Hickory Bridge Farm-Lilly's First Lavender Getaway

For your first weekend getaway try the Hickory Bridge Farm in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania, the first bed and breakfast that Lilly and her family ever visited. Only one hour and fifteen minutes from Rockville, Md. the Hickory Bridge is the perfect jumping off place for sightseeeing, antiqueing and hiking in the Gettysburg area. The Hickory Bridge offers lodging in an old Civil War era farmhoue or in private one bedroom cabins by a babbling brook.

The rooms in the farmhouse include the use of the antique filled living room on the first floor and are ideal for families or couples. The rates vary from 125 dollars and up depending on the accomodation. The rooms in the cottages are for two and have wood burning fireplaces and extreme privacy for that romantic interlude. All the rooms boast private baths.

The delectable breakfast includes the innkeeper's sticky buns and the scrumptious aroma as you awake is overwhelming! There will be hot oatmeal with brown sugar, fruits and a specialty main dish. It is a delicious and ample repast to set you on your way. One of Lilly's favorite things about the inn is the farm dinners which are provided every Friday and Saturday night and Sunday afternoon in a huge rustic barn with shiny wooden floors, antique lanterns, blue and white graniteware and a model train that makes its neverending journey around the perimeter of the barn. This family style meal includes three main coures such as country fried chicken , crab imperial and glazed ham. The homemade sides might be hush puppies, candied carrots, cheesy broccoli and salad topped with sweet and sour bacon dressing. Desserts are ice cream sundaes and homemade pies and cakes. The cost is $21.95 a person and it is well worth it.

The area around the inn offers many choices for diversions. Nearby Emmitsburg boasts a trinket filled antique center, the Land of Little Horses is right around the corner, New Caledonia Park has wonderful, flat hiking trails and an outdoor pool, the Totem Pole Playhouse presents plays during the summer months and there is always the rich history of the Gettysburg battlefields and Eisenhower's home.

Lilly has many fond memories of this inn. When her children were small Dr. Hammett,the owner and local pediatrician, would place baby formula outside her door for her fussy baby to try and Mrs. Hammett always greeted Lilly with a warm hug. One night when the Lilly family took a wrong turn on the windy country roads, Mrs. Hammett was following right behind to point us in the right direction. Lilly's children played with the kittens that always were lurking about and the family walked along the meadow and stream to visit the corn fields that grow near the cottages. They even had an extended family reunion and took over the cottages and farmhouse for a weekend. So Lilly wishes you might bathe yourself in lavender relaxation and partake in a brief respite from your hectic life to visit the Hickory Bridge Farm.