Longing for Home Bed and Breakfast

Welcome to Longing for Home, a North Alabama bed and breakfast located in the midst of the Tennessee Valley just one hour west of Huntsville, Alabama and two hours from Birmingham, Alabama and Nashville, Tennessee. Set serenely on fifteen wooded acres, transected by picturesque Weaver Branch Creek, this 1880's style farmhouse is a great romantic hideaway, a peaceful weekend getaway, or vacation destination for anyone looking to experience the renewed "state of mind, place of grace, and way of life" * of ages past that is Longing for Home. Let yourself be pampered for a while as you step back in time to a slower pace of life when the warmth of friendship and hospitality were highly valued.

* Taken from How To Be A Better Southerner, Carolyn Kent, Southern Renaissance Publishing, Nashville, TN

With recent renovations, this Tennessee Valley bed and breakfast features three spacious guestrooms: Sunshine Daydreams, Country Graces, and Simple Pleasures, each designed to foster a peaceful state of mind, a quiet place of grace, and a slower pace of life. For those with a zest for the outdoors, "The Sleeping Porch", provides a view of the stars at night and the opportunity to wake to the music of nature that surrounds this charming country setting.
 

Each of our guestrooms has its own bath with washstand-style sinks set atop marble vanity counters along with all the amenities needed to ensure a memorable stay. The Sleeping Porch features its own shower-steam combination as well as a separate, shared powder room. Sunshine Daydreams features a fireplace and a Jacuzzi tub along with its own balcony for your morning coffee or to enjoy anytime. Country Graces offers a cozy atmosphere where you can soak in the antique claw-foot tub by candlelight glowing from the 200 year-old mantle. Simple Pleasures, while the smallest of our guestrooms, is the most luxuriously appointed with a cozy reading nook. Its separate bath features a Greek soaking tub, a deep tub built especially to soak away your daily cares.

Complimentary Services Include:

• Gentle wakeup (upon request)
• Large stick-to-your-ribs "country" breakfast
• Breakfast-to-go for early departures
• Special diets (Please notify us of your need when reservations are made.)
• Evening hot beverages with homemade "goodies" served from 7-10 PM
• For the fishermen -- boat parking and electrical hook-up availability
• Concierge service (i.e. restaurant reservations, guided pontoon tour of Wilson Lake, tee times, box lunches)
• Steam room
• Walking trails
• Daily room service
• Local calls (free)
• Iron and ironing board available
• A local fitness center is available
• Off-street parking

Longing for Home is a country inn surrounded by 15 wooded acres, allowing you to experience the beauties of nature while enjoying the trappings of elegance from an age long past. With a peaceful "state of mind", our bed and breakfast provides a "place of grace" and "way of life" where you can catch up, unwind from today's rapid pace of life, reconnect with those you love, and recharge your batteries.

As you enter Longing for Home, you will step back to a time when hospitality and conversation were the main form of entertainment. During your stay, our common areas are yours to enjoy.

Our library, furnished with an antique writing desk and comfortable reading chairs, provides a full array of books for your use during your stay with us. Choose from a large collection of U.S. war histories that range from the American Revolution through today's conflicts, or select from a fairly comprehensive collection of religious writings and well-known 20th and 21st century authors, and curl up in front of an open fireplace. Ideal for warm debate or private discussions, this room often has an on-going game of chess on its beautifully crafted Civil War chess set.

Sit down with us and our other guests to share stories and "tall" tales or to enjoy a movie. Our living room is furnished with a leather, theater-style couch and love-seat as well as an over-stuffed chair. An old-style AM-FM radio/CD player, a large flat-screen TV with DVD player, and a large collection of movies provide an enjoyable evening. There is even a small, theater-style popcorn popper close at hand in the Breakfast Room.

Longing For Home Includes:

• ADT security system
• Exclusive use - Longing for Home is available only for our guests
• Use of our 1st floor and outside common areas
• Meeting space available for business retreats and social events
• A well-stocked library
• Large outdoor decks with gardens and pond
• Gazebo surrounded by wildflowers
• Within 1/2 mile of restaurants, shops, and antiques
• Within one minute from Wheeler Lake boat launch
• Designated smoking areas (Longing for Home is a NON-smoking facility).
  Smoking is not allowed in rooms, room decks, or common areas.
  Smoking is restricted to a designated outdoor area.

