A Romantic B&B Stay in Deerfield

A night at the Wild Orchard Guest Farm

I often get asked which NH towns have been my favorites and the answer is always that the ones I expect the least from seem to show me the best time. Deerfield was no exception. With a population of about 4,000 people, Deerfield is mostly fairgrounds and farmland — with one pizza place and one gas station tucked in. So, how was I going to have a memorable evening in Deerfield? Ah yes, the Wild Orchard Guest Farm on Candia Road. A dirt road, no less.

The guest farm is owned and operated by Molly Grant, whom I’ve had the pleasure of bumping into a few times prior to staying at the Wild Orchard. I always thought she was a cool chick and after staying on her property, I can absolutely confirm: Molly Grant is one cool chick. Who else makes handcrafted leather shoes in her home studio, owns peacocks and miniature horses, and can whip up a killer breakfast (which of course, is presented on handmade pottery that she’s collected)?

The inn is the perfect bed & breakfast size — small enough to feel like “home” but large enough for guests to have privacy. And there’s something about being tucked away on 300 acres of farmland that just puts you at ease. As my boyfriend and I drove onto the property, Molly was outside greeting a honeymooning couple from Ireland. She gave the four of us the tour, pointing out various pieces in her home and treating us to a walk-through of her workshop, and we immediately began to form a family-like bond.

After my boyfriend and I settled into our room and toasted our good fortune with a glass of prosecco, we headed to the only bar/restaurant in town, the Lazy Lion Café. I have driven by the Lazy Lion a zillion times and always wanted to stop; it looks so inviting from the outside as the large windows provide a peek of the lively crowd. The interior proved to be just as inviting with twinkle lights making the room glow and a guitarist providing the perfect cover to flirty conversation.

Lo and behold, our new Irish friends were seated a couple tables away and we joined forces after our meals to cement an impromptu double date. The highlight for me was watching my boyfriend engage in an animated conversation with them about U2, which all parties agreed is a national treasure of Ireland. After finishing off our hard ciders, my boyfriend and I returned to the guest farm and got ready for the hot tub like giddy little school children. We had the rest of our bottle of prosecco to finish and stars to gaze at and before we knew it, it was 1 a.m. and we were steamed prunes.

The next morning, Molly made us all breakfast and we got to enjoy the company of an additional couple that arrived the evening before. We lingered over coffee and, again, it felt like family. When it came time to go, we took photos together and exchanged contact information and hugs. With nowhere to rush off to, Molly kindly let us enjoy the grounds as long as we wished, so we fed the horses, imitated the peacocks and eased ourselves into the most picturesque fall day.

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