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Sweetwater Branch Inn Bed & Breakfast, Gainvesville, Florida

Posted August 21, 2009 , trackback
McKenzie House. Photo by Donna L. Hull

McKenzie House. Photo by Donna L. Hull

When Marcheta Keefer of the Alachua County Visitor’s Bureau invited me to visit Gainesville to experience “inner” Florida, I had a hard time turning my attention away from the powdery white sands of Florida’s Gulf Coast. But once Marcheta dropped me off at Sweetwater Branch Inn Bed & Breakfast, I succumbed to its Victorian charm.

Sweetwater Branch Inn Bed & Breakfast is actually a collection of Victorian homes. There’s McKenzie House and Cushman-Colson House, plus McKenzie Gardens and four cottages on a lane behind the main houses. Giovanna Holbrook and her daughter, Cornelia, have managed to provide beautiful and comfortable accommodations, while restoring and preserving a part of Gainesville’s Victorian past.

Isadora Room. Photo by Donna L. Hull

Isadora Room. Photo by Donna L. Hull

The cherub-themed Isadora’s Room ($135 weekday/$170 weekend) on the third floor of McKenzie House provided my headquarters for three days of exploring the Gainesville area. Like all of the rooms at Sweetwater Branch Inn Bed & Breakfast, antique furnishings and gleaming hardwood floors set the scene. Paintings of cherubs floated on the wall above my queen-size wrought iron bed. The large bathroom included a one-person jacuzzi tub. But my favorite element was the adjoining sitting area with decorative fireplace and built-in window seat. In the late afternoon, I’d pull out my laptop and connect to free wireless internet as the sun streamed through the room’s stained glass windows surrounding me in a golden glow.

I was glad my room included a climb up two sets of stairs after enjoying the full breakfast included in the room rate. Guests choose from hot and cold dishes served buffet style in the spacious kitchen of Cushman-Colson House. Cornelia Holbrook’s crepes are a favorite. A formal dining room, breakfast room or outside tables provide the place to put your plate.

My window on the world. Photo by Donna L. Hull

My window on the world. Photo by Donna L. Hull

It’s an easy walk from Sweetwater Branch Inn Bed & Breafkast to historic downtown Gainesville. The area offers shopping, dining and stage productions at the Hippodrome State Theatre located in the former Federal Building. A quick drive to the University of Florida campus brought me to the Florida Museum of Natural History where I strolled through the peaceful Butterfly Rainforest. On another day, I ventured the 15 minutes to Paynes Prairie State Preserve for a hike to see alligators.

In the afternoons, guests gather again at Cushman-Colson house to compare their day over complementary wine and appetizers. Sweetwater Branch Inn Bed & Breakfast attracts a mix of tourists, business travelers and parents of University of Florida students, leading to lively discussions on the shaded front porch.

Yes, those Florida beaches are nice. But discovering “inner” Florida introduced me to culture and adventure mixed with Victorian charm. I’d say that’s a good combination.

Sweetwater Branch Inn Bed & Breakfast
625 East University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32601
(352) 373-6760
1-800-595-7760
Rates from range from $90 for a single/double room to $245. Prices include full breakfast and a complimentary wine and cheese hour.

All photos by Donna L. Hull

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet

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