While we are your hosts, you will awake each morning to the aroma of a large "stick-to-your-ribs" farm breakfast. Menus include plenty of coffee, teas, eggs, sausage, breakfast casseroles, biscuits, fresh fruit, French toast, cereals, specialty breads, and more. Plan to bring an appetite!

Bounded on three sides by floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto our north and east decks, our Breakfast Room provides a view of the pool, the gazebo (surrounded by wildflowers), and the surrounding pastures. With three, four-person table/seating arrangements, this room provides for a quiet breakfast with your loved one. It also provides sufficient space to accommodate an off-site business meeting or space for you to accomplish that "pressing piece of work" that you just had to bring with you.

Experience the sound and smells of the North Alabama countryside during your stay. Longing for Home boasts a screened, bug-free back porch (The Sleeping Porch) and a traditional front porch complete with porch swing, as well as several large wood decks. Rock and ponder on the back porch while drinking your morning coffee and watching the birds feed. Enjoy the open air of the decking that wraps around the north and east sides of the inn. At the right time of year, you might catch sight of an eagle riding the winds above the north pasture. Relax on our large separate deck set in the tree line above our east pasture. Or venture out and enjoy the gazebo and creek that the east deck overlooks. If you are quiet enough, perhaps a deer will venture out.

Amenities

As your hosts, we want you to be "WOWED" as you first enter Longing for Home and pampered throughout your stay. It is our hope that you will hate to leave us and that you will truly look forward to your next visit to our home. With this in mind, the amenities found with each of our rooms provide a special touch of comfort and elegance that is long remembered.

All Guestrooms Include:

• Private and unique baths
• Luxury "Longing for Home" bath robes
• Luxury towels and wash cloths
• King or queen-sized Select Comfort bed with deluxe bedding
• Special "in-room" arrival treats
• Local handmade shampoos and soaps
• Refrigerators
• Fireplaces to add atmosphere and warmth
• Down pillows
• Zone controlled heating and cooling
• Wireless Internet connection
• Access to our steam room
• Access to our swimming pool

During your stay, the wooded grounds of Longing for Home offer many unique opportunities. There are walking trails where you can enjoy the peace of nature while strolling through open pastures and shaded forest paths along the gurgling water of Weaver Branch. There is a large gazebo, planted in the midst of our lower pasture and surrounded by wildflowers, which provides you with a cozy spot to idle away an afternoon. Ample wood decks offer numerous places to relax among clusters of brilliant day lilies and stately magnolia trees. The sparkling waters of our large swimming pool are a perfect choice for exercise and recreation.

Nestled among the trees, Longing for Home is the ideal location for your special events. Whether you are planning a North Alabama wedding, a family reunion or cookout, a special birthday or anniversary, a baby shower, a graduation celebration, or a unique Shoals-area fundraising event -- Longing for Home, set picturesquely on 15 beautifully landscaped acres, can make your event unforgettable. We invite you to our B&B to make your special day perfect.

Make Longing for Home your home as you experience the small town atmosphere of Rogersville, Alabama. Enjoy the warmth of the shops that line our historic downtown, explore the Civil War history of North Alabama, and/or come into full contact with the beauties of nature on Wheeler Lake as well as a surprisingly wide range of distinctive area attractions.

Below are directions to our Alabama accommodations for lodging at Longing for Home Bed and Breakfast in the Tennessee Valley near Huntsville, Alabama.

From Huntsville, Alabama
Take I-565 west from the airport and then head north on I-65 toward Nashville, TN. Take exit 351 to Athens, Alabama and turn west (left) onto U.S. Highway 72. Stay on U.S. Highway 72 through Athens and continue 20 miles to Rogersville, Alabama. In Rogersville, turn north (right) at the light (there is only one) and proceed one block to a four-way stop. Turn west (left) onto Lee Street and go a half mile. Longing for Home will be on your right, the second house past the bridge over Weaver Branch. There is a red brick wall along Lee Street and a circle drive. Longing for Home sits among trees about an acre back from the road.

