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Our fourth visit to the Asa Ransom house, just a wonderful retreat when life gets in the way. The rooms are charming, nothing like sitting on the balcony enjoying nature. The food is excellent and the staff is always charming. Gracie the Golden retriever greeted us with a thumping tail as she lay resting. She isn't a puppy anymore. Saturday dinner is always a treat. We'll be back.

recent lunch experience was disappointing. the soup was cold and flavorless. quiche bland and dry and hot tea was tepid. My friends $14 salad was saucer like and lacked any presentation.The rolls were good and the server pleasant though. the room was cold and I have been there for the tea sessions and found this also. The quality has slipped a bit in my opinion and I used to like this for special ladies day luncheons.

We first stayed here in '84, and have never found it wanting in any way. In fact The Asa Ransom House is the standard by which we judge all other B and Bs. Over the years, on trips to New England, our whole family has stayed here, and we've stayed in each room, both in the original building and the newer addition. I love that a tray of crackers, fruit, and cheese has always awaited us upon arrival, and that a package of cookies sends us on our way the next morning, after a very full, very tasty breakfast! Dinners at the inn are wonderful, too, with various breads and three different kinds of butter starting us off! The dining room is gracious, with the fireplace usually burning in cooler weather, and the decor lovely, as it is in each room. And if you are thinking of any cross country train travel, be sure to ask the innkeeper, who is extremely well versed on all the trips and stops!

We were looking forward to another wonderful B & B experience for our anniversary, which we do quite often to celebrate. We are used to being welcomed by the host, given a quick tour of the common areas, and then relaxing on our own. Our room at Asa Ransom had a lovely jacuzzi and some beautiful furnishings.At this B & B, we stepped over the threshold to a growling dog, a Golden Retriever to our surprise, that went on and on until we retreated to the outer entryway and the hostess finally called the dog off. There was no welcome or tour, just abrupt information about where our room was and where to eat in the morning. The irritated tone and lack of needed information did not encourage relaxation, nor did the dust under the furniture that was obvious from our seating.We were looking forward to meeting the innkeeper in the morning, but when we saw him there was no chance for introduction, just an abrupt directive on where to sit for breakfast, also delivered with an irritated tone. We were served by a sweet waitress who brought us a bill after the meal, showing the price of the meal, so that we could leave her a tip. This was also a surprise to us. It's worth mentioning that the dog's "area" is the hallway where the food comes from the kitchen to the dining room.In summary, there was a definite lack of hospitality but the potential for pleasant surroundings if the innkeepers recognize the value of their guests.

Asa Ransom is a gorgeous place with 10 different rooms all decorated perfectly. The room descriptions and color pictures are on their website. A plate of fruit, cheese and crackers welcomed us with music playing from an old fashioned radio. The restaurant was excellent (I'll do that review in the Restaruant section) and the breakfast was absolutely delicious. Coffee is available 24 hours. MAP is a good deal! The grounds were beautiful covered in snow. We will be going back in the spring or summer and get a balcony room to sit out and enjoy the view.