Archive for the ‘Williams House Happenings’ Category

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Amelia Island Williams House Carriage Rides

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Boomer meets guests

Guests always enjoy meeting Boomer the carriage horse and are usually amazed at what and how much he eats.  And Boomer always expects to be fed whether just passing by on a tour or taking Williams House guests for a ride.   But he has such personality one can’t resist liking him and he does do a great and near automatic piloting job for the tours. This allows the driver (either Cindy or Nicole ) to tell the stories, histories and events that are so unique to Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach.  So…if you are planning to visit with us at the Williams House, consider a historic carriage ride…we think you will enjoy it!

Ready for a ride

Boomer meets more guests

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Amelia Island Garden Show – Year 2

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Colorful flowers at garden show

Last weekend was the second annual flower and garden show on Amelia Island.  We were blessed with beautiful weather near 80 degrees and sunny skies.  Vendors include regular Farmer’s market vendors (held every Saturday morning) and additional and unique items.  Crowds were good and in addition to the booths there was live music, food, whirlygigs, vegetables and fruit, pasta and italian gourmet specialties.  Operating both Saturday and Sunday, it was a great time for Williams House guests to see a garden show and enjoy the local scenery.  Deborah picked up some fill in plants for some of the winter damage and some new twists.  We find garden beds a never ending story with some things doing well in Florida and others that struggle.  There were some awesome flowers for just about anyone’s taste and plenty of variety.  Attached below are a few colorful shots of the garden show activity and offerings.

Crowds seize the moment

Bonsai

Orchids

Bromeliads

Italian sauces

Yard art

More yard art

Deborah checks out metal works

Azaleas

Cacti

 

Entertainment

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Amelia Island Top Ten To Do’s – Page 2

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Concours car show

 

Having already delivered the first top ten things to do when visiting Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, we now move on to the next ten on our way to more than thrity things that are fun to do while visiting with us at the Williams House.  Some items are annual, like the car show pictured  at left, but most of the items are available nearlyyear round.  Hope you can come visit for the fist time, or come back and do some of the things you couldn’t get done on your prior visits.

Top Ten Things To Do on Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach – pt.2

  1. Visit the Concours D’Elegance car show
  2. Enjoy Kingsley Plantation on Ft. George Island
  3. Tour Art Studios
  4. Take a ghost tour
  5. Learn history on a Museum tour
  6. Go antiquing
  7. Use Williams House bikes to tour
  8. See a real live working shrimpboat
  9. See a sunset at the Marina
  10. See Old Town, the original Fernandina settlement

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Carriage Ride Leads to Engagement at Williams House

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Happy couple meets Boomer

We always enjoy guests taking the historic carriage ride, but sometimes these rides are truly special.  Such was the case yesterday for Craig and Jessica when he surprised her both with the carriage ride and by proposing during the ride. Craig had planned the entire trip, including choosing the Williams House, restaurants, and activities and especially the important carriage ride.  Nicole, Boomer’s driver took them down to the water front  for the sunset and that is where Craig proposed.  Dinner followed at Joe’s Second Street Bistro and they arrived back at the Williams House to a nice bottle of chilled wine in their room.  We have to admit staying at the Williams House is a romantic experience and it’s a great place to do something really special for the one you love.  We wish Craig and Jessica all the best and are happy to have been a part of their special time.

Readyfor a ride and a surprise

Happy couple in front of Williams House

Another pose by the camillia tree

A beautiful engagement ring

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Tick, Tock, Guest Fixes Williams House Clock!

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Grandmother clock in WH dining room

We never know whom we will meet as guests come and go at the Williams House and that is part of the fun and excitement of owning a bed and breakfast.  Recently, one of our grooms told me he was was a Horologist and that led into a discussion of our grandmother clock made by my father.  I told him it wasn’t working quite right and over the course of the next two days, it was oiled, fixed, reset and now is working perfectly.   His father has been in the clock business since 1944 and David is now active with two shops in the Tampa area.  The company name is Boyd Clocks and they sell, repair and restore clocks of all kinds.  It was very kind of him to help us get our clock going on his honeymoon, but you can tell he has a love for all things clock and enjoys making them work well.  We now here the gentle chimes throughout the day and have a way of telling time in the common areas.  If you are in need of clock repairs or advice, you can reach David at www.boydclocks.com, or boydclocks@gmail.com, or 813-281-2299.

Our thanks again to David for getting our clock back up and running!