From Florence, Alabama
Take U.S. Highway 72 east toward Athens, Alabama and continue 22 miles to Rogersville, Alabama. In Rogersville, turn north (left) at the light (there is only one) and proceed one block to a four-way stop. Turn west (left) onto Lee Street and go a half mile. Longing for Home will be on your right, the second house past the bridge over Weaver Branch. There is a red brick wall along Lee Street and a circle drive. Longing for Home sits among trees about an acre back from the road.

From Nashville, Tennessee
Take I-65 south from Nashville 97 miles to exit 351 toward Athens, Alabama. Turn west (right) onto U.S. Highway 72. Stay on U.S. Highway 72 through Athens and continue 20 miles to Rogersville, Alabama. In Rogersville, turn north (right) at the light (there is only one) and proceed one block to a four-way stop. Turn west (left) onto Lee Street and go a half mile. Longing for Home will be on your right, the second house past the bridge over Weaver Branch. There is a red brick wall along Lee Street and a circle drive. Longing for Home sits among trees about an acre back from the road.

From Birmingham, Alabama
Take I-65 north from Birmingham 90 miles to exit 351 toward Athens, Alabama. Turn west (left) onto U.S. Highway 72. Stay on U.S. Highway 72 through Athens and continue 20 miles to Rogersville, Alabama. In Rogersville, turn north (right) at the light (there is only one) and proceed one block to a four-way stop. Turn west (left) onto Lee Street and go a half mile. Longing for Home will be on your right, the second house past the bridge over Weaver Branch. There is a red brick wall along Lee Street and a circle drive. Longing for Home sits among trees about an acre back from the road.

Whether you want to hold a special birthday party around our pool; celebrate that 1st, 5th, 10th or 50th anniversary in a place of true beauty; gather to honor your retirement within the warmth of Longing for Home; hold a bridal luncheon on our decks or our gazebo; host a wedding or baby shower in our cozy surroundings; or generate great memories with a family or class reunion on the grounds, let us help make your next special event truly unique.

Event Capacity: Depending on the event and time of year, Longing for Home can host a maximum of 50 guests (indoors) and up to 100 guests (outdoors)

Event Time Constraints:

• Weekday Events (Monday through Friday) may be scheduled from 10 AM through 5 PM.
• Weekend Events
  • Saturday: can begin as early as 11:30 AM and must be completed by 10:00 PM.
  • Sunday: can begin as early as 1:00 PM and must be completed by 3:00 PM.

• Event Rates: To accommodate your event needs, Longing for Home offers the following rates
• Facility rental (2-hr. minimum): $100 per hour plus tax.
• Additional Wedding Support
  • Wedding Officiate - $75
  • Event Coordinator - $75/hr. (2-hr. minimum). Our event coordinator can arrange catered luncheons as needed. Cost of catering is in addition to the rental fees. A Longing for Home event coordinator can take the stress out of your event by making needed arrangements. Leave everything to us.

Wedding Package

With sites that include a gazebo sounded by wildflowers, a Tuscan Oasis which overlooks open field, an anti-bellum chimney and more, Longing For Home Bed and Breakfast is the perfect location for your outdoor wedding.  Our Wedding Package gives you ample time to organize and decorate for your wedding and reception and adds special memories with two nights in one of our luxuriously furnished guestrooms. 

This $1,500.00 Wedding Package provides:

• Your choice of guestrooms for the Bride and one guest the day before the wedding

• Guestroom accommodation for the Bride and Groom the Wedding night

• Wedding event begins at 3 PM the day before the wedding and ends at check out at 11 AM the day following your wedding.

Caterers must be pre-approved by Longing For Home.  Proof of caterer’s license and insurance is required.

To reserve you wedding date, a non-refundable $750.00 wedding deposit and $200.00 damage deposit are required.  To avoid cancellation, wedding package balance is due to Longing For Home thirty (30) calendar days prior to the wedding date.    

Longing For Home Wedding/Event Support

To help simplify your wedding/event planning, Longing For Home offers the following services:

• Rental of Wedding/Event equipment.  Fee: See Equipment Rental form
• Wedding/Event Coordinator services.  Fee: $100.00/hour
• Wedding Officiate services.  Fee: $75.00

Contact Betty at (256) 247-0261 or email (longingforhome@bellsouth.net) and reserve the date of your wedding and start planning today.

