There’s something magical about visiting a home that’s all lit up by candles. A warm welcoming glow takes over, curious shadows dance in hallways, and there’s an instant festive feel. In the picturesque town of Spring Lake, New Jersey, the 2010 Candlelight Christmas Inn Tour is even more magnificent as homes sit proudly, like dollhouses set aglow.

Spring Lake itself is quite spectacular. A quaint seaside village, it’s dotted with Victorian bed and breakfasts that take center stage come Christmas. Graciously remodeled, elegant, and comfortable, many of these homes were built in the 1800’s and feature the ambiance and nostalgia of an era gone by with the modern conveniences of today.

If you’d like to tour these homes and experience first-hand the mahogany wrap-around porches, parlors and fireplaces, this holiday tour is for you. The self-guided inn-to-inn visit begins with an old-fashioned tea and treats party at 2:30 pm on Saturday, December 4th. At 3:30 pm the inns open their luxurious homes to guests. Tickets cost $25.

Here are more details on the BnBFinder.com inns participating in the 2010 Candlelight Christmas Inn Tour in Spring Lake, New Jersey:

Modern Chateau. Old-fashioned charm meets modern-day amenities at the Chateau Inn. This Spring Lake bed and breakfast features large plasma TV’s, Jacuzzis, refrigerated wet bars, wood burning fireplaces, and more. It’s also a short stroll from the boardwalk.

Sea Girt Gem. Just a block from the beach in the heart of the Irish Riviera, The Beacon House Bed and Breakfast in Sea Girt, New Jersey has two spacious homes framed by panoramic wrap around porches lined with wicker and rockers. Inside chandeliers, oak floors and glowing fireplaces command attention. The inn is walking distance to the sea.

Refurbished Stable. Built in 1888 as the Grand Central Stables of Spring Lake, the Spring Lake Inn is only a block from the boardwalk. Most guestrooms feature ocean views, Jacuzzi, 4-poster bed or sleigh bed, and digital cable TV. Fine dining, boutique shopping and spa pampering are only blocks away.

Historic Steps. At the Ocean House Bed & Breakfast Hotel in Spring Lake, the grand staircase makes a large impression. The staircase is from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, the first major World’s Fair to be held in the United States. Classic charm resonates throughout the inn, which also features Laura Ashley fabrics, fireplaces, and mahogany beds.

Seashore Victorian. Tucked in a peaceful corner, The White Lilac Bed & Breakfast Inn, circa 1880, is a stone’s throw from Wreck Pond and about four blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. Each guestroom features a private fireplaces. Other amenities at the inn include private porches and double Jacuzzi tubs.

For a full list of all six inns participating in the tour, visit the HistoricInnsOfSpringLake.com. To find more bed and breakfasts in New Jersey using specific criteria, use the BnBFinder.com advanced search feature.

If you’re looking to delve further into the Victorian Era, consider a trip to the historic village of Allaire in nearby Farmingdale. The living history museum is listed on the National and State Registries of Historical Places. The village explores life in an early 19th Century industrial iron producing community and holds various holiday events.

The Spring Lake Historical Society Museum also has a collection of historic photographs and memorabilia from Spring Lake’s Indian times through the Victorian Era; along with in-depth knowledge of movies that were filmed in the area and present day events. The museum building itself was built in 1897 as the town’s first public school and features a highly-decorated and unusual space with rich with architectural details. Check with your innkeeper for more information on historical sites and area activities. Be sure to leave plenty of time through rummage through artifacts and wander back in time.

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Say what you will about glossy, upscale, hotels with room service and towering views, but nothing beats the first-class care at a bed and breakfast. In fact, rarely, if ever, will the management team at a skyscraper decide this weekend everyone stays free. But the Captain Lord Mansion, a luxurious bed and breakfast in Kennebunkport, Maine, did just that. Then the innkeepers did more.

This past weekend, Rick Litchfield and his wife, Bev Davis, opened their home, their wallets, and enlisted the help of others to raise awareness for breast cancer; and frankly, to give some very strong women, a much needed break.

“Bev and I conceived the idea that the thing most breast cancer sufferers really fight for is time. We came up with concept of the dime for time,” said Rick, whose wife Bev, lost her sister after a near decade of struggling against the disease.

The inn started with $500 of their own funds, then donated a dime for each reservation made at the inn throughout the year. It also accepted donations from friends, family and guests. Some of which, have literally stayed at the inn up to 80 times since it opened more than 30-years ago – that’s a lot of shiny silver Roosevelts. A total of $3,000 was raised and donated to the American Cancer Society though it’s the stress-free weekend that survivors say is worth its weight in gold.

“The beauty and relaxation of the inn will be such a treat after two years of the breast cancer battle,” said Candi of Buxton, Maine, who first stayed at the inn for her 25th wedding anniversary and learned by email that she’d won a complimentary weekend stay with her husband. “I feel a bit humbled at the generosity of the businesses that are taking part in this event. I think it not only reveals how generous people can be, but also how many people have been touched by this disease.”

