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B and B Owners Nature's
Health Club | Active
Sports | Winter
Sports | Relax & Rejuvenate Jack and Donna Delehanty, proprietors of the Bed and Breakfast at Oliver Phelps, know firsthand what it's like to fall in love with the Finger Lakes - for the first time. The Delehantys hail from Spokane, Washington. And in their eyes, the majesty of the West Coast is rivaled by the bountiful hills of the Finger Lakes. When the pair, avid cyclists both, came to the area in July 2003 to spend a few weeks biking through the Finger Lakes, they were so taken, they put it high on their list of potential places to relocate to and live out their dreams. Of course, owning a bed and breakfast was the dream. The pair looked in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and a myriad of other locales before deciding to put down roots on Main Street in Canandaigua. This community and the Delehantys' pampered guests are fortunate they did. The care and attention the Delehantys give their Federal Style bed & breakfast, combined with the personal attention and genuine goodwill they lavish on their guests, makes the destination one of the finest and luxurious accommodations in the area. Snuggled on almost an acre of superbly manicured grounds, the property boasts lavish gardens, and two gazebos—one with a hot tub that bubbles and churns year round. But that is just the beginning: step into the Federal Style home, built in the 1800s, and you've stepped back in time and into surroundings of simple elegance. Although Jack and Donna cater to their guests, cooking, cleaning and planning itineraries is a labor of love: "If you love it, it's not drudgery," says Donna. What the pair also love, is creating a unique ambiance, with small flourishes everywhere that say 'You are somewhere special; relax and enjoy'. For instance, if Jack creates a breakfast entree, it's not something you're likely to have at home on a typical Saturday morning. Instead, indulge yourself with German Apple pancakes with (but, of course) a sauce made from local cider. Breakfast is always by candlelight. In warm months, it's served on the back deck. Donna bakes every morning, so wake up to the smell of scones, bread and muffins. Fresh juice, rich coffee, fruit, an entree— featuring a liberal helping of local produce—sausage and other items and sorbet may round out your experience. "These are things that you wouldn't do for yourself, perhaps, but you sure would like it,"Donna says. Those touches are everywhere in the Oliver Phelps. Five guest rooms boast amenities such as large, private baths, down blankets and poster beds—not to mention some other creature comforts, like air-conditioning, cable television and personal attention. In the corner of the parlor, there is a basket full of menus from local restaurants. Linens are made of high-quality, high thread count materials. No detail is left unattended to. Perhaps, though, like with any successful destination — be it the Finger Lakes, or the Oliver Phelps, it's the people that make it special. Jack and Donna have a way of understanding what their guests would like—and providing it. For instance, if you are traveling, and prefer your privacy, the Delehantys will retreat to their private living quarters and provide you with space and time for reflection. Often, however, guests engage the couple, and ask for help planning day trips or bicycle excursions. That's when the Delehantys shine. In fact, they won't map out a bike-touring route without having taken it themselves. That way, they can tell you where there are curves and hills to be negotiated, where the best place to stop for ice cream is, or where traffic might get heavy. The pair, married 18 years, really enjoy being together and it shows. They work together, attend to guests together and even take time out each day to spend alone time at a place like nearby Phoenix Cafe for coffee and conversation. The easy-going rapport the couple shares translates to their work seemlessly. So what was it that sold them on the Finger Lakes? You name it. . . "It just struck me how rural it is here," says Jack. "You think of New York as a city. That was not only a surprise to me, but it's a surprise to our visitors, too." Jack also notes that in some parts of the country, small farming towns are all but boarded up. So to bike through a place like Naples, New York, and see such a thriving community, is a wonder. Their business increases with each passing year. It's no doubt that the Delehantys' guests find the Finger Lakes as captivating as they did when they took that first trip by bicycles a few years ago. And that brings us back to the people. For Jack and Donna, the community has been welcoming. "I'm amazed that after just two-and-a-half years, we know as many people and have as many friends as we do." So, whether you are traveling on business, looking at the Finger Lakes as the setting for your destination wedding, or just getting away, stop by and see Jack and Donna. (And ask Jack about the ricotta and basil scrambled eggs in a marinated portabella mushroom cup topped with fontina cheese.)
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