Shaw House Inn

We stayed in the Orchard room at the Shaw House Inn in Ferndale in late-Dec ($212). Set in a large estate of lawns, tall trees, a gazebo and horseshoe pit, the inn is a stately old 1850's mansion, the oldest in this historic town. Our ground floor room (like all of the dog-friendly rooms) had one door entered from one of the 3 salons and another from a small deck by the orchard. It was of moderate size with a high ceiling, antique furnishings (chest of drawers, 2 small stand-alone tables, 2 upholstered chairs), a very comfortable double bed, and a small TV with streaming channels. The bathroom was a long, narrow alcove with sliding glass doors along the side of the room, the toilet at one end, shower stall (unfortunately with tepid water) at the other, an ornate pedestal sink with an antique brass faucet faucet in the centre. Windows along each side gave the room a light, spacious feel.||The ground floor salons, open to the public, provided a number of conversation nooks, reading material, games. There was coffee in the afternoon, a mini-ice machine under the staircase, and a communal refrigerator. Breakfast was included but could have been better, consisting of a quarter of an apple pancake, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee, tea and chocolate milk. The manager was helpful with suggestions about the local area. ||Overall, the Shaw House Inn provided comfortable accommodations at a location convenient to everything in town. Along with the Victorian Inn and Gingerbread Mansion (we have stayed in both), one of the best places to stay if you are looking for colonial atmosphere.

We've stayed here twice, it's a great little place. The house is adorable. We love the yard, there are places to sit tucked away all over. There are also two cozy sitting rooms (one is a library, I guess) that are criminally underused. Our bed in the Orchard room was like sleeping in a marshmallow. Definitely the softest, puffiest mattress I've ever slept on, if that's your thing you'll love this (it's not my thing, so I plan to ask which is their firmest mattress next time I book) Their cook is excellent. She said she owns a farm but she cooks like a professional. Breakfast selection is modest but what there is is very tasty. Today she made a quiche and yesterday was berry bread pudding.

Safe location with beautiful trees. Mattress was great and room was clean and quiet. Staff were very pleasant and food was very good. Only downside was the extremely steep flights of stairs partially without hand rail. This should be mentioned when booking. Understood after paying there is a room at higher price on first floor.

Wonderful old Victorian home a few blocks from the business area of Ferndale. Easy to find the home on large grounds but how to enter was not well marked (missed the small 'Entrance' sign at the end of a white picket fence near the East end). When we approached the house, it was unclear where the 'Office' was until we noticed the smallish parking area to the right of the home. We took a short 'tour' of the downstairs when we arrived, and given our room key which also opened the front door. ||We stayed in the Shaw room which was up a steep stairway which had a 90 degree turn with stairs on the curve (no landing). The room was beautiful with elegantly vaulted ceiling over the bed. The attached bath with a claw-foot tub and an obviously non-period fiberglass shower had low ceilings on the sides and a single old sink. It was very warm when we checked in, so we opened the patio door and used the provided fan to cool it off. The small patio off the back of the room was slanted away from the house, so it did not feel comfortable to us. ||The facility had beautiful old shady trees in the front but was not inviting to visit (no tables or chairs in the front) which we felt was a waste. The concrete walkways were obviously old with extensive cracks. There is a community garden next door that features displays of native flowers and plants, which was wonderful.||We walked a few blocks to find one of the (few) restaurants in town which was a beer/wine bar with a Mexican restaurant next door. Reservations were required, which was a surprise, but they seated us outside on the sidewalk right away. ||The breakfast was served between 8:00 and 9:00 AM the next morning which was very nice: Fresh fruit, crustless quiche, juice and such..

Loved the solitude of this place. I was fortunate to only have to share with a couple that spent most of the day out & about. Had the whole house to myself. The library was very comfortable; lots of books, games, puzzles, musical gadgets, etc.. Used sitting area in the evening to browse on my laptop. Actually spent most of my time sitting on the front porch area taking in the beauty of the grounds. Excellent breakfasts! Quality food & reflected the time & care put into the preparation. Homemade treats at "teatime". Mini fridge stocked with yogurts & drinks for the taking at anytime. Also, added bonus of a mini ice machine & microwave under the stairwell. I haven't found that in other B&Bs. I see in some reviews that people complained about demeanor of owner. I found her very pleasant. She left you alone, but was always available if needed by text or phone. She lives on premises. My room was not inside the house, but very accommodating & easily accessible. If the place was full my experience might have been very different. But I believe it is setup that you still wouldn't be in anyone's way. Very close to downtown shops, museum, & public gardens.