On a Huntsville, Alabama vacation, some may cherish the country graces, simple pleasures, and peace of mind found at Longing for Home. In addition, the area offers quite a variety of local experiences including attractions such as Marshall Space Flight Center, Joe Wheeler State Park, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

• Joe Wheeler State Park, includes boating, golfing and other outdoor recreation
• Wheeler Lake
• Wilson Dam and Lake
• Rogersville Bluegrass Festival-July
• Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge/Visitor Center
• Point Mallard Park
• Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum
• Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
• Huntsville Botanical Gardens
• Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
• Marshall Space and Rocket Center-Huntsville
• W.C. Handy Music Festival-July
• W.C. Handy Birthplace Museum and Library
• Rogersville Fall Festival
• Helen Keller Festival
• University of North Alabama-Florence
• Golf Tournaments
• Guided pontoon boat tours of Wheeler Lake
• Longing for Home Bookstore and gift shop
• Local Antique and gift shops
• Athens State University
• Trail of Tears
• Full range of dining options
• Nature Trails

For your Huntsville travel lodging, Longing for Home Bed and Breakfast is located an hour away in Rogersville, AL and is a welcome alternative to hotel accommodations. We are also within an easy driving distance from Florence, Decatur, Athens, and Birmingham as well as Nashville, Tennessee. Our location, setting, and facilities are ideal for that change of pace needed to increase your team's productivity. Let us help you with your next business-related activity. Whether your business need is to:

• hold a special "off-site" board meeting,
• host a well-deserved retreat for key members of your organization,
• use a change of location to help ensure a successful strategic planning effort,
• draw more out of a critical workgroup by having a team-building day,
• improve production via a focused training session, or
• host your annual organizational meeting off-site

Business Event Capacity:

• For corporate retreats, leadership off-sites, and focused business meeting groups - up to twelve attendees. The Breakfast Room provides work tables and space to work while our library, living room, and formal dining room as well as a large outdoor deck (weather permitting) are ideal for breakout sessions.
• For one-day organizational off-site events, Longing for Home can accommodate a maximum of 50 guests (indoors) and up to 100 guests (outdoors).
• To support your business activities, Longing for Home provides, at no additional charge, wireless Internet access, TV/DVD, and conference call capability as well as tables, flip charts, white boards, and more. Our outdoor decks also include tables with umbrellas.

Business Event Time Constraints:

• Weekday Events (Monday through Friday) may be scheduled from 10 AM through 5 PM. Specific scheduling outside these times can be accommodated with prior coordination.
• Weekend Events (Saturday Only) can begin as early as 11:30 AM and must be completed by 4:00 PM.
• Specific scheduling outside these times can be accommodated with prior coordination.

Business Event Rates: To accommodate your event needs, Longing for Home offers the following rates:

• Facility rental (2-hr. minimum): $100 per hour plus tax.
• Our event coordinator fee is $75 per hour (2-hr. minimum). Our event coordinator can arrange catered luncheons as needed. Cost of catering is in addition to the rental fees. A Longing for Home event coordinator can take the stress out of your event by making needed arrangements. Leave everything to us.
• Note: Overnight reservations are not required to reserve business meeting space. However, if you reserve two (2) or more guestrooms in conjunction with your business event, the meeting space room rental for that date will be reduced by 25%.

Longing for Home welcomes the business traveler to the Tennessee Valley. In addition to a warm and inviting atmosphere as well as tremendous in-room amenities such as Jacuzzis, decks, and fireplaces; our business guests will discover services tailored specifically with their needs in mind. These include free local calls, conference call capability, FAX, and high-speed wireless Internet access. There is also a local fitness facility within a minute's drive.

Business Travel Rates and Cancellations

• Business travel rates: Business travelers will be charged per diem rates. This discounted rate is offered to the single-occupant, business guest Sunday through Thursday evenings.
• No discount is offered Friday - Saturday.
• Business traveler reservation cancellations: Business travelers who cancel their reservation before 2:00 PM on the date of the reservation will not be charged. Cancellations after 2:00 PM are charged in full.