Friday, February 4, 2011

Top 10 New England Bed and Breakfasts



Top 10 New England Bed and Breakfasts : Romance and Honeymoons -
Experience New England's charm at the region's top 10 bed and breakfasts. These inns are noted for their classic New England hospitality, unique history, architecture, cozy rooms and great food.
Buttonwood Inn 
North Conway, New HampshireOutdoor adventures abound at New Hampshire's Buttonwood Inn, a homey inn on 5 acres of land on Mt. Surprise, a short distance from North Conway in the White Mountains. In the warmer months, you can hike over covered bridges and past waterfalls, or strap on your skis or snowshoes for a winter adventure. Adrenaline junkies can careen down the mountains on narrow mountain-biking trails or fly through the air in a zip-line tour. Then head back to the inn where you relax with a cup of tea in front of the family room's fireplace or watch a movie on the 50-inch TV with a cocktail in the Mt. Surprise Room. The inn's 10 rooms are comfy with unique touches, like hand-painted murals or 2-person soaking tubs, and the hearty breakfast feast of savory and sweet entrees will give you plenty of energy for another day exploring New Hampshire.
Rabbit Hill Inn
Lower Waterford, Vermont
The Rabbit Hill Inn in Vermont is one of New England's most luxurious bed and breakfasts with 19 lavish rooms and suites in a 1795 country house and carriage house. Guests are pampered with deluxe amenities, including extra-large soaking tubs, plush bedding and romantic 4-poster beds. And then there's the food, starting with a classy breakfast of homemade granola, yogurt and hot dishes like apple cheddar crepes served by candlelight and a host of complimentary snacks for afternoon tea. Foodies will fall for the farm-to-table cuisine for dinner at the on-site restaurant, which puts a drool-worthy spin on seasonal delicacies. Once you tear yourself away from the table, peruse the libraries, challenge your partner to a board game at the Snooty Fox Pub, take a stroll through the gardens or nearby country lanes, indulge in an in-room massage or just sit in the parlor and appreciate the gracious treatment.
Hydrangea House
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a New England favorite with beaches, a festive downtown waterfront and legendary grand mansions sitting atop the coastline cliffs along the city's famed Cliff Walk. You don't need to be a Rockefeller to appreciate the city's charm when staying at the Hydrangea House. Its 10 rooms and suites are elegant with themes like the sweet blue and yellow of the French Country Room or the opulent Carrie in Paris suite complete with a fireplace and the option for en-suite massages. Breakfast is a formal affair served in the fancy dining room with homemade bread and granola and sweet and savory entrees like raspberry pancakes or scrambled eggs in puff pastry.
The Pineapple Inn
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Each room is named for a captain at Nantucket's Pineapple Inn, an homage to the whaling captain who built the home in the mid-19th century. Guests can choose from 12 rooms, most with 4-poster beds, handmade carpets and interesting antiques. The inn is a short walk from Main and Centre Streets with their restaurants and shops, and guests get priority seating at the town's best restaurants including Figs at 29 Fair by Todd English and the Summer House Restaurant. Like most other businesses in Nantucket, the inn is open seasonally from April to December, and rates are considerably higher during the warm summer months when everyone heads to the classic New England seashore at Siasconset.
Inn at Harbor Hill 
Niantic, ConnecticutThe Inn at Harbor Hill sits above Niantic's marina with Adirondack chairs on the wraparound porch and gardens overlooking Connecticut's shoreline. Each of the 9 rooms has a view of the water and many have private balconies or patios where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or play a board game borrowed from the hosts. In warm weather, there are passes to the local beach, which is a short walk away and kayaks to head out to sea. In cooler weather, take a stroll along the 1-mile Niantic Bay Boardwalk. After checking out the quaint small town, drive 20 minutes to nearby Mystic Seaport and visit with the Beluga whales and other sea life at the Mystic Aquarium.
Atlantean Inn
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor, ME, is a favorite New England destination, beloved for its proximity to Acadia National Park, bustling seaside towns and lobster shacks. Tucked away on a quiet side street, the Atlantean Inn is the perfect home base for exploring Maine's coastal wonders. This 1903 Tudor-style cottage welcomes guests to 8 rooms, including two 2-bedroom suites. The inn's owners go out of their way to keep things green, serving vegetarian breakfast and providing each guest with a reusable water bottle on top of practicing eco-friendly cleaning methods. The inn closes from November until May when activity picks up in the town again with kayak trips, whale-watching adventures and outdoor concerts and festivals all a short walk from the front door.
Mansion House
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard and enjoy the Mansion House, a large bed and breakfast just a short walk from the dock. The inn maintains a cozy charm, even with 40 rooms, and boasts modern amenities like soaking tubs, flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy the comforts of a large hotel, including a swanky gym, spa and mineral pool, and dine on a home-cooked breakfast in the Zephrus Restaurant. Rates plummet in the off-season from late-October through April when rooms are less than $100 a night.
Bear Mountain Lodge
Bethlehem, New Hampshire
Experience rustic New England beauty at the Bear Mountain Lodge, a log cabin near New Hampshire's White Mountains. The inn, handcrafted with logs from enormous Eastern White Pine trees, has 9 guest rooms and enviable common areas with endless mountain views. Rooms have plenty of rustic charm, many with exposed log walls, but also amenities like gas fireplaces and slate steam showers. Snuggle up in a chair on the expansive deck or just peer out the window and enjoy the view. It's not uncommon to see the area's resident wildlife, including black bears, moose, deer and wild turkey, wandering around the lodge's 26 acres of unspoiled nature.
Round Barn
Waitsfield, Vermont
The Round Barn Farm, in Vermont's Mad River Valley, is ideal for a romantic escape regardless of the season. In the winter, guests snuggle into fluffy down comforters after a day on the slopes at nearby Sugarbush or Stowe, while in the fall, autumn's glory unfolds across the inn's 245 acres filled with ponds, meadows and an organic garden. The restored 19th-century farmhouse has 12 bright and airy guest rooms with unique characters, like the hand-hewn beams in the 2-room Abbott Suite and the cheery English-garden-inspired wallpaper in the English Room. An added bonus is the rare Vermont round barn, a former dairy barn from the 1900s that is now used to host weddings, concerts and even swimmers in the lap pool.
Bluffhead Cove Inn
Kennebunkport, Maine
Escape to Bluffhead Cove Inn on the banks of the Kennebunk River for a quiet New England getaway. There are just 6 rooms at this quaint Victorian bed and breakfast, many with private entrances, patios or balconies and cozy sitting areas. The River Cottage is a popular spot for lovebirds looking for a little more privacy and extra-spacious digs. The rooms include small kitchens, full living rooms and bright bedrooms with 2-person soaking tubs. The inn closes for the chilly winter months, but is ideal for exploring the fishing village of Kennebunkport during the summer or fall.

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