A Mooseberry Inn in Tok, Alaska was the first bed and breakfast we have ever stayed in. Kenin and I traveled for many years and stayed in everything from a tent to the Ritz Carlton. Somehow, we managed to completely avoid B&Bs altogether. We always thought the idea of a B&B was a little odd. This is the bed and breakfast that converted me.
There was something a little intimidating about staying in someone’s home and sharing your space with others. Sitting down to breakfast at a table surrounded by strangers was daunting. The possibility of sharing a bathroom was down right nerve wrecking. My thoughts on the matter of B&B’s were ” if I wanted to share my space, and feel at home, I could just as well have stayed at home”!
On our road trip from Florida to Alaska, Kenin and I had to stop in Tok, AK for a night. October is the beginning of winter in that area and there were not many places open for the season that would accept us with our dogs. I found A Mooseberry Inn online and sent an email to the owner, Maggie Brooks letting her know about our travels and our dogs. She replied to me immediately, letting me know that we were more than welcome to stay at her B&B in Tok.
I was still a little hesitant to stay at a bed and breakfast, but I wasn’t left with much of a choice. We pulled the GTI into the Mooseberry’s driveway in the early evening feeling a little apprehensive but welcoming a place to rest our heads for the night. We were exhausted! The driveway was surprisingly free of snow. Apparently, the snow plows go all the way up to the edge of the Mooseberry Inn’s property line which made for very easy access for us and easy access for our dogs as well. :) Maggie and Damon (the inn’s proprietors) were out when we arrived, but they left us a note saying to enter and make ourselves comfortable. They were hot beverages and snacks waiting for us and our room was ready.
We grabbed some dinner at a local burger joint and came back to our warm room and promptly fell into a cozy sleep. We awoke to a giant breakfast of delicious frittata made by Damon and served with fruit and yogurt. The bottomless coffee was also welcomed considering the 20 degree weather. Kenin and I sat down next to a German couple that were traveling all over Alaska as well, and we conversed liked old friends over our amazing meal. We talked about all the different wildlife and weather we saw on our journeys thus far. It was unexpectedly comfortable to me to be sitting at someone else’s table, in someone else’s home discussing travel, life and of course, pets. :)
After breakfast, Ken and I sat by the fireplace getting our plans for the day together (and staying warm). We were so happy with our stay at A Mooseberry Inn that we spoke with Maggie and Damon about staying at their bed & breakfast on our way out of Alaska as well. Suffice it to say, A Mooseberry Inn cured my fears and aversion to B&Bs! We would love to return to Alaska, and when we do, we will make sure to stop by and check out our new friends, Damon and Maggie Brooks :)
Thank you again so much for this lovely article. I shared it on FB with friends and past and future guests.
It was fun meeting you and yout pups and indeed we are looking forward to meeting you again sometime in the near future, either your trip back to Alaska or ours to FL :)
I also love to keep up on your travels and adventures……thanks for sharing :)
Maggie and Damon
I’m glad you had a good B&B experience and I’m sure you’ll find many more to visit. In Europe my husband and I stayed exclusively in B&Bs except for one hotel in Paris. It was wonderful to meet the lovely friendly people in the UK, Ireland and France and get a real sense of home life in other countries. A hotel room is a hotel room is a hotel room no matter what country you’re in. In Europe sometimes it was just an extra bedroom in a family home, nothing fancy, just comfortable and friendly. We decided that the best way to choose a B&B was that if there was a flower garden out front then it was a good one. Never failed.
Deena, this is surprisingly something I have never thought of. Staying in a B&B in another country would be an amazing way to get to know a local culture. I will definitely have to keep that in mind. :) From now on, we’ll be on the lookout for flower gardens!
We have never stayed at a B & B either. My initial reactions would be the same as yours. So glad you enjoyed it. I might be up for trying it sometime. Sounds like they have a cozy inn and were very personable and accommodating.
They were great at Mooseberry! I’m not sure if that is typical of every B&B though.
I’ve been meaning to post a comment on this since you published this. I guess better late than never.
My wife and I booked our first of what has turned out to be many B&B stays 13 years ago. I was apprehensive; I tend to be a shy person and the idea of sitting at a breakfast table with strangers was a bit odd. I will say we’ve had a few odd experiences, but overall the interesting conversations with people from around the world is really cool. I also enjoy the houses we stay in. The experience is more complete than a hotel stay in my opinion. And I’ll say on the breakfast front, we’ve had many experiences where the breakfast is more like a restaurant where you have your own table.
And the food in many of the inns is out of this world. Many B&B owners seem to really enjoy cooking with good local ingredients. Or maybe we just manage to seek that out more in our B&B bookings.
B&Bs aren’t for everyone. But I think all travelers should book one here and there just to experience a different part of travel.
We truly enjoyed this experience and we had another great experience at a second B&B. I think you are right that there are more than one kind of B&B out there and you have to find the right one for you. I agree about the fact that they all seem to be foodies, I think it;s just part of the whole package though. Thanks for your comment, late is better than not at all :-)
Hi, wanted to read your travel on the alaska highway leaving from Dawson Creek mile 0 post as My ex husband and I also took that trip but we took it in the summer and tented all the way to Tok alaska, also stopping on a side trip to skagway.. This was an experience of a life time. The Hot Springs (Liard) was great after traveling for so long in a van. Sleeping in a tent where the sun shines 24 hours a day was different.