Lorry Perkins
Writer, Travel Blogger
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Shoes On, Still Traveling: Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast, Ashtabula, Ohio
The Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast located in Ashtabula, OH, is one of the most beautifully decorated and cared for homes in which we have stayed. Situated on top of a scenic hill in the Historic Ashtabula Harbor, this majestic home was built in 1887 by Michael Cahill, an emigrant from Ireland who became a prosperous innkeeper. Proprietors Jo Anne and Bob Surbella, who acquired the B&B in 2018, take great care to ensure their visitors are comfortable and treated like treasured guests. There are four well-appointed, beautifully renovated rooms to choose from, each with its own private bath. Three guest rooms upstairs are on the second floor, and one is on the first floor adjacent to the dining room. This room is perfect for visitors who may have difficulty navigating a staircase. This house is equipped with central air conditioning and offers free WiFi. We always like to choose bed and breakfasts that include private baths. Even though this bed and breakfast has modern conveniences, it is listed on the national register of historic places for its restored stick-style features.
In addition to an outdoor garden with covered seating, The Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast has three covered porches with plenty of seating, including cushioned rocking chairs. Inside, you will enjoy a variety of tasteful and creatively placed antique and Victorian period decor, paired with the modern comforts of central air conditioning and WiFi. These accommodations are for nonsmoking adults, and no pets are allowed. Reservations are easily made online by going to their website. Here, you can browse the calendar for available dates and read a detailed description of each room.
Ashtabula, settled by the Iroquois Indians, means “river of many fish.” The town rests on the Ashtabula River beside the waters of Lake Erie. We have passed through this town multiple times on our way to Geneva on the Lake, which is only about 15 minutes away, but never took the time to stop, even though the historic district looked rather charming and interesting. We found the Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast while searching on the internet after our regular B&B was sold and no longer offering individual rooms. We like that the town is walkable and there are several little specialty shops and fantastic restaurants close by.
Garden View Suite
We stayed in the Garden View Suite, a large room featuring a luxurious queen bed with soft linens and an abundance of pillows. There are a couple of Queen Anne chairs for reading or relaxing, an armoire for hanging your clothing, a Smart TV, and this room has one of the largest bathrooms we have ever had in a B&B. It has a modern glass-enclosed shower and a separate clawfoot tub with a wooden tray to hold bath accessories and a book for relaxing and reading. There are lavender-scented bath salts and even a rubber duckie to keep you company while you soak. The bathroom includes an assortment of other extras like shower caps, shampoo, body wash, scented bath salts for soaking, Q-tips, and many amenities such as a magnifying mirror and a towel warmer for added luxury.
Antique Roses Room
Because this B&B is so popular, we had to stay in a smaller room when we stayed there a month later, because it was the only one available. So make your reservations early if you want your choice of days or rooms. The Antique Roses Room is smaller but has a comfortable bed, a chair with a side table, an armoire with a TV on top, and a large bathroom. The clawfoot tub has an overhead shower with a curtain that wraps around the perimeter to keep the water inside. There are two sinks, a dressing table, and a towel warmer.
First Floor Common Rooms and Second Floor Sitting Room
Loveseat in second-floor sitting room 
Book nook tucked under steps 
There is a sitting room on the second floor with plenty of natural light for reading and a beverage station for coffee and tea. In addition, there is a refrigerator for cold drinks and a small freezer stocked with individual scoops of ice cream and toppings for you to make a sundae treat. If you lack reading materials, you can choose from a variety of books and magazines nestled throughout the sitting room and in a semi-hidden stash by the front door on the first floor. If you prefer a more formal setting, there is a living and dining room area with plenty of comfortable seating for relaxing or visiting with the other guests. Coffee and tea are available here throughout the day, along with a few sweet treats stashed in the candy jars.
Breakfast is Served!
Breakfast, which is included, can be anything from french toast and bacon to eggs with peppers, sausage, and a side of avocados stuffed with queso and salsa. Bob, owner, and resident chef, is sensitive to each guest’s needs and will accommodate allergies and food sensitivities. A large fresh fruit cup is served first with a glass of juice and your choice of coffee or tea. Great care is taken with each tablecloth, placemat, place setting, dinnerware, and glassware. A decorative napkin ring secures cloth napkins for a picture-perfect table.
Where to eat in the Historic Ashtabula Harbor
Fitzgerald’s Wine Bar, Restaurant & Wine Shoppe
Our hosts recommended Fitzgerald’s Wine Bar for dinner, and it did not disappoint us. In fact, when we came back a month later, we reserved a table at Fitzgerald’s for dinner our first night. From their menu, we chose panko and pistachio encrusted salmon served with roasted potatoes, asparagus, and a touch of soubise sauce, and for our second entree, ravioli stuffed with mushrooms, topped with portobello mushrooms, spinach, and pine nuts. For dessert, we shared a caramel cake topped with vanilla ice cream. You do not need to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy this delicious cuisine. Reservations are suggested.
Rennick Meat Market
The last time we stayed in Ashtabula Harbor, we wanted to eat lunch at Rennick Meat Market, but they were closed for a private party. Although the restaurant is known for their meat, Innkeepers Jo Anne and Bob highly recommended Rennick’s black bean and cashew burger, so we had to try it. We ordered one of those and a vegetable sandwich. Both were delicious. Meat eaters have said that Rennicks’s steaks are the best.