Ferndale prides itself on being a Victorian town and Shaw House Inn definitely fits with this! |Pros: a lovely but cluttered house in a lovely garden, with tea and coffee and a fridge with juice/yoghurt always available, plenty of comfortable seating in communal rooms and a warm welcome. Cooked breakfast (no choice of menu) was good, with well spaced breakfast tables in every corner. |Cons: we felt the lighting in our room, and particularly the bathroom, was extending the Victorian theme too far, reminiscent of candlelight…

What a beautiful and neat historic place! The bed was super soft, the room was gorgeous. The chef had made us a delicious breakfast in the morning. The gardens around the house are beautiful and peaceful. It's close to historic little downtown. In addition to all of that, it's pet-friendly, and the proprietors could not have been more accommodating to my dog, providing her with her own towel to lie on and a few little treats!

We were greeted by the owner (everyone masked and distanced) and checked in. She showed us around the beautiful home and to our room and then we never saw her again (quite different from other B&Bs I've stayed at but understandable with Covid). Our room (the Garden Room) was cute and we had our own bathroom but it was down the hall - no problem but you had to remember to take the key with every visit. The breakfast was wonderful and delicious and the chef very sweet. This home is quite unique and the grounds are beautiful. I wish we could have stayed there another day. The only issue was the bedroom was cold. The window was permanently open a few inches with a fixed screen (probably from the summer season). I just hunkered down under the covers and slept fine. I would love to go back after all this Covid is done with.

This is the oldest house in Ferndale, as such it has old home charm with attention to detail. Clean, great food, (good job Nicole) close to shopping and near the beach. I would 100% come back.

We had a great stay at The Shaw House Inn! We stayed in a quaint room off the back patio. They had so many quiet places to sit and relax while having a glass of wine taking in the beautiful location. Our bed was super comfy and the room couldn't have been quieter! Inn the morning we had a delicious breakfast croissant breakfast sandwich with a yogurt parfait! Plenty of fruit, oatmeal, granola, orange juice, coffee and tea to get a great start to your morning. We walked to town and stopped at a delicious pizza spot for dinner... only a block away! Definitely coming back!

The house and the room were beautiful, that's about as far as the positives go. Unfortunately we were woken up at 7am to loud talking and laughing by guests and staff, when we had been hoping to sleep in after having stayed up late at a party the night before. After 30 minutes of listening to the loud talking and laughing, my husband went to downstairs to ask everyone to keep their voices down. There was no apology by the staff for their behavior instead the reply was "ok well breakfast will be ready at 8" then when we tried to go back to sleep, they continued to talk and laugh loudly. It soured our morning completely and our entire experience.

I've had Shaw House Inn on my radar for quite some time, and when I suddenly had enough days off, I booked it the night before and made my way up from Long Beach. The Shaw House Inn is a wonderfully kept gothic-revival Victorian era house that was built by the town of Ferndale's co-founder. I was warmly greeted by Paula, another former San Diegan, who quickly checked me in, gave me a brief tour, and showed me to my room. There were some home baked cookies left in the common area, which I quickly devoured. I stayed in the bright Garden Room, which was the only room in my budget, and it was exactly where I needed to stay. Located on the second floor of the house, it features a balcony overlooking the front of the lush front lawn of the house. The bathroom is next door, and is only accessible to those staying in the Garden Room; it is large and has a clawfoot tub/shower combination plenty of towels, and even bubble bath. The bathroom fan didn't seem to work, so I opted to open the window. Due to COVID, the dining table I had seen in other pictures was removed, but each morning there was coffee, baked goods, fruit, and a fridge stocked with a variety of juices and yogurts. In the afternoon there were different baked goods each day. The dining area also has several tea pots and tea cups and tea trays to use for a relaxing cup of tea, which I took on the porch, either reading or catching up on work listening to the relaxing sounds of the garden fountain. The Shaw House is a short walk to the main street of Ferndale where the Victorian Inn is and other shops and stores. It's also a great in-between location for those interested in exploring Humboldt County. It is an absolute must or anyone looking to stay in Ferndale, it is such an integral piece of the town's history. I highly recommend visiting the town's gothic cemetery which has a gorgeous view of the town from the top of the hill. I may or may not have offered to help run the Inn if Paula ever needed help, I would love to come back!

