Tara

For those of you who enjoy a bit of Southern hospitality but don't have the chance to actually visit the South, Tara-A Country Inn is the place for you.

Located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, about a 90 minute drive from Pittsburgh and about an hour from Cleveland, Ohio,it is a wonderful weekend getaway at a reasonable price. If you are a fan of "Gone With the Wind", this is the place for you. Named for the antebellum mansion in that book and movie, it offers some 27 luxurious guest rooms, all named for some aspects of the book, the Rhett Butler, Scarlett, etc. Built in 1854, it was opened as a country inn by the late Jim Winner and his wife Donna in 1986. Mr. Winner was noted as an entrepreneur (he was responsible for the popularity of the "Club" automobile safety device popular in the '70s and '80s) as well as his civic efforts on behalf of the Mercer County area, particularly Sharon, Pennsylvania.

When you arrive at the inn for a visit, you are greeted by the bellman, who offers you a glass of champagne as he takes you to your room.  In your room, you will find a bottle of champagne and several small snacks to tide you over until dinner. The rooms are quite spacious and include vintage furniture as well as in-room Jacuzzis and televisions and DVD players. (A large selection of DVDs is available. Just ask at the front desk)

Sprinkled throughout the Inn and the beautifully-manicured grounds (the smell of boxwood fills the air) are numerous large bronze statutes, most with a Western theme. Also, there are many Civil War artifacts and memorabilia from the movie. It is worth taking one of the tours to learn about those as well as the mansion itself.

One of the highlights of any visit is the food! Guests are invited to attend a tea on weekends at 4:00 p.m. that includes a large selection of teas (Plantation Mint is one of my favorites and particularly appropriate) as well as several pastries, including scones with clotted cream, cookies as well as chocolate-covered strawberries and egg salad sandwiches. At 6:00 p.m. a cocktail party is held in one of the parlors. A champagne punch is offered as well as cheese and crackers. Both are included as part of the "Gone With the Wind" package.

Also included in the package is dinner and breakfast at one of the fine restaurants, Ashley and Stonewall. We have eaten in Ashley's several times and it offers outstanding cuisine consisting of a seven course menu that begins with soup (last time we had asparagus consomme) and ends with a pastry with brie cheese and port wine or Christian Brothers brandy. In between are salads, appetizers such as beef carpaccio,  entrees such as beef medallions and desserts, including cherries jubilee (my favorite) and bananas Foster (a favorite of my wife). Both are flamed in the dining room before your eyes. A piano player, a large sparkling crystal chandelier and a large mural covering the walls showing plantation life create a truly romantic atmosphere. Many of the couples are celebrating wedding anniversaries and birthdays. A jacket and tie is required for men at dinner and reservations are a must for both dinner and breakfast. Breakfast is also wonderful, including fried french toast and buttermilk pancakes.

 Tara is a favorite place for wedding ceremonies and receptions.  The weddings take place in a large gazebo and the receptions in a large tent next to the outdoor pool. There is also an indoor heated pool.

For more information, contact Tara at 724-962-3535 or view the website at www.Tara-Inn.com.

We highly recommend Tara as a refreshing getaway.