Santa Cruz County has a wide variety of attractions, from museums to shops to outdoor activities. For more than a century, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk has been one of Central California’s most popular tourist attractions. Today’s guests will find arcade games, miniature golf, bowling, a wooden roller coaster that was built in 1924, and a carousel that dates to 1911. Travelers can view some of the world’s oldest and tallest trees at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

The West Cliff Inn, located in a stunning restored Victorian, sits on a bluff above the ocean offering views of Cowell’s Beach and the nearby Santa Cruz Boardwalk. There are nine guestrooms, several with an ocean view. Some also have a jetted tub and all the rooms include a fireplace and king bed. Rooms are filled with amenities, such as luxurious linens, fine European bath products and fluffy towels, as well as televisions with DVD players. You can borrow a movie, book or board game from the innkeepers. A concierge service also is available, and the innkeepers are happy to help with restaurant and activity recommendations. In the mornings, a full breakfast buffet is served, and wine and hors d’oeuvres are set out in the afternoons.

As you head south from Santa Cruz, you’ll find plenty to see and do along Monterey Bay, which includes such notable spots as Carmel, Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove. Monterey itself is home to Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Carmel, known as an artists’ community is famous for its many galleries, as well as its annual Bach festival. The event draws visitors from around the world. The 17-Mile-Drive from Pebble Beach to Pacific Grove is a sight not to be missed, showcasing the jagged coastline and cypress trees. Pacific Grove is home to several wonderful bed and breakfasts and has more Victorian houses per capita than any other U.S. city. Day trips from the area include visits to Hearst Castle. It’s a two-hour drive to the castle, located in the tiny hamlet of San Simeon, but as you must cross through spectacular Big Sur, it’s well worth the time.

At the Green Gables Inn, guests enjoy one of California’s best views and some of the state’s finest hospitality. The restored Queen Anne Victorian includes 11 romantic guest rooms, some of which are cozy quarters tucked up near the inn’s gables. Other choices include spacious suites in the carriage house. Several rooms include a fireplace or jetted spa tub and some even offer ocean views. The innkeepers provide a full breakfast buffet, afternoon wine and treats and freshly baked cookies throughout the day. There is a chocolate turndown service and beds are topped with fine linens, soft pillows and one of the inn’s signature teddy bears. Best of all, you just step out the door; cross the street and you’re at the beach!

The Gosby House is another memorable Pacific Grove bed and breakfast. The historic Victorian is painted a welcoming shade of yellow, and the interior is just as charming. Beautifully decorated rooms are a perfect catalyst for romance, and several have sitting areas with a fireplace. The Carriage House has two suites, each with a double spa tub, fireplace and balcony. This Monterey Peninsula bed and breakfast is just a few minutes from the bay in downtown Pacific Grove.

If you’d love a traditional setting without all the pomp of a big wedding, the Holladay House in historic Orange, Virginia, might be just what you need. The beautifully restored inn is filled with 19th-century charm. The innkeepers, no doubt romantics themselves, have been hosts to many weddings and elopement ceremonies. In fact, the innkeepers were married at a small Virginia bed and breakfast, and the experience was so special that it kindled their interest in running an inn. They now offer all-inclusive elopement packages. Guests only need to bring their wedding clothes and a marriage license.

The Holladay House elopement package includes everything a bride and groom could wish for, beginning with a night’s stay in one of the inn’s honeymoon suites. These spacious bedchambers include a fireplace and private bath with a whirlpool tub. The happy couple receives a bottle of wine as well as fruit and cheese tray when they arrive at the inn. The innkeepers provide all the essentials, from the bride’s bouquet to a Virginia-licensed officiant. After the ceremony, you’ll enjoy a wedding cake for two and a bottle of champagne. Dinner for two at a local restaurant also is included.

