Relax & Rejuvenate at the Beacon House Inn

This summer the Beacon House is partnering up with the Salty Dog Yoga and Surf Studio in Carolina Beach to offer our guests yoga classes!

"The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the body and mind."
There are over one hundred styles of yoga that have been developed over the last 1000 years.  Different  poses build core strength, flexibility and help posture.  Meditation concentrates on breathing, relaxation and connecting with ourselves. Whether you are looking for an intense work out or a more meditative approach there is a yoga discipline that will suit your needs.

The Salty Dog has ten different certified instructors who embrace the practice of yoga as a lifestyle and love to share its healing benefits.  If you are interested in testing the waters, "Beginners Yoga" teaches students how to quiet the mind by focusing on posture and breathing.  The "Early Bird Flow" class gets you energized and ready for the day using poses in the Vinyasa practice. The "Awareness Flow" studies alignment and grace using Hatha Yoga.

So, come relax at the beach and enjoy the benefits of a yoga class with our mid-week special all summer long!

Beach and Yoga Summer Mid-Week Special

Book any guest room in our Bed and Breakfast for 2 consecutive nights or more and receive a FREE Yoga Class from our favorite Yoga Studio.  Classes are located at the boardwalk only a short walk up the beach from the Inn.  Valid for check-ins Sunday through Thursday.  Mid week summer rates start at $149 per night + tax. 

This special is valid May 27th – September 2nd 2013.

Please call the Inn and mention this special so we can get you enrolled at the best Yoga Studio on the island.  910.458.6244.

 

Can’t do a mid week stay?  We can still enroll you in a weekend Yoga class for $15 to rejuvenate the body and mind.  Please ask for details.   

Treat Mom to a Beach Escape!

This Mother's Day treat your Mom to a beach escape!  Let the Beacon House Inn help you create a relaxing and memorable experience for her this year.  The perfect Mother's Day package begins with a two night stay at our Bed and Breakfast.  We will have a bouquet of fresh flowers in your room upon arrival.  Choose to add a relaxing massage just upstairs in our on-site massage therapy room, a yoga class that you can share together or even a delicious dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants.  What a wonderful way to pamper Mom and spend time together creating new memories.  Come to the beach this Mother's Day and make her feel truly special. 

While you are in town enjoy an elegant Mother's Day Tea at the Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington.  Take a step back in time as you stroll through the gardens and sip on tea and scones in the parlor of a true antebellum home built on the eve of the Civil War.   The three course tea includes finger sandwiches, scones and desserts.  There will be raffles and giveaways following tea.


The Sun Gallery is hosting the "Love Your Mother" Art Show this Saturday.  You are invited to celebrate the Mother's in your life.  More than a dozen Port City artists will have jewelry, metal and fine art, painting, scarves and photography for sale.  Laugh and shop over coffee and find a unique treasure to take home with you.


A fun Friday night on the town may begin at the Great Gatsby Premier Party at the Towne Tap & Grill.  Starting at 6:00pm on May 10th there will be light appetizers and sweet treats, dinner and drink specials accompanied by Jazz Age music.  Celebrate the roaring 20's in your best Flapper style garb and win a prize for Best Dressed on the red carpet!

Take some time out to share a fun experience with your Mom this weekend.  A  respite at the beach is a fabulous opportunity to do just that!

The Bed and Breakfast Experience

Throughout this adventure of Innkeeping we have had a number of guests whose first Bed and Breakfast experience was with us at the Beacon House Inn.  That gave me pause to think about the differences between accommodations at a traditional hotel versus a B & B.  So, I thought I would share some of those observations; maybe get some of you to walk on the wild side and ditch the cookie cutter motels for something new!

We like to think that staying at our B & B is the next best thing to staying with friends.  We want you to have a personalized visit that leaves you with pleasant memories; already planning your next trip back.  

A B & B is the place to stay for people who want to taste the local culture.  It is a chance to stay in a home that is a reflection of the area.  Many B & B’s are located in residential neighborhoods, each home with its own special charm reminiscent of the era in which it was built.  Our Inn is no different in that respect: we are a beach house built in 1946.

We want our guests to feel right at home with us.  Picture being woken up by the aroma of bacon sizzling in the pan. Pad down to the kitchen in pajamas and slippers for early morning coffee, freshly brewed and waiting for you.  Enjoy your morning beverage while rocking on the porch as your breakfast is being prepared.  We want  you to feel like this is your home, only better because we are doing the work!

We make each meal using the finest ingredients and buy local when we can.  Some of our

offerings include freshly baked banana bread, garden vegetable frittata or spiced apple pancakes.  The nature of the Inn gives us the ability to work with our guests to accommodate any dietary restrictions or preferences.

Interacting with the Innkeepers and other guests is a big part of the Bed and Breakfast experience.  The open dining room encourages group conversation and you never know who you may meet; an author, movie producer, teacher or lawyer.  Just imagine a warm kitchen full of laughter; feeling satisfied after a home cooked breakfast lingering over coffee with new found friends. Lazy afternoons in the living room after a day in the sun may find a tall iced coffee waiting for you or later a pre-dinner wine and cheese social.  Small details that cater toward your comfort and enjoyment plus the chance to meet other curious adventurers are what set B & B's apart.

