When it comes to holiday decorating the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England have all the bases covered. The holiday décor is as distinctive as the inns themselves as pine boughs, red ribbons, and pine trees fill the inns with the holiday spirit. Our coastal inns offer up visions of nautical holidays while some of the mountain inns are filled with sleighs and all 12 of the inns use plenty of nature’s bounty gathered from woods nearby. When it comes to romantic New England inns, the roaring fireplaces and pine scents from the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England simply can’t be beat.
Yet when it comes to holiday collections, the Cliffside Inn’s collection of beautiful Christmas crèche displays is unique. Cliffside Inn Innkeepers and owners, Nancy and Bill Bagwill, have been collecting these beautiful artworks for decades. Really, it’s Nancy’s passion which started in her young adult days and has continued throughout her life. “I guess I have been collecting them since I had my first apartment,” says Nancy. “You don’t really realize you are collecting them until you see three or four of them and then want more.”
This nativity scene comes from Argentina.
Avid travelers, Nancy and Bill have amassed the majority of their crèche collection from their travels. “With the exception of the knit one, which was made for Bill as a child, the Lenox one, which I bought for my parents years ago and then it came to me when they passed away and the wood one, which is just a classic – they were all bought during my travels,” says Nancy.
Lenox nativity scene at Cliffside Inn.
The crèche displays may be found throughout the Cliffside Inn during holiday times. You’ll find at least a dozen on display, hanging on walls and even within Christmas trees. They vary from very large to very small and they take on different forms, such as wall hangings and ornaments.
This tiny one comes from Tanzania.
This creche comes from Croatia, and may be found hanging on the Christmas tree.
Visit any of the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England over the holidays and you’re sure to find distinct collections that have been in the innkeepers’ family for years. A romantic getaway to DINE country at this time of year offers just the respite you need from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. And for the person who has everything they need but time to relax, the gift of a DINE getaway is the perfect holiday gift. Each of the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England have gift certificates available throughout the holiday season. Some might even be on sale. Be sure to ask your innkeeper about holiday gift certificates.
A traditional New England sleigh decorated for the holidays at Grafton Inn.
Visit each of the Distinctive Inns of New England by clicking below on links that will take you directly to each of their websites. Better yet, visit them in person to see the beautiful fall color, still present throughout DINEcountry.
In Maine: Captain Jefferds Inn in Kennebunkport & Camden Maine Stay Inn in Camden
In New Hampshire: Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield
In Massachusetts: Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Gateways Inn & Restaurant in Lenox, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod.
In Rhode Island: Cliffside Inn in Newport
In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic.
In Vermont: Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton