Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast is located in Solomons, Maryland, and offers four suites to prospective guests. The suites have two classifications: king suites and queen suites. Both of the king suites are located on the second floor and feature amenities such as a private balcony and an in-room mini-fridge, whereas the queen suites are located on the third floor and share a mini-fridge in the hall. All suites have Wi-Fi access, climate control on each floor, and a coffee service station situated outside the room in the hall. It should also be noted that breakfast is served each morning between 8:30 and 10:00 in the dining room on the first floor. As the island of Solomons is relatively small, many restaurants and some attractions are within walking distance, and due to the property’s position near the shore of the bay, an on-site pier is available for those who travel by boat.
According to Regan, the innkeeper of Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast, the property’s
architectural style is Charleston Colonial, with exposed brick on the building’s
exterior. Other notable features on the quarter-acre property include on-site parking
corresponding to the four guest suites available for reservation, a backyard with a
picnic table and lounge chairs, and a path down to a pier where guests can dock
their boats with 30- and 50-amp hookups. As the bed and breakfast is located on a relatively small island, Regan notes that water can be seen from almost every
window of the establishment, and those who want to engage in aquatic activities
can do so from the pier, including paddleboarding and fishing off the dock.
Additionally, bikes are available for people who may have arrived by boat and don’t
have a car or for those who simply want to explore the island without a car.
With regard to the four suites, two of them are designated as king suites on the
second floor, and the other two are queen suites on the third. The main difference
between these suites is the size, with the king suites featuring a king-size bed and the
queen suites having queens, as their names would imply. Other amenities found in
only the king suites include private balconies that overlook the Harbor, double
vanities in the ensuite bathrooms, and minifridges. Suite #1 is unique from the rest of
the offered rooms in that it has a walk-in marble steam shower and an additional
reading area. Both of the queen suites also have access to a minifridge, which is
shared by the two rooms in a common area on the third floor. Finally, outside of each
room is a coffee service station that guests are welcome to use at their leisure
throughout their stay.
Breakfast is served between 8:30 and 10:00 each morning by Regan. Prior to one’s
stay at the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast, Regan asks patrons if they have any food
allergies or dietary restrictions she should keep in mind for meals while they are
staying there. Common items served at breakfast include a variety of pastries,
freshly baked bread, and omelets, among others. When talking about how she
decides what to make each morning, Regan says she walks into the kitchen and
thinks, “What do I want to cook this morning?” Requests can be made for breakfast to
be served at an earlier time in the morning if arrangements are made with Regan
beforehand.
The dining room, where breakfast is served, is part of the main common area of the
Blue Heron Inn on the first floor. This living space can also be used to host events. For
smaller groups of up to 45 people. Any event consisting of over ten people to a
maximum of 45 must be catered by an outside caterer, of which a list can be
provided by Regan of local restaurants capable of doing so.
Solomons Island, the location of the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast, has a number of
restaurants that Regan often recommends for people to try during their stay. These
include the Island Hideaway, which is a local bistro known for its cocktails, pasta, and
desserts; The Pier, with a dock that extends out over the Patuxent River; and the
Charles Street Brasserie, which serves American bistro cuisine. Aside from eateries,
there are some other nearby attractions that are popular with guests, most notably
the Calvert Marine Museum. The museum has a number of displays showcasing the
region’s maritime history as well as offering access to the Drum Point Lighthouse.
Those who may be staying at the bed and breakfast with their own boat or similar
vessel can access both the aforementioned Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay
from the pier, as well as the other inlets along the shoreline.
Many of the guests who are staying in the region are there on business, according to
Regan. A large portion of her patrons are business travelers or government
employees attending meetings in the region or traveling to the nearby naval base.
As such, the property offers a special rate for those visitors. Repeat guests, both
business and leisure, are roughly 80% of her business. The Blue Heron Inn is open
year-round, with the busiest season occurring throughout most of the summer and
fall from April through the end of December. Regan says that there are one or two
weeks, usually at the beginning of January, when the inn will close for maintenance
and renovations.
A number of positive reviews have been left by people who have stayed at the
property. Many of these reviews praise the views of the water from the bed and
breakfast, with one person recalling, “We loved staying here. We had a beautiful
balcony overlooking the water, and we were able to walk to all of the local bars and
restaurants during our stay.” Other patrons expressed their gratitude for Regan’s
hospitality, with a common sentiment being that the innkeepers were “friendly and
helpful folks.”
Regan grew up in the area, and as a result, she says that she is knowledgeable about
many of the things people can do locally. She describes the community of Solomons
as a “sleepy little quiet, super safe community.” This somewhat reflects the policies of
the Blue Heron Inn, with Regan saying it is a “flexible, casual type of place.” The only
important policy she stresses is that smoking must be done outside the house, but
the bed and breakfast is otherwise both pet- and child-friendly.
Originally built in 1996, the Blue Heron Inn began in 2002. Regan’s parents built the
house with the intention of turning it into a bed and breakfast once they had grown
up and moved out on their own. The building functioned as the family’s home for a
few years before making the transition. Regan recalls that her family has been in the
hospitality industry for many years, starting with her grandfather opening a motel
nearby. He expanded to opening more chain hotels in the region, many of which are
still owned by the family’s company, Simpson Land Co., which is also the main entity
that owns Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast.
For the past ten years, Regan has been the innkeeper of the establishment, and she
states that her favorite part of her job is getting to meet the guests who choose to
stay with her. It’s a “totally different dynamic than being a regular hotel,” Regan says.
Some changes have been made to the property over the years; however, most of
these changes have been general maintenance and repair. Most recently, the
bathrooms in the suites were renovated. Future plans include replacing the current
pier and porches facing the harbor.
14614 H G Trueman Rd
Solomons, Maryland 20688
United States
Charleston Colonial
Simpson Land Co.