Went to book a room, realized on my receipt it said "requires covid vax" so I called just to be sure, because to my knowledge, a business don't require it.... not only do they require it; but they are trained to give the unvaxed rude and hang up on their faces. Suuuuuper rude, suuuuuper disrespectful, suuuuuper unprofessional, and it completely shattered the hopes of the amazing getaway that your city was guaranteed to be.

Just a lovely little place, and exactly the getaway I needed during these uncertain times. I appreciated that they took proper COVID precautions during check-in and throughout our stay. Although they weren't serving a traditional breakfast (thanks, COVID!), we enjoyed the home-baked honey cinnamon cookies when we arrived (also, a limited morning breakfast is offered, of which we did not partake). We were in the Garden Room, which was delightfully appointed, but my favorite part was the bathtub in the private bathroom! Both rooms were equipped with fans (hint:look in the closet), and as it turns out, air flow is very important in old Victorians, so I was very thankful for that! Take a sunset walk to the Cat Shack half a block down the road for after-dinner ice cream cones (cash only), then make your way around the property and enjoy the soothing smells, sights, and sounds. There's nothing like it! Pro-tip: Fleener Creek Trail, a 15-min drive away, offers a breathtaking hike to a beach that you're likely to have all to yourself. BTW: The rooms did not have that "old house smell" that you'd expect from...well..an old house, but were in fact fresh smelling, and very clean! Much appreciated during the era of COVID. Lastly, my partner had never been to a BNB before, and wasn't quite sold on the idea, but by the next morning he was remarking on what a lovely, unique stay it was, and wouldn't object to doing it again! I call that a Win in my book!

As you read this, keep in mind that I gave the Shaw House Inn five stars, the highest possible rating. It is a truly wonderful place. Having said that, the house is something like 170 years old. You cannot compare a stay here by the standards that would apply to any modern hotel. We stayed in the Garden room, and our private bathroom was two doors down (most rooms are en suite). It was also fabulous with a large clawfoot tub that required a large step to get into and out of. Some of the windows in the House are so old that they are slightly distorted. I do not think that any wall, door or floor is completely true. Having said that, my wife and I absolutely loved the place and are already planning to go back. Everything about the Shaw House is unique, and the house is tended with such care that it seems as if the owner walks each room every night to make sure that everything is perfect. When we arrived, Paula was very welcoming and showed us to our cozy room and around the common areas of the house. All the staff members were very pleasant and helpful. The breakfasts consisted of really well-made individual quiches or croissant sandwiches, muffins, fresh fruit, and the coffee is really good. We had our breakfast each morning at a small table in front of a window with a lovely view of the grounds in a room beautifully decorated with antiques. We found the bed to be very comfortable, and we slept really well lulled to sleep in part by the sound of running water from a fountain or stream outside our window. One evening, rather late, I sat and read in the (library?) in a very comfortable, very large chair and felt like I was home. It was and is a great place.

IMPECABLE AND NEAT! You see this litte, darling place from Main Street and can't really imagine the loving energy it has. Cute impecable rooms, all different, every detail well thought. Yes, it is a very old building and you won't get a super shower or a jet tub but instead you get an old fashioned, neat, private bathroom with an old tub, on the hallway. We slept well, it was quiet and nice. Day and night there is a good selection of teas to drink while you enjoy the living room with soft, relaxing music. Now, let's get to the important part ... your included breakfast! At 7:30 you start with coffee and by 8 you have delicious HOME MADE (today blueberry) muffins, quiche, granola with yougurt, milk, berries, juice. We love it here and look forward to coming back!

