It’s not uncommon to spot cows, horses, chicken and maybe even some sheep grazing idly on a farm or countryside, but can you remember the last time you spotted a shaggy alpaca or a curious llama? These gentle and social animals may have historical ties to South America, but many have happy homes right here in the States. At Historic Maple Hill Manor in Springfield, Kentucky guests of all ages can make play time and pet or observe alpacas and llamas on the 14 acre farm. This B&B is one of the first farms in Kentucky to raise these gentle animals and just like sheep; their soft and luxurious fibers are used to make yarn, sweaters, capes, scarves, hats, gloves and blankets. Guests can stop by the gift store and purchase these handmade items or take a home a “guest room companion bear,” a small keepsake teddy bear made from alpaca fiber.
Alpacas abound at Chimney Hill Estate & Ol’ Barn Inn in Lambertville, New Jersey as well. Guests can get up close and personal with the inn’s furry pets, a close-knit Alpaca family that greets visitors on a daily basis. The inn offers a special “Alpaca Package” which includes toy alpacas, Chimney Hill Estate mug, $50 gift certificate to a nearby restaurant, alpaca shaped cookies and an alpaca fiber scarf.
To find more alpaca or llama friendly inns, use our keyword search box to find a B&B near you.
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There are some things in life you just can’t beat like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies and of course, pancakes and maple syrup. Maple syrup can now be found in everything from cookies to ice cream. This sweet treat, first discovered by Native Americans was valued for its taste and also used as a source of energy since it contains manganese and zinc, which acts as a heart helping antioxidant. It wasn’t long before early settlers began finding easier methods to convert tree sap into syrup. To learn more about the sugaring process, curious minds can make a trip to Vermont for the state’s annual Maple Open House Weekend from March 27-29. Guests can check in at Fitch Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast in Hyde Park, Vermont and request the Maple Open House Weekend Special. The Inn will provide a map of all the sugar houses in the area as well as a sweet gift basket filled with local Vermont maple products.
Vermont isn’t the only producer of fine maple syrup. Cranmore Mountain Lodge in North Conway, New Hampshire presents their sixth annual March Maple Madness weekend March 28-29. Guests can tour 10 historic inns and learn about the sugaring process, while sampling various Maple treats along the way. Guests can even win money and prizes on the tour by participating in the inn’s scavenger hunt game to find the “best buns.” Participating in the game is not necessary and maple syrup lovers can skip the game and look forward to a country breakfast featuring maple sausage, French toast and homestyle pancakes drizzled with what else but, maple syrup.
It’s easy to celebrate maple syrup month near many Vermont Bed & Breakfasts and New Hampshire Bed & Breakfasts, but don’t forget other maple syrup loving states. Use our advanced search box to find inns near you.
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Say goodbye to winter and hello to spring! It’s officially spring time, which means Mother Nature is ready for a little rebirth and regrowth. It won’t be long before bare winter trees sprout healthy green leaves and fragrant seasonal flowers bloom with ease. The advent of spring is also the perfect time to go green. The Essex Inn in Tappahannock, Virginia is a certified green inn where guests are encouraged to limit the use of their car and sign up for the “The Essex Inn Green Tappahannock Scavenger Hunt.” Guests can take a walking tour and enjoy the beauty of the oldest town in Essex County and also have fun looking for earth friendly clues and answers. The game may involve bringing back a piece of recyclable trash or answering eco-friendly facts about the inn.
Or try experience spring in the desert and go green at Casa Escondida in Chimayo, New Mexico. This Santa Fe area bed & breakfast is located near the ancient ruins of Bandelier National Park, Native American pueblos and incredible hot springs. After a nature friendly day trip, guests can retreat back to the eco-friendly establishment and pick up some green tips or ideas from Casa Escondida. This B&B strives to promote green living and increase awareness for their guests by applying simple green practices such as redirecting rainwater to nourish trees and flowerbeds or planting native plants that require little water.
For more eco-friendly options, click on our Going Green Bed & Breakfast Specials under Specials.
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If you’re a true basketball fan, you know that “March Madness” begins today. The opening game pits Morehead State Eagles against Alabama State Hornets. Whether you’re planning your own game night or placing bets on which team will make it to the Final Four, there are also plenty of other games and options for non-basketball fans who want to enjoy their own version of, “March Madness.” At Weathertop Mountain Inn in Waitsfield, Vermont, guest can take over the game room and play a rousing game of foosball, a competitive game of pool, a round of darts or jump back in time and play a classic Atari game. Guest can also team up and play classic board games ranging from Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble to Monopoly and have fun spinning a turntable to classic jams.
For those that want the option of outdoor and indoor games, Winchester Guest House allows guests to roam freely on their six acre property and play volleyball, badminton, horseshoe toss or any other field game. When you need to take a time out, lay low on a hammock or swing away under a giant Maple tree. Guests can also play indoors and move the party to the game room and shoot pool or darts, swing away at a putting golf course, select from any number of popular board games or challenge a friend to a Nintendo GameCube. And if you suddenly find yourself curious about the real “March Madness,” cozy up to a 10” screen inside the Theatre room and cheer on your favorite team.
For more fun outdoor activities or creative options, search “Classes, Courses & Workshops,” under Specials.