This Virginia bed and breakfast is a perfect spot for your honeymoon, as well. The home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The village of Orange offers plenty of historic sites, as well as boutiques, antique stores and art galleries. A short drive will take you to award-winning wineries, Civil War sites and museums. Take a drive and enjoy Blue Ridge Mountain views or simply relax and cuddle up in front of the fireplace in your honeymoon suite.

Guests will enjoy the historic charm, which includes many architectural features original to the house, as well as plenty of amenities. Each of the romantic guest rooms has its own private bath; some have a fireplace, double whirlpool tub or perhaps a private patio. The innkeepers will pamper you with home-baked cookies and treats, as well as a two-course gourmet breakfast.

For those wishing to elope, a Virginia bed and breakfast is an ideal spot. The Holladay House combines all the elements for a perfect wedding and a spectacular honeymoon.

Located in a restored, early 20th-century brownstone, The House of Two Urns offers both historic charm and close access to downtown. There are six guest rooms, three with fireplaces and two with Jacuzzi tubs. Rooms are bright and airy with quilt-topped beds and antique furnishings. The innkeeper at this Chicago bed and breakfast also offers several apartments with plenty of amenities, including kitchens.

At China Doll Guest House, travelers can choose to stay in one of several fully self-contained city apartments or even opt to spend a night on the innkeepers’ sailboat, when available. Three apartments are available in a historic, ivy covered row house in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood and there are several more located in other homes. The innkeepers offer plenty of amenities for business travelers, including a computer, printer and fax in each apartment. The kitchens are stocked with everything from coffee and espresso to bacon and eggs to cereal, breads and yogurt. Several units have a fireplace or Jacuzzi tub, and all offer fantastic access to downtown Chicago.

The Hansen House Mansion, also located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood is another option for travelers seeking a Chicago bed and breakfast. The 19th-century Queen Anne still features original stained-glass windows. The rooms are decorated in Victorian style with plenty of period antiques. There are two guest rooms, each with private bath and one with a clawfoot soaking tub. The spacious Parlor Suite is another option, housing up to four guests. This suite also has a clawfoot tub, as well as a spacious parlor and even a sun deck.

Evanston, a North Shore suburb about 15 miles from Chicago, is home to Northwestern University, museums and theater, as well as The Homestead. This historic inn has been family-run for more than 70 years and offers both traditional inn rooms, as well as a selection of apartments. There is a gourmet restaurant, Quince, at the inn serving specialties such as shaved asparagus salad with a truffle vinaigrette, braised short ribs with Meyer lemon risotto, and homemade blueberry-dusted doughnuts with blueberry jam.

A 35-mile drive west of Chicago will take you to West Dundee and The Mansion bed and breakfast. The century-old Tudor boasts original features such as leaded, stained-glass windows and lighting fixtures. Each of the four guest rooms includes a whirlpool tub. There are also three extended-stay rooms that share a bath with a whirlpool tub. The innkeepers often host weddings and receptions at this historic inn.

A visit to Hillbrook Inn in Charles Town, West Virginia, an early 18th-century Tudor, is truly like a trip back in time to an old English country manor. Surrounded by acres of gardens and woods, this is absolutely an ideal spot for an afternoon. You’ll savor freshly baked cookies and tea sandwiches and treats prepared by the inn’s own executive chef. The innkeepers have prepared fairy tale birthday teas where little girls feel like real princesses, if only for an afternoon. You can enjoy your gourmet, six-course high tea in the beautifully decorated inn, or in warmer weather, take tea in gardens.

Fortune Magazine described the afternoon tea at Cliffside Inn as a tea “fit for the Queen of England.” The historic Victorian inn, located in picturesque Newport, Rhode Island, also has been named as one of the 20 best tea rooms in America by noted tea authority and author Bruce Richardson. In fall and winter, the teas are served in the Victorian parlor and in warmer months, teas are served on the veranda or on tables in the garden. The menu changes each day, but the offerings include gourmet tea sandwiches, plenty of homemade cookies and sweets and the staple of any tea time, freshly baked scones. The innkeepers use only the highest quality teas, all blended exclusively for this Newport bed and breakfast.

