"outstanding B & B close to home..." |
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User Rating: 5.0 |
| Reviewer: Mara B. of Fort Worth, United States |
Reviewed: September 27, 2015 (see hostel reviews from Bedbreakfasttraveler.com) |
Traveled: September 2015 Type: Honeymoon/Romance |
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Comments (English): This is NOT your average rodeo, Texas. When we decided to get away to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the day we met, we looked at all the usual spots downtown that we haunt and some other bed and breakfasts. Then we found the Old Irish Bed and Breakfast in Denton and were immediately drawn to it. An Irish Bed and Breakfast with catch and release fishing on an Alpaca Farm with breakfast in bed? With a private hot tub? Surrounded by nature, geese and dogs? Without the kids? Sold! But it was so much more than that. Words come to mind like “oasis,” “retreat,” “serene,” “decadent,” and “rustic.” Owners Jim and Rita created a world within a world where you decide how much interaction you want with others. You enjoy both their nature and their nurture. You can gaze upon Alpacas from a distance or get right in there with them and let them eat out of your hand (so worth it!). Jim loves to flaunt his Irish jokes and he is as free with them as he was with the shots of Irish whiskey we had in the evening in the beer garden (yes, beer garden) that is right on the property. But push past the jokes, and you meet an intelligent guy with a creative flair that can hold his own on just about any topic you come up with. Our cottage, the Carenna, was snug and cozy with an incredible mattress on our four poster bed, an attached private side porch and a private hot tub. Irish and natural touches abound, coffee is right in the room (and its GOOD coffee) and Alpaca shaped spearmint soap engaged the senses during a hot shower. We got up early (we have young children, it was inevitable, even without them being there) and I took a relaxing soak in the hot tub while my husband caught four catfish that ranged from 8-15 pounds on the dock. Did I mention breakfast in bed? Or on the porch? Or anywhere you want to have it? I am a vegetarian. My husband is not. Our gorgeous wooden breakfast trays arrived looking exactly the same. Forget about a guest being a vegetarian? Ar ndóigh, ní ! “Of course not!” Soy bacon and sausage for me, meat version for my husband, with scrambled eggs, Irish breakfast potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, special banana (amazing), cherry pastry and, since its Fall, petit pumpkin cakes in an incredible icing with streusel on top. And orange juice. And, of course, that coffee.
Next up, the Alpaca experience. We heard about the evolution of the alpaca while sitting at a picnic table next to a fenced off area where Valentino, the alpaca that kisses the ladies on the cheek (it’s a nice, soft, dry kiss) eyed us. Then we got right into the fenced off areas where these beauties ate directly out of our cupped hands. We did it again with the babies. Their tongues swept our palms and then the babies decided we should cuddle. Maybe they knew it was our anniversary.
Check out was scheduled for eleven but flexible until noon. Thus, the only part of the stay that was not perfect. We only stayed for one night! It was no one’s fault but ours. Next time, and there will certainly be a next time, it will be longer.
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