It’s easy to get caught up in daily habits like leaving the lights on after you leave a room, letting the sprinkler run all day or printing out every document and email. But, as the saying goes, “Waste not, want not.” These resources are limited, so conserving what we have today will leave more for tomorrow!

Whether you’ve already “gone green” or have made a pledge to get started, this weekend is the time to kick it into high gear. Earth Day is being celebrated on Sunday, April 22, with events all over the world focused on bringing awareness to eco-friendly practices. But, even if you can’t get out to an Earth Day event, you can do your part right at home.

Red Bud Manor, Eureka Springs, AR

Don’t know where to start? No problem – just ask the innkeepers! Many B&Bs have great Going Green Getaways and have instituted green practices and can offer tips on making your home as earth-friendly as possible. For example, Innkeepers Myrna and Joseph Hauser at the Market Street Inn located in Taylorville, IL, have turned to composting as an effective way to turn any food waste or coffee grounds into a nutrient rich soil used for gardening, landscaping and horticulture. “We have a lot of shade trees on the property and they help keep the house cooler in the summer,” said Myrna. “And, when we planted them we used our compost as a base.” To get you started, the Hausers will send you off with a bag of their 18 year old compost to take home with you after your stay!

Market Street Inn, Taylorville, IL

Making your home more “green” can help you see more green …literally! Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) use 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs which will help both the environment and your bottom line. When you stay at the Red Bud Manor in Eureka Springs, AR, Innkeeper Deborah Stroup will give you a package of compact florescent bulbs to take home. She also repurposes, or recycles, items to reduce waste. When something breaks, Deborah is always ready with a crafty idea to reuse the item. “If a plate gets broken it can be transformed into a mosaic tile coaster,” said Deborah. “Or, a tea cup with a broken handle can become a new potter for a plant.”

If you’re planning to celebrate Earth Day by doing a little “green” cleaning, check out our “Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips” Pinterest board for some ideas. Also, tell us some of the ways you’ve gone green at home by leaving a comment below.

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Happy Hollandaise! That’s right; today is National Eggs Benedict day and a time to celebrate with a perfectly poached egg on top of ham or bacon served on a crispy English muffin drizzled with savory Hollandaise sauce. It’s a tasty classic.

But, why not step out of the breakfast box and try something different? You won’t have to look any further than a bed and breakfast. Known for their culinary twists on the morning meal, they have cooked up a few delicious alternatives. For instance, some serve a Norwegian version featuring smoked salmon topped with a dill and cream cheese sauce. Others substitute fried eggs for poached and add in a little country flair with sausage patties and gravy instead of ham and hollandaise.

Eggs Benedict with White Wine Tarragon Hollandaise Sauce

Here’s a recipe for Eggs Benedict with White Wine Tarragon Hollandaise Sauce courtesy of the 10 Fitch Bed & Breakfast Inn, located in Auburn, NY:

Ingredients:

Tuscan Garlic Bread, sliced
Canadian Bacon
Poached Eggs

For Hollandaise Sauce:

Yolks from 4-6 large eggs
8-12 tablespoons butter
1 shallot finely chopped
1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar
Half of one lemon’s juice
Dash or two of Tabasco sauce
Splash or two of good white wine
1/4 cup fresh chopped tarragon
Sliced black olives for garnish

Directions:

To make Hollandaise whisk 4-6 egg yolks in a metal bowl. Add chopped shallot. Put over pot filled halfway with boiling water and continue whisking while slowly adding butter one tablespoon at a time until mixture thickens. If mixture is thickening too quickly remove from heat and continue whisking. When all butter is incorporated add vinegar, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, white wine & tarragon. Set aside.

Toast garlic bread & sear Canadian bacon on both sides.

