Zandra M.
Yelp
My sister and I took my mother here for a birthday getaway this summer and we truly had a great time. We rented a suite, which although rather pricey, was perfect for 3 women and a baby. Our suite was huge, and consisted of two rooms; one with a king sized bed and the other was a sitting room with kitchenette, which had a pull out queen size sofa bed. Our living room walked out on to a lawn, which stretched down to the scenic river below. The Inn is a series of buildings amongst incredibly picturesque landscapes.
We spent our first day at the spa, where they were incredibly kind in bringing in an additional attendant so that all three of us could get pedicures. The spa had incredibly serene views of the river and the ladies who did our pedicures were friendly and did a great job.
We didn't eat at the Inn for dinner, as the dining room didn't seem very friendly for an infant. However, we did return to the lounge after dinner in Goderich for night caps and dessert. The lounge is laid back and friendly, with a casual menu available as well as full drink service. There are boardgames on the tables and big cozy fireplace.
Breakfast is included with the room and although is essentially your standard hotel buffet - everything came out incredibly regularly and the quality of the fare was very good. The morning we ate there, amongst others, there was a selection of eggs, bacon, sausage, tea biscuits, local jam and fruit. The Ivey Dining room is quite beautiful and they were very accommodating to the baby (highchairs are available - and did you know, if you flip a standard restaurant wooden highchair over, a car seat fits right into it? So handy!)
The morning we left, we took a quick trip to the pool and I'm glad we did. Big lofty windows light the old building and pool which make for a rather pleasant swimming experience. The pool deck is made from big slabs of old stone, and the hot tub is off in a little wood lined nook in the corner. There are saunas in the change rooms, but you have to bring your towels from your hotel room with you.
If you find yourself in this part of Ontario, I would definitely recommend staying here. You don't have to venture far to find other activities (an old family favourite haunt, Point Farms Provincial Park is ten minutes away- although apparently the river is too polluted to swim in now) or other towns to visit. Bayfield and Goderich are both incredibly close, as are the shores of Lake Huron for a summer beach experience.
The Ben Miller Inn is a great getaway. Even just thinking about it makes me feel relaxed.