Candi, who’d always wanted to dine at On the Marsh, got her chance this weekend. The converted barn and farmhouse, circa 1800, which sits on three acres of a tidal salt marsh created a special prix fixe menu for Candi and the other women and their companions, who wished to dine there. The ladies also received a welcoming packet at the inn that included fudge from Roly’s Fudge, an English-style fudge and gelato shop in town, rhinestone-embellished pink baseball caps, and other goodies. One of the women guests, a survivor who makes hug wraps from fleece, brought one for each woman to keep. Your Body Works, a nearby spa, also visited the inn and provided complimentary chair massages.

“My wife and I are delighted that we can provide an escape for these women,” said Rick. He says the minute he mentioned his cause, area businesses were eager to pitch in somehow.

To be eligible for the weekend getaway, the women had to be nominated via Facebook. They could, of course, nominate themselves though several received nods from their husbands and children. The inn donated all 15 of its rooms to the cause. The women were beyond grateful for the kindness and the camaraderie.

“We have all fought a life changing battle for which we didn’t enlist,” explained Candi. “And this week before Thanksgiving, we as survivors have so much to be thankful for… we face the future with our eyes fixed on hope.”

And that’s exactly what Rick and Bev had in mind.

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Move over pumpkin pie, this Thanksgiving tabletops are looking to add a dash of excitement, aka pumpkin scones with cinnamon-cider cream cheese glaze. Not too sweet, this earthy blend of cinnamon, cider and cream cheese compliment each other and deliver instant holiday flavor.

Rev up your taste buds and grab your favorite sprinkles, this Thanksgiving recipe, courtesy of the Camellia Inn in Healdsburg, California, is sure to win rave reviews! Best part, easy to prep and quick to bake; clean up is a snap.

You’ll need:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground all spice
6 1/2 tablespoons frozen butter, grated with cheese grater (store in freezer till ready to use)
1/2 cup fresh or canned pumpkin puree
7 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 large egg

(Glaze)
3/4 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
4 oz. cream cheese, at room temp
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 dashes of pure apple cider

5 Easy Steps:

1. Grate the butter with the large holes of a cheese grater and put back in the freezer. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and all the spices, and set aside. In a medium bowl combine the pumpkin, sugar, cream and egg and beat well until nice and combined. Add the frozen butter to the flour mixture. Mix with fork or pastry cutter until it forms bread-like crumbs. Fold the wet ingredients, in two batches into the butter/flour mixture using a wooden spoon. Don’t over beat it.
3. Dust work space and hands with generous amounts of flour, shape dough in a large circular ball and place dough down and flatten. It should be about 8 to 10 inches round. Dough will crack when you press down, just pinch and repair as you go along. Dust a large, sharp knife with flour and cut the dough into six triangles. Slide the knife under each triangle to help you lift and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until the scones begin to turn light brown in color. While scones are baking assemble the glaze by adding in the soft cream cheese to a medium size bowl, add in the sifted confectioners sugar, cinnamon, and dashes of the apple cider. Add the cider in small doses while mixing as much or as little as you want depending on how thick you like the glaze. Beat until well mixed.
5. Let scones cool a bit on a rack then glaze.

This recipe yields six scones. Top off with some natural sprinkles over the glaze for festive holiday cheer.

For more recipes from innkeepers visit the BnBFinder recipe page. Enjoy!

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Let’s face it, putting together a family meal on Thanksgiving can be rather thankless. After hours spent gathering ingredients, preparing stuffing, and cooking for what seems to be an eternity, friends and family gobble up your hard earned masterpiece within minutes! We vote that this year, you let someone else whip up the debacle, while you also sit back and relax. Who said you couldn’t have your turkey and eat it too?

Here is a list of bed and breakfasts serving up a traditional Thanksgiving feast, minus the clean up:

Tipsy Turkey. Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast Inn in Amelia Island, Florida kicks off the holiday on November 24th with a wine and cheese poolside cocktails. The next day, turkey dinner begins at 5 pm with all the fixings, including: spiced pumpkin soup; gourmet salad greens with fresh cranberries and walnuts; roasted mushrooms, onions and raisin stuffing; glazed ham; sweet potatoes; mashed potatoes; steamed asparagus; and lots of gravy – topped off with warm, homemade, apple pie a la mode and chocolate covered strawberries. Reserve November 24, 25 and 26th and get Saturday, November 27th half off! Dinner is $94 per person including all taxes and gratuities. Room charge is separate.

Country Hearth. Savor a traditional complimentary Thanksgiving meal at the Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn in Flemington, New Jersey when you reserve a two-night stay. Dinner is served late afternoon and includes roasted turkey, soup, gravy, and five side-dishes, followed by buffet-style dessert. Call the inn to reserve your room, and your spot at the table! Two-course gourmet breakfasts are included. If you’re only planning a one night trip, then dinner is $65.00 per person and overnight accommodations are required.