To Poach Eggs:
Bring eggs to room temperature. Fill large skillet with water to about 1 1/2 inches below rim. Salt the water and stir in about a tablespoon of white vinegar. Cover and bring water to a boil then decrease heat to simmer. Crack eggs into a small dish. I do mine 4 at a time. Remove lid from water and using a large slotted spoon stir the water gently but quickly enough to make a little whirlpool in your pan. Lower the dish with the eggs to just above the water and tip it so the eggs slip gently into the swirling water. Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until whites are firm but yolks are still soft.

To assemble place slice of garlic toast on plate and top with seared Canadian bacon, using a slotted spoon, remove eggs one at a time and rest the spoon briefly on folded up paper towels to remove excess moisture before placing on top of bacon. Drape with Hollandaise sauce. If you wish, sprinkle sliced olives on top. We often serve this dish with slices of ripe avocado in the summer.

Looking for more “egg”-citing breakfast ideas? Visit our breakfast recipe page or check out our “Delicious Breakfasts” board on Pinterest.

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Foodie alert: Head to Gettysburg, PA!

You won’t find a tastier destination than this historic town. Beginning tomorrow and running through Saturday, April 21st, some of Gettysburg’s top-tier restaurants will be coming together to offer multi-course, prix-fix lunch and dinner menus for their 2nd annual Restaurant Week. If the full foodie experience is on your menu, you might want to add in specialty breakfasts to your trip. And, there’s nowhere better to find a unique twist on this morning meal than at a bed and breakfast.

Brickhouse Inn, Gettysburg, PA

Innkeepers pride themselves on coming up with new, creative ways to jump start the day. For example, the Brafferton Inn located in historic downtown Gettysburg, will seat you in an original 1815 dining room adorned with period furniture before starting you off with homemade pastries and fresh fruit. A plate of delectable Pumpkin Pie Pancakes or a serving of Amish Farmer’s Casserole will follow.

Brafferton Inn, Gettysburg, PA

You can up the morning ambiance at The Gaslight Inn. Sit in the glow of candlelight while choosing from a few tantalizing breakfast entrees including Baked Eggs in Maple Toast Cups and the Innkeeper’s own Baked Blueberry Pancakes. If eating outdoors sounds like the perfect place to enjoy your morning meal, head over to the Brickhouse Inn. Enjoy their Raspberry Almond Tart or Blueberry Buckle while relaxing on the patio and admiring the beautifully manicured gardens.

Gettysburg Restaurant Week will surely satisfy your midday and evening cravings. But, if you want to kick off each day in a foodie frame of mind, check out a local bed and breakfast. Besides, if your eyes are bigger than your stomach you’ll have a comfortable bed to lay your head!

Looking for more delicious breakfast inspiration? Check out our innkeeper’s breakfast recipes or take a peek at our “Delicious Breakfasts” Pinterest board!

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When you stay at a B&B, you know a scrumptious breakfast is waiting in the wings. But did you know you’ll also be treated to a lesson in impressive architecture? From Victorian and Greek Revival to Italianate and the ultra modern, inns literally come in all shapes and sizes. So, after putting down your fork and knife, pick up your camera and snap a few photos of a B&B today to celebrate National Architecture Week!

Thyme for Bed, Lowell, IN

Whether you’re a die-hard architecture fan or a casual admirer, a trip to a bed and breakfast will offer an eyeful of stunning design. Would you ever consider staying at a B&B inside a monolithic dome? If so, Thyme for Bed located in Lowell, IN, might be for you! It was built from scratch by owner and engineer Donald Bainbridge and his wife, Sherryl, in 1998. This 3-room B&B has two floors and a mezzanine along with modern amenities, fireplaces and whirlpool tubs; the concrete and steel shell is fire and tornado proof (it can withstand winds up to 300 mph).

Empress of Little Rock, Little Rock, AR

A vision of Italianate design, the Terrell House Bed & Breakfast located in New Orleans, LA, was built in 1857 for wealthy cotton broker, Richard Terrell. This 3-story stucco-over-brick mansion still contains original architectural elements including 14-foot ceilings with plaster molding and ceiling medallions. Along with porches and balconies framed in cast iron, it also features a brick New Orleans-style courtyard adorned with fountains and lush vegetation.

