Wow, where shall I start? Of course there are all the traditional favorites: The Crayola Factory and National Canal Museum, Easton Farmers Market (longest continuously running outdoor market in the USA!), Heritage Day and walking along the Delaware and Lehigh River towpath trails. But this year there seems to be a bumper crop of new and exciting things to add to the list.

The recently opened Sigal Museum offers a look at local history. Improvements along the Delware Riverfront offer additional children’s play areas, walking access, and concert space. Also check out the truely unique Art in Urban Environments Festival and Chansonette Fringe Festival. We are truley blessed to have these special events taking place right here in Easton!

Join us for a couple of days of complete relaxation AND tons of fun too. The hanging baskets are waiting to be admired, Lena’s ready to great you, the cakes are baking and the drinks are chilled!

Laura

The Lafayette Inn, Easton, PA

Hanging Baskets on the porch

Azaleas in Bllom

There’s so much to do the first week of August that you’ll want to stay all week!  The New Jersey Balloon Festival runs August 1 – 7. Just 10 minutes away from The Lafayette Inn Bed & Breakfast, in Warren County, this is a great local farmers’ fair and balloon fest. We took our first hot air balloon ride there a couple of years ago with Roger Kell. Gorgeous scenery; the experience of a lifetime and a great romantic getaway.

Easton Restaurant Week returns running August 1-5. With $8 lunches and $30 dinners you can’t beat this event. Try a different restaurant every day!

Don’t forget Musikfest just 20 minutes away from our Easton Bed & Breakfast in Bethlehem, PA running August 6 – 15. Great music and much, much more.

Why stay at a chain hotel when you can stay with us – be pampered, enjoy delicious breakfast, and benefit from our great personalized advice on all there is to see and do in Easton, PA, The Lehigh Valley and Warren County, NJ.

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.

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

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