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One of the best bed and breakfasts in Elora Ontario,
as recommended by Janette Higgins.
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The 3 Bears Bed and Breakfast
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Garrett Klassen
and Melanie Ward
0568 South River Road
Elora, Ontario
Canada, N0B 1S0
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| Phone: 519-843-5556 |
| Toll Free:866-457-7770 |
| Meander down to a picturesque section of Elora's Grand River from your ground-level quarters at this contemporary bed and breakfast. |
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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
Please note that this B&B is being renovated and will re-open mid-September 2011. They are taking bookings for September and later.
Hosts Garrett Klassen and Melanie Ward, both writers, offer the lower part of their multi-level cedar home as an inviting Elora bed and breakfast with bear flair though their furry numbers have dwindled since I first stayed. Previous owners had quite a collection and hence the name: The 3 Bears Bed and Breakfast. After several years of renovations, the bedrooms are now completely updated. You enter by way of the cosy guest kitchen on the main level where you'll find coffee, tea and (how's this for something different?) unlimited popcorn. Plus there's everything you need to dine in if you so desire.
Downstairs, (it's a backsplit) you'll find three guest bedrooms, two with en suites and one with a private bathroom. All have views across the lawn as it slopes down to the winding Grand River, renowned for its world-class fly fishing and where bed and breakfast guests are known to roast marshmallows around the shoreline fire pit. Guests have exclusive use of this lower level which includes a common area with billiard table centre stage. There's also a small seating area, woodstove, a guest computer and wireless internet. The entertainment possibilities are varied: darts, billiards of course, or a singalong around the piano. If you insist, you can watch TV. There's a walkout to a deck from this room.
As for the bedrooms, all now have new beds and fresh decor. Walls are painted in rich tones ranging from chocolate to merlot in contrast with the wood floors. Down the hall, at the far end of the guest floor, the Papa Bear Room has a queen four poster and a double wrought iron bed, and en suite bathroom. It has the largest window and its own door out to ground level at the back. It's the one to book if you're here for the fishing. That's because just outside the door you'll find hooks for your hip-waders and a spot for your rods and other gear. Walk a few hundred feet down to the river and you'll be casting your rod in no time.
At the other end of the guest floor, the Mama Bear Room has two windows and an en suite bathroom. It also has two beds -- one double, one single. Between Mama and Papa you'll find the Baby Bear Room with a private bathroom directly across the hall complete with rain shower and heated tile floors. Its bed is queen-size.
Breakfast is Garrett's bailiwick. Melanie's no slouch when it comes to cooking but Garrett loves to cook so guests will be sure to partake of something tasty. For starters the fresh fruit course offers some kind of twist, for example mixed melon tossed with mint, chopped pecans and topped with ginger ale. I had fresh fruit salad with a surprise at the bottom; a little cream cheese and angel cake! Garrett's specialty is Eggs Gelora; oven-baked eggs, bacon-wrapped on a toasted English muffin with melted cheddar, portabello and tomato and served with Russett potatoes but I got to have the eggs Benedict with asparagus with a squirt of orange. (Try it!) After, you may wish to take a ramble out back past the organic vegetable gardens, down to the winding river dotted with islets of grass, shrubs and trees. Thankfully, while this may be bear territory, there are no grizzlies.
Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting Garrett and Melanie know you read my consumer review of their bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins, Travel Writer
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The 3 Bears Bed and Breakfast, Elora, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://www.the3bears.com |
| Best to call: |
anytime before 9 PM |
| Languages: |
English, German, some French |
| Season: |
all year except Christmas and Thanksgiving |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S $120-145, D $150-175 plus 13% HST. Extra person $30. Discount for returning guests or stays of more than 3 nights. Two night minimum for all long weekends and all weekends during July and August. |
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| Restrictions: |
adult retreat; smoking outside; no guest's pets and no owner's pets in residence |
| Facilities: |
3 bedrooms (1 with a queen and a double bed, 1 with double and twin), 1 queen; 2 en suite bathrooms (shower only), 1 private across hall (shower only); guest kitchen, common room with covered deck; central air |
| Parking: |
for 4 guest cars |
| Breakfast: |
Full |
| Location: |
Elora 15 mins N of Guelph; 1 hour W of Toronto Airport; 1 hr 15 mins W of Toronto |
| Directions: |
Please email the bed and breakfast hosts for the most direct route from your area. |
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