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An apple a day is said to keep the doctor away, and since it’s National Nutrition Month it’s only fitting that we focus our attention on healthy eating habits. If the thought of bland steamed vegetables or a cup of prune juice makes you shudder, relax! There are many delicious good for you options that can be a part of your daily routine diet. Remember, smart eating is all about balance and moderation. If you crave pancakes or waffles, wake up and dig in at Three Roses Bed and Breakfast in Pontiac, IL where you can decline the funnel cake and the French toast, and make your doctor proud by requesting the 5 grain fitness waffle or the flaxseed oatmeal pancake. Fiber rich meals such as oatmeal are packed with soluble fiber, which not only makes you feel satiated and satisfied; but it’s also known to reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol. This B&B also offers plain oatmeal, gluten-free granola and is happy to meet any special dietary requests.
Organic devotees can eat with a clear conscience at Tucker House Inn on San Juan Island in Friday Harbor, Washington. It’s one of the few places where the food comes directly from the source. Every week, a neighborhood milk man delivers hormone free milk and cream, local farmers and fisherman provide fresh produce, fish and free range eggs. Organic food not only tastes better, but recent research also shows that food free of chemical fertilizers and/or pesticides may have health benefits as well. So, eat happy and start your day off with fresh stirred yogurt with locally produced honey and homemade granola followed by apple oatmeal pancakes or a protein packed, “Friday Harbor Omelet,” which is made using farm fresh eggs, smoked wild pacific salmon, fresh herbs and asiago cheese served with oatmeal berry pancakes.
If you want to find more nutritious options, visit our bed & breakfast recipes page and search for some of the featured breakfast items above on our Healthy Eating Recipes page.
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You don’t have to be Martha Stewart or a skilled artisan to appreciate National Craft Month. Whatever your tool of choice is: scissors, paintbrush, beads or yarn, it’s time to put on your creative hat and make something that is uniquely yours. The DIY (do-it-yourself) approach will inspire you at Town & Country Inn Bed, Breakfast & Stables in Aiken, South Carolina where you can sign up for a two-day scrapbook package and work uninterrupted on your new or existing scrapbook. The Inn provides a full breakfast, light lunch, drinks, snacks and a gift certificate to a local crafts store. If you’d rather wear what you make, then request the, “Beading Package” where you can learn all the tricks of the trade in a bead making class. The special also includes breakfast, snacks and a gift certificate to a bead shop. Or forgo the class all together and experiment and make any beaded jewelry that fits your own personal style.
If you’re looking for some yarn o’ fun, take a “knit’inn” weekend at The Wakefield Inn in Wakefield, New Hampshire where you and your friends can take a group trip to a yarn shop and knit away to your heart’s content. The inn will provide breakfast and dinner for two nights, giving you ample time to gab with your friends and maybe, finish that scarf you’ve been working on for over a year.
For more crafty options, check out all the, “Classes, Courses & Workshop,” on our Specials page.
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What would you say to a European excursion that didn’t involve a passport, the euro or uncomfortable jet-lag? You might just say “danke,” and make your way to Corner George Inn Bed & Breakfast in Maeystown, Illinois and take a glimpse of the Old World. The 19th century village was founded and settled by German immigrants who famously built a stone bridge entry that is still preserved and intact today. German foodies can sign up for the inn’s special German package and savor authentic schweineschnitzel (pork cutlet) or sauerbraten (marinated roast meat) at a recommended restaurant. Guests can also request a horse-drawn carriage and take a ride around town and enjoy all the simple joys that a quaint village has to offer.
Swiss-German fans can skip the Alps and head down to Alpenhorn Gasthaus in Hermann, Missouri. Although this bed & breakfast is not located in a German town, the Alpenhorn Gasthaus has an interesting past of its own. The former brickyard and winery can easily be mistaken as a European country farm with grazing sheep on the hillside, a 12-foot tall alpenhorn in the Main House and various books and photos of Switzerland on display. Guests can share a bubbling pot of Swiss fondue or feel like a real international tourist with the “European Vacation” package, which includes a travel journal, maps, postcards, a disposable camera and tickets to a German School Museum. Guests can even learn a little German until it’s time to say, “auf Wiedersehen!” (Goodbye.)
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Wake up (at a Philadelphia Bed & Breakfast) and smell the roses or orchids, hydrangea, tulips, etc. Whatever your favorite flower may be, spring is in full bloom at the 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show. For one week only, the largest flower show in the world will transports visitors to an Italian paradise. “Bella Italia,” the show’s feature presentation will display ornate floral arrangements found in Tuscany and Italian style gardens fashioned from Ancient Rome. You can begin your Italian experience early by checking in the night before at Philadelphia Bella Vista Bed & Breakfast, located right in the city’s Italian neighborhood. The enticing scent of warm Italian bread from local bakeries, the allure of the famous Italian Market (the oldest outdoor market in the US) and a multitude of distinct Italian restaurants are minutes away and at your disposal. When you’re ready to call it a night, use the private entry and slip back to your room. Complimentary biscotti and gourmet coffee make it easy for you to unwind and after a good night’s rest; you’ll be ready for a short walk to the Pennsylvania Convention Center to join fellow garden fans at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
If you’re looking for something a little more cosmopolitan, check out The Independent Hotel, a chic boutique hotel that blends old Philadelphia with European aesthetics. The restored Georgian-Revival building (listed on the National Register of Historic places) is situated just four blocks away from the Philadelphia Flower Show. The hotel may look traditional on the outside, but a sleek and modern oasis awaits inside. Each room varies architecturally ranging from exposed brick walls, fireplaces, French windows to loft bedrooms. It’s also the only hotel in the city to offer the most high-definition channels in every room. If you get sidetracked and miss the Philadelphia Flower Show, you can always enjoy happy hour at The Independent Hotel and snack on wine and cheese.
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