If you’re looking for quintessential ornate Victorian architecture, check out The Empress of Little Rock Small Luxury Hotel and Conference Center located in Little Rock, AR. Designed by Max Orlopp and Casper Kusener, it was completed in 1888 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mansion is considered one of the most important, existing examples of Gothic Queen Anne design in Arkansas with its divided stairway, stain glass skylight, octagonal shaped rooms and 3 ½ story corner tower.

Not only is breakfast part of the unique B&B experience, but so is the inn itself.  Whether it’s a prime example of a bygone era or a one-of-a-kind design, B&Bs offer up a smorgasbord of visual and historical detail to please any admirer!

Want to see more examples of beautiful B&B design? Visit our “Inn”-triguing B&B Architecture Pinterest board!

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It took two days and cost more than 23,000 lives. The Battle of Shiloh, fought in Hardin County, TN, from April 6th to the 7th in 1862, was the bloodiest battle to date during the Civil War. The Confederate Army launched a morning attack on the Union soldiers in Hardin County, TN; but, by the next day they were reeling.

Union soldiers, led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, had gathered at Pittsburgh Landing on the Tennessee River to train new recruits. They also were awaiting an influx of additional soldiers that were being sent from Major General Don Carlos Buell’s Army of Ohio. Early on the morning of the April 6th, General Albert Sidney Johnston of the Confederacy and his troops launched a surprise attack on Grant’s men and fierce fighting ensued. The Union army was able to fend of the attack by drawing a battle line along a sunken road called the “Hornet’s Nest.”

Reenactment at Shiloh National Military Park, Shiloh, TN

Although the Confederates eventually surrounded them, the Union soldiers were able to build a strong defensive line at Pittsburgh Landing thanks to the arrival of Buell’s men. While they were able to withstand the artillery attacks, General Johnston wasn’t so lucky. He suffered a fatal wound, leaving command of the Confederate Army in the hands of General P.G.T. Beauregard.

Emboldened by the injection of additional soldiers, Grant went on the offensive during the early morning hours of April 7th. His Union Army now sat at 40,000 which easily outnumbered the Confederate’s 30,000 men. Beauregard’s counterattack succeeded early on, but he and his army were eventually forced back to regroup. A second counterattack ended in a stalemate; and, after realizing he was outnumbered, Beauregard and his army had no choice but to retreat. The Union Army may have started on the defensive but they certainly didn’t end that way.

Commemorations for the battle’s anniversary include Shiloh’s Grand Illumination on April 7th at the National Military Park in Shiloh. Luminaries will be placed around the battlefield to represent the many lives lost during the battle. Reenactments will also take place at the park throughout the weekend.

If you want to learn more about Civil War history, check out a Civil War Sesquicentennial getaway. Activities include battlefield tours, reenactments, 1860s-themed events and meals and more. Also, make sure to follow our “Civil War Sesquicentennial” Pinterest board to learn more about the anniversary, its major battles and the B&Bs donating a portion of each booking to the Civil War Trust as part of “Reservations for Preservation!”

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Sometimes you just have to be there.

If you’re a die-hard fan of The Hunger Games, the best-selling first book of the trilogy by Suzanne Collins which was turned into a blockbuster film, the place to be is Western North Carolina where the movie was filmed and where the film’s young stars stayed during the shoot including areas in the Blue Ridge Mountain Host and Southern Foothills regions. You can visit actual locations and sound stages and take a piece of The Hunger Games home with you!