A stay at a Bed and Breakfast is personal and unique.  It is our sincere hope that when you come and stay at the Beacon House Inn you may arrive as a stranger, but you will leave as a friend.  

Spring Festivals: A great way to spend a weekend at the Beach!

Spring time at the beach is made up of warm breezes and lazy days full of sunshine and beautiful weather.  The azaleas are in full bloom and it is time to stroll about town and experience one of the many upcoming festivals in our area. There are things for everyone to enjoy.

The fun is starting this weekend Saturday April 13th with the Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off,  a day of delicious local food and music around the Lake Park in Carolina Beach.  Taste and vote on the best chowder in the Cape Fear region prepared by some of our favorite chefs.




The town will be hopping with excitement for the annual North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington starting Wednesday April 10th and going on all weekend long through April 14th.  The Azalea Festival is an annual tradition that hosts concerts, parades and a street fair complete with Southern Belle's and garden tours.


It is a great time to make plans now to attend the Cape Fear Street Arts Festival in Carolina Beach on Saturday May 18th.  This free event takes place on Cape Fear Boulevard near the gazebo.  Artistry of all kinds will be on display including visual, culinary and performing!  Dancing, music and art come to the beach!

Spring Festivals, Food and Fun!

We are kicking off spring here at the beach and some of our favorite events are just around the corner. 

Join us March 22nd and 23^rd for the Sun Coast Cruisers Back to the Beach Car Show at the Fort Fisher Air Force recreation area.  The classic car parade cruises down Lake Park Boulevard on Friday night. Saturday afternoon all of the “hot-rods” are on display accompanied by a day full of music, food and art vendors.   Best of all admission is free!

Wilmington is in full bloom each April with the North Carolina Azalea Festival, an annual tradition since 1948. This year the festival takes place from April 10^th through April 14^th and will showcase over fifty different events.  This is truly the best of Wilmington with Southern Belles, concerts, a parade, garden tours and street festivals.  Even the circus comes to town!  The Southeastern Tourism Society has selected the Azalea Festival as one of its top- twenty events.  This is a wonderful time to experience Wilmington at its finest.

 

For all of our “foodie” friends out there the 17^th Annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-off should not be missed.  Come on out April 13^th and vote for your favorite.  Each year area chefs pull out their best recipes and compete for the titles of People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice for the best chowder in the area.  The Cook-Off takes place at the Carolina Beach Lake from 11:30 until 5:00pm.  There will be live music, beer and wine and other refreshments.

As you can see, there are many exciting things in store for you at the beach this Spring.  Come relax, have fun, enjoy some tasty food and hear great music! We will have your room ready at the Beacon House, just give us a call!

It's a Great Weekend for the Beach!

So have you made plans for this weekend yet?  If not, it is perfect time to join us at the Beacon House Inn!  Temperate weather and un-crowded beaches make February a wonderful month here in Carolina Beach.  Not to mention so many events and fun things to do!

The historic Cotton Exchange is celebrating Mardi Gras in style this Saturday and Sunday.  Merchants will be offering special discounts to shoppers and the chance to register for great giveaways.  Take part in a traditional King Cake cutting while you shop.  The party goes into full swing Saturday night with a masquerade party and live music in the courtyard.

Downtown Wilmington offers an impressive selection of theater and music.  Beginning this weekend through February 23rd TheatreNOW will be presenting "Games of the Heart".  A dating game show where the audience enjoys dinner while the love story (or not) plays out on stage.  Also opening this Friday night at The Cape Fear Playhouse is he production of "Harvey".  Touted as a "hilarious American comedy fresh off Broadway" this show should be a blast.  Another must do is the 33rd Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival all weekend long.

Come relax with us this weekend.  The beach is not just for summer anymore.  February offers food, fun and festivities for all to enjoy!

Art, Music and Romance

Take in a Show

If theatre is up your alley, then you will not want to miss The Who's-Tommy being performed at the Brooklyn Arts Center in Wilmington, February 14th - 17th.  The Brooklyn Arts Center is the previous home of St. Andrews church which has stood on this location since 1888.  The venue boasts 50 foot high cathedral ceilings, stained glass windows and a state of the art sound system.  A fantastic place to see a show!

Music Anyone?

Jazz lovers will come together once again this year for the 33rd Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival in Wilmington beginning February 7th.

This is a fun filled three day event that brings musicians from as far away as Australia, Italy and places closer to home like New Orleans.  This year offers an amazing array of talent with performers from age 17-87.  Each night will feature seven sets of music with a different leader. Concerts begin at 7:30 each night and last until midnight.

On Saturday from 10:30am until 2:00pm patrons to this event will get to enjoy a jazz brunch and also the opportunity to "jam" with these world famous musicians! How cool is that?

The Language of Romance

Looking for another great reason to come visit the beach?

How about a chance to step back to Victorian times and discover the meaning of Flowers and Fans at the Latimer House.  Built in 1852 this elegant mansion with its surrounding gardens exemplifies upper class life in Wilmington during the Victorian period.

Guest speakers will talk about flowers and fans were used to convey discreet messages.  Join the members of the Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear for an afternoon of romance, history and a spot of tea!  Reservations are required and can be purchased through the Latimer House at 910-762-0492