When staying at a hotel, inn or bed and breakfast, you expect standard hospitality and a cosy bed to sleep in whilst traveling. You might even expect a certain brand of toiletries and a plush bathrobe. Rarely, however, do you stumble upon a place that welcomes you so warmly that you feel as if you've lived there for ages. In this case, that place would be the Victoria Rose Inn in Gananoque, Ontario.

Driving up the driveway to the inn, my breath was taken away by the gorgeous Victorian house that stood before me. As I stepped foot inside, I was drawn to all the small details that made me instantly fall in love - a stand in the foyer with Burberry plaid umbrellas, a sparkling chandelier in the front hallway, and unique flower arrangements throughout the main floor (which I later found out were arranged by the innkeeper herself).

Every corner of the inn was a treasure, from the wall colour that had been matched to the structure's original hue to the wood burning fireplaces in the guest rooms. Innkeepers Susanne Richter and Bernie Latremouille bought the inn back in 2005 and did a complete reno. The 12  guest rooms were given fresh coats of paint, the upstairs carpets were ripped up and replaced and the rooms received new bathrooms. Susanne designed the place herself, with clutter-free spaces and comfortable furniture that blended well with the traditional architecture (the room I stayed in had a clean-lined four poster bed and lovely white linens).

What impressed me the most, however, were the history walls that Susanne created, documenting each of the eight families that previously owned the building as a personal residence. Totally fascinating and incredibly detailed, the history walls are just one of the many unique details of the Victoria Rose Inn that give guests an experience they're unable to find elsewhere.

 

Although the high season for the Inn is during the summer months (Gananoque comes alive with visitors), I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the autumn. The Inn's gardens were gorgeous and colourful with the fallen leaves and nighttime was cosy with the woodburning fireplace in my bedroom.

Whether you plan your visit in the summer or fall, here are some things to take note of:

• Innkeeper Susanne Richter is a wealth of information -- if you see her buzzing around during your stay, get recommendations on the area.
• The Inn has 12 guest rooms (all unique) ranging in price from $155 to $265 per night.
• The Inn closes up for the winter months and opens again in May -- book in advance as rooms fill up quickly with visitors traveling around the 1000 Islands.
• Although the Inn doesn't serve lunch or dinner, guests are welcome to a yummy breakfast and 24 hour coffee and tea (when I visited, breakfast was fresh fruit, soft bread and homemade frittata).
• Free WiFi is available in all rooms, but if you'd rather disconnect from the world, curl up with a book in the sunroom or the front veranda.

The extras
Every hotel or inn should have characteristics that set it apsrt from the rest, and Susanne and Bernie have done an amazing job of making the Inn a unique guest experience. Here are a few special details the Victoria Rose Inn has to offer.

• When the couple bought the inn back in 2005, the walls were an 'interesting' shade of rose. Susanne researched the original wall colour of the structure and got the living areas colour-matched. What a fabulous way to maintain the history!
• The sun porch overlooking the back garden was designed specifically to reflect the decor style that Bernie and Susanne have come to love after family vacations in Key West -- relaxed with a subtle tropical feel.
• The common areas of the inn feature original wood floorboards, polished up by Bernie who did most of the renovations himself.
• The eight history walls throughout the Inn feature vignettes of framed documents -- photos, newspaper clippings, handwritten letters -- from each of the families that have resided in the Inn before it was a hospitality establishment. It's truly fascinating to follow the chronological lifeline of the Inn and Susanne suggests it's something you can do in your own home (perhaps vignettes for each member of your family).

For more information on the Victoria Rose Inn and to make reservations, call (613) 382-3368 or visit victoriaroseinn.com.