Step into Serenity at Gainesville’s Laurel Oak Inn

Almost as much its beauty, the scents of the gracious 1885 house strike you upon walking in. The smell of breakfast baking and coffee perking in the kitchen, the warm undertone of polish and wax that keeps the place gleaming, and, upstairs, the bath salts and soaps awaiting you after a day spent exploring the city and its surroundings. That’s what you’ll find at the Laurel Oak Inn in Gainesville’s historic bed and breakfast district.

Ask owners Monta and Peggy Burt to tell you the saga of renovating the house, bringing it from a college flophouse to its current splendor. Once you’ve had an intro into the area’s history, ask them about the horse-drawn carriage rides they can arrange for guests: It’s a period-perfect way to see more of downtown’s Victorian architecture.

If you’re searching for a gift idea, Laurel Oak offers gift certificates for $50 or more and will send them directly to the recipient if you wish. If someone on your list has been very, very good, a stay at Laurel Oak is the ideal reward.