Ivy League Road Trip via Bed and Breakfast Inns, Part II

ILoveInns.com Goes Back to School

We at iloveinns.com invite you to take a road trip with your prospective college student to explore the differences between each Ivy League university before applications are due this winter. To keep you from becoming road weary, we found some delightful bed and breakfast inns in each college town you’ll be visiting.

To make the college tour realistic and more fun for the entire family we’ve divided the tour into two parts. Part I features bed and breakfasts and the universities further south, including Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Brown in Providence, Rhode Island; Yale in New Haven, Connecticut; and University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Part II includes B&B lodging nearby the colleges in New York and further north: Columbia in New York City, New York; Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey; Cornell in Ithaca, New York; and Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire.

While every Ivy League university shares the same world-renown reputation, each school actually has quite a different feeling and focus, depending on its history, location, and teaching staff. Harvard, for instance, has always had an exceptional program for law and business, while Yale’s more progressive bent has fostered a competitive and rigorous fine arts program. 

Here are just a few of the B&Bs and country inns for the universities in the second part of this college road trip:

COLUMBIA: In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen
What a fantastic excuse to visit the Big Apple! The NY Gisele B & B is only three blocks north of the main Morningside campus of Columbia, and only four subway stops from Times Square. Located in historic Harlem, the rooms are affordable ($85-$115), leaving you with plenty leftover to catch your favorite show on Broadway (don’t forget that you can get half-price tickets at the TKTS booth).

Or if you prefer, the bed and breakfast Ivy Terrace is located in the heart of Manhattan by Central Park. Each of the six suites feature old world furnishings with modern conveniences and private bathrooms. You’ll have access to a fully equipped  kitchen should you decide to stretch the trip a little longer to explore the city. But don’t forget your real purpose for being in NYC. Receiving over 45,000 guests a year, Columbia has a well-established visitor’s center, which offers not just general campus tours every weekday at 1 pm (no reservations necessary), but also information sessions, student sessions, engineering tours, and with advance notice, special tours for the middle school student.

PRINCETON: Dei sub numine viget
Don’t miss your chance to stay at the Inn at Glencairn while visiting Princeton. At this meticulously renovated 1736 manor, you can expect a gourmet breakfast with fresh produce from local and organic farms, Frette bathrobes, featherbeds with Egyptian cotton linens, and complimentary seasonal treats and beverages throughout the day. Utmost attention is paid to every detail; even all the laundry and cleaning is done with Seventh Generation Free and Clear products–a plus for those sensitive to fragrances or chemicals.

Dating back to 1775, The Peacock Inn is equally historic and names each of its seventeen rooms after a previous owner. Noted for relaxing, comfortable accommodations, this bed and breakfast also boasts an excellent French restaurant, Le Plumet Royal, on the main floor. When you’re ready to get down to business, the student-run Orange Key guide service provides free one-hour tours of the Princeton campus year-round.

CORNELL: “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” –Ezra Cornell
One of the delightful benefits of having a student attend Cornell is visiting the lush greenness of the Finger Lakes region. The Federal House B & B is center to it all, and within easy reach of waterfront hiking or fishing (on the Salmon River!). If your tastes run a bit more high-brow, try the local wine-tasting and golfing. The inn itself is steeped in tradition with fireplaces reportedly hand-carved by Brigham Young as a young woodworking apprentice.

Only two miles from Cornell University, the Stone Quarry House offers an elegant and restful retreat in the busy fall season. No fussy décor here; just the simple lines of Amish and Stickley wood furniture accenting natural wood flooring throughout. The emphasis on natural beauty flows right on through the front door with access to a lovely meadow and spring-fed pond–perfect for an invigorating morning dip!

DARTMOUTH: Vox clamantis in deserto
When you visit Dartmouth, you’ll want to take a break and enjoy the New England countryside. Breakfast on the Connecticut is a modern inn on 23 wooded acres, yet still only minutes away from the university. Feel free to borrow one of the inn’s kayaks or canoes to cruise on the lazy river, or depending on the season, go hiking or skiing when you’re finished exploring the campus. Massages are available on the premises.

If you prefer a more historic bed and breakfast, The Dowd’s Country Inn may be more your style. The main house was built in 1780 as a private home and still boasts many of its original charming features, such as original trim and doors, and wide-plank flooring. Furthermore, this inn takes hospitality seriously with an on-site chef who cooks made-to-order breakfasts every morning, like country waffles smothered in local maple syrup.