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Write About Your B&B GetawayTake in an expansive ocean view from an old-fashioned wraparound porch. Exchange tips and tall tales with other experienced travelers. Stay in a place so homey that a couple of friendly pet dogs will greet you at the door.
Sound appealing? These are just a few of the experiences our readers have enjoyed during recent bed and breakfast getaways. No matter where you're traveling, staying at a B&B can make a good trip even more memorable -- by adding a touch of historic charm, facilitating meaningful interaction with other guests or sometimes even offering a great deal. Read on to hear true stories from our readers about their favorite B&B getaways.
Have you stayed at a B&B recently? Tell us about your trip!Connecticut's Autumn Charm
"After enjoying Kent Falls State Park, we continued to New Preston where we located signs to the Hopkins Inn and Hopkins Vineyards. We had twice before enjoyed wine tasting at the Hopkins Vineyard and stayed at the Hopkins Inn, a warm and beautiful structure built in 1851 and restored in 1946. The Inn sits on a hillside overlooking Lake Waramaug. The name 'Waramaug,' or 'Wonkkemaug' in the area's native tongue, means 'crooked pond with good fishing.' In the summer, guests at the Inn have use of a lakeside swimming area or can drive a short distance to a public beach and boating area. Rooms at the Inn, furnished in antiques, are located on the second and third floors, above welcoming living and dining areas. Lodgings are reached by means of narrow staircases (no elevators, folks). As I struggled up two flights of narrow stairs with our suitcases, I asked myself whether we really needed even half of their heavy contents for a four-day trip!
"The Inn's rooms are cheerful yet spartan. Our room had a muted floral-patterned wallpaper and what appeared to be original framed art on the walls. Having stayed at the Inn before, we knew there would be no modern appliances such as a telephone, radio or TV. In a modest gesture towards modernity, a small electric alarm clock was provided so we could rise in time for breakfast in one of two attractive dining areas." ~Bob W.
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Saving Big in Western Canada"Most places in Alberta have lists of local bed and breakfast places. I would never stay in a B&B in the States -- they are just too expensive for the average traveler. But in Canada, the B&B is the inexpensive way to go. We stayed at some that were average-looking homes and one I remember was right outside of Banff and it looked like a Swiss chalet.
We discovered in addition to inexpensive rates that staying in a B&B allowed you to talk to other travelers, eat charming breakfasts and get the lowdown from the owner about what to see. Some owners even helped us locate our next B&B. Next time in Canada I am going to completely forego hotels/motels and just stay at B&B's." ~Eggbreaker
Read More: Alberta, Canada Canada Bargains and FeaturesFamiliar Elegance in Martha's Vineyard
"One of our favorite places in the whole wide world is Martha's Vineyard and this year was no different than any other. In years past, we used to rent a home for a week but we go for long weekends now as our children have grown.
"This year, as in the past five, we have stayed at the Shiverick Inn. This is a lovely B&B in Edgartown. The rooms are elegantly appointed, many with antiques in them. All with private baths and showers. The Inn has been kept up very well. The service is just great. Kristen, one of the proprietors, is a whiz in the kitchen. We had some amazing breakfasts and those 4 p.m. teas with freshly baked goods were beyond compare." ~Jane K.
Read More: Martha's Vineyard Visit the New England Message BoardLuck o' the Irish
"We stayed in B&B's in Ennis, Donore, Waterford and Dingle, chatting up the innkeepers and listening to stories from other guests. The most interesting came from an elderly woman who told us about living with her engineer husband in Botswana in 1961 when it gained independence. She had been most impressed by a bejeweled Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, who presided over the festivities, and the trip to the store along miles of narrow paths, crawling with snakes, that she and her children walked. She told us she wrote fiction and poetry, and I said she should try memoir. I'd buy it -- snakes and royalty are an irresistible combo.
"When we're traveling, food is always on our minds. The B&B breakfasts were plentiful and similar. On a sideboard: fresh fruit, cereals, cheese, bread (including wonderful brown soda bread that I have tried unsuccessfully to replicate). You also order from a menu -- poached eggs with cheese, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, full Irish fry (sausage, ham and blood pudding), beans on toast. Breakfast keeps the motor humming for many hours." ~Karen Pullen Read More: Ireland, A Writer's Paradise Visit the Ireland Message BoardOff Season by the Sea
"My husband and I recently visited Spring Lake, NJ for an overnight B&B getaway. We live in Northern NJ and wanted a quick trip to relax and escape our usual busy routine. We drove down to the shore (as they say in NJ) about one hour on a beautiful, unseasonably warm October Sunday.
"We checked into our B&B, the Ocean House, and enjoyed sitting on their big wraparound porch before going to a local restaurant for dinner on the bay. The next morning we awoke to another beautiful, warm day. Unfortunately, we missed sunrise because we decided to sleep in -- the Ocean House was so quiet and comfortable. We took a long walk on the boardwalk (no running today) from Spring Lake to the next town north, Belmar. On our walk back from Belmar, we decided to walk on the local streets to see the amazing Spring Lake mansions and houses. We were then ready to dine on our inn's porch for a delicious gourmet breakfast buffet." ~Sue L.
Read More: Spring Lake, NJ Journey Cozy Winter Getaways: Spring Lake
Funky, Fabulous New Mexico"We continued into Taos and checked into the Laughing Horse B&B, which was FABULOUS -- funky and colorful and friendly. It was sort of a cross between a B&B and a hostel. There was a nice library of books, CD's and piano music, as well as a homey kitchen and living area. Our room was very small with a single bed on the lower level and a double bed in a loft reached via wooden ladder. We had a sink, but the shower and toilet were in a shared bathroom down the hall.
Outside our door, the hallway was a mini-solarium lined with plants, and several small dogs ran freely in the common areas. This was my kind of place -- informal and charming, with a bit of a hippie vibe (our room was called Earthship 3).
"The next day started at 6 a.m. when I awoke to the sound of pouring rain. It continued unabated all the way through breakfast. We chatted a bit with Bob, one of the innkeepers (and a real cutie, if I may say so), and petted his dogs as we ate. On the menu: various cereals (some organic), organic milk, bread, yogurt and a nice selection of fresh fruit -- cantaloupe, strawberries, bananas, oranges, etc." ~soliteyah
Read More: Santa Fe and Taos: Art, Culture and the Great Outdoors Southwest Bargains and FeaturesRelated Links
--compiled by Sarah Schlichter
Image of Laughing Horse Inn courtesy of www.LaughingHorseInn.com.