For people who like to stay in historic Victorian era homes, this is a very good place to stay; you'd probably give it 4 stars. It is well preserved, was a home of the area's founders, and is well appointed with pleasant grounds. Its also an easy walk to downtown Ferndale and provides good off street parking. Ferndale itself is a nice place to visit - not crowded, and mainly populated by locals. The downsides: 1. We did not like the bed as it was far too soft. We maybe got an hours sleep overall and woke up with some sore muscles. If you like this sort of bed, go for it; we don't. 2. If you want to take a bath in a claw foot tub or want to experience showering as it was in the 1920's, the tub is fine. BUT if you have any mobility issue, are concerned about slipping in a smooth tub or just want a nice shower that doesn't require engineering the curtain, this isn't your type of bathing arrangement. As for breakfast and snacks, fresh fruit and some baked goodies are available for the afternoon as are a wide assortment of teas. So far so good. BUT if you want a cup of coffee in the evening or with those treats, you MIGHT find the well hidden Starbucks instant tubes. Not terrible, but for an evening coffee drinker like me, sort of like a K Ration. The breakfast was quiche with black forest ham slices and some fruit and coffee cake. Not bad and at least there was coffee available.

So clean and tidy! All of the linens were fresh and smelled clean. The cozy bath-sheets were an extra plus. The beds were so comfortable, I was falling asleep before I knew it. And the pillows were soft and comfy. The breakfast: Wonderful, nothing left out, great coffee and tea selections. Food was well done with juice cereal, pastries ,eggs, fruit, breakfast meats, everything you would or could want, and very hearty. My only concerns are the overuse of wimpy extension cords, everywhere, hence only 4 stars. Don't try to charge your phone in the room, it sparked and made the lamp flicker. Try the GFI in the bathroom . The grounds are delightful, as is the entire town. An easy stroll to shops and restaurants. Very Charming and CLEAN!!!!

I wish I could give this place ten stars!!!!!! I was not expecting much as we drove into the foggy Ferndale, but as soon as we walked in the innkeeper was very polite. Payment was due up front which, hey, no big deal. We looked at the website and knew what the cost was. She then showed us to our room, Wisteria, the smallest in the place but made it for a very cozy stay. There was a bed, two small tables, a television that only played DVDs, and a nice balcony with a couple chairs. She let us know that our key opened the front door, our door, and our PRIVATE bathroom!! Then let us know breakfast would be served from 8-10am each morning and we could help ourselves to any room in the house and any food in the kitchen and basically the whole property. She said we would not be bothered but to come to the main house if we needed anything. We were a little worried because walking through the hall and being able to hear the other people staying there. But once we got into our room and closed the door, we couldn't hear a thing! The B&B has a nice collection of DVDs you can borrow. Check out The Majestic starring Jim Carrey; it was filmed in the town of Ferndale! But believe me, you won't die without the television. We hardly missed it! This place is also walking distance of the downtown area. Plenty of things to do there!. And if you find the place lacking, it is in a great spot to take a day trip to the redwoods, or make a 15 minute drive to Eureka! But when you're on the property it is quite a dream. Seems like a separate reality! Breakfast during both days we stayed was delicious! Scones, quiche, berries, and a selection of cereal! There is coffee, a bunch of tea choices, and a couple of hot chocolate selections! And there are always clean dishes for you to use, and to-go cups! We ate breakfast in the dining room and had snacks in two of the four parlor rooms you are free to use. It was really great to sip hot drinks on a cold day while we watched the other folks playing horseshoes in the yard. Couldn't ask for a better place! Will definitely be back!

Shaw House was awesome. The property was absolutely beautiful with cute rooms and a lovely garden. The friendly cat who greeted guests was delightful. And the breakfast they served - it was the cherry on top. The fresh quiche and croissants were absolutely addictive and delicious. The room itself was clean and comfortable. We enjoyed our stay here.

When we arrived for the reservation we made at the Shay House (months in advance) we were turned away. We were given no advance notice. The host was unapologetic and offered no assistance in finding another accommodation. Thankfully the Victorian Inn down the street had a vacancy. The room was beautiful, the dinner in the restaurant was amazing. The morning breakfast to go was full of quality, healthy treats. We enjoyed our stay at the Victorian Inn, they were so welcoming and helpful!

