Owners Andy and Barbara Seaman, veteran hoteliers as well as parents of two young boys, wanted the Spring Lake Inn to be a place that offered the luxury and comfort of a B&B to families as well as couples. The couple's years of experience in hospitality gave them an edge in balancing the particular needs of a family with those of a couple on a romantic getaway.
"We're sensitive to the needs of both," said Barbara Seaman. "When you're on your honeymoon, you don't want to hear little feet over your head."
With a long and rich history in this scenic seaside town where the pace is leisurely and relaxed, the Spring Lake Inn was originally a stagecoach stop with rooms on the top floors for coachmen. Built by Timothy Hurley, circa 1888, the inn was known as the Grand Central Stables Carriage House. For proximity to the private boardwalk and beach, the 16-room Inn was moved twice in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the 70s, the Inn was known as the Spring Lake Hotel. By the mid-80s, the Inn charged $50 a week and had a restaurant on premises.
The Seamans have several spacious and family friendly rooms - with sofa sleepers or roll-away beds -- that provide convenient sleep solutions and won't put a damper on other patron's evenings a deux. One especially accommodating option consists of a combination of rooms -- The Turret and The Secret Garden -- that are secluded from the main hall behind a door with a lock too high for little hands. In this suite, Mom and Dad have their privacy complete with a Jacuzzi behind closed doors in the Turret and the kids are cozy in the Secret Garden.
Among the other terrific possibilities are The Corner Room with its claw-footed soaking tub and fireplace; the leather sofa pulls out to a double bed. The Nostalgia Room with its soothing pale yellow walls features both a queen bed and a full bed as well as a stowed away roll-out bed, making it perfect for inter-generational travel.
Rooms include refrigerators to keep snacks and drinks handy. Many rooms feature fireplaces as well as jacuzzis.
There is something for everyone in a visit to historic Spring Lake with its gingerbread Victorian houses, naturally landscaped Divine Park, and two-mile stretch of non-commercial boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean. And the Spring lake Inn is at the hub of it all.
"Grandparents might relax on the porch with a book while everyone else is at the beach," Barbara Seaman said.
In its former life, the Inn was anything but kid-friendly. Andy Seaman recalled the former owners took a hard line when it came to their no-kid policy. "They did not budge, no matter how far you drove," he said.
These days the Inn caters to families with both a breakfast buffet featuring fresh fruits, croissants, cereals, and baked goods as well as a hot entree such as citrus French Toast. They also offer beach chairs, beach towels and beach badges as well as the occasional Boogie board and outdoor showers to rinse away salt and sand.
Afternoon tea or lemonade includes snacks like chocolate dipped pretzel rods or peanut butter dreams (chocolate-covered peanut butter creams with chewy rice crisps). After a day exploring, shopping or sunning on the beach, a tall glass of lemonade is a pleasant and refreshing afternoon ritual.
Mary Macrae Warren - footloose, food-loving travel queen in search of the best places to visit, the best travel tips and the best trip deals
