Breaks like summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas provide a rare bit of time for students to do everything from relaxing, to traveling home, to having a wedding.
Some students forgo honeymoons to avoid travel or expense, but quiet, and often undiscovered, bed and breakfasts in Utah can give newlyweds a relaxing and new place to stay.
Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast
The Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast at 383 W. 100 South is the only bed and breakfast in Provo. It started out as Russell Spencer Hines’ and his wife, Kitty Hines’, mansion in 1895.
Renovations of the red brick building have turned it from a mansion, to a steakhouse, to a boutique, and to the bed and breakfast it is today.
The bed and breakfast has nine themed rooms, including the Penthouse and its street view, the Library’s wall that revolves like a bookcase to reveal the bathroom, a Secret Garden room and a rustic room, the Lodge.
Provo resident Sariah Hillam has been to the Hines Mansion bed and breakfast twice with her husband. She said the romantic setting is good for newlyweds who want to stay local but still have a getaway.
“It really did feel like we were getting away, because of the decor and feel of the place,” Hillam said.
Her husband, Dave Hillam, said the owners care about the mansion and their guests. “They’re really friendly, nice people who generally like others and enjoy talking to you about things and telling you about the mansion,” he said.
“We try to make it as easy as possible for the newlyweds,” said James Larsen, the bed and breakfast’s night manager. “All they have to do is call the night before or even the morning of, and we try to give them all the information they need to check in.”
Prices range from $139 to $235 a night, depending on the room. Each room comes with a complimentary bottle of cider. The owners serve hot breakfast at 9:30 a.m.
Alaskan Inn
The Alaskan Inn Bed and Breakfast is located at 435 Ogden Canyon in Ogden. Danielle Jackson, the manager, said the bed and breakfast is a unique, warm and secluded lodging.
“All of our rooms are Alaskan themes (with) different decors and designs of the rooms,” Jackson said.
One cabin, the North Pole, is popular during the winter. “It’s kind of our Christmas themed room,” Jackson said. Guests can control a train that hangs above the bed with a remote. They can arrange for the staff to put gifts under the Christmas tree before they arrive.
The Alaskan Inn has one king cabin starting at $229.95 (not including tax), 10 queen cabins for $149.95 and $179.95, and four king suites for $139.95. There are also four mountain view rooms and four river view rooms. Each costs $119.95.
Guests can buy packages that include massages, other treatments and activities like sleigh rides and hot air balloon rides.
The bed and breakfast started offering hot air balloon rides last October. “We had at least 40 rides,” Jackson said. A local takes guests up to Ogden Canyon.
“He makes it really easy,” Jackson said. She went on the ride once. “I’m really scared of heights, and he talks you through it and makes it fun.” Guests leave for the ride by 6 o’clock a.m. to see the sun rise over the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake.
The “Sky High Love Affair” package is $599.95 and includes a one-night stay in a cabin, breakfast and the hour-long ride.
A cheaper alternative, and the most popular package, is the Lovebird package. Guests can pay $45 on top of their room price to find fresh rose petals leading from the door to the bed on the night of their arrival. The package also includes six fresh chocolate-covered strawberries and 12 votive candles.
The bed and breakfast serves a hot breakfast to all guests’ doors in the morning.
“The canyon is gorgeous anytime you stay,” Jackson said. “In general the whole ambiance of not only the room but the property just makes it worth it.”