Alexander Homestead B&B, Charlotte, NC

Head over to Hendersonville in the Blue Ridge Mountain Host where the wooded landscape, waterfalls and streams were the perfect backdrop for all the non-stop action inside the arena. If you plan on making a weekend of The Hunger Games sightseeing, check out the Elizabeth Leigh Inn. This fully restored inn was built in 1893 and offers four intimate suites with fireplaces beautifully decorated in English cottage/French country décor. You can walk in the footsteps of star Jennifer Lawrence, who plays the movie’s heroine, Katniss Everdeen, in Asheville. It’s where she and the cast stayed and played during the filming and where the “Walk Like a Katniss Everdeen” package is being offered by At Cumberland Falls Bed and Breakfast Inn. Spend two nights at the inn and receive a complimentary afternoon of exploration around the wooded terrain of Chimney Rock State Park.

At Cumberland Falls B&B Inn, Asheville, NC

Charlotte in the Southern Foothills Region gave the fictional city of the Capitol its urban flair. It was at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Knight Theater where the tributes from the 12 Districts were presented to a live audience and throughout the country of Panem on TV. After spending the day visiting the sights, you can relax in the countryside at Alexander Homestead Bed and Breakfast located minutes from uptown Charlotte on 5 acres of beautiful woodland. Built in 1903, this Queen Anne Victorian is listed with the Register of Historic Places and boasts 4 large guest rooms furnished with period antiques and an adjoining Carriage House Suite with private entrance.

The Hunger Games phenomenon has taken hold, and nowhere more than in Western North Carolina. You might want to plan a visit and book a stay at a B&B. You can tour actual movie locations and walk in the characters’ and stars’ footsteps before relaxing after an exciting day; it’s the closest thing to actually being in Panem. So, take a chance on a trip, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

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Spring has sprung! It’s time to let the sunshine in after a long winter; but, when you do you might see a few areas that need some TLC. Before you start day dreaming about all the fun that lies ahead this season, open up all the windows, cabinets and closets and get down to the dirty business of spring cleaning!

When you’re thinking about what supplies to use, there’s one solution that’s not only safe for you and the environment (especially as Earth Day approaches on April 22) but also acts as a powerful cleaning agent: Vinegar! It’s a low-cost, all-purpose option that you probably have sitting in your kitchen cabinet right now.

Stonewall Jackson Inn, Harrisonburg, VA

Innkeepers at bed and breakfasts know a thing or two about cleaning and have a few spring cleaning tips and tricks when it comes to using vinegar. Wayne Engel at the Stonewall Jackson Inn, located in Harrisonburg, VA, uses it to clean everything from the coffee maker to the hardwood floors and kitchen tile. He even uses vinegar as a fabric softener and as an alternative to bleach. But he cautions against mixing. “Never use vinegar and chlorine bleach together,” said Wayne. “It can create harmful vapors.”

Chestnut Street Inn, Sheffield, IL

As a trained chef, Monika Sudakov knows her way around a kitchen. She’s the proprietor of the Chestnut Street Inn located in Sheffield, IL, and recommends using distilled vinegar in the dishwasher. It helps clean out buildup, and, if you use vinegar during a normal wash cycle, it can help remove the spots and streaks on dishes and glasses.

Freshening up your home is a great way to kick off the spring season. But, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on “green” cleaners to get the job done. Head to the kitchen and grab the vinegar for a simple and safe solution.

Check out our “Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips” board on Pinterest for more ideas.

Have any good eco-friendly cleaning tips you’d like to share? Let us know by commenting below!

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Girls aren’t the only ones who enjoy getting out of town for a few days of R&R. Guys also need to recharge their batteries after the week ends, but some think they’re too busy, feel badly about leaving loved ones behind or don’t want to give up their usual weekend fun. Well, they don’t know what they’re missing!

A getaway can help refresh a tired body and mind all while keeping it active. “Mancations” at a bed and breakfasts can be found close to home (cutting back on travel time and expense) and involve anything from white-water rafting, hiking, boating, brewery tours or just kicking back and relaxing. The Cape Cod’s Lamb & Lion Inn, located in Barnstable, MA, is offering up five full days of activities including golfing, kayaking and fishing. When you arrive you’ll be greeted with a “Welcome Basket” full of frosty mugs and cold Cape Cod Beer. Spend part of your afternoon lounging by the pool before receiving a 1-hour on-site massage.

