Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast is located in Ludington, Michigan, a port city on Lake Michigan. The business is open year-round and offers seven guest rooms. According to the owners Melanie, and her two sons, Chris and Kyle, breakfast is "a star of the show," and they offer a flexible schedule for the meal, allowing guests to choose when and where they would like to eat breakfast. The owners have fresh baked desserts and other treats available daily. Throughout the year, the business hosts a variety of events, with some of the more prominent events being a Fourth of July barbecue and New Years party. With her sons, Melanie has been running Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast since 2007.
Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast has a total of seven guest rooms, with one being located on the first floor and the other six being found on the second floor. Each guest room is uniquely decorated with a blend of antique and modern decor. For example, the suite on the first floor is called The Romantic Retreat Suite. This room is the largest of the guestrooms and is equipped with a king-sized bed and a private bathroom with a two-person jacuzzi. Regardless of which room a guest reserves, they all come with flat-screen televisions with premium channels, access to a collection of DVDs, high speed Wi-Fi, a champagne bucket, air conditioning, a queen- or king-bed, and spa robes
Common areas that can be found in the Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast include the great room, dining room, and an enclosed porch at the front of the house. The front porch offers several sitting areas, a collection of board games, and a guest refrigerator that is always stocked with bottles of water and sodas. Various coffee and tea flavors are available, along with other snacks such as fresh fruit, popcorn, and ice cream. Outside, there are two back decks along with a double waterfall feature. Seating is available on each deck, allowing visitors the option to eat breakfast outdoors if they would like, read, and enjoy their favorite beverages and spend time together.
Melanie shares that "from the time we opened, breakfast has always been when our guests wish. Our guests decide whether they want to enjoy their candlelit breakfast early, or whether they want to eat later." With her sons, they typically serve a variety of classic dishes with fresh ingredients such as oven-baked omelets, Candlelite eggs, muffins, coffee cakes, a variety of fresh fruit, thick sliced bacon sausage, and homestyle potatoes. An assortment of condiments, including local jams, syrups, and honey, are available throughout the meal. Melanie also mentions that many of the ingredients she uses to make breakfast are locally sourced. According to Melanie, "My youngest son Kyle shops every day. One item that tends to be popular with guests is french toast. We have at least five distinct favorites such as our Bananas Foster French Toast with a homemade vanilla sauce." Melanie explains that "we all enjoy cooking and baking dishes that are gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, or accommodate other specific dietary restrictions or allergies. Regarding nutritional needs and preferences, Melanie states, "I always ask when we're getting a reservation on the phone, or when guests are booking online, there is a place to add notes."
There are a variety of attractions in the area that people can take advantage of if they would like. The S.S. Badger, the historical 410 foot car ferry, takes visitors across Lake Michigan from Ludington to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. One can also find the Maritime Museum, which was the former Coast Guard station, along with historic White Pine Village. Stern's Park, with a quarter mile long sandy beach, the pier, and North Pier Breakwater, is less than a mile away from Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast. Stern's Park is a popular location to watch the sun setting over Lake Michigan. The Ludington State Park offers beaches on Lake Michigan, Hamilton Lake, along with the river, dam, Big Sable Lighthouse and miles of trails. Ludington State Park is known as the queen of the midwestern state parks. There are also a variety of restaurants, breweries, and wineries in the town that patrons can visit. A few restaurants that Melanie recommends by name include Table 14, Jamesport Brewing Company, and Stix.
Melanie, Chris, and Kyle Barnard, the owners of Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast, strive to make their Ludington bed and breakfast to be "comforting and inviting to everyone." In Melanie's own words, "Guests should be able to relax, unwind, and to feel like this is their home away from home," and Chris states, "We want guests to feel as if they are visiting their favorite aunt or grandma's house." The owners are usually baking something in the kitchen, so they tend to be easily available for their guests in case anyone has questions or requires assistance with something. The inn also holds events, some of which are annual such as the Fourth of July barbecue after Ludington's parade. Other events include family gatherings, retreats, a New Year's Eve celebration, and Christmas desserts throughout December. Veterans and active duty military always receive a 10% discount, and during the month of November, veterans receive a half-off discount on reservations.
Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast has several policies that patrons should be aware of during their stay. Smoking is prohibited inside although guests can smoke outside if they would like, as long as they dispose of their cigarettes properly. Pets are not allowed to stay at the inn, but service dogs are welcome.
There have been many guests that have visited since it became a bed and breakfast, a few of which have left reviews of their experience at the inn. One person recently wrote, "Melanie is a gem, and her delicious baked goods upon arrival and a gift of homemade jam were super sweet. The room was clean and comfortable. The garden seating area is shaded by an enormous old tree, and the peaceful little waterfall was so relaxing." Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast is open year-round, with the busiest season of operation tending to be June through October. Guests young and old come to enjoy the inn and Lake Michigan beaches and parks. Melanie mentions that the inn is likely most known for cooking and baking, along with "being so accommodating."
The Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast is a turn-of-the-century classic Foursquare. It was constructed about 1905 by a Swedish couple named August and Alma Lidberg, who moved to Ludington from Illinois. It wasn't until approximately 1985 that the home was converted into a bed and breakfast. More bathrooms, the Romantic Retreat Suite, two additional guest rooms, and a second staircase were all added when it became a bed and breakfast.
Melanie and her sons purchased the business in 2006, remarking that 2007 was her first full year operating the bed and breakfast. She explains that she enjoys running the Candlelite Inn Bed and Breakfast with her two sons, Chris and Kyle. Melanie explains that she entered the hospitality industry because she "had it in the back of her mind for years as something she wanted to do in the future." When her children were close to graduating from high school, she decided that it was "the perfect time to move." She mentions that her favorite part of running the bed and breakfast is meeting and talking to the people who stay at the inn and being able to cook and play in the kitchen for them.
Over the years, there have been a variety of updates made both inside and outside. Melanie remarks that she and her sons have plenty of future plans, and "there is always an ongoing list or two." Melanie adds, "Many guests return, so it is fun to have something new for them, whether it is a new amenity or a yummy new recipe." The exterior has been completely repainted and redone, along with plenty of landscaping including a rose garden and backyard double waterfall feature. Inside, each room has been its share of updates over the years including new furnishings and flooring. In the future, the owners would like to add another suite. Another change would be to continue updating several of the guest bathrooms.
709 East Ludington Avenue
Ludington, Michigan 49431
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Melanie Barnard
