Breakfast at the Duke Mansion

I was invited to have breakfast this week at the Duke Mansion. Usually this is a pleasure reserved for the Bed and Breakfast guests, but I was fortunate enough to be an exception. There are some things worth getting up early for and breakfast at the Duke Mansion is one of them. Owned by James Buchanan Duke, father of Doris, this property is an oasis of peace and beauty only minutes from downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the birthplace of the Duke Endowment which has been a tremendous charitable asset to the region. The house, the rooms (some with sleeping porches!) and the gardens all speak of an elegant time that is a joy to revisit. There are ways to experience the grandeur of the Mansion even if you don’t stay at the Bed and Breakfast. It is host to special events from debutante parties to business meetings to formal dinners, all in a verdant, historical setting that delights the senses. In addition to the setting and the service, The Duke Mansion is special in another way – it is a nonprofit with all of the proceeds from your visit being used to preserve and maintain this historic property. The website, www.dukemansion.com will tell you more about the history and activities of this grand American treasure.