Bed and Breakfasts – an American Tradition
The Bed and Breakfast has become an American tradition, even though, like so many other things, it has its origins in Europe. The concept of the Bed and Breakfast – or B&B – came about when home owners offered accommodation to travelers, usually at an affordable price, and in order to make a little extra money. Travelers would enjoy the feeling of staying somewhere slightly unusual or different, with local color and being able to obtain advice and recommendations from the owner. Today, these sentiments are still expressed by visitors to America’s many unique bed and breakfast inns. In the United States, the earliest B&Bs were established on the east coast, and then the Midwest and today there are an estimated 25,000 across the country. American B&Bs have become characterized by their historic or opulent furnishings, often luxurious guest rooms, attention to detail, personal attention from the owner – and of course the delicious breakfast.
Bed and Breakfast inns can be found all over the country – from Florida B&B’s to California B&B’s and everywhere in between. You can get away from it all in a B&B on the rugged coast of Maine, or sightsee in the heart of America’s most exciting cities – San Francisco, New York and New Orleans. The state with the most B&Bs is California with around 1000 bed & breakfast inns, whereas Massachusetts and the New England states offer perhaps the best selection of historic bed & breakfast inns. The town of Fredericksburg in the Texas hill country boasts an astonishing 300 or so B&Bs, guest houses and inns. Pennsylvania can boast one of the oldest bed & breakfast inns in the country - Farm Fortune dates from 1734 and sits on land which was granted by William Penn. And the Birchwood Bed & Breakfast Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts has been pampering travelers for over 225 years. The Homespun Farm Bed & Breakfast inn in Connecticut is over 250 years old and has the distinction of having only one doorknob on the inside.
Diversity of Bed and Breakfast InnsBed and Breakfast inns are nothing if not diverse. You can sleep in bed & breakfast rooms across the United States in such unusual buildings as a lighthouse, a railway caboose, castle, farmhouse, monastery, or tree house. You can sleep in bed & breakfast inns that once were slaves’ quarters or jail cells – and in Key Largo, you can actually sleep under the sea at Jules’ Undersea Lodge. Whereas many people stay in B&Bs for a romantic break, a special occasion, to be pampered or simply as a break from the anonymous chain motel room, many bed & breakfast inns cater for the niche market. You can choose to stay in a B&B that caters to gay or lesbian travelers, cyclists, vegetarians, book-lovers or antique-hunters. Some bed and breakfasts offer a kosher breakfast or an organic breakfast. Some bed and breakfasts are pet-friendly. Many B&Bs have artistic, historical or literary associations – and quite a few claim to be haunted. And if you are brave enough, you can sleep in the B&B room where Lizzie Borden committed murder, in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Having Breakfast at a B&BBreakfast, it has been said, is the most important meal of the day – and most B&B owners pride themselves on both the amount and quality of their breakfasts. Here you won’t start the morning with a simple glass of orange juice and bowl of cereal unless you actually want to. To many B and B guests, breakfast is indeed one of the highlights of their stay and such an important part of the overall bed and breakfast experience that many B&B associations publish recipes or cookbooks. Some B&Bs serve breakfast in the guest rooms or allow guests to take their breakfast back to their room. Just reading the description of the breakfast at many American B and Bs is enough to make you hungry. Fluffy omelets, country ham and sausage, freshly baked rolls and breads, and a selection of fresh fruit feature on many menus. Coffee at B&B’s is usually of the gourmet variety, whose aroma greets you as you make your way down to the breakfast room.
Enjoying your stay at a Bed and Breakfast in USATo many people who stay at B and Bs, apart from the luxurious rooms and distinctive furnishings, it’s often the little things that make all the difference. Many innkeepers of bed and breakfasts offer such extras as turndown service, afternoon tea or sherry, a well-stocked library or a free newspaper in the morning. Hot or cold drinks on hand, depending on the season are also a well received extra. Most bed and breakfast innkeepers enjoy their job, take pride in their establishment and will go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. They are only too happy to provide advice and suggestions on sightseeing, dining out and other local activities. And if you just can’t get enough of the B and B lifestyle, consider doing what many others have done – purchasing a bed and breakfast for sale. It isn’t as easy as most people think, but at any time there are plenty of bed and breakfasts for sale, for those who choose to take the plunge. You can even take classes, read books or spend a weekend at a B and B learning the system when you decide to buy a bed and breakfast for sale. So, if you need to be pampered, feel like relaxing or enjoying a romantic weekend getaway, peruse the site and choose a B and B or a bed and breakfast for sale. On average, between $100 and $150 a night will get you a night at one of America’s unique and historic bed and breakfasts. Go ahead let www.FindMyBedandBreakfast.com find you the perfect B&B –
you deserve it.
to FindMyBedandBreakfast.com. 
