WILMINGTON, N.C. (CAPE FEAR WEEKEND) - Wilmington is known for its rich history, beauty and charm. One thing that has stuck around since the 1890s are bed and breakfasts. A prestigious award was given to a local B&B located in the heart of downtown Wilmington, the C.W. Worth House.
According to the 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest sponsored by USA TODAY, the C.W. Worth House won the number one spot on the list. Some might wonder how certain places get nominated, according to Jeff Mason, the owner of the bed and breakfast, it’s a mystery to him too.
“That’s the big secret that they will not reveal. I actually did reach out to them to see if I could find out and they really just told us that it’s their travel experts that come up with the list of nominees and they didn’t really go into any further details,” said Mason.
According to 10Best USA TODAY, the nominees are submitted by a panel of experts who spend each day traveling to new places and searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. The 10Best editors then narrow down the list to select the final nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Then, it’s up to the readers to vote once per category, per day, to crown the top business or destination.
The C.W. Worth House in Wilmington was a great nominee, especially since it’s the longest-operating B&B in Wilmington. It’s considered a Queen Ann style home and it was built in 1893. The current owners, married couple Jeff Mason and Jen Blomberg purchased the house in February of 2022. Shorty after they remodeled the home with updated accommodations to make it more modern with up-to-date standards.
The house includes 7 large bedrooms and private bathrooms with a unique layout behind each door.
Something that is complimentary for all guests, which we’re told they love, are the homemade breakfasts each morning. Blomberg cooks each meal to perfection in the spacious kitchen and updated dining room. Mason says his wife’s cooking is excellent and she tends to switch her dishes up so the guests get to try something different each morning.
“We like to have guests be able to try different breakfast each morning. So, we typically do not repeat if you’re staying here for multiple nights, this way you get to try different things each morning,” said Mason.
A menu is posted the night before and of course they take allergies and dietary restrictions into consideration. Some of the meals Mason mentioned were a delicious ham and egg dish, french toast, homemade muffins and different quiches such as a Mediterranean one and asparagus goat cheese quiche.
Another change from the recent renovation is the dining room set-up. What used to include a traditional, large dining table was switched to individual tables where people can still mingle but also eat separately.
Other amenities include a fire pit, games and a water garden to enjoy in the backyard.
We can’t forget about the complimentary wine social hour which happens each night before guests head out into the town and explore.
“A lot of times we end up discussing dinner plans. We like to give dinner recommendations for where people can go, majority of the restaurants are all walkable from the house, which is a nice feature. It’s normally a nice way for our guests to start their evening before they head out,” said Mason.
Another updated renovation are newly installed keypads on each of the bedroom doors. The guests are given a code when they arrive and it allows them to get inside the front and back door of the house along with their bedroom more easily. Mason said it’s and added layer of security and assurance for those who stay there.
Something to make your stay extra special is by adding one of the many packages they offer to your experience. Two popular ones are the romance and birthday package. The romance one includes chocolate covered strawberries, sparkling wine, roses, breakfast in the room the following morning and of course it’s gorgeously set up before walking into the room after check-in. The birthday package includes a personal birthday cake, a bouquet of balloons and sparkling wine as well.
Mason describes the packages as the perfect surprise for your loved one or for whoever is traveling with you. Which seems like the perfect beginning to a getaway in a city that has so much to offer.
“We’re in walking distance with all the attractions downtown, whether it be the horse and carriage rides, or the sunset cruises, as well as all the great restaurants that Wilmington has. We’re only three blocks in from the riverfront and about a five minute walk to the start of the of the Riverwalk,” said Mason.
To book your next stay in Wilmington at the C.W. Worth House, check out their website.
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