An Eastern Shore Inn located just a Hop, Skip and a Jump away!

     It is very common for our guests to leave here saying they feel rested, rejuvenated and that they have gone on a luxurious vacation to a different country - yet are just an hour and a half from their home.  The Combsberry Inn Bed and Breakfast is just a hop, skip and a jump away from DC, Baltimore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.  However as you drive down our lane, you will find a serene paradise waiting for you at the end of the drive.

 

     We are dedicated to providing our guests with the highest level of customer service, without being intrusive.  If you are looking for peace and quiet - we have that.  If you are looking for a sort of charm that Norman Rockefeller would envy - we have that too.  Read on to hear what our most recent weekend guests, Bill and Peggy, had to say about their stay.  We hope their words will inspire you to come and experience this hidden retreat for yourselves.

 

Beat the Maryland Heat with this Eastern Shore Fave!

     Your mother always told you that breakfast was the most important meal of the day.  The staff at the Combsberry Inn believes this is true as well!   To beat the summer heat, we have been serving delicious and nutritious smoothies to our beloved guests.  They are a hit and we thought we would share this cool treat with you!

 

• 2 fresh peaches, peeled and quartered
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 banana
• 2 Tbsp Honey
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Vanilla Yogurt
• 4 cups Orange Juice

 

     Add fruit to the blender.  Top with yogurt, honey and vanilla extract.  Cover with juice.  Blend until smooth, serve and enjoy! 

 

Stars Shining Bright Above You... In Oxford, Maryland

     A few weeks ago one of our guests noted as she and I were walking outside "There are so many stars here"!  This statement took me by surprise at first, as I have always been used to seeing the stars.  It is something that I take for granted...  I can look into the sky most every evening and point out Cassiopeia, Perseus and of course both the Ursas.  However, I know that many people in the city rarely see the stars and if they do - they certainly aren't able to see the glitters and sparkles that blanket our night skies at the Combsberry Bed and Breakfast. 

 

     From the sprawling deck of the Magnolia Suite; the porch on either the Carriage House or Oxford Cottage; or simply walking across our thirty five acres - one can gaze up at the nights sky and become acquainted with these legends of Greek Mythology.  Book a room at the Combsberry Inn now and you too may spend the night under the stars on Maryland's Eastern Shore...  What a fabulous way to spend a romantic weekend getaway!  No telescope necessary.

    

     "We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss whether they was made or just happened."  ~Mark Twain

History Of Combsberry Inn located on Marylands Eastern Shore

     Often times I walk around Combsberry Inn and wonder what these walls would say if they could talk.  The home is nearly 300 years old - it was erected during the early settlement of our country, it had been a place to sleep for General Lee during the Civil War, it was standing during the rise and fall of slavery.  Combsberry is drenched in history and indeed would have a great deal to say... 

 

     On that note, I would like to share with you all a history of Combsberry that is neatly kept in a scrapbook in our library.  I am not sure who actually put together this in depth piece of work, but have a suspicion it is Jeanne - Ann's sister.  I by no means will take credit for this impressive account of Comsberry, I simply read it from my comfy abode late at night.  The history gathered is quite inclusive, and a bit lengthy as it spans 300 years, so I will share it a little bit at a time.

 

     "A short sail up the Great Choptank River from Oxford, Maryland is an inlet called Island Creek.  As you turn in, directly ahead stands an impressive old plantation home - The Historic Combsberry Inn Bed and Breakfast.  It is steeped in history.  The last owner of the original families lived here until death claimed her in 1859.

 

     In 1649 Josias Cooper was awarded a grant of 100 acres "Combsbury", for transporting he and a woman to Maryland.  The grant was later reassigned to William Riche in 1664, a planter who owned the adjacent property.  Riche was living on the neighboring land, and used the plot deemed "Combsbury" for production purposes.  In 1685, his will read that his eldest son William shall inherit "all that parcel of land by the name Combsbury whereon I now live."  William continued caring of the land which included 150 acres plus more that he purchased, houses and other various outbuildings.  When William Jr. passed, his will stipulated that the house and all land be sold. 

 

     In 1718, John and Mary Oldham, purchased "Combsbury" for the price of 21,000 pounds of good, marketable tobacco and fifty pounds silver of the Province.  What Mr. Oldham must have purchased had been acreage and some worn down houses since the land had been paid for with mainly tobacco.  Usually the more expensive plots were purchased with only silver and gold.  Mr. Oldham immediately set about building an imposing brick house for himself and his family.  This house has survived the years and is one of the finest examples of early architecture in Talbot County, Maryland.

