Home away from home at a Burlington Bed & Breakfasts

Have you ever stayed at a bed and breakfast?  It is a quite popular type of accommodation when you travel to Europe however may not be something that is top of mind when you are looking for places to stay here in Canada.  Staying at a B&B is a perfect option for those visitors who are looking for a personal touch and who like to stay in quaint or historic locations with engaging hosts that provide a welcoming experience and hearty breakfasts. It is also a great option if you are working for a brief period in Burlington or need a place to stay while visiting friends and family, taking courses or you just need a little getaway or staycation!

Some of my family’s fondest travel memories are of when we stayed at B&B’s, remembering the unique settings, friendly owners or magnificent meals.  It was always a great opportunity to learn about local culture, points of interest, and hidden gems and many times we felt like we were staying with old friends.  Once while we were in a quaint cottage in England, we felt so at home we even had to be reminded to pay the bill before we left! 

In Burlington you may be surprised to hear that we have nine bed and breakfasts that open their homes year-round to tourists. The type of accommodations vary as much as the hosts but they all have one thing in common, they are proud of their city and want you to have a wonderful visit while you are here.   

Cottage on LaSalle

If you like stepping back in time, there are a two Burlington B&B’s located in historic homes. Cottage on LaSalle, is nestled in one of Burlington's oldest established areas the former village of Aldeshot and it is situated only minutes away from historic LaSalle Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens. This circa 1860 heritage home has been beautifully restored to enhance many of its original features. From the golden hues of the pine flooring that runs throughout the cottage to the oak beams across the ceilings it displays a warmth and ambiance of "days gone by".  A full country breakfast with "hot out of the oven" delicacies are yours to enjoy each morning.  This B&B has been reviewed and recommended by writer Janette Higgins.

Heart of Burlington

The Heart Of Burlington Bed & Breakfast is located in a restored and fully renewed 1910 Edwardian home in the beautiful old downtown core. Relax with your morning beverage, read a newspaper or plan your day's activities in the elegant ambiance of the bright and cheery living room. There is a front porch available with wicker chairs and tables for guest enjoyment.  You can easily walk to downtown restaurants, spas, shops, boutiques, entertainment at the new Burlington Performing Arts Centre and events located at beautiful lakeside Spencer Smith Park.  This B&B is a welcome cyclist location and is just minutes from the Waterfront and Trans Canada Trail.  Owners Joe and Flora have only been operating this B&B for a year but already have established a reputation as great hosts. 

Close to the downtown core, the waterfront, IKEA and Mapleview Shopping Centre is Sunrise Bed & Breakfast.  Host Enid has been welcoming guests to her B&B for over 15 years.  This home is located in a quiet sub-division and is in a great central location for highway access, public transportation, the GO Train, cycling or walking.  The home has a beautiful breakfast room that looks out over the deck, hot tub, pool and nicely landscaped garden.  This is a perfect location for an extended stay as Enid offers a free night if you stay seven! 

Murphy's Manor

Burlington is very lucky to have three hosts that have been operating their respective B&B’s for over 20 years in the east end of the city.  Murphy’s Manor is located in a safe, quiet neighbourhood within walking distance of the waterfront and a short drive from the downtown and the highway.  Pat is the hostess with the mostest and offers full or continental breakfasts indoors or on the patio.  Her guests have been so enchanted several have written her poems about their stay.  The Painted Door is a quaint bungalow decorated with antiques that has a large yard and garden.  It is a short walk to Eastway Shopping Plaza, the lake, Paletta Lakefront Park and to public transit.  Host Marjorie really enjoys having company and cooking for her guests.  Arlene is the owner of Cedarcroft B&B, a country style home in the heart of the city.  Located just blocks from the waterfront and within a short drive of the downtown, shopping malls and highway access.  Guests can enjoy breakfast in the bright and cheery sunroom that overlooks the patio and yard with lovely stone walkways and mature trees.  Arlene often has corporate and extended stay guests offering a home away from home experience.

Creekside

Creekside B&B is located adjacent to Roseland Creek and opposite a soccer field and children’s play area in north Burlington.   This B&B is ideal for families with amenities such as a swimming pool, hot tub and recreation room available for guest use.  Owners Steve and Lin have hosted many friends and family from Britain over the years and now have opened their home as a B&B.  They have lovingly upgraded their home with a two bedroom guest suite on the lower level and well appointed rooms.  They also offer guests a unique camping experience by renting out and setting up tent trailers in local campgrounds.  The revenue generated through this B&B is used to support Steve and Lin’s daughter Marianne in her dream to be among the top woman snowboarders in the World.  She is a member of the Canadian National Snowboard team and right now is ranked #2 in Canada! 

Maple Leaf Manor

North Burlington is bordered by the Niagara Escarpment which is an Unesco World Biosphere Reserve and offers wonderful views of the countryside and great hiking along the Bruce Trail.  There are two B&B’s located in this area within a short drive or ride to conservation areas and along beautiful Bronte Creek.  Maple Leaf Manor is actually built in the shape of a maple leaf and is a 8,000 sq. ft country estate surrounded by 25 acres with panoramic views of the escarpment, ponds and the river valley.  With a pool, sauna, huge foyer, fireplace, upper level party room and pool table, it is a perfect place for special gatherings including intimate weddings.  Owners Harry and Dolly provide guests with a full country breakfast in the dining room or outside on the patio.  Daughter Deepar is a make-up and jewellery artist who can also support guests with their event.  Right next door is Mount Nemo Lookout a 22 acre property with a small lake, surrounded by woodlands and overlooking the river valley.  At this B&B guests can hike the trails, canoe, sit around a campfire and enjoy sunsets from their suite.  Host Evy is a former meteorologist and encourages guests to learn about enjoy the nature that surrounds her unique setting.  These two B&B’s have worked together to host larger family groups in the same vicinity.

All of the B&B’s in Burlington have internet and most offer extended stay rates and take bookings all year.  The owners are well versed in things to see and do in the area from taking our Tourism Ambassador Training and are happy to help you plan activities while you are here in the city.  You should check their listings to see additional details about their accommodations, the types of rooms they offer, restrictions etc.  We have a B&B summary in our visitor guide that you may find helpful and also have set up a B&B map on googlemaps.

Tourism Burlington organizes meetings semi-annually with all the operators so that they can network, help each other with promotion, share stories, enjoy home-baked goodies and learn about what’s new in Burlington to enhance their guests stay.  Often these meetings are hosted by the B&B’s so that everyone is familiar with each operator and their accommodations so they feel comfortable referring guests to one another if they don’t have vacancies or are away.  This is such a fun, social group that these meetings always are enjoyable.  Together we produce a B&B flyer annually listing all the locations.  One of our operators has also set up a website just for the Burlington B&B’s called Bed and Breakfast Burlington. 

We hope you have enjoyed getting an inside look at our B&B’s and that you decide to stay at one or several of these in the future or encourage your friends and family to come to a beautiful Burlington B&B. 

tourburlgirl