer homes are being used as bed & breakfast. Upstairs the three guest bedrooms are simply furnished with handcrafted pine furniture. The two queen-bedded rooms feature walkout balconies overlooking the water while the twin-bedded room looks back over the fields. They all have en suites with washbasins and toilets. For bathing there’s a small shared bathroom with shower/tub combination only. There’s also a backup shower for guests on the main floor. B&B guests have use of a small loft sitting area on the second floor as well as decks, balconies and a screened gazebo outside where the only disquiet that intrudes are the sound of birds twittering, water lapping on the shore and leaves rustling in the breeze.
Next morning you’ll have breakfast in the dining area. Here and elsewhere you’ll have noted some fine photographs – Rilla’s also a professional photographer with a studio on the premises. She offers some great packages which include B&B plus a professional portrait sitting in the out of doors. See their website below for more informtion. We had a traditional egg and toast breakfast. Yours might be continental if that’s what you want, or else Rilla does a hot dish such as French toast drizzled with the local wood-fired maple syrup and a slice of lean ham. From where we sat we could see the marsh and were thrilled when a flock of the somewhat rare sandhill cranes took off over the fields.
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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Sunset Bay Bed and Breakfast, St. Joseph Island, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://www.sunsetbay.ca |
| Best to call: |
anytime |
| Season: |
all year |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S $55, D $75 (plus 5% GST). Special packages available. Two night minimum on long weekends. |
Currency converter
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| Cards: |
VISA/MC |
| Restrictions: |
children 8 and over welcome; no smoking; no guests' pets |
| Facilities: |
3 bedrooms (2 queens, 1 with 2 twins); 3 en suite bathrooms (all 2-pc); 1 shared bath (tub/shower); loft sitting room for guests; screened gazebo; bikers and cyclists welcome (secure storage for gear and place to dry wet apparel). |
| Parking: |
Ample. Covered parking for motorcycles and bikes. |
| Breakfast: |
full |
| Location: |
45 mins E of Sault Ste Marie on the way to Sudbury |
| Directions: |
from Trans Canada Hwy 17 exit onto Hwy 548. At 1st intersection on St. Joseph Island turn right. Proceed on Hwy 548 for 17 kms. (From Hwy 17 it’s 20 kms to B&B) |
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