Located
on a tree-lined lane just a half block from the Lake Michigan shoreline lies
the Sherwood Forest bed and breakfast. This two story barn-red Victorian Inn is
simply unique. At first glance the wrap-around porch, leaded glass windows, oak
paneled staircases and hard wood floors evoke a feeling of tradition and
charm. Upon further inspection, one is
struck by a combination of playful décor, decorative whimsy and fantasy which
aptly describes the collection of themed rooms available to guests – some
traditional and some decisively decorated.
This
unique property is a panoply of styles filled with artifacts and whimsy
reflecting the personalities of the owners. The traditional rooms are furnished
in early Americana with comfortable sitting areas, period antiques, cozy wing
chairs, patchwork quilts and oriental rugs. One suite sports a fireplace, wet
bar and Jacuzzi. A third room is carried out in an oriental theme. Clearly the
most unusual rooms are the log cabin suite and the tree-top room. The log cabin suite reminds one of a
movie-set version of an Adirondack hideaway with walls of chinked pine. The
elevated gas stone fireplace evokes images of readers lounging on country-plaid
sofas. The tree-top room transports one to the enchanted forest. The separate
cottage on the property is appropriate for families or groups and features an
interesting façade reminiscent of the gold rush boom towns in the old west.
This
eclectic clutch of rooms is the creation of owners Keith and Sue Charak, two
fascinating people who seem like characters from a Fellini movie, cast as
Chicago hippy ex-patriots who open a quirky bed & breakfast in a wealthy
beach town – They are perfect for the part! Seek them out. Sue will serve you a
gracious breakfast in the lace-curtained dining room, while Keith will engage
you in a “mellow-intelligent” conversation extolling the virtues of his
refurbished vintage bicycles and the Inn’s mural-adorned heated swimming pool –
according to him “The hippest pool on the planet”
Sherwood
Forest is open year-round and offers a variety of unusual packages.