We were greeted by a nice gal named Maggie when we arrived. She checked us in and showed me the room which was on the 2nd floor. Now the house is really really old so maybe that explains the really tight staircase. Make sure you are ok with navigating some narrow steps. The walls are a little thin. We could hear the people in the adjoining room in their bathroom so we were a little concerned that there would be noise all night. Everyone settled down for the night though and it was really quiet. The bed was great, the sheets were clean, the towels were fluffy. and I liked the shower gel/shampoo and lotion available in the room. The Swiss chard quiche and Canadian bacon served for breakfast were delicious! The coffee was good and strong and they also have fresh fruit, cereal (hot and cold) and muffins and pastries. Very nice breakfast! Overall a nice stay and a very cute town!

We just spent two wonderful nights here. It's the perfect place to stay while in Ferndale!

We were on a road trip up the California coast. This was the best B&B we slept in, hands down. The atmosphere was spot on, the owner was super nice, the town is lovely and the room was excellent. as good as it gets (slept there for 2 nights 2 adults and a baby)

Overall great experience! We stayed in the room that's in the back on the left. So you go through the doors to 'go to the back porch' and you'll see a door on the left. It's still attached to the house but kinda private so it was nice! We got here in the late afternoon and was greeted by a nice woman who gave us a nice tour of the home. It was very chilly in the house and in our room but overall it was okay. Nice shower and comfy bed. Breakfast is like all the other reviews. Basic cereals, banana pudding bread, fruit. This was fine with me. I would have loved some eggs though! So if you are looking for a fancier inn experience maybe skip this one. :)

Let me just say, its a definite gem!! It took me back to my childhood growing up. Old school victorian home with a lot of charm. The service was awesome! Thank you so much for everything. Breakfast was on point as well!!

First stay at a Bed and Breakfast. The concept has never appealed to me. I envisioned sharing a bathroom and eating with strangers in close quarters. Stayed one night and enjoyed it. Private bathroom - 4 steps down the hall from our room - and a casual, tasty, enjoyable breakfast. Quality of the ingredients and fruit shined. Nice chat too. Not the least bit uncomfortable. In fact, just before we arrived at breakfast there had been a marriage proposal in the little nook off the breakfast room. All around pleasant experience. The only negative was the awesome claw foot tub with a shower attachment. It was slippery. Enough to mention here. If you are young with the balance and muscular feet of a surfer with which to grab onto what's under you you'd probably not notice. I did. Had to grip the shower plumbing with one hand to wash my feet with the other, then hold the edge of the tub when getting out. The pictures here are accurate. If anything, the place was nicer than the pictures. All was fully in bloom (everywhere!) due to season and way above average rainfall. Beautiful.

What a fantastic gem! The Inn is beautiful and in good condition. Breakfast was delicious, and the tea selection was impressive.

I am glad I did not read the yelp reviews before I booked this place, as we did not have the type of experience as others did before us. It is apparent that the innkeeper took the previous reviews into consideration and made some changes, although eeek, some of the things we ran into are obviously on-going issues she should address. This is a dog-friendly inn, though dogs are not allowed in the lobby or library. (That's fine, he doesn't read anyway.) The dining room had homemade white chocolate cranberry cookies and about 50 different flavors of tea. I went crazy trying tea! The view out the window was of a dead garden, as someone else mentioned, but it was also forty degrees and overcast. It's a wonder anything other than moss even grows up there so kudos to the innkeeper for trying. There is a lovely gazebo for picture taking, however. The house is gorgeous, and decorated in Victorian/Edwardian style. (As the website describes in detail. How could anyone who booked this inn be surprised by the decor? If you can book a room online, you must be literate. Ferndale is called "The Victorian City" for a reason.) We arrived shortly after 4pm, and knocked on the door. The innkeeper greeted us, charged our card, gave us a tour and then told us she would not be bothering us so we would have all the privacy we needed, but if we needed her for anything we could find her in the main house. When she took us to the room, she taught us how to use the thermostat, and the TV (which it only works for DVDs, and they could be found back in the library), and also how to work the door. We were in the Isabella room, which was a one room/one bath off in the back with a sliding door and patio. The sliding door apparently had a new lock being put on it, so she had a padlock for us to put on while we were out having dinner, and when we were inside, we had a wooden plank to put in the track. She said a "new lock was being put in soon", but according to a reviewer who stayed in the Isabella room a year ago, the room was being secured with a big stick, so don't count on this being fixed "soon". We didn't mind the lock situation seeing as we have a guard dog, but if the thought of a stick being the only thing between you and the world bothers you, don't book the Isabella room. The room itself was nice. Comfy bed, matching decor, skylight and stained glass window. It warmed up quickly, too. There were chocolates for us and a few dog treats for Xander on the nightstand. The bathroom sports a claw tub, with a huge showerhead. The clock was a vintage looking bell clock, and it would gently ring every so often even though it wasn't set, so I took the battery out so we could sleep peacefully. We had dinner in the city at the VI with a friend of ours who lives in town. The quail was amazing. For dessert we had homemade ice cream: one scoop peanut butter banana and one scoop dark chocolate orange. We got back to the hotel shortly after ten, and it was peaceful and quiet, despite three other rooms being booked. Breakfast was awesome. A HUGE french pancake (which is almost like angel food cake, but dense) with a homemade raspberry butter sauce, fresh berries, apple maple sausage being kept warm on a warmer, and tea, tea, tea! There was also yogurt, bread and a toaster, bananas, and cereal. Innkeeper was no where to be found, but seeing as we were not looking for her, I consider that a good sign. I don't want an innkeeper breathing down my neck when I'm trying to relax and spend some time with the husband. Overall, I was very pleased with our stay. The price was right, we were able to travel with our dog, and breakfast was nom-worthy. We will definitely stay here again.

