Andrea Prince has created a beautiful B & B, perched on the mountainside overlooking the vast Verde Valley, and to stay with her is a delectable, unique experience. She has made the Surgeon's House a work of art, where color and light change from room to room, and comfortable nooks abound. Ms. Prince is a quiet dynamo, up early for her morning meditation followed by her jog about the town of Jerome. I found her after her jog, busy in her marvelous kitchen, preparing the guest breakfasts. She initially bought the Surgeon's House, from the mining company, to be her primary residence. Local artists have contributed to the character of the place, from the interior paint schemes to the garden stonework and floral plantings. Her home is filled with an eclectic array of art, ranging from Arizona artists to works by Emmett Fritz, a mid 20th century painter from St. Augustine, Florida. Fritz is a favorite of Andrea's, as she grew up watching him paint the street secnes of that city, and she has a remarkable collection of his work. Andrea denies being an artist, but the point is arguable after one sees her in her kitchen and tastes her wonderful breakfast creations. She has a 72" Wolf commercial range that she keeps busy, popping such treats as homemade scones and egg and multi cheese casseroles in and out of the two ovens. She has written three cookbooks (and she has a CD available that have the recipes and artwork from all three), and she is masterful in her productions. Without exaggeration, our breakfast was the best that we have ever had in a B & B or most restaurants, for that matter. There is something for everyone, and plenty of it. Anything left that the guests do not eat go to the neighbors, which would be a good reason to possibly move to Jerome and be close to the Surgeon's House! The refrigerator is filled with drinks available at all times, including wines, and the kitchen counter always has some goodies (chocolate brownies!) We stayed in the Maid's Room, Front, and our windows overlooked the Valley and Andrea's Garden. The bed was comfortable and loaded with pillows; the room well appointed. Here, as in the rest of the house, there is plenty of neat art and things to look at on the walls. The view from the room is terrific. As there are no mosquitoes in Jerome (I guess one of the few places in the world!), we slept with the screenless windows open for the pleasant valley breezes to waft in from far below. If you have forgotten any toiletries, the bathroom closet is filled with every possible need...shampoos, shaving cream and razors, Q-tips, lotions; it's just like home. The tap water is good to drink, coming from the mountain springs. Outside, the extended gardens were coming to glory this springtime, flowers beginning to bloom as the valley breeze stirred the stand of black bamboo. Comfortable lawn chairs are scattered throughout, most with valley views. An upper and lower level fishpond is filled with healthy looking goldfish of many colors, all of which are named by Andrea. They are quite tame, as Andrea can pick them up, and they'll come up to the surface to gently "kiss" your fingertips when you put your hand in the water. It's quite neat. Jerome can get a little noisy on the weekends, with bikers coming in and bands playing in the heart of town. The Surgeon's House is close to, yet up above the fray, so you can participate in the party if you would like, yet walk back and have a restful sleep away from the drumbeats of the late-nighters. Our stay at Andrea's was an absolute delight, and I hope to have the opportunity to visit her again. She knows what she is about, and she runs her place as a B & B ought to be run: with attention to her guests wants and needs with a warm and caring disposition. Meeting people like Ms. Prince is one of the great things about travel...she has made the Surgeon's House into a true home away from home. If you are to stay in Jerome, this is the place to check into!