Clock face

Another view

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Skies Clear for February Williams House Wedding

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

 

Bride Sable and her carriage

After a rainy week on Amelia Island the skies cleared for Sable and Kevin to be married on a sunny and slightly cool Sunday afternoon just before the superbowl.  About 50 guests enjoyed the ceremony and reception at the Williams House.  Sable arrived on  a horse drawn carriage pulled by “Boomer” and  was escorted down the aisle to meet her groom.  After the ceremony, officiated by Byron McCutchen, the bride and groom enjoyed a private moment on the carriage before joining their guests for the reception in our courtyard. Guests feasted on beef tenderloin served on rolls, an antipasta platter, mushrooms stuffed with sausage, bruschetta piled atop toasted croistini, and penne pasta with alfredo sauce  all prepared by the Williams House while  DJ Harmony played the bride and groom’s favorite music.  After the champagne toast and wedding cake were served the dancing and fun began!  Following the wedding, guests and friends adjourned to O’Kane’s Irish pub to watch the superbowl.  Fortunately for them, they were Packers fans!    Congratulations to Kevin and Sable on a beautiful and fun filled wedding at the Amelia Island Williams House bed and breakfast.

Kevin and his groomsmen

Sable escorted down the aisle to meet her groom

Bridesmaids and groomsmen

Beautiful setting in our courtyard

Bride and groom's table

rose petals lead guests to reception

A beautiful cake

Kevin and Sable join guests at reception

Couple's first dance as husband and wife

Guests enjoy the food

Playing nice at cake cutting

Family portrait

Bride and groom by Williams House fence

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Family Visitation – Fun in Fernandina Beach

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Byron’s son,  daughter in-law and daughter visited recently and we were delighted to have one of those good winter weeks with temps in the sixties.  Byron and Tim played golf one day, and then we all acted liked tourists and enjoyed a carriage ride, strolling the city, eating at local restaurants and shopping.  We tryed to take a river cruise, but not enough people signed up so we got to walk some more after looking around the marina.  It’s aways good to see family and friends and share some of this beautiful island and setting.

Tim enjoys Amelia River golf course

Julie, Tim and wife Casey enjoy marina

Birds enjoy the marina

Everyone meets Cindy and her carriage horse Zig

Marina view near sunset

Lulu's restaurant

Bailey house from carriage tour

Fernandina Beach art shoppe

 

Byron,Kasey,Deborah and Julie enjoy downtown

 

Group shot on Williams House porch

 

A favorite lunch spot

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Williams House Owners Attend Innkeeping Conference

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

We recently attended an International Innkeeping conference to catch up on latest trends and ideas for improving guests experiences.  The three day conference utilizes both Innkeepers sharing ideas that work and experts in different fields to inform  and understand guest profiles and needs.  We always return with many ideas to add more enjoyment and improve guest experiences and we look forward to trying out our ideas during 2011!

2011 begins with PAII innkeeping conference

Innkeepers surround Deneen Pottery, our mug supplier

Vendor booths at PAII

Deneen pottery shows off variety

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Christmas at the Williams House

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Christmas at the Williams House is always a fun and exciting time as we get to enjoy three night stays with our guests and share carriage rides, extended wine hour and a Christmas day buffet.  This year we also added a light dinner to tide guests over into Christmas night.  The weather cooperated well with resonable temperatures and no rain for Christmas eve carriage rides and wine hour.  The same on Christmas day although a little on the cool side. 

Christmas eve wine hour included meatballs, various cookies, cheeses,cheese biscuits, wine and soft drinks.  Christmas buffet included ham, unforgettable chicken caserole, brocoli salad, sweet potato casserole, rolls, hashbrown casserole, squash casserole, lemon cake, pecan pie, cherry pie and wines, soft drinks and tea.  It was delicious and guests seemed to enjoy.  Later in the evening Deborah served turkey chilli for those who didn’t quite get enough in the buffet.  It was a fun and relaxing time for guests and a chance for them to meet some new people as well as Deborah and Byron.

Christmas eve wine hour

Christmas eve treats

Jazz the carriage horse greets guests

Guests enjoy Christmas eve ride

Guests enjoy wine hour

More carriage riders

wine hour fun

Christmas day buffet

Guests enjoy buffet

Desserts await guests

Guests enjoy buffet

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Williams House Tea Party

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Williams House Tea

It’s been a busy couple of months at the Williams House with Thanksgiving and Christmas events so I’m going to be catching up on some of the blogging over this period.  We’ll start with a  tea for about 20 ladies to celebrate the season.  It was a combined group from two garden clubs that came to enjoy Deborah’s high tea with several varieties of tea, tasty finger sandwiches, scones, cookies and creme filled strawberries.  Deborah definitely enjoys these events and creating the tempting items that go together with a variety of teas.  Of course, Byron is the chief sampler and food taster and  must give his best tasting efforts to insure quality.  In this case…excellent!  It was a fun event with the excitement of the holiday season nearing .

Ladies enjoy tea in the parlor

Tea party goodies

More goodies

More ladies in parlor

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