For a tea that is truly seaworthy, the innkeepers at Kitt Shepley House B&B (also in Newport) offer a tour of the harbor while enjoying afternoon tea aboard their own private boat. This special package, named the High Tea on the Sea, includes all the trimmings from the tea sandwiches and sweets down to the fine silver and china.

For a Cape Cod afternoon tea that is truly a delight, head to the village of Chatham and the Captain’s House Inn. This four-diamond rated Massachusetts bed and breakfast is surrounded by two acres of gardens and the historic inn has been beautifully restored and decorated. Inn guests enjoy a complimentary cream tea with freshly baked sweet treats. For an extra charge, the innkeepers offer a full English afternoon tea for guests and general public alike. This special tea includes the aforementioned sweets as well as a selection of tea sandwiches and other savory items. During December, a special holiday tea is available, as well.

At Halcyon Place Bed and Breakfast in Campbell, New York, guests can enjoy a summer tour of the inn’s herb gardens and then enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea. The menu of sweets and savories are homemade using herbs from the inn’s gardens. Innkeeper Yvonne Sloan begins these Wednesday tea events with a presentation about growing herbs and using them in recipes.

Enjoy afternoon tea, Southern style at the Traveler’s Rest B&B in Montezuma, Georgia. Just a two-hour’s drive from the city of Atlanta, this bed and breakfast serves up afternoon tea in the dining room or on the veranda. Innkeeper Adele Goodman has hosted everything from a mother-daughter Girl Scout tea or a meeting of the local Red Hat Society. The tea features all the traditional delectables, as well as a few special Southern treats.

Enjoy the total Victorian experience with an authentic English tea at Richmond Victorian Inn. The historic inn, located just a few miles from Burlington, Vermont, in the town of Richmond, has been host to a number of specialty afternoon teas. The innkeepers have prepared princess tea parties for little girls, as well as wedding shower teas and even teas for book clubs. On many Sundays, the innkeepers serve a signature English tea with all the trimmings, including locally made teas and freshly baked scones.

During the holiday season you will find many bed and breakfast inns across the U.S. and Canada splendidly decorated. At The Rosewood Country Inn in Bradford, N.H., there’s also an annual Holiday Tea and Tour held throughout the month of December. After a tour of this historic New Hampshire bed and breakfast, white chocolate and raspberry scones are served with Devonshire cream and Jam as well as Lemon Snowflake Cake and more. Stay a night or two and enjoy the luxuriously appointed suites, complete with antique beds and warm fireplaces.

Visitors to the Los Angeles area will be amazed at the many quaint and quirky towns that fill up this vast metropolis. From seaside harbor towns or bohemian beach towns to inland villages that remind one of a Norman Rockwell painting, you are sure to find something that will suit your needs and tastes.

If you’re looking for a Los Angeles/Bed and Breakfast Boutique experience, the Blue Lantern Inn in Dana Point is sure to fit the bill. The 29-room inn is perched on a bluff overlooking the Dana Point Harbor. Several guest rooms afford sea views, and all of the rooms include a fireplace, whirlpool tub and a sitting area. Each of the rooms has been decorated individually in a romantic-style. The inn’s location is ideal, just minutes from Laguna Beach and a mere hour’s drive from both Los Angeles and San Diego. There are even several popular restaurants within walking distance. A full breakfast and afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres are included in the rates.

When it comes to Los Angeles bed and breakfasts, The Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica, is hard to beat. This boutique-style inn offers more than a dozen guest rooms, each individually decorated, many with jetted tubs, fireplaces or perhaps a private patio. Most rooms feature a king-size bed, and all the beds are topped with luxurious linens and piled high with fluffy pillows. Guest baths are stocked with European bath soaps and shampoos. The innkeepers will loan DVDs and books, as well as offering concierge service and recommendations for local attractions and restaurants. The inn is just a few, short blocks to the beach, and all the fun of Los Angeles is just a short drive away.