Cape Cod’s Lamb & Lion Inn, Barnstable, MA

Want to “brew up” the perfect mancation? Saugatuck’s Sherwood Forest Bed and Breakfast will provide a day at the Saugatuck Brewing Company’s facilities where you can brew at least 11 gallons of your own concoction, bottle it and design your own label. Prepare for a day outdoors at the Mountain Laurel Inn Bed & Breakfast located in Mentone, AL. Grab your maps, hiking sticks and Mountain Laurel Inn water bottles and head down into the depths of the Sequoyah Caverns. Experience the local trails of Little River Canyon or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, try body surfing down the wild and scenic Little River!

It’s true: “Real men” take vacations. And, they can enjoy some tailor-made fun when they pack their bags for a mancation at a B&B.

Find more guys’ weekend ideas on our “Mancations” board on Pinterest or choose from ready made guys getaway packages.

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Spring is in the air and it’s the time when the incredible cherry blossoms bloom in Washington, D.C. This year, the Cherry Blossom Festival Centennial is planning the biggest celebration ever. To mark the 100th anniversary of these magnificent trees (a gift from the city of Tokyo), five weeks of exciting events are planned including the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival. There is nothing more romantic than a stroll along the Tidal Basin hand-in-hand admiring the beauty of the cherry blossom trees.

Swann House, Washington, D.C.

If you have romance on the mind, nothing beats a Washington, D.C. bed and breakfast. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital on a romantic getaway with that special someone. You can pamper each other with side-by-side in-room massages or raise a toast before heading out for a night on the town. Plus, the innkeepers can point out some of the most romantic spots around the city.

Woodley Park Guest House, Washington, D.C.

After an afternoon spent at the Woodley Park Zoo and shopping your way through bustling Adams Morgan, head back to the Woodley Park Guest House where you can share a bottle of bubbly while relaxing on their front porch. At the Swann House, located in historic Dupont Circle, you can cozy up by the fireplace in your luxurious room before heading to the whirlpool tub for a bath of essential oils and salts. End the evening by sharing a bottle of your favorite varietal while feeding each other sweet treats.

Flowers aren’t the only things blooming in Washington, D.C., right now. Romance is in the air and in the shadows of major historical sights around the city. A stay at a bed and breakfast can help spark the flame and make your couples getaway one to remember!

Looking for more ideas for your romantic getaway in Washington, D.C.? Check out our “Washington, D.C. ‘Inn’ Bloom” board on Pinterest!

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It’s official: Spring is here! Days are longer and warmer meaning you can finally lighten the layers of clothing and spend more time outdoors. Spring also means switching out heartier foods like beef stews and heavy casseroles for simpler fare like pasta primavera, roasted vegetables and salads. Leafy lettuce mixed with freshly picked fruits and vegetables make the perfect pairing for any springtime meal.

Here’s a delightful recipe for The Best Spring Salad courtesy of the Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn that adds a twist: It’s both sweet and savory!

The Best Spring Salad

Ingredients:

6 cups fresh arugula
1 pint of fresh strawberries
½ cup honey or 1/8 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp shallots
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup canola oil (cold pressed)
2 tbsp poppy seeds OR store-bought poppy seed dressing

Directions:

Poppy Seed Dressing recipe:

Measure the honey, mustard, salt, shallot and vinegar into a blender or food processor. Mix until smooth. Start your mixer of choice and gradually add the oil in a slow stream. Process until thoroughly blended. Stop the blender and sprinkle the poppy seeds over the top. Mix gently and transfer to a bottle; it will hold for about 5 days refrigerated.

Wash arugula well and dry. Put your arugula in a bowl and gently sprinkle the arugula with the sliced strawberries. Top with your poppy seed dressing and toss really gently so not to bruise the strawberries.

Looking for more tasty ideas to ring in spring? Visit our recipe page and see what our innkeepers are cooking up!

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