Culinary Gem. The Inn at Starlight Lake in Starlight, Pennsylvania is serving up a complimentary, plated, Thanksgiving dinner when you reserve a two or three night stay. Tucked away in a quiet corner in Pennsylvania, the inn is home to an expert culinary staff. Among the many amenities are a music room, a cheery sunroom, and a game room – complete with pool table and shuffleboard.

Gourmet Trimmings. Breakfast on silver, crystal and lace? The Martine Bed & Breakfast Inn in Pacific Grove, California, delivers just that. The expansive 100 year old inn has several fireplaces, a library, billiard table, and vintage furnishings. It’s also preparing a special Thanksgiving dinner at 3 pm on November 25th, which includes: banana squash soup, Carmel Valley greens, ham, turkey, duck, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans with bacon chips, cranberry sauce, cranberry relish, roasted chestnuts, freshly baked rolls, pumpkin pie, mince Pie, coffee, tea, mulled cider, and house wine ($48 per person, plus taxes and service charges; room charge is separate).

Dinner & Spa Treatment. Normally it’s the turkey that gets poked and prodded but at The Madeleine Bed & Breakfast and The Hacienda Nicholas in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when you

book four nights you have a choice – get four nights at the cost of three or stay three nights and get a complimentary 30-minute massage or facial at the Absolute Nirvana Spa. These B&Bs aren’t making turkey dinners, you’ll have to venture to a nearby restaurant for a Southwestern-style Thanksgiving meal but we thought the complimentary facial and/massage served up something different.

Regardless of where you go, you’re likely to find a warm, welcoming, environment at a bed and breakfast. If the inn isn’t making turkey for dinner, the innkeepers will surely know the best place for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving meal.

For more information on Thanksgiving getaways visit the BnBFinder.com Holiday Bed & Breakfast Specials page.

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Buccaneer aficionados and re-enactors of all ages are polishing their swords for the 11th annual Key West Pirates in Paradise Festival in Key West, Florida, November 26 – December 5th.

The yearly festival attracts seafaring sailors and land lubbers for 10-days of mischief, pirate-garb, and rickety planks. Historic island venues will host various events and receptions. The festival also features a village thieves’ market, a holiday bazaar and a pirate pub. There will also be living history pirate encampments at Civil War–era Fort Taylor, pirate ship sails and attacks aboard the topsail schooner WOLF, various museum exhibits and nautical excursions.

General admission is free to the public. Some of the events charge a separate fee. Click here to view a full calendar of activities and pricing.

BnBFinder.com has also put together a list of some area bed and breakfasts where you can hang your pirate’s hat:

Kids Stay Free. Nestled in the heart of Old Town Key West, the Island City House Hotel welcomes children of all ages, and those under 12 stay free! This bed and breakfast includes three historic buildings: the Arch House, the Island City House, and the Cigar House, which share lush tropical gardens with winding brick pathways. The inn is located in the Historic Seaport District.

Playful Victorian. The Mermaid & The Alligator is a 1904 Victorian Home located in the heart of Old Town Key West. This charming B&B offers a full breakfast to set you off on the right path—whether that’s to walk the plank or snorkel around it! Many shops, galleries and restaurants are within a three-block walk on Duval Street.

Island Retreat. Tucked into a quiet residential street is The Grand Guesthouse. If you prefer a good night’s sleep over the noise of Duval Street, but prefer to stay within easy walking distance to shops, restaurants, museums, and the beach, this inn is just five blocks to each. Guestrooms feature private entrances, wireless internet, and complimentary parking.

Refurbished Factory. Once a cigar factory where craftsmen hand-rolled some of the world’s most famous cigars, the Simonton Court Historic Inn & Cottages has a rich history tracing back to the 1880s. The lush two-acre compound consists of a two-story inn, manor house, townhouse suites, a mansion, and six cottages, as well as a secluded hot tub and four pools.

Front-and-Center. Located in the heart of Duval Street, the Wicker Guesthouse is a popular spot for guests wishing to explore the Key West’s most prominent restaurants, shops and galleries. The inn’s heated pool, tropical buffet and welcoming porch are among the many perks of this mansion and cottage property. The beach is a block away.

Cozy Escape. An Island Oasis is a cozy B&B in the heart of Old Town Key West comprised of only six intimate rooms – four in the mansion and two cottage rooms with private entrances. The inn, complete with pool and hammock, offers a tranquil retreat one block from the ocean and a block-and-a-half from shops, galleries, restaurants, and night life.

Key West in and of itself is a lot like a hidden treasure with its beautiful shoreline, rich history, sprightly streets. Events like the Key West Pirates in Paradise Festival simply call attention to it on the map. To find more Key West bed and breakfasts or Florida inns stick with BnBFinder.com.

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