19th-Century Country Estate with Homemade Breakfast
Every morning at Chimney Hill Estate & The Ol' Barn Inn, innkeepers Rich and Terry Anderson prepare a fresh homemade breakfast showcasing seasonal ingredients. Sometimes it's cranberry-cream-cheese french toast and fresh fruit, other times it’s quiche lorraine with bacon and breakfast potatoes. These dishes are savored by candlelight in the bed and breakfast's dining room, a colonial nook that once graced the cover of New Jersey Country Roads magazine. Set on 8 acres along the Delaware River, the 19th-century fieldstone inn was named one of the best in the mid-Atlantic region by BedandBreakfast.com.
In addition to its human guests, the estate houses a working alpaca farm. These South American mini llamas graze in a pasture registered as a natural habitat with the National Wildlife Federation, and you can feed them or challenge them to spitting contests during your stay. Indoors, you'll find 13 spacious guest rooms, each uniquely decorated with period antiques.
A midday snack of cookies and iced tea in the common room should hold you over until dinner at Anton's at the Swan, where you can apply the $50 dining credit included with this Groupon. Set in another historical hotel, this romantically lit 40-seat restaurant is helmed by chef and owner Chris Conners, who was praised by The New York Times for his "passion for fresh ingredients and classic new American combinations." The menu changes monthly.
This Getaway also includes a tour of Unionville Vineyards, which is set on an 88-acre farm that was once home to one of the largest peach orchards in the state. Selected as an "ultimate must-have" by Harper's Bazaar in 2009, the winery's award-winning offerings include the citrusy White Montage and a bold red blend called The Big O.
Lambertville, New Jersey: Quaint Victorian Town Along Delaware Canal
The town of Lambertville prospered during the 19th century, thanks to its prime shipping location alongside the Delaware Canal. Visiting today feels a little bit like traveling back to that time: restored Victorian homes line the streets alongside antique shops by the dozen. The canal itself remains popular with kayakers—who paddle beneath covered bridges—and fishers looking to hook shad, catfish, and bass. There's also a scenic waterfront towpath for cyclists and joggers.
A stone's throw across the canal, the equally picturesque town of New Hope, Pennsylvania, is often considered Lambertville's sister city. About 15 minutes south, Washington Crossing State Park straddles both sides of the state border, marking the spot where General Washington became the nation's first crossing guard.
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