This spring seems to have been all about finding great places to walk in and around Easton, PA.  We’ve been here five years now and we’ve always known about Jacobsburg Park and the Forks Township Recreation Trail.  But now we’ve added to our list of favorites Gollub Park, just a couple of miles from us, Merrill Creek Reservoir in New Jersey, and the recently reopened Delaware Canal Towpath Trail.  Of course there’s always the delightful College Hill neighborhood (I swear I find a new favorite house every time I go out!) and the beautiful Lafayette College campus.  Come stay a while and get out and walk!

Laura and Lena in Gollub Park

Bring your dog!  They need the exercise too.

The Lafayette Inn Bed & Breakfast - your gateway to great outdoor activities in the Lehigh Valley.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

10. Christkindlmarkt is just a short drive away. Stay in tranquil Easton, visit the Markt and other Bethlehem attractions during the day.

9. Bach Chior of Bethlehem - our own Cass Kwan sings with this internationally recognized group. Attending one of their concerts is the icing on your holiday cake.

8. Polar Express train excursions in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. What could be more fun, regardless or your age!!

7.  Special holiday events at The Crayola Factory. Bring the little ones or just shop for them in the unique Crayola Store.

6. Special holiday shows at the State Theatre and FREE holiday concerts at Noble Art Pianos and the Williams Center.

5. Shop for fantastic, unique gifts in downtown Easton. Laura’s favorite spots are Just Around the Corner, Connexions Gallery, Baby Gift Clouds, Barn Star Home and Mercantile Home. There are many more!

4. Old-Fashioned Horse Drawn Carriage Rides on Friday evenings in Centre Square.  Get your tickets at Partyology (call 610-330-9535) then snuggle up for ride around our historic town.

3.  Santa’s elves have nothing on Natalie and Amy who’ve been baking up a storm at The Lafayette Inn.  Stay with us and try some of our special breakfast treats and Christmas cookies.

2.  Our Christmas decorations are gorgeous! At The Inn we have a beautiful, live Douglas Fur with all the trimmings in the parlor and Santa’s sleigh on the front porch.  Take a walk around College Hill to see what other decorations you can spot.  Downtown there’s the Peace Candle!

1. Baby it’s cold outside!  The Lafayette Inn has a huge fireplace in the parlor and hot cocoa on demand.  Book one of our fireplace suites and cuddle up with your honey.  Check out our Winter Specials for extra holiday savings.

We are having the most incredible autumn weather this year! On a recent sunny, warm afternoon we drove up to the trail along the Lehigh Gorge near Jim Thorpe, PA. This flat, fabulously maintained trail is wide and comfortable on foot or bike. The views of the river and surrounding hills are wonderful. Lena was ready to tackle the full 32 miles but Paul and I gave up after just two or three. We will definitely go back for cross country skiing and summer trekking.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/lehighgorge.aspx#trails

Lena ready to roll

My favorite part of being an Innkeeper, hands down, is helping guests decide where to go for dinner.  Not just because Paul & I are real foodies who eat out a lot, but also because we are blessed with such a diverse and fabulous group of restaurants for such a small town.  Here’s a quick rundown of our top picks, in no particular order:

Sette Luna, 219 Ferry St., (610)253-8888

It’s no exaggeration to say you’ll find us there once a week and whenever our family visits from Ohio they are barely out of the car before they’re asking “When are we going to Sette Luna?”  Homemade pastas and some of the best pizza this side of the Atlantic.  Casual atmosphere but classy enough for a special occasion.  Suffice it to say that Paul was born and raised in Italy and is a great cook himself and this is where he wants to go.  Sorry, no reservations taken.

Juliana’s, 200 Cattell St., (610)330-0815

For this raised-in-the-suburbs girl walking to a great restaurant is still a novelty.  Just three blocks away!  I have so many favorite dishes here I can never decide – Veal al Limone, Cannelloni, Tortellini Carbonnara, Linguini Frumento… And I love the fact that it’s BYOB.  We can bring a special bottle someone has given us or just our favorite every night red.

Ocean, 235 Ferry St,. (610)559-7211

This is where I ask to go on my Birthday and Anniversary but the interesting thing is that it’s also a great place for lunch midweek.  I’ve had a romantic dinner with my husband, Martinis with my sisters-in-law, a midweek girlfriends night out, a party for 25 of our closest friends in the private room downstairs; and never been disappointed.  The food and drinks are really unique and the service is outstanding.  Don’t let the name throw you – there’s some seafood but lots of other stuff too.