Just east of Los Angeles, you’ll find charming Claremont Village and Hotel Casa 425, a modern boutique hotel. Rooms are decorated in contemporary style, opening to the hotel’s courtyard. An outdoor living room offers plenty of places to relax, as well as fountains and fire pits. The hotel staff screens movies in this outdoor living room, so you can snuggle up and enjoy the show. The lounge and bar offers a full cocktail menu, as well as selection of fine wines. Claremont Village is loaded with historic ambiance, and plenty of shops and cafes are within walking distance of the hotel.

Boutique bed and breakfasts offer the same amenities as any high-class hotel, but the smaller scale makes it easier to provide a more personal experience. Next time you book a Los Angeles bed and breakfast, consider going boutique. It might make the difference between an ordinary trip and an extraordinary adventure.

Billed as “New England’s Best Family Resort” by Yankee magazine, The Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville, VT combines a wonderful country B&B setting with all kinds of kids activities. The Wildflower Inn offers supervised activities for kids, allowing parents to truly take a break while their children are entertained. For instance, “Butterflies, Tots and Forget-Me-Nots is perfect for the parent traveling alone with young children,” says the Wildflower Inn’s website. “Our program combines time together with the kids with opportunities for relaxing while the children are enjoying their activities.” There’s even Daisy’s Diner, which prepares special themed meals for kids.

A stay at Villa Park House, just four block from the Jersey Shore in the town of Spring Lake, is sure to please the whole family. The kids will enjoy the close access to the beach, boardwalk and nearby Six Flags amusement park. Parents will appreciate the historic charm and romance of a restored Victorian. The innkeepers provide many thoughtful amenities, as well as serving a delectable full breakfast each morning. Beachgoers will appreciate use of beach tags, towels, umbrellas and chairs. Guests also can borrow the innkeepers bicycles. There is badminton and croquet available at the inn, and several parks nearby. The Historic Village at Allaire is special treat, and allows families to go back in time and experience life in the early 19th century.

If you’ve ever dreamed of life at a home on the range, the Vee Bar Guest Ranch will be a perfect spot for your next family vacation. Located in Laramie, Wyoming and set on 800 acres, the ranch offers guests a myriad of outdoor activities. Go tubing in the river, enjoy a horseback ride through the untamed Wyoming countryside, or even take part in cattle work. The kids also will love the expansive ground where they can run and play for hours. Hayrides and cookouts are among the other fun activities. Guests stay either in the main lodge or in country cabins or suites that rest along the river’s edge.

Parents will have no doubt that their children are welcome at Las Palomas Bed and Breakfast in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The innkeepers have included a play area for children on their beautiful grounds, and the inn is stocked with plenty of games, books and toys. They even have safety gates, high chairs, cribs and nightlights. Parents will enjoy the richly decorated casitas, designed in a romantic New Mexico style with kiva fireplaces and rich leather and wood furnishings. In the mornings, the innkeepers serve freshly baked breads, cereals, fresh fruit and yogurts to get the day off to a healthy start.

Relax and enjoy your vacation, country style, at the Sunrise Farm Bed and Breakfast in Salem, South Carolina. The 10-acre grounds are fun for kids to explore, and there are plenty of farm animals to meet. Say hello to Lady and Sunshine, the miniature horses, or spend some time with Muffin, the pot-bellied pig. A goat, sheep, llamas and barn cats are other charming four-legged friends. Kids and parents alike will enjoy the hearty, country breakfasts as well as the comfortable, country dcor that makes everyone feel at home. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sunrise Farm is near to plenty of fun activities, from whitewater rafting to fishing and boating.

Finally, on the west coast in California, the Capay Valley Bed & Breakfast in Capay has its own zoo! That’s right: Your children can get up close and personal with llamas, zebras, a miniature donkey, a pygmy goat, sheep, ostrich, and, of course, a dog and cat. To get the kids excited, log onto this B&B’s website and let them take a 360 degree virtual tour of the animals! Add an outdoor pool, horseback riding, comfortable accommodations (there are even two cottages), and the Capay Valley B&B’s beautiful wide open space, and the whole family will want to stay. And yes, pets are even welcome.