Very well-kept Victorian home, circa 1854, with generous lodgings. Even the smallest room, the Wisteria, was as large as a modern bedroom and had a small balcony to look at the stars and enjoy the cool air. The breakfast was delicious, with home-made bread pudding with raspberries, as well as fresh fruit and other selections. A welcome respite after a long day of driving. Ferndale itself is the home of the "gingerbread victorians," so be sure and take a walking tour. Ferndale is also the gateway to Petrolia, Shelter Cove and the Lost Coast, so if you have the time, be sure and take the long way back!

This Inn has fabulous architecture, but the rest of it leaves much to be desired. We stayed in the Shaw Suite with a great claw foot tub and bathroom and that was the best part of the whole experience. The mattress was so broken down and lumpy, I must have woken up a dozen times thinking I was falling into a ravine (which was really just the center of the caved-in bed). Then they had this weird kind of fake fireplace that we could not turn off so all night it shined yellow and red with cellophane flames waving inside it while making an annoying crinkling sound. So strange it would have been funny if it wasn't so irritating all through the night. After such little sleep, we went down for breakfast where some fruit, small yogurt containers, granola and an egg dish were on the sideboard. The inn keepers did not bother to show themselves so we all kind of figured out how to make the tea, etc. But at least they had cream out by then. The night before and in the early morning they only had small packets of French Vanilla flavored cream....really terrible for anyone who enjoys tea! And the "afternoon tea and cookies," well a few packaged cookies were on a plate, but the tea was up to you. We never saw any wine that we were told was available in the evening. We enjoyed Ferndale but will look for another inn if we go back.

You have to REALLY like Victorian to like this place. It's...not relaxing--there's a lot of stuff in it...victorian stuff and doilies.... When we arrived, we were asked to pay immediately, before even seeing our room, which seemed highly unusual. After, we were taken on a tour of the house. The website had promised a charming afternoon tea, but the one one type of cookies for afternoon tea looked like it came from a package. There were a lot of kinds of tea though. The amenities in the room were sparse. The door didn't lock and she suggested we put a pole up to secure the door. Didn't feel unsafe, but it was weird. The linens smelled freshly washed, which was nice. We had been looking forward to relaxing in the award-winning garden, but we found everything to be dead, and cobwebs (and the scary spiders that had built them) were everywhere. After were we dropped off in our room, that was the last we saw of our innkeeper. In the morning, the dining room was eerily empty, and the "scrumptious breakfast buffet" that had been promised was laid out--Cherrios, Yoplait yogurt, instant oatmeal, not yet ripe bananas, and, thankfully, a bowl of fresh berries. We left with no one to say goodbye to, starving. I guess we just had really high expectations after looking at the website and reading the two other Yelp reviews, so we were disappointed when we were hit with the reality.

