So what makes people share their incredibly beautiful homes with perfect strangers? We really don't know but we're awfully glad that Gwenda and John do just that. From the outside, their 200-year-old home probably looks as it did not long after it was built, thanks to this couple's meticulous restoration. Inside, it may not look much like it did in 1806 but it is spectacular by any standard _ an expansive , modern kitchen with a Wolfe range ensconced in a huge center island; quartz counter tops stainless steel frig, microwave and oven ; acres of cabinet space framed by elegant moulding; window seats and pastel-painted walls morphing into a spacious living room carpeted with an oriental rug and lighted by huge windows that overlook Bristol's main drag, Thames Street. There's a graceful staircase leading to the apartment upstairs and behind that a comfortable bedroom next to a charming bathroom with a huge shower and a counter top supported by an antique sideboard cleverly adapted to the sink's plumbing. The house comes with every accoutrement you could desire and more, including high-end appliances, flatware, towels, snacks, books, DVDs. If you can't find what you need just ask.
The house is perfectly located, beyond the rowdiness of the downtown bars but a short walk to them if that's what you like, as well as many of the town's best restaurants and charming neighborhoods. Its a 10-minute bike ride to the renown bike path that runs from Colt State Park to Providence and a little longer ride in the opposite direction to the Mt. Hope Bridge and the exquisite gardens of the Blithewold Mansion. We parked our car in the driveway just beyond Gwenda's beautiful vegetable and flower gardens and didn't use it again until we left three days later.
And we can't say enough about Gwenda and John's friendliness and hospitality. They were both warm, welcoming landlords, eager to bend over backwards to meet our every need and engage in thoughtful conversations, sharing their experiences in Bristol and beyond. There aren't enough stars in the rating system to adequately describe this rental.