Old Brick Inn
401 S. Talbot St.
St. Michael’s, Md.
410.745-3323
http://www.oldbrickinn.com

I’ve been married more than 15 years, but when my husband and I checked into the Old Brick Inn’s sprawling Chesapeake Suite, we felt like someone must have thought it was our wedding night. A fire roared in the room’s gas fireplace, silk flowers bloomed in the sleeping area and in the bath, and a wine bucket and cut crystal glasses awaited bottles of vino that could be ordered from the front desk. Between the creamy, oversized French Regency-style king bed piled high with pillows and turned down for the night to the enormous whirlpool bath built for two, an evening of romance seemed more than just a suggestion.

The next morning innkeeper Melissa Godfrey told me that not only is the Chesapeake the largest of the inn’s 20 rooms, spread across three separate buildings, it’s the one most often used for honeymoons. (And, in our case, unplanned second honeymoons.)

Innkeepers Although the faces of the inn belong to innkeepers Godfrey, Barbara Focht, and Linda Prince, who do everything from book rooms and cook breakfasts to make restaurant recommendations, the inn is owned by business partners George Wilson and Barbara Svenson.

Wilson, who lives in Charles County, is a hands-on owner, however, and makes regular visits to the inn to meet with his staff, and encourages them to periodically stay in one of the inn’s rooms to make sure they know what the guest experience is like and how it could be improved. “I want the Old Brick Inn to offer in-town elegance,” says Wilson of his centrally located inn. “My mission
is to provide people with an experience, not just a night’s lodging.”

The Rooms With so many different rooms to choose from, the Old Brick Inn offers a little something for everyone. Fans of the Renaissance Festival will appreciate the Lady Guinevere Room with its full-size suit of armor (and no, you can’t try it on) in the modern Carriage House, while folks who treasure the old-fashioned coziness of dormer windows and sloping ceilings will find comfort in the pretty, pale green Elizabeth’s Rose Garden Room in the Main House. But my favorite rooms are in the historic Kemp House, built in 1807 and a few blocks from the Main House. The elegant Silk Blossom Room boasts an original brick floor, and the tropical Bird of Paradise Cottage has its own private patio. The textiles and linens in each room are changed seasonally, so the rooms may look different over multiple visits.

Special Touches/diversions Located right on Talbot Street, St. Michaels’ main drag, the inn’s location is perfect for taking in the town’s shops and restaurants. Many rooms have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs (often built for two), and the Talbot Room in the Carriage House includes a front and back balcony, as well as a kitchenette. Free wi-fi is available throughout the inn, even in the pool area. And if pampering is your thing, the inn will also schedule in-room massages for guests.

What’s for breakfast Along with a choice of cereals and sweet breads, breakfasts may include ample plates of lemon ricotta soufflé with fruit sauce, bacon, and roasted sweet potatoes, served in the inn’s Victorian-styled dining room   of small tables set with lace cloths and small flower centerpieces.

Romance Factor A Jacuzzi or massage for two is always better than for just one.

Cost $99-$300, depending on room and season.

Mary K. Zajac was married in Baltimore.