I've got to digress a moment and tell you a little about Jack and Karen. Karen is the tireless hostess who does all the buying and decorating for Maggie West. She must sleep sometime, but she's up before anybody filling the house with mouthwatering breakfast smells. Jack is a bundle of energy. He's an accountant with the handshake of a lumberjack. He humbly portrays himself as "Karen's helper" at breakfast, but I suspect he has more pull at the inn than either of them lets on. (He spent over an hour running a special telephone line to our room so we could check email!)

Jack and Karen are delightful hosts. If you're travelling anywhere in the Pittsburgh area—or if you're a local looking to get away just for the weekend—make it a point to stay at Maggie West! It will become one of your most treasured memories. (I miss them both after but a four day stay....) But back to our experience....

The one reservation Phyllis had (that I totally overlooked in my excitement) was that there was no air-conditioning. Mid-June in Pennsylvania is like March in Texas. The nights can be downright chilly and it doesn't go much higher than 80 during the day. Jack hadn't yet installed the room air conditioners. He promised that he'd get ours installed, and try to get the kids' room AC installed, before we got back that evening. So, we signed up for our four day stay and they gave us our back door and our room keys. (Jack was true to his word. When we "moved in" around 6 p.m. our AC and the kids' was installed and working.)

The Victorian home was built in 1857 and the original floor in the kitchen—while recently painted—even shows the replacement floorboards inlaid when the fireplace was reduced in size in the early 1900s. Throughout our stay I kept wondering at the generations of people who had walked where I was walking. It made me aware, not only of my own mortality, but of the longlasting value of real estate!

The back door enters into the kitchen. Since parking is in the back, it's the most-used door. The dining room has one entrance to the left as you come in the back door, and one from the front sitting room. Breakfast is served at 9:00 a.m. and what a breakfast Karen and Jack serve up! Every morning there's a huge bowl of mixed fruit cut into dices awaiting you with tall glasses of orange juice and fresh-brewed coffee. Then the cooking begins. One morning it was scrambled eggs, a huge piece of french toast, thick slices of bacon and a sweet roll/cake (that I was too full to even taste). Next morning it was eggs, more thick bacon slices, and toasted Italian bread. After that, Eggs Benedict (!) and on our final morning, eggs, Bob Evans sausage, pancakes and homemade biscuits. One thing these folks don't try to cut corners on is food! We never could eat all they set before us. I'm convinced they feed a bunch of homeless people—or a small army detachment—with all the leftovers . . . .

I took one of their brochures up to our room and was startled to read "Children over 16 welcome." I could certainly understand that because every room is packed with antiques. But we were there with a 7 and a 13 year old. I asked Karen about that and she explained they allowed younger children on a case-by-case basis, and sometimes they'll have guests who don't want kids around. The two grandkids behaved well enough during our initial visit that they never mentioned the age restriction. Smoking is permitted only on the front veranda and the back porch. No pets are allowed.

While it's not part of the bed and breakfast experience, Karen has set up 2 of the front rooms for formal teas or brunches. Unfortunately, my flash wasn't powerful enough to properly light the room. Believe me, they are elegant! Call them to schedule a tea or brunch. Judging from our breakfast experiences, you'll be delighted!

(I apologize for not including pictures of the bedrooms. I didn't think of doing this webpage until after we'd unpacked and had our stuff on the dressers. The bedrooms are huge (!) and filled with antiques. Each has its own remote-controlled TV. Ours had its own bathroom. They even included plush bathrobes, spare full-sized bath soap and a hair dryer. I was continually amazed at the little touches they did to make our stay easy and pleasant.)

Maggie West Bed and Breakfast is just 3 blocks from the Allegheny River, about 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and about 30 minutes from Kennywood Amusement Park, one of the historic amusement parks in the country. If you're visiting the Pittsburgh area, you owe it to yourself to call Jack and Karen and see if they have an opening. They're great people who love what they're doing and who they're doing it for. You'll have the time of your life! Click here to see better pictures.

Postscript - A week after returning home to Texas, we got a package in the mail with a note from Karen. "Hi, Bruce and Phyllis. Enclosed is Ashley's little ? (stuffed animal). She probably doesn't even know it's gone — but then again, it could be one of her favorites. It was good having you here. The best to you & yours. Sincerely, Karen"

Karen went above and beyond in returning the toy . . . but that's just like her. And that's why you'll so enjoy your stay there. Don't miss it. It's worth even going out of your way!