New Aiken bed and breakfast offers tranquility, comfort
Oct. 17—Those looking to get away from the noise of everyday life now have a new place to check out in Aiken.
The Birdnest Inn is a new bed and breakfast, located at 5200 Sizemore Circle, right off Whiskey Road. The establishment prides itself on being "peaceful and comfortable," according to Melinda Walton, the owner and innkeeper.
"The idea was to do an upscale inn," Walton said.
She purchased the property, the home of a prior B&B, earlier this year, and has been working on remodeling it since February, before opening about three weeks ago.
The two-story building is home to five upstairs rooms, and a suite downstairs. Each room is named after a bird: bluebird, cardinal, cowbird, goldfinch, hummingbird and mockingbird.
An extensive collection of original, homemade pottery and art can be seen throughout the building, which Walton has collected through her travels around the world.
"I did interior design for 35 years out in Houston (and) I had an international design firm," Walton said. "I worked in Tahiti, Scotland, England, all over the U.S. When my husband passed away, I couldn't travel like that anymore."
Her desire to settle down led her to Aiken and the establishment of the Birdnest Inn.
The inn is "technology-light," Walton said, so there are no televisions in the building. In their place, there's an extensive collection of paperback books for guests to choose from. There are also benches on the property, as well as a gazebo and pool, to allow for maximum relaxation.
One of these benches is next to the chicken coop, where 31 hens and a rooster live. Walton described watching them as a "comedy hour."
For guests who are traveling to Aiken with an equestrian companion, the Birdnest Inn even has stalls and paddocks for horses.
The rooms range in price from $159-$259 a night. All of the rooms are keyless, and Walton uses a four-digit code for the door locks.
To learn more about the Birdnest Inn or to schedule a stay, visit thebirdnestinn.com.
