Elizabeth M.
Yelp
Until my recent visit to the Inn at Tern Lake, I had never been to a Bed and Breakfast before. In fact, for my entire adult life, I had avoided them at all cost. I place the blame on the marketer who once coined the phrase "Charming, Quaint and Cozy," only to have it picked up by every cottage from New Haven to Moose Pass. My mind would drift to memories of sitcom episodes of tacky bedroom linens, taxidermy wall art and overbearing maternal figures. It's funny how a few stray adjectives can brand a whole industry, calling out to some, while causing others to turn away.
If it weren't for the wedding of a dear friend at the Inn, I would have spent the rest of my adulthood misdirected under the false guise of situational comedy and would never have discovered the beauty that could lie within those three simple words: Charming, Quaint and Cozy. When my caravan of bridesmaids pulled up to the Inn, it felt as if I was coming home. Not my home, but that of a storybook romance in a classic German fable. A home where rainbows cast brilliant reflections over swan filled ponds, and dew-dropped wildflowers line garden paths.
The Inn at Tern Lake is the kind of place where cherished memories are made. The rooms were clean and large, the bed linens modern and soft. The bathrooms were stocked with organic soaps, fluffy towels and crisp white bathrobes with lilac sachets delicately placed throughout. Antique console tables were overflowing with bowls of chocolate delicacies (to the dismay of us bridesmaids who were desperate to fit into our beautiful gowns). The owners were helpful, courteous and extremely welcoming (without being overbearing). Separated from the family's living quarters, the Inn allows guests to have full privacy and access to a kitchen, deck, hot tub, and tennis courts.
The food was home cooked by Rose and exceeded the quality of most restaurant food. We awoke to breakfast quiches, fresh fruit, reindeer sausage and baked French toast. Each meal was a delight. The pesto pasta with pine nuts was a smash (we talked about it for days). Everyone agreed that in the world of wedding food, the entrees served at the Inn were the only ones we ever truly enjoyed.
The wedding went off without a hitch; the Inn offered a magnificent backdrop for the joining of union. The fog-lined mountains in the distance were the perfect accessory to the couple's Alaskan wedding. The Inn at Tern Lake taught me that Quaint can mean unassuming yet elegant, that an establishment's Charm is a direct representation of the love and attention put forth by the Innkeeper, and that the word Cozy doesn't necessarily mean small and inhibiting, but can be welcoming and comforting instead. Thank you to Rose and her family for the wonderful memories. Your establishment is a shining star among the hospitality industry and I wish you and your family the best for years to come.