 

     There were no architects in the colonies at this time and a builder had to depend on pattern books brought over from England.  John Oldham built with an exquisite sense of proportion and a restrained use of curvilinear for embellishment.  He started with a deep cellar, a "Great Room", a dining room with a stair tower above it. The two rooms have fireplaces with huge oval openings, the windows also have arched brick openings and the wide pine floors that you still see today, are original.  Two bedrooms grace the second floor, and two more on the third story. 

 

     This house is similar to "Troth's Fortune" further up the Choptank, as they are the only two houses in Talbot County with a stair tower.  The exterior of the home is laid in header bond on the water side and English bond elsewhere.  Many of the headers are glazed.  This is a house that lets the sunlight in, the breezes through and seems  planned for gracious living and hospitality.  Beyond the dining room was the original kitchen with its big cooking fireplace and loft above for the cook.  This was still standing until the late 1970's but is gone now.  This was one of the earliest two and a half story houses to be built in the county."

 

 

     This shall be continued as I have a garden to finish planting!  Thank you again to whomever put together this fine piece of history.  I imagine it was loads of work.  And thank you, Combsberry, for still standing beautifully and gracefully in the waterfront spot you were placed nearly 300 years ago.  Take a walk back through history and come visit this little slice of heaven on the Eastern Shore. 

 

 

Mother Daughter Days at The Combsberry Inn

Celebrate the most important woman in your life, your mother, May 4th through May 18th at the Combsberry Inn.

 

Book any room at regular rate and receive the following luxurious perks:

 

• 2 tickets aboard the Oxford Bellevue Ferry.  Check out the sun and sites in St. Michaels!
• 1 beautifully arranged bouquet of Spring Flowers
• Handmade/hand rolled chocolate truffles in an assortment of flavors
• Handmade organic Jasmine & Rose bath salts
• A one of a kind and priceless memory to share with your beloved mother

 

Whether you are wanting to surprise your Mom with a weekend getaway, or simply a night away, the Combsberry Inn is the place for you.  With our waterfront views; our close proximity to the darling towns of Oxford, Easton and St. Michaels; and our own glorious grounds - your Mother is sure to be delighted!

 

Special menus are being planned for Mother Daughter Days and may include the following options:

 

• Raspberry Lemon Breakfast Soufflés with Honey Gingered Fruit Compote OR
• Eggs Benedict with Fresh Avocado, Tomatoes and Pancetta with a side of Fresh Garlic and Thyme Roasted Sweet Potatoes.

 

Of course, breakfast isn't complete without our homemade bread selections, coffees, teas, and juice!  Complete the morning with a stroll along our 35 acres of historic waterfront property or a canoe ride right out our back door.

 

Book today, and reserve your Mother Daughter Day at the Combsberry Inn between May 4 and May 18!  Pamper your Mother and thank her with a historic and memorable getaway to our charming bed and breakfast.

 

     To a child's ear, "mother" is magic in any language. ~Arlene Benedict

Longing for a Weekend Getaway? Bike the Eastern Shore!

       This past weekend, we had the immense pleasure of having John and Jane stay with us.  They hail from Santa Fe, New Mexico and were eager to see the beauty of the Eastern Shore - up close and personal.  They arrived at the Inn on their bikes, their own bikes that they had broken down and flown from the dusty deserts of their home state.  The day they arrived at Combsberry, they rode to us from Chestertown, forty seven miles away.  They were excited and eager to tell us what they had planned for their weekend getaway at the Combsberry Inn.

     The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, John and Jane hit the open road again and cycled their way along the St. Michaels Loop.  Leaving the Combsberry Inn, the two rode through the charming village of Oxford and took the historic Oxford Bellevue ferry across the waterway to St. Michaels.  If you didn't know, the Oxford Bellevue Ferry is the oldest privately owned ferry in America.  It has been operating since 1683!  It is a quick fifteen minute trip across the scenic waterway, with beautiful scenery in any direction.  Be sure to look for nesting Osprey! 

     In St. Michaels, John and Jane flew by the all the shops, Inns, museums and marinas that St. Michaels is famous for - including The Inn at Perry Cabin - one of the sites in which the 2005 movie Wedding Crashers was filmed.   Upon leaving St. Michaels, Jane and John biked approximately 35 miles of scenic countryside on trails, lanes and roads that looped in and out of some of the most breathtaking views of Maryland that one can imagine. 

     Upon arriving back at the Combsberry B&B, they were full of stories of all that they had seen along the way.  While most would have been exhausted by such a long ride, John and Jane weren't!  They explained how the roads and trails were flat and easy to maneuver, and the added bonus of being at a sea level altitude gave them additional energy.  They were ready for a treat and headed into town to sample one of Victor's creations at the Scottish Highlands Creamery in Downtown Oxford.  This is always the perfect ending to any day - even more so when it is Scottish Highlands ice cream being enjoyed while watching the sun set from the Adirondack chairs on the Combsberry lawn.