Bed and Breakfast Vacation Deals

“The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books,” mused poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Indeed there is nothing more relaxing than escaping into a great adventure, romance or mystery; which is why so many of us pack a book or two on holiday. What better way to combine the relaxation of a vacation with the excitement of a good book. We found some very bookish bed and breakfasts, which are literally lovely.

A Respite for Booklovers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Nestled in the historic district of a quaint Eastern Shore village between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, this bed and breakfast is a celebration of books and writers. Guests can relax by the fire and enjoy a good read in the Mark Twain Parlor and Library (with a diverse selection of books). Each room realistically reflects the life and times of a beloved author. Revel in the romance of Regency England in the elegant, yet sexy, Jane Austen; Immerse yourself in the jazzy Art Deco Harlem Renaissance of the Langston Hughes Room; or dream of pirates and treasures in the nautical Robert Louis Stevenson Room. The whimsically French Caf? Colette contains a collection of 34 cats in pictures and collectibles, in honor of Colette’s love of felines.

The Book & Blanket – Jay, New York

Reading is the sport of the hour at The Book and Blanket, a cozy, historic bed and breakfast in Jay, New York. Guest rooms are named in honor of Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jack London. The library, as well as the whole inn, really, offer an abundance of books. If you don’t finish a book, the innkeepers are happy to let you take it along. Guests are also encouraged to leave a guest for the next booklover. The town of Jay and surrounding area offer plenty to do and see, including fishing, swimming and hiking. Lake Placid is a short drive away, and guests can plan a day trip to Fort Ticonderoga.

Curl Up and Read in the Nation’s Capitol

Located in a restored 19th century Victorian rowhouse, The Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast, is charming inside and out. The rooms are stunning, each individually decorated with its own theme. The Zora Neale Hurston room includes a brass king bed, antique writing secretary desk, bay window with a view of 16th street and a guest bath with a two-person Jacuzzi tub. The Inspiration Room is another memorable room featuring an ensuite clawfoot soaking tub. The opulent Writer’s Suite is its own little apartment featuring a galley kitchen, and main room that serves both as a living room and bed room.

Sylvia Beach Hotel – Newport, Oregon

Sylvia Beach Hotel, named not for a stretch of seashore, but a famed literary patron of pre-World War II Paris, is a haven for booklovers. The three-story hotel is set atop a bluff overlooking the sea, and the top-floor attic is a library, where guests can select a book and relax. Guest rooms, several of which boast stunning ocean views, are divided into three categories, Novels, Best Sellers and Classics. The Classics rooms offer the best ocean views, and all of the guest rooms are named for a famous author or poet. The inn’s restaurant, Table of Content, features an ever varying menu in an oceanfront dining room.

Savor the Classics at Concord’s Hawthore Inn

There could hardly be a more quintessential writer’s town than Concord, Massachusetts, once home to Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Hawthorne Inn, named for the aforementioned author, and rests across the street from that author’s home. The house next door was residence to both Alcott and Margaret Sydney, who wrote The Five Little Peppers books. The inn itself rests on land once owned by its namesake, and features charming guest rooms decorated in period style with antiques. Several rooms are named with literature in mind, from the romantic Sleepy Hollow room with its canopy bed to the Alcott Room, which includes original paintings and a view of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s home.

Stay in Town, But Feel Worlds Away

The Channel Road Inn, located just blocks from the beach in Santa Monica, is a perfect spot for locals who need a break but don’t want to travel far. Within walking distance of this Los Angeles bed and breakfast are shops, restaurants and the famous Santa Monica boardwalk. Borrow the inn’s bicycles for a tour of the area, or head to the beach and enjoy the surf and salty air.

