Thursday, June 28th, 2007  »  Family Fun

B&Bs

“A home away from home” is probably the best description of bed and breakfast accommodations. In most cases, a bed and breakfast really is home to someone who has chosen to share it on a fee-per-night basis. Size, character and location of a home are usually factors that suggest a bed and breakfast operation.

Often B & Bs are large, historic homes located in tourist or resort areas, college towns or near heavily visited attractions of one kind or another. But not always. Nearly every community of any size has overnight accommodations—even if completely void of what we normally consider “attractions.” The reason is simple: People still travel a lot by car. And they need a place to stay. A B & B is a welcome alternative to a local “hotel” or the oh-so-familiar chain motel. What are the differences?

Take size, for example.  Most of the B& Bs I’ve visited have a handful of rooms at most. Six or eight guest rooms is a lot for a B & B. Some have more, but most are in the four-to-six category. There is usually a room or two designated as “common area” where guests can gather to relax and mingle if they choose. Often there are gazebos, patios or large porches intended for the same purpose. Even small motels have dozens of rooms.

Location. Often motels are clustered like June bugs around a porch light near the intersection of major highways. Also nearby are the usual fast food suspects as well as a sampling of chain restaurants. Most tired drivers traveling along Interstate highways want to wheel in, check in, grab a quick dinner and get a good night’s sleep. So “motel rows” have sprouted up to serve them. But you’ll rarely find a B & B here. Because they were homes first and overnight accommodations second, most bed and breakfasts are in residential areas. You have to find them.

Intimacy. The opportunity to develop a warm, personal relationship with both the owner and other guests is what really separates the B & B from other kinds of overnight accommodations. Since the owner is likely to greet you and check you in, you’ll have personal contact with someone who knows the house better than anyone. And since you’ll be sharing accommodations with only a handful of guests and likely end up informally eating breakfast  with them around a large dining table (or sometimes smaller tables seating four or five), you’ll get to know them a little better, too.

Don’t be surprised to find yourself exchanging home town info, stories about kids, travel and just about everything else. And don’t be surprised if you actually exchange addresses, phone numbers or e-mail addresses. It happened to us just a couple of weeks ago. We now have new friends in Kingston, Ontario.

Although costs range widely, a B & B is pretty competitive, but they can be more than motels, depending on the location. And the breakfast part of the B & B is often one of the highlights of the whole stay. It is often a gourmet treat with unique and highly personal new creations or creative interpretations of old favorites.  B & Bs are not for everybody, but if you want a charming change of pace, try one—even if only once.

 

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