Willoughvale Inn

We stayed in the Gov. Aiken Suite, a huge, immaculate room with its own deck looking over the lake. The bed had just the right firmness, with plenty of pillows to get comfortable. There’s also a very large jacuzzi tub in the bedroom, though we didn’t use it. The little kitchen and bathroom had what we needed, including a coffeemaker, sink, small refrigerator, and lots of closet space. The shower pressure was good, and the temperature display on the controls was impressive. We arrived before check-in and went in to ask if an early check-in might be possible. That’s when we learned the Inn had been without power since morning, and the power company expected it back by early evening. There were no emergency generators, so the Inn was waiting on the utility. It didn’t faze us, since we like an adventure. They moved us to a first-floor suite near the sitting room, where a gas fireplace kept the whole floor toasty. After getting provisions, we read beside the fire while we waited. Power came back later that evening, but we were comfortable enough that we barely noticed. The next morning, continental breakfast was served in a small dining room overlooking the lake. The week before, they’d emailed to ask about our breakfast preferences. I love those little personal touches. The Inn is charming, and we hope to rent one of the cottages right on the lake next time.

We had a lovely stay and will probably return. The Weathervane Room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, but breakfast was disappointing. B&Bs don’t seem to make fresh food for guests these days. We would have been better off bringing store-bought muffins.

The lake was a highlight. Guests can use the kayaks and canoes, and we paddled across the water during our trip. We can’t wait to return. The owner went out of his way to make us welcome, and the staff were great too. Our room was clean and smelled wonderful. After talking with the owner, I understood why the Frost Tavern is closed for now: he’s an incredible cook with high standards, and it’s hard to find kitchen staff at that level out in the boonies. He still puts together a wonderful continental breakfast, with pastries. It was as good as any I’ve had in downtown Boston. I hope he finds cooks who can match his standards and reopen the Tavern. Meanwhile, there are restaurants in the area. We had a wonderful stay Aug 4-6.

We booked the Governor room on the second floor for its beautiful lake views, but the AC wasn’t working. The staff apologized and, since they were full that night, moved us to a better room the following day. The Weathervane room is the one to reserve: it has a roomy sitting area, a two-person hot tub, a decent bathroom, a big bedroom, and a small pantry. The rooms were clean, and the very friendly staff went out of their way to meet our requests. It’s a great waterside place to stay in the area. Guests can use kayaks, and the cottages right on the water have private docks. Continental breakfast had lots of choices. We’ll be back.