When unpleasent surprises emerge, Paula has no flexibility or empathy to offer. Not recommending.

We stayed at Shaw House over the NYE holiday and had a wonderful time. The house is cozy and quaint, and Paula the manager made us feel quite at home. We took the smallest room---the nanny's room---which was very inexpensive though that's probably partly because the bathroom is down the hall. During our four-night stay, we shared the upstairs of the house (four rooms total) with other guests for only one night, so having a bathroom down the hall was a bonus rather than a problem. The room was indeed small, but on vacations we don't spend tons of time in our room anyway, so we don't care. We had no problem fitting our overnight bags, and we weren't bumping into each other or hitting our heads or anything. We spent A LOT of time downstairs in the super comfortable library, drinking tea, hot chocolate and wine that Paula left out in the dining room. She has the fireplace ready to go---we needed only to light a match and we had a lovely roaring fire each evening. There are lots of books and games, too. The grounds were bare because it's winter, but it's still fabulous to sit in the warm library or living room and look out. The Christmas tree was still up, and since the whole town feels like a model-train town anyway, that seemed just right. The decor is a souped-up version of what we found when we lived in England and stayed in B&Bs there: lots of flower wallpaper, overstuffed furniture, ornate dishes. It's the kind of decor that fun for a while but you wouldn't want at home----perfect for vacation. The hot breakfast was tasty and filling: one day an omelet, the next some kind of fluffy pancake. Plus she has muesli, cereal, yogurt, fruit and juice. My only complaint was that we didn't find a great range of books for hiking in the area, but maybe not that many people are interested in hiking. Also, it would be good to know about nearby alternatives for dinner. From what we could see, Ferndale has a small pizzeria and two higher-end restaurants. I would have liked some recommendations farther afield with a range in price and menu.

I took my gf here for an overnight surprise trip. We were delighted with Our experience. Despite the rainy weather, we made the most of it. The house has awesome architecture and the innkeeper was really nice. She gave us a tour of the home and explained tea and library and breakfast Options for the morning. There were other couples there to speak with During the evening and morning. Room had a very soft comftorable bed And a skylight and stained glass window. Really enjoyable highly recomended.

We stayed here one night. The room was really small and we were disappointed that tv wasn't an option. We had stayed at the Scotia Inn the night before and enjoyed it much more. People were friendlier and the food at the pub was amazing.

We stayed at the Shaw House for 4 nights in mid October. Our room was the Isabella and it was clean and comfortable. Our room had a private entrance and small porch overlooking the garden. We had a very relaxing time. I really enjoyed the garden surroundings and the quietness of the Inn. The innkeeper was very nice and helpful. Breakfast was simple but good and there was plenty of fresh fruit and some yummy baked goods each day. We had an enjoyable time in Ferndale at the Shaw House and I hope to return some day.

Lovely old home with beautiful rooms and a nice breakfast. However, it is NOT ADA compliant in any way; only bathrooms are in the room you rent and ours was up a very steep, narrow set of stairs. If I weren't mobility-impaired, it would have been a better experience.

I'm afraid we did not like this B & B at all. Yes, it is an amazingly authentic Victorian house in an interesting small town. However, there were many faults. On arrival we were met by a young woman quite pleasant, who showed us to our room up a very steep flight of stairs. My husband and I are in our late 60's but she did not offer to help us with our bags, a gesture of common courtesy one would think. The bedroom was cluttered and there were no curtains to keep out the light in the morning. We had been told that the bed would be king size but was actually queen size. Next morning there was no sign of any staff to greet us or explain the breakfast arrangements. Everyone was expected to sit round a large lace-decked table and help themselves. The breakfast itself was very poor: a very limited selection of fruit, 2 kinds of cereal and, extraordinarily, bread and butter pudding! No eggs, bacon or hot, cooked meal. No bread, toast or, indeed anything savoury. When we left there was nobody to say goodbye - they had been keen enough to take our money on arrival - an eye-watering $226 for the two of us! We did not feel this represented value for money in any way and would certainly not recommend it.

We had a nice room that we were allowed to share with our dog. We stayed for three night and everything in Ferndale was within walking distance. It was very clean and relaxing.

