The Inn At Perry Cabin

We stayed in the new part of the hotel which was excellent.  Our suite was on the third floor, but did not have views of the water thanks to the growth of trees on the front lawn.  One would think the landscaping team might account for this and not plant trees between the hotel and the water. 

The room had every luxury you could think of- marble bathroom, double sinks, beautiful shower and large tub.  The room also had Internet access and a t.v. at the foot of our bed that was hidden in an old chest, activated by a light switch.  The decor was what I call traditionally modern- muted and natural tones, sleek but not bare. 

Both nights of our stay we had cocktails on the lawn overlooking the water.  We found this the perfect way to start the evening.  We ate at the hotel the first night which was a real treat.  The service was great and the food amazing.  The dining room has stunning views of the small harbor.  Both mornings we enjoyed breakfast on the outside patio- but get there early, as it is a popular spot and fills early. 

During our stay, the spa was not open, as they were putting the finishing touches on the new facility.  The staff informed us that it would finished in Fall 2007.  We enjoyed the pool, but it is not in a scenic area of the property.  It is enclosed by plantings and right off the parking lot.

St. Michael's is a cute little Victorian town with great shopping.  We explored it on foot, but the hotel also has free bikes that guests are free to use.  Next to the Inn is The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and boat tours.  We bypassed the museum and boat toars and took the ferry to Oxford where we enjoyed walking around Oxford and the Hinkley boat yard.  We returned to St. Michael's in the early afternoon and had a great casual dinner at the Crab Claw.  Yum!  I highly recommend the Crab Claw if you wanted steamed crabs and beers in plastic cups. 

I would recommend the Inn at Perry Cabin for anyone looking for a luxurious and romantic get away.  It is scenic and relaxing.  There are limited activities to do around St. Michaels, so if you are looking for an action filled vacation, this may not be the spot. 

The Inn sits on a several acre property within walking distance to town and has a nice waterfront lawn that looks out over the harbor. While the Inn tries to market itself as a historic property, there is more new here than old. The original house has been significantly modernized and several new buildings and facilities have been added in recent years. The Inn has a traditional, modern, nautical ambiance - lots of white paint, some light blue accents 1920's black and white sailing photos, etc. If you are looking for an Inn with historic furniture, a classic rustic ambiance, or a handful of individually appointed rooms then you might want to look elsewhere. This is more tasteful, understated, modern luxury. The service was good, but not as polished as I would have expected for a hotel of this quality.

When we arrived we were pleased to hear that our room was upgraded at no extra cost from a Studio to a Suite. Our room was located on the third floor of one of the new buildings at the inn and faced the water. It was spacious, but cozy and had attractive, but plain furnishings. The room had a nice small balcony with some chairs. Unfortunately, we didn't have a perfectly clear view of the harbor because of the trees. The bathroom was very luxurious - large dressing/closet area, safe, huge shower, separate room for toilet, two large sinks, marble throughout, and an enormous bathtub. The trunk at the end of the bed has a hidden TV inside that rises up at the push of a button. When the maids turn down the bed at night they leave little packages of delicious cookies. The rooms have free wired, not wireless, Internet access. We had no complaints about our room, but might opt for a smaller room in the historic part of the hotel on our next stay.

There is a small gym hidden away in a corner of the Inn - it's probably inadequate for a fitness person. The pool and surround is nice, but not extraordinary. The week after our visit they opened a spa that is adjacent to the pool and probably makes the area much more pleasant.

The first night we ate dinner at the Inn's fantastic restaurant. The food was delicious - the soft shell crabs were some of the best I have ever had. Plan to spend $55 pp for an entree and appetizer. We ate breakfast at the hotel on the outside terrace every morning. They have several healthy options, however, I would highly recommend the croissant with egg, bacon and Gruyere cheese. If you are staying for multiple nights I would recommend dining the other nights at the Crab Claw (local, roudy seafood restaurant on the water) or 208 Talbot (nice gourmet restaurant in an attractive building)

The town has several blocks of interesting, boutique shops. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is next to the hotel and is probably a good option if you are traveling with kids. If you want to get out on the water you can take a 2 hour sailing trip on a Skipjack (old oyster catching boat) for $30pp - I would recommend the early evening trip.

Date of stay: June 2007
Purpose of stay: Leisure (With Partner)