A Monticello Gem: The John Denham House Bed and Breakfast

If you love bed and breakfast getaways, here are five reasons to look no further than the John Denham House in Monticello for your next destination. The 1872 Victorian home has been restored to period-appropriate splendor, right down to the colors on the walls. Read on to discover the joys of a stay in this historic home.

1) Owner Pat Inmon doesn’t believe in frozen breakfast casseroles: She prepares everything fresh for you in the morning. Her pancakes, eggs,  sausage and more — often sourced from regional farms — are served piping hot in the grand dining room, which looks out over the landscaped patio.

2) European travelers have discovered what most Americans have overlooked: Monticello is an ideal home base for exploring the Panhandle, with easy access to St. Marks, Tallahassee and Apalachicola. Some even day trip to the east coast, Inmon says. (Inmon gets so many British visitors, she bought a Hot Shot electric kettle for making tea. Her English guests have said it’s the only place in America they’ve found water hot enough for a good cuppa.)

3) The gorgeous grounds surrounding the inn are just as carefully maintained as the rooms. The front porch provides a picture-perfect spot for morning coffee, while the brick terrace and ivy-covered grounds invite guests to take a peaceful stroll or curl up with a book.

4) Bed and breakfast accommodations often follow the frilly-pillow school of design, but the bed chambers at the John Denham house favor clean lines, uncluttered surfaces and soothing colors.

5) I expected the home’s crowning glory, the octagonal cupola, to be purely decorative, or closed to visitors. It’s neither: Guests are welcome to climb the twisting stairs up to a private eyrie with a rocking chair and a 360-degree treetop view. Here’s a video.