An urban retreat for riders

Harrisburg, Pa.—While making plans to attend the Sturgis Road Show in April, I received the suggestion to stay at City House Bed and Breakfast in downtown Harrisburg, just a five-minute ride from the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex where the show was being held.

City House B&B was built by a Harrisburg businessman in 1925, and went through several changes in ownership before proprietors Erica and Chris Bryce purchased the stately building and transformed it into a luxury bed and breakfast, opening its doors to guests in November 2010.

The architecture features a gabled roof, outdoor veranda and French doors. The couple has furnished it quite comfortably in an eclectic mixture of classic contemporary and antique-style furniture. Guests enter the inn by stepping into a Florida room made to look like a French café where you can eat breakfast or just gaze at the lovely view of the Susquehanna River across Front Street.

The first floor has several common areas including a sitting room with a fireplace, the library/TV/stereo room and a formal dining room. Original paintings adorn the walls, and City House is one of the locations for “3rd in the Burg” held the third Friday of every month when galleries throughout Harrisburg host special exhibitions and events.

City House has four guest rooms, each with quite luxurious beds and linens, newly remodeled private bathroom, 40” LCD flat-screen TV and wireless internet, among other amenities. The common hall outside the bedrooms has a 24-hour kitchenette with coffee machine, refrigerator, microwave and snacks. The inn has off-street parking behind an electronic gate, a 10′ x 10′ tent for motorcycles and a bucket full of old towels next to a garden hose.

City House is just a few blocks away from 2nd Street, known as Restaurant Row where you can choose from several cuisines. The Capitol Complex is within walking distance of City House, as is the downtown business district, galleries and museums. Festivals are held on Front Street all summer long, just steps away from the inn.

The room rates are quite reasonable, and include a bountiful Continental breakfast. I could easily imagine spending a week or more in this lovely retreat in the heart of the city.