March 2006 – By BONNIE TROXELL – Special to Home & Garden, The Daily Times
“It is definitely a labor of love on the owner’s part,” said Cindy Curran, innkeeper and manager of the Whitehaven Hotel, which features the combined architectural styles of the Federal, Second Empire and Victorian periods. Southwest of Salisbury, it’s just a 25-minute drive along scenic roads to reach the restored hotel.
This has become a favorite place to stay. This B&B is historic, well run, and offers great views of the Wicomoco River on the Eastern Shore. It is next to the oldest continuously operating ferry in the US.
A friend and I wanted to do something special to celebrate her 60th birthday. It was a lovely place, nestled right on the banks of the Wicomico River. Cindy, the inn keeper was very courteous.
Whitehaven is the most beautiful town on the eastern shore. The Whitehaven Hotel is its centerpiece. A must see. Great weekend!!!
Very unique property located right at the ferry that crosses the Wicomico River. Caretaker made an excellent breakfast and was enjoyable to talk to. Be aware that this is several miles from “civilization”.
Charming and idylic
We arrived late and Cindy, the Innkeeper, was still there visiting with two other guests. We all sat in the living room, enjoyed a glass of wine, and chatted like old friends. There is a free ferry across from the Inn, along the river that feeds into the Chesapeake Bay. We talked to the ferry operator about the history of the ferry. He even offered to take us across the river simply to take photos. Cindy told us that if we take this ferry, we could cut about 40 minutes off our drive when we head out the next day. In the morning we were greeted with a fabulous home-made breakfast and more warm conversation. After checkout, we thanked Cindy, said good-bye to all our new friends and got in line for the ferry (which only takes 3 cars per trip). The same operator was there in the morning and greeted us with a huge hello. The setting of Whitehaven Hotel is quite beautiful and quaint. Our only complaint is that we were only staying one night. Would definitely stay here again.
A real gem on the riverside
We stayed in this beautiful historic hotel for five nights in July this year and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. The Victorian Room was beautifully furnished and had a lovely view of the river.
Cindy was an excellent host and prepared a delicious breakfast everyday. We enjoyed a cup of coffee on the porch every morning before breakfast, and it was so quiet and peaceful. Thank you Cindy for making our stay so special.
Within minutes of arrival off the ferry we wished we’d booked more than one night. The stunning location, the comfortable room, the warm welcome and the wine and nibbles supplied, told us straight away that this was going to be one of the highlights of our three week trip.
On the owners recommendation we dined at the nearby Red Roost Crab Shack and then returned to spend a peaceful evening sitting in the porch with the other guests watching Ospreys on a nest just a few feet away. A comfortable night’s sleep and a wonderful breakfast meant we were reluctant to leave. Exactly what a rural B and B should be – highly recommended.
So beautiful and QUIET!
If you want to get off the beaten path, the Whitehaven Hotel is the place to do it. I can’t tell you how quiet it is there…the grounds are spectacular, with beautiful flowers…dragon flies and little bunnies everywhere. The osprey nest out front is amazing. You don’t have to do anything or go anywhere to just chill out here. The breakfast is amazing and Cindy makes sure there are snacks, wine, and goodies 24/7 for your enjoyment!
A wonderful step back in time
A beautifully restored historic hotel on the banks of the Wicomico River furnished with antiques. This is the place to go for a peaceful, quiet and relaxing getaway. We stayed in the Victorian Bedroom with a panoramic view of the river and a working fireplace. The Whitehaven Ferry, circa 1687, docks right in front of the hotel. Cindy the innkeeper was an excellent host and also prepared a delicious gourmet breakfast for us. We enjoyed chatting with Cindy about the history of the hotel and the village. Thank you Cindy for our enjoyable stay.
We have been coming here for six years and Cindy, the innkeeper, makes it all worthwhile! She is absolutely the best and the reason we keep returning. Room, service, location all are outstanding. GO,GO,GO!!!! !
This was my second stay and just as wonderful as the first one. The historical Inn is stunning, furnished in period style, situated in a great location right on the bank of Wicomico River. The lovely innkeeper Cindy was as gracious and elegant as I remembered. This is a magical place, an easy drive from many attractions or a perfect place to kick back and relax.
What a great way to relax. The inn keeper is awesome, the home cooked breakfast is always spot on, and the hotel is tastefully decorated. The complimentary wine and cookies and such that are served every evening are another small reason why this place is a cut above. If you’re looking for thumping music and lots of night life, this is not for you. The town is a whole thirty buildings strong (not as many people) and there really isn’t much to do but relax dockside with a drink or do some kayaking. The history behind the hotel is awesome and if you can enjoy the simple things in life this might be the place for you.
We had a really nice time at the Whitehaven Hotel. 🙂 It was great that we were allowed to bring our dog to stay with us in the Lincoln Room. The manager welcomed him with a handmade dog treat and lots of love. Our room was huge yet cozy. We really enjoyed the wine and cheese happy hour – we sat on the adirondack chairs in the beautiful back garden and watched the ferry go back and forth across the river, and then we sat on the porch swing and watched the sun dance on the water. The clawfoot tub was perfect for a relaxing soak. We fell asleep with the windows open, listening to geese honking and water lapping, and got a very good night’s sleep. Breakfast was delicious (frittata, a piece of apple tart, fresh tomato slices, bacon, coffee and OJ), and afterwards we took the kayaks out to explore a little. Wish we could have stayed longer to explore the store and the other natural areas near the inn.
Everything about this place is great!! It’s the most welcoming place I have ever been to. We will definitely be back and we will absolutely recommend it to everyone on this entire planet.
Beautiful historic hotel and beautiful grounds, great breakfast!
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