Bascule Bridge Grille
According to the Bascule Bridge Grille website, “our focus is on seasonal food, local produce, innovative recipes, and the drinks that pair best with them.” By the time we made it to dinner here, we were full from two days of eating. We decided to start with an appetizer of spicy cauliflower, and then we ordered their house salad made with hurricane lettuce and topped with their homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Although we were practically full at this point, we didn’t want to leave without trying their wasabi shrimp and fried brussels sprouts. We were delighted with everything we ordered, and even though the restaurant was bustling, the service was excellent.
There are many more restaurants and shops in town, but we will need a few more visits to tackle all of them. For more details, visit: http://www.historicashtabulaharbor.com.
Ashtabula Harbor Lift Bridge
After dinner, we like to walk to the harbor waterfront where the boats dock. There is a lift bridge that usually opens every half hour or so to let the boats pass. The first time we stayed in town, we crossed the historic bridge by foot and met one of the bridge keepers who sent us amazing photos of the bridge from a bird’s eye view with various colored lights and at different angles that he had taken. We were intrigued by the mechanism that lifts the bridge with a counterbalanced weight and enjoyed watching the bridge open and close.
Fat Sally’s Warehouse
Corey with his 1957 Jeep Willys 
Fat Sally’s Warehouse is an interesting twist on antique store meets flea market. It is a gathering place for visitors seeking vintage household items, period pieces, as well as Etsy-like handmade items. From collector’s items to craft items made from repurposed wood, shoppers will find something they will want to take home. It’s nostalgic and heartwarming. The brainchild of owners Corey and Amy Nagle, the couple refurbished a mid-1800s building and nearby church into a shopping and community gathering place. Named after the couple’s dog, Fats Sally’s Warehouse now has a companion store that the couple has acquired next door. Formerly a small church, it will soon be transformed into a general store named after their other two dogs Mo and Murphy.
Corey’s vision for developing the surrounding area will make this venue a destination point in Ashtabula. He recently purchased a 1957 Jeep Willys which will serve as a focal point for the shopping area and be decorated seasonally. The Jeep, affectionately named “Sweet Sally” by the customers, will hold flowers during the growing season, pumpkins in the fall, and host Santa for the holidays. New shipments of items are constantly arriving, so you may not see the same things twice. If you find something you like, it is wise to make your purchase. Keep your eyes on this growing venture because it’s going to be spectacular. Fat Sally’s Warehouse is located at 1569 Laird Dr, Ashtabula, OH 44004.
Red Brook Metropark
Red Book Metropark, formerly the Ashtabula Harbor County Club and Golf Course, is a 146-acre public park and nature preserve located at 4338 Lake Road in Ashtabula, OH. The park is 3/4 of a mile past the Kent State University, Ashtabula Campus, traveling west on Lake Road. Remnants of the golf course are barely recognizable since the gentle slopes and fairways have been allowed to grow wild. With the help of newly added trees and wildflowers, the links now attract an abundance of butterflies, grasshoppers, and other beneficial insects. For those who prefer a flat trail, there is a loop that is paved and easy to navigate. Park benches are strategically placed for resting or nature watching. If you like a more strenuous walk or hike, there are steeper paths that wind through the park leading to thicker woods, a bridge, and 2 miles of the protected Red Brook Creek. Visitors can fish, hike, bird watch, snowshoe, and cross country ski.
Martinis! Restaurant and Lounge located in Red Brook Metropark
Martinis! Restaurant and Lounge is located at the entrance to the park and is open for dinner. There is plenty of parking for both diners and those using the park for recreation. Restrooms are available at the park entrance. Watch for further development of Red Brook Park.
Visit the Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast and Historic Ashtabula Harbor
Whether you are looking for a weekend escape or a week-long stay, the Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast is the perfect place. We have been there twice in two months and will be planning our next visit because there are so many other activities to do, such as hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Walnut Beach is just a short walk from the B&B. There are more than 30 wineries,19 covered bridges, museums, parks, ghost tours, festivals, and more. See for yourself what they have to offer and let me know if the Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast is the place for you.
The Michael Cahill Bed and Breakfast
Owners: Jo Anne & Bob Surbella
1106 Walnut Blvd.
Ashtabula, Ohio 44004
Phone: (440) 813-0572
Email: cahillbb1@gmail.com
What a beautiful and quaint place to stay! I love staying in places like this versus chain hotels. You always get such a different experience that feels more ‘local’ than tourist. Your photos show off the rooms and how they are beautifully decorated.I’m curious to know, how was the breakfast?
The breakfast was delicious. They served great coffee too!
What a beautiful B&B accommodation. I’ll save this article so that I can refresh it and stay over once I am nearby. As Kat mentioned, I love how you choose less-known places that feel less touristy. Great job.
The people who live there make you feel like you are one of the family.
We often don’t do B&B stops on our travels. We have found the experience varies widely. But the Michael Cahill B&B in Ashtabula looks like it could be the exception to the rule. It looks like a lovely spot to enjoy being locals. And so close to the sights too!
It is definitely the exception. I can’t recommend it enough.
OMG the suite looks like something out of a novel! I’d love to stay here, especially cause it has more character than the hotels I usually stay at
It has so much character. It’s decorated beautifully, but they make it look effortless.
This is such a cozy and beautiful place. It shows that B&Bs are always the most alluring lodging option. I particularly like the design of this super-spacious bathroom – I’d probably spend the entire evening in there 🙂