Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast Ranch, Farm or Lodge Escape

Story Published on May 28, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Ah, the rustic romance of a wide-open ranch or remote lodge! What could be finer in the fall, when summer’s fire is cooling to become winter’s chill than to enjoy the unique pleasures of a ranch or lodge bed and breakfast, the kind of pleasures you just can’t find at a cloned hotel chain. We have rounded up some of the finest ranch/lodge country inns you can shake a stick at.

Frank Lloyd Wright-Style Montana Bed & Breakfast

Big Sky, Montana is true to its name: This is the land of wide-open skies. One magical place to watch them from is River Rock Lodge. This is the kind of stone-and-wood lodge/B&B that you’ve always dreamed of; right down to the cathedral-high main lobby. This inn gives you easy access to blue-ribbon trout fishing and incomparable Yellowstone National Park. The Montana fall foliage is in full view as the lodge is surrounded by aspens as well as mountain vistas. For Frank Lloyd Wright fans, the architecture blends into the landscape, courtesy of renowned Montana architect Jerry Locati, whose admiration of Frank Lloyd Wright is reflected in the lodge’s classic frontier features.

300-Year-Old-Hacienda in Arizona

Experience a true dude ranch experience at Rancho De La Osa, a 300-year-old ranch located 65 miles outside of Tucson in the high Sonoran Desert. Rates include three meals each day and all the scheduled activities for the day. These might include horseback riding, nature walks, bird watching and guided hikes. There are several themed weekends throughout the year, such as the Cowgirl Camp, an adventure for the ladies that includes rustling cattle and barrel racing. Cowboy cookouts and western dance events are some of the other themes. The guest rooms are furnished with Mexican antiques, many include a wood-burning fireplace, and all have a porch boasting mountain views. Afternoon refreshments are served in the “Old Adobe” Cantina, which is thought to be the oldest building in Arizona.

440 Idaho Acres with Miniature Horses

Surrounded by 440 acres of working farmland, The Cedar Mountain Farm B&B in Athol, Idaho, is a serene and peaceful getaway anytime of the year. There are plenty of hiking and cross-country ski trails, and bird watching opportunities abound. Deer and elk sightings are common, and you might even glimpse a moose. Sage Creek runs along a mountain on the vast property and guests can try and catch some trout. The night sky is filled with stars, and each morning brings with it a farm-fresh breakfast. Guests can help out with farm chores or gardening, which is especially fun for younger guests. Help gather eggs or pet a miniature horse. The farm is located in between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint; the Silverwood Theme Park is just three miles away, as well.

Enjoy an Orchard Bed and Breakfast

Country comforts and the peace of 22 acres surround you at Okaw Valley Orchard Inn in Sullivan, Illinois. The working orchard includes three guest rooms in the barn-style bed and breakfast home, each decorated in a pleasing country style. The Loft includes a deck, woodstove and bathroom with a clawfoot tub. There is an enclosed back porch, where guests can enjoy breakfast or relax in the afternoon and watch as hummingbirds scamper from tree to tree. From July to November, the orchard is in full swing and guests can visit the country store and bakery. The innkeepers even host an apple festival each year in early October. In the evenings, enjoy a soak in the hot tub and enjoy the starry country skies.

Enjoy Peaceful, Easy Feelings at Northern California Ranch

Restful, relaxed, refuge: Three words that nicely describe the Shambhala Ranch retreat center and B&B in Ukiah, Northern California. Located near the coastal town of Mendocino, Shambhala Ranch offers serene rolling hills, a natural swimming pond, and a river with beach to play on. Add a hot tub, large rustic rooms with great views, and clean, fresh air close to the Pacific Ocean, and the Shambhala Ranch is an ideal place to withdraw from the world for awhile.

Longhorn Cattle Ranch

For a Texas-size getaway try Canyon Lake Ranch, a Hill Country longhorn ranch on 64 acres. The Starview Lodge faces the pool and hot tub and the Longhorn Lodge is shaded by oak trees and boasts a plant-filled porch. The B&B allows you to hand feed the ranches’ Longhorns, with their beautiful coats and long, curly horns. You can also float down the Guadalupe River, rent a pontoon boat on Canyon Lake, visit the hill towns or relax at the ranch.

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