Seaside Harbor Town Offers Something for Everyone

While nearby Laguna Beach often grabs all the press, the town of Dana Point has much to offer those seeking a great weekend getaway. The Blue Lantern Inn, perched on a bluff overlooking the Dana Point Harbor, is halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles and just a few minutes from the famous galleries, shops and boardwalk of Laguna. The inn offers beautifully decorated guest rooms, each with a fireplace and whirlpool tub. Several rooms offer a view of the harbor and coastline. There are several popular restaurants within walking distance, and guests can spend the day soaking up the rays at famous Doheny Beach or perhaps enjoying a whale watching excursion.

Journey Back in Time at Historic Claremont Village

For a taste of California as it used to be, plan a trip to Claremont Village, a charming historic area located in eastern Los Angeles County. Casa 425, a unique modern boutique hotel, is located right in the heart of Claremont Village. Spacious guest rooms open out to the hotel’s courtyard, and each has an oversize soaking tub. The hotel has a lounge where you can enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine. Guests can walk to shops, restaurants and art galleries. There is a weekly farmer’s and artisan’s market to peruse. Each month local galleries also hold an art walk.

Enjoy Moonlight in Monterey

Although a little farther from Los Angeles, the drive up the coast is spectacular and the bed and breakfasts are some of the best you’ll find anywhere. So fill up your CD changer, pack some snacks and a camera and head out on the open road. A car journey to the Monterey Peninsula is cheaper than flying almost anywhere, and the memories you’ll make will last a lifetime.

The Gosby House, located in the seaside village of Pacific Grove, is a charming, yellow restored Victorian with 22 guest rooms, each with its own personal flair. Tasteful, English Country dcor, beds topped with fluffy comforters and a teddy bear and amenities such as a fireplace or perhaps a window seat create plenty of romantic ambiance. The Carriage Rooms include a fireplace, spa tub and a balcony. Also in Pacific Grove is Green Gables Inn. This wondrous California bed and breakfast features 11 guest rooms in a restored Queen Anne Victorian, and each is special. The spacious Carriage House offers both a fireplace and spa tub. The unique Gable Room has a ladder which leads to a cozy attic room. The Balcony Room offers a stunning ocean view. Guests at both bed and breakfasts are treated to a full breakfast and afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Discover America ’s Roots at a Massachusetts Bed and Breakfast

Concord is one of the United States’ most historic towns. Not only was it here that the Revolutionary War began, but it also was home to some of the most celebrated Americans. Authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson lived here, as well Henry David Thoreau. Visitors can tour the Old North Bridge , the site of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which is part of the Minute Man National Historic Park. On the Fourth of July, there is a Picnic in the Park event at Emerson Field, which includes a parade and live music.

The Colonel Roger Brown House, built in 1775, is one of several bed and breakfasts in Concord. The Colonial home features guest rooms decorated with antiques, and each room includes a small kitchenette. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott both previously owned the land where The Hawthorne Inn now stands. The bed and breakfast was built in 1870, and includes antique-filled rooms, some with canopy beds.

No doubt you’ve watched on TV as the Boston Pops hold their annual Fourth of July concert against a backdrop of one of the country’s best fireworks shows. But you don’t have to watch the show from your living room, head into Boston and see it live. With its bounty of historic sites, you’ll receive an education in American history in just a few days.

Boston offers many historic bed and breakfasts. The College Club is within walking distance of the Charles River, where you can watch the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show. The guest rooms are decorated with antiques, and the rates include breakfast and afternoon refreshments. At Clarendon Square Inn, guests enjoy the amenities of a boutique hotel and the hospitality of a bed and breakfast. Each guest room is unique, with an eclectic mix of fine furnishings. There is even a rooftop hot tub. Both of these bed and breakfasts are located in historic buildings.

