The Bed and Breakfast: When Two Favorites Combine

When I was 15, my family stayed at a bed and breakfast in Colorado. At the time I remember thinking, "Ugh, I want to stay at a Hilton with vending machines and a pool, not some prissy Victorian house with doily curtains and floral wallpaper." I wasn't keen on the idea of sharing a house with a bunch of people I didn't know, and certainly didn't want to eat breakfast in front of a group of strangers. What if I still had Clearasil on my chin from the night before?

Once we got there, I was pleasantly surprised. There were freshly baked cookies and teas laid out for us after a day of skiing. The house was really lovely with lots of skylights and plants--much prettier than any hotel room I'd seen. And turns out, talking to strangers from other parts of the country wasn't even all that bad. Over breakfast I met an artist who was trying to collect enough underwear to string across the Grand Canyon, and in the evening I met a super-cute 17-year-old pianist from New Orleans. We made out. Don't tell my dad. 

Since then, I've had a very positive association with bed and breakfasts and have made an effort to stay in them when possible. On our trip to Amish Country, we stayed in a fantastic B&B called the Amethyst Inn, which is part of the Adamstown Inns and Cottages.

Unfortunately, it was still a little too cold to spend time out on the patio, but it was super cozy and overlooked a quiet residential street.

This was our room. Ahhhhhhhh. No doily curtains. No floral wallpaper. Just quiet, cozy peacefulness. Loved it.

And a whirlpool tub! I'm still dreaming of this guy. The room had a massage shower too. And a massage chair. I was pretty blissed out by the time we left. 

I read Southern Living and Travel & Leisure while soaking in the tub by the fireplace. Not an entirely bad way to spend a Friday night. A very nice way to digest an Amish schmorgasboard.

I chose to omit the photo of vin with his bathrobe worn over his clothes like Hefner. Aren't I such a considerate girlfriend? Just nod yes.

In the morning we were treated to fresh breakfast and coffee by a cozy fire. 

Sure beats the usual (aka, english muffin with peanut butter eaten over a pile of work at my desk).

But it's the little touches that makes bed and breakfasts so special. On Saturday night, our hostess left a gift bag on our bed with a sweet little plant inside to take home. 

And sent us with a little goodie box of treats for our drive home. Seriously, how cute is that?

If you're interested in finding a great weekend getaway, check out the inns on bedandbreakfast.com. That's where I have found several fantastic, warm, hospitable places. Have you stayed in a great B&B? Taking recommendations!