My husband and I went to red woods the day after thanksgiving and stayed at the Shaw House Inn. We are both of a European heritage, we totally fell in love with that Victorian place!. Everything was spotless clean, service was excellent! Amazing breakfast, really liked having our own thermostat control in the room. The location and the relaxing spirit of this home took our minds off work and plain daily life. The Inn keeper is very nice and attentive and runs a great business. We left very happy. Thank you, Paula!

Our stay at the Shaw House was very nice. The Home beautiful and kept up wonderfully. Our room had a great little balcony to sit on with a private bath for our usage. The innkeeper Paula was friendly. Our stay was quite relaxing and just what we wanted it to be. I would stay here again.

Our wedding was perfect. I love my new husband so much, our wedding day at the Shaw House was everything I had dreamed of. Our day with you was romantic, beautiful, exquisite. I want to tell the world!! Thank You!!!

Disappointed. Not worth the cost ($155.00 + taxes). Hot dishes at 2 breakfasts were good, but didn't overcome disappointment or inflated prices. Dark, spartan. No wine or social event in pm. NO person/hostess at all at 2 breakfasts. Those of us traveling alone go to inns for conversation and company..... In particular while reserving this room, I sought a shower which was NOT in a clawfoot tub. Online, some rooms said: "Betty's Room - Upstairs In-room clawfoot tub/shower in attached sky-lit bath." The room I chose said: "Brookside Room - Queen Clawfoot Tub & Shower." So, I assumed my room would have a tub AND a shower, not a tub/shower combo like Betty's Room. But, NO - it was an old clawfoot tub which is difficult for me to climb into. Plus, one must then FIGHT the shower curtain while both balancing AND avoiding the hanging "thingy" with 3 metal baskets in which to put one's stuff (soap, shampoo, etc.). Upon arrival, when I pointed this description discrepancy out to the employee, she showed me another room with a separate shower, but wanted to charge $40+ more. At my prompting, she asked her "boss" if I could have the other room at the same (lower) price since I think the online description was deceptive, but the "boss" said no - even though only 3 of the 8 rooms seemed to be occupied.... That night, a hand-written sign on the wall by the room's only source of heat (an electric "stove") said controls were on the BACK of it - but even after pulling it out from the wall, the 3 buttons were in the dark as well as upside down (to my head) and had no indication of WHICH to push to operate. Plus, a plastic bag (garbage) was found on the floor there. Had they charged only $50-$75 dollars/night, I would not be complaining; but at $155/night + tax, I expect a LOT more. I do NOT recommend this inn.

I booked 2 rooms to accomodate 2 parties of Harley-Davidson riders with their wives. It was necessary to cancel one of the reserved rooms 24 hours prior to our arrival due to the other rider's sudden illness. I was aware of the cancellation policy (no refund if cancellation within 5 days). That evening I learned that the innkeeper was able to rent the room to another couple at the regular price (we had dinner with that couple). I took the innkeeper aside and asked whether my credit card would be refunded the cost of one room as the room did rent and the inn was not out any revenue. I was told: "that's not our policy". I asked whether their policy was to obtain double payment on one room. After considerable discussion, I was told "I will think about it". Well, she may have thought about it but I was charged just the same!! I told the innkeeper that this would definitely prevent me from ever returning. She responded with: "I thought it would!" NICE!!!!!

I am only giving one star because I can't give 0 which is what I would rate our experience. We arrived around 3:30, found the door open and walked in. No one was around nor was there any information on how to find the innkeeper, so my date called the Inn. He explained that we were in the lobby and wanted to check in, the Innkeeper told him that he had woke her up and wanted to know how we had gotten in. She then came to the office area and rudely reminded us that she had sent an email stating what the check in hours were. I think we were about 20 minutes early. I guess the gentleman that showed up 10 mins. later didn't adhere to her wishes either! The room was no big deal, small, stark, uninviting,NO CHARM, just like the innkeeper. There were stale New York Patties on the desk. Later in the day there were stale crackers and cheap wine left out. The next morning for breakfast there was dry cereal, stale pastries and I think some fruit. We didn't stay, went into town and had a NICE breakfast. Never did see the Innkeeper after we checked in.