Victorian Inn Bed & Breakfast

B&Bs are our preferred lodging when we travel so we have a lot of experience with these across the country. We just stayed at the Victorian Inn in Galveston for a medical school reunion in Galveston. The mansion is one block over from where I lived as a medical student in Galveston. This is truly a very special place. The owner/​manager Marcy Hanson is totally dedicated to her home and B&B. The mansion is one of the best that we have stayed at. The room was large, quiet, comfortable, and impeccably decorated to the Victorian and historic times in Galveston. Marcy will give you a tour and terrific history of the house. Being a Galveston native and long time resident of Galveston, she will give you some great history of the city and recommendations of what to do and the local’s restaurants. This really adds a great touch to the stay. She maintains a rabbit rescue and you can walk around among them which is a real treat. When staying here you can take a nice walk through the historic home district and you are in very close proximity to the Strand historic area. Marcy is a terrific chef and her breakfast is one of the best that we have had at a B&B. Marcy is really fun to talk with. I can’t recommend another place more highly. I only wish we could have spent more time there. Please feel free to contact me if I can help you with your stay in Galveston.

Not often do I get to write a review where a place deserves more stars than allowed on the Unilocal spectrum, however this is one of those magical places.
For people interested in merely logistics: This B&B is situated in an old Victorian home from 1899 (had over 200 people on the upper levels taking refuge in 1900). You get a home-​cooked breakfast each day between 8 – 10 (but leftovers are available if you sleep in). The only house rules are to not let anyone inside the house who does not have a key (exception for Mr. Kitty). Parking is on the street. There are six rooms, each with their own features. We stayed in the master bedroom, Mauney’s Suite– which has a bathroom attached of course. There are no TVs in the majority of the rooms, but there is one in the «library.»
But you didn’t want to read this review for logistics, now did you?
From the moment we set foot in the house, we felt a warm sense of welcomeness which just kept drawing us back and back again each day. Marcy, the current owner, greeted us and gave us a tour of the house. It was almost like taking a house tour at one of the mansions there in Galveston, but we’d be sleeping in the place. Fabulous! We learned that the original owners were Isaac and Clotilda Heffron and Isaac was the builder of the original causeway connecting Galveston with the mainland. He rebuilt it after the storm, and also built the seawall. His former home is absolutely well-​built and has beautiful architectural features throughout. From the floors, to the staircase, to the fireplaces– this place is just dripping with Victorian opulence. The antiques and knick knacks fill the space in a sort of balance that makes one feel at extreme peace.
Mauney’s Suite as a room was very spacious. It had a lovely screened-​in balcony which played the music of the bird so nicely. When it was warm enough, we sat outside and watched cats stalking birds feeding off seeds placed on a picnic table in the garden. During one breakfast, we were told our room was the most spiritually active, but we did not experience anything but complete relaxation– and I definitely felt a comforting, welcoming presence throughout the home.
Breakfast was different every day– and all served on antique plates & bowls. I drank my milk out of crystal goblets each morning. I experienced everything form sliced fruit, quiche, omelets, bacon, sausage, rolls, muffins, homemade preserves… and the list goes on! This isn’t your standard continental breakfast. That wonderful, loving thought your grandmother would put into baking you cookies is put into the breakfasts here. We even had chocolate cupcakes because there were two birthdays in the house (mine included, hehe). We enjoyed conversations with Marcy and other guests each morning about anything and everything under the sun.
You’re also allowed to be in the kitchen, which many B&Bs don’t do. I think this helped me feel a lot more at home than if we were to stay in a normal hotel even. There is also a well-​stocked Butler’s Pantry with snacks and coffee/​tea/​cocoa which is available ²⁴⁄₇.
The library has a lovely movie collection and very relaxing reclining chairs. One night, when we were the only ones in the place– we were able to be down there in our PJs and with our hot cocoa.
There are also numerous animals which call the property home from birds, to cats, to bunnies. The bunny sanctuary in the back is fun to visit– and you can check it out even if you’re not staying at the B&B. They aren’t cooped up in cages and are allowed to do bunny things. They’ve dug up treasures and old pieces of everything, which you can see around the sanctuary. While you’re over here, take a look at the tree carving of the angel with the bunny– she is very beautiful.
Overall, it really is a hard place to describe unless you’ve been there. I guess a good way to say it is a magical getaway when you just want to relax and enjoy life. You can stay at the house all day or you can get out– and Marcy does have many excellent recommendations. She will even make reservations for you at some of the more popular spots. We loved her recommendations.
After leaving, we have felt more relaxed than anywhere else on the Island– and I can guarantee you that this is now our exclusive stay of choice. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other places on the Island to stay which would tickle anyone’s fancy, but this place is the best experience we have ever had here. I look forward to coming back as soon as we can! And if I were there tomorrow even, it wouldn’t be soon enough!
So Unilocal,can we give this place about 7 extra stars? I think 12 stars would be a great number for this place.

So relaxing and beautiful.
I just loved my time in Galveston and this house is one of the main reasons why.
Marcy, the owner, was so gracious and kind and we were just awestruck with the entire experience of it all.
We stayed in «Laura’s room» and it was the perfect space for the three of us. When in the house we just felt like it was our own even though there were other guests. It was just that quiet and serene. The house was a traditional Victorian style home decorated beautifully with a touch of an angelic presence.
We just loved the history of the house and the owner as well. We would defiantly go back and stay here again.