White Lilac Inn
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With its tree-lined streets and gracious seashore cottages, Spring Lake is a picturesque village by the sea. “I love it here,” says innkeeper Mari Kennelly. “It’s a unique house with a very interesting history.”
A gentle breeze stirs the lace curtains. The scent of lilacs fills the air. A double whirlpool tub beckons. And chilled champagne awaits the end of a perfect day. The White Lilac Inn is a romantic haven where time can be savored and memories made that will last forever. “I love it here,” says innkeeper Mari Kennelly. “It’s a unique house with a very interesting history.” Nestled in a quiet corner of Spring Lake on the New Jersey shore, the White Lilac Inn was built around 1880 with a distinct Southern accent. Triple-tiered, wraparound porches invite you to linger and enjoy the simpler life of a bygone era. You almost expect to hear the calliope of a riverboat rounding the bend. “The architecture of the house looks like it belongs in New Orleans,” Mari says. “But inside the décor is Victorian.” Just a stone’s throw from Wreck Pond and a few blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, the White Lilac Inn has had mostly women owners and has been known as The Rainbow Cottage, Francis House, Bonnie Brae House and Shamrock Lodge. Among its many visitors was the Ziegfield Girls. “I have every deed and original blueprint for the house,” Mari says. After doing extensive research, including visiting the Smithsonian Institute, Mari has presented programs on the inn’s history. With its tree-lined streets and gracious seashore cottages, Spring Lake is a picturesque village by the sea. After growing up in the area, Mari moved away. But her heart’s strings kept pulling her back. In 1994 she bought the property and lovingly restored it to be opened as the White Lilac Inn in 1995. The adults-only inn offers nine guestrooms with tantalizing names and décor themes related to the past. The White Lilac Suite has a queen size canopy bed, fireside sitting area and double French doors leading to a private second-floor porch. With its romantic reds, The Studio makes everyday a Valentine’s Day. The Room at the Top is a treetop hideaway with sliding glass doors to a private balcony and a view of the pond. Boasting a mahogany sleigh bed, the Mary Chess room features soft tones accented by English cottage charm. Right out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Gatsby’s Getaway transports you back to the Roaring 20s with its Art Deco style. Jessica’s Garden has light and lacey lilac tones and a porch to savor morning coffee. Decorated in gentle hues of champagne and gold, the two-room Victorian Treasure Suite provides a queen-size brass bed and two fireplaces. A special treat for this suite only is a breakfast-delivered-to-your- room option. The Bonnie Brae is a cozy serene room with a queen size bed draped in gentle shades of white. The Vermont Cabin is whimsical and fun, a comfy place to snuggle. Each room has a TV/VCR, private bathroom stocked with amenities, bathrobes, air conditioning and fireplace. Guests can read and relax in the parlor or the library, search nooks and crannies of the secret garden and use beach passes and bicycles for sunny ocean sojourns. The aroma of fresh brewed coffee is a daily wakeup call with a leisurely breakfast served at individual tables in both the breakfast room and on the enclosed porch. The inn’s signature dish is baked peach French toast, with the alluring scent of cinnamon. Savory sausage on the side and fresh seasonal fruits are a great way to start the day. Afternoon tea with snacks is served in the breakfast room. A guest kitchen features coffee, tea and cold drinks at all times. The White Lilac Inn offers special packages and is popular as a place for engagements, honeymoon and anniversaries. A gracious hostess, Mari is particularly knowledgeable about the Jersey shore and helps guests plan their activities. “That is probably one of the things I get the most comments about,” she says. “Because I’m from this area, I know exactly where to send guests for whatever interests them.” Area attractions include antique shopping, aquarium, historical interests, amusement park, horse racing, golf, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, live theater, parks, classical beach concerts, sailing, video arcade, tennis courts and much more, plus that marvelous ocean. Although she has guests from many places, Mari is pleased that so many locals choose to stay at the White Lilac Inn. With very reasonable rates, the inn is a chance to get away without going to the time and expense of flying or driving long distances. As the ultimate compliment, Mari welcomes quite a few first-time bed and breakfast guests. After a stay at the White Lilac Inn, the first-timers fall in love with the whole experience. “It’s a real pleasure to have someone stay here and say to me that they never wanted to go to a B&B but now they can’t wait to do it again,” Mari says. “I love knowing that we’ve helped give someone such wonderful memories.”
White Lilac Inn
| White Lilac Inn
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