Pearly Baker’s, 11 Center Square, (610)253-9949

House made yam chips anyone?  Great burgers and salads as well as interesting entrees.  The beautifull building and historic pub feel are such fun.  Every downtown should have a place like this!  I suppose I should mention the beer – about a jillion kinds available.

Vintage, 100 Club House Dr., (610)923-8480

Even if it weren’t for the stunning golf course views we would go for the food.  The lunch/pub menu features an amazing burger as well as salads, sandwiches and other fun stuff.  You can’t beat lunch on the outdoor patio on a clear day.  The inside has a plush country club atmosphere and the dinner menu is impressive.  Don’t skip dessert.

Cherubina, 10th & Northampton St., (610)258-2336

You’ve heard some chains claim “when you’re here, you’re family” but this is the real deal.  A charming house with equally charming hosts and outstanding food.  It’s small and intimate and you feel as though they are going to all this trouble just for you!  It’s a great date or celebration spot.  A bit of an Italian influence but also really good steak and seafood options.  I never have room for Fran’s amazing house made desserts but I order them anyway – who can resist!  Don’t forget to BYOB.

I could go on for days!  When you’ve tried all these branch out to our other “Honorable Mentions”: River Grille, Sogo, Mex-Tex Trio, Porter’s Pub, Cafe Verde, Valenca - Seriously, you need to stay a couple of weeks!!  Check out our Concierge Page for a complete listing of area restaurants.  Buon Appetito! – Laura

Our Siberian Husky Lena

When we moved to Italy in 1996 with our Siberian Husky Tasha in tow, we were surprised and delighted to learn that she was welcome at most hotels and restaurants. We spent a great three years seeing Europe while people from all over met and admired Tasha. When we eventually returned to the United States it was tough to get used to the “no pets allowed” routine. Fast forward a few years – Tasha is no longer with us but the lovely Lena is and we are very excited about the recent shift toward pet-friendly travel in  the USA.  We are also happy to be part of it by allowing pets in some of our rooms.  Lena has played hostess to wide range of dogs both small and large.  If you are looking for a pet friendly hotel in Pennsylvania you’ve found it!  The Lehigh Valley is full of pet friendly activities.  Some of Lena’s favorites: Jacobsburg Park, Delaware Water Gap, Lehigh Canal Towpath Trail, mingling in downtown Easton at the farmer’s market (especially during the annual Pet Parade) and dining alfresco at Sette Luna.  Also the Lafayette College Campus and historic College Hill Neighborhood provide perfect daily walking routes.

When you travel with your pet follow a few simple guidelines so that this travel segment continues to grow and your pet becomes welcome in more and more places.  No paws on that expensive duvet (bring your own sheet to put over the bed if you know this will be difficult).  Keep your dog on a leash at all times – You may trust your dog completely but you never know what someone else or some other dog will do.  Wag more than you bark!

We’d love to meet you and your dog!  Come see us – Paul, Laura & Lena

Everybody loved the strata Sunday morning. It’s so simple but tasty and impressive. The secret is the use of croissants instead of plain bread and using a high quality cheese like Gruyere.

Bacon & Cheese Strata

2 large croissants cut in small cubes
½ cup diced cooked bacon
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
½ cup chopped roasted red peppers
5 eggs
1 ¾ cup whole milk
salt and pepper

Spray a 9” glass pie pan with cooking spray. Place half of croissant cubes in pan, sprinkle bacon, cheese and red pepper on top. Add remaining croissant cubes. Beat eggs with milk and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over mixture in pan. Let sit several hours or overnight in refrigerator. Bake for 30-40 min. at 350 degrees (until center is set).

Bacon & Red Pepper Starta

Welcome to The Lafayette Inn Blog.  We are a romantic bed and breakfast in Easton, PA.  We plan to use our blog to bring you information on things to do in the Lehigh Valley, tips on visiting the Lafayette College campus, and notes on our never ending facination with the restaurants in Easton, PA.  We’ll also keep you up to date on pet friendly travel and the never ending antics of our Siberian Husky, Lena.

Paul & Laura Di Liello, Owners/Innkeepers