     If you are like John and Jane, and long for beauty and adventure on a vacation, come to the Eastern Shore.  The Combsberry Inn has bikes that you may borrow to explore all the area has to offer.  The towns of Easton and St. Michaels also have bike rental shops.  Not only is Talbot County stunningly beautiful, it is also rich with history.  One can ride past where General Lee paraded his troops, or the town in which famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass was born and later escaped slavery. 

     Whether you envision a leisurely and romantic cruise, with a picnic basket of wine and cheese, or a wild ride with your hair flying in the wind - Combsberry will help make this pedaling dream come true.  You will receive the one on one attention that our bed and breakfast is renowned for, in addition to all of the luxuries you would find at 5 star resorts.

 

Wishing you all the best, until next time...

 

     "It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.  Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle."  ~Ernest Hemingway

"Best B&B with Wedding Ever"

     Hi All!  I'd to share with you a new review posted about the Combsberry Inn on Tripadvisor.com.  If you are unfamiliar with the site, please take a moment to explore it.  It is a great tool for either planning your next trip or providing indepth reviews on your own experiences and adventures during your travels.  If you have enjoyed your stay at the Combsberry Inn, I highly encourage you to write your own review. 

     This particular post was written by a very a dear guest who departed this past weekend:

 

     "My sister chose the Combs Berry as her wedding location and reception. I only have 1 word to describe it.... Phenomenal! The grounds were well maintained and the area is enchanting. As we arrived we were met by the Inn Keeper, Abby, and a staff member, Megan. I cannot say enough about these girls!!! Our family completely occupied all rooms and they exceeded all expectations for our various needs. The breakfasts were great but the hospitality from these two far exceeded any experience at a B&B that I have ever experienced. The wedding and reception went off without a hitch and I would not only recommend it but would say if you are planning a wedding for around 70 guests you must consider it. 5 Star for everything!"

 

     Thanks again, DM, for your kind words and we look forward to seeing you and your wife again. 

 

     Wishing you all the best, until next time...

 

       "There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again."  ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Greetings from Abby

     Hello everyone.  It is such a pleasure to be here and I look forward to meeting all of you.  As a newcomer to the Eastern Shore, I am in awe of the area.  I think back on the last week and just smile at the loveliness of my new life.  Megan greeted me very warmly upon my arrival and has been an absolute joy since.  The City of Oxford Business Association figured out my birthday was just days after I arrived (I normally keep it a secret) and had flowers delivered.  New friends are around every corner and each one just as kind as the first. 

     My first weekend included the wedding of Annie and Andrew, a darling couple from Washington D.C.  They were blessed with temperatures nearing the eighties, as they wed on at our historic waterfront venue.  To quote Annie "Everything went perfectly.  I could not possibly have picked a better venue for my wedding day.  My guests were so impressed by the stunning grounds for the ceremony and the uniqueness of it for the reception."

     I am blessed to be able to wake up each morning to such a wonderful home, the Combsberry Inn.  My first three nights I was so excited I actually couldn't sleep.  I would peek out my window anxious for the sun rise so I could marvel at the view from my window.  Combsberry is a magical place and each day Spring proves this to me again and again.  Lily of the Valley dot the waterways, Daffodils grow wild in the grass.  Wisteria, Cherry and Apple Blossoms are almost in full bloom.  Tulips are starting to show their lovely faces and most exciting of all - the Magnolia trees are beginning to bud.  The air is warm and fragrant, it just smells of Spring.  It is easy to see why the Combsberry Inn is one of the Eastern Shores most romantic getaways.

     The foliage is not the only thing coming to life, the fauna is in abundance.  Every day a deer or two have graced my presence as they nibble on the grass outside my window.  Beaver run the shoreline, a bald eagle is nesting just across from our dock, and a sly fox comes around every evening as the sun begins to fade.  Squirrels and rabbits hop and play on the lawn all day, cardinals sing me good morning songs as I wake. 

     Combsberry is truly a heavenly place and I am so excited about this new adventure in my life.  My hope is to share this magic with all of you.  I can't wait for you to see the view that takes my breath away each and every time I look out the window or walk out my door at the Combsberry B&B.   

 

     Wishing you all the best, until next time...

 

      "Is it so small a thing To have enjoy'd the sun, To have lived light in the Spring, To have loved, to have thought, to have done..."  ~Matthew Arnold