Celebrate Life, Liberty, Happiness at a Pennsylvania Bed and Breakfast

There is a lot to love in the City of Brotherly Love, especially around the Fourth of July. Philadelphia pulls out all the stops for its family-friendly Party on the Parkway. The event includes an all-day festival, parade and after the sun sets, there is the Liberty Concert and Fireworks event. Add to that a city filled with historic sites, and you can create your own perfect Independence Day getaway. Travelers can tour Independence Hall, where the first Continental Congress met, or snap a picture of the Liberty Bell.

Enjoy easy access to all of the historic gems of Philadelphia at the Thomas Bond House. This Philadelphia bed and breakfast was built in 1769 and boasts rooms filled with period reproductions and four-poster beds. The home is located in the Independence National Historic Park and is within walking distance of Independence Hall.

Spend the Fourth at a Washington, D.C., Bed and Breakfast

The perfect Fourth of July getaway awaits you in Washington, D.C. From the myriad of historic sites to the spectacular fireworks lighting up the sky above the Washington monument, you can immerse yourself in Americana. The city’s yearly celebration starts off with a parade along Constitution Avenue. Spend the day touring the sites, an evening watching the rockets red glare (so to speak) and spend the night in the height of luxury at a local bed and breakfast.

DuPont Circle, resting at the intersection of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire avenues, was once home to some of the wealthiest of the city’s restaurants. The picturesque neighborhood is filled with architectural gems and none so fine as the Swann House. The Richardson-Romanesque-style manor home boasts a second-story balcony and a turret. The interior still includes many of the original features, such as carved marble fireplaces, crown molding and wall panels. Guest rooms are decorated in a romantic style with a selection of antiques, and some rooms include a fireplace. The bed and breakfast is close to all of the city’s popular attractions, shops and restaurants.

Celebrate Independence at a Texas Bed and Breakfast

Texas Hill Country, a charming region of the Lone Star State known for its flowers and German heritage, offers some Texas-size fun for Fourth of July. In the town of Comfort, the Fourth is celebrated with a parade, Texas-style barbecue, children’s carnival and pageant to crown the new Miss Comfort. Another town, Chappell Hill, is home to the “Best Little Small Town Parade in Texas,” and features everything from a kazoo band to cowboys.

There are plenty of bed and breakfast choices in Texas Hill Country. A white picket fence and roses, bluebonnets and wildflowers decorate the grounds at Kreigel’s Guest Haus. The innkeepers offer a Victorian-style guest room in the historic 1868 main house, as well as a private cottage. The German-style breakfasts include homemade preserves. In Comfort, you’ll find the Holekamp House Bed and Breakfast. The 19th-century home features five individually decorated guest rooms, all done in a romantic country style. There’s also a private cabin, perfect for couples celebrating a special occasion.

Enjoy the Fireworks at a West Coast Bed and Breakfast

While California might not boast the Revolutionary War history of Philadelphia or Boston, it can hold its own as a fabulous vacation spot. From the sunny beaches of San Diego to the historic charm of Pasadena, there are plenty of options for Fourth of July Fun. California ’s bed and breakfasts are some of the best around, as well.

San Diego County boasts several major fireworks shows, the biggest is at Mission Bay, but Sea World and Legoland also offer up some competition for Fourth of July Fun. The Victorian Heritage Park Inn offers visitors to San Diego a great location and plenty of romantic ambiance. The inn, which includes romantic accommodations spread between two restored Victorians, is located in Old Town San Diego, within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Guests are treated to full breakfasts served on fine china, as well as a light afternoon tea.

Bissell House, a charming restored Victorian, is located in South Pasadena’s Orange Grove Mansion District. The rooms are decorated in a romantic, period style that is both opulent and yet comfortable. Several guest rooms include a whirlpool tub or clawfoot tub. Victoria ’s Room is a cozy retreat with its own private solarium that overlooks the inn’s swimming pool. The historic bed and breakfast is just minutes from Old Town Pasadena and the Rose Bowl, where each Fourth of July brings a day filled with events. The day includes a special concert, such as a showcase of the nation’s best drum and bugle corps, as well as a huge fireworks show.

The Inn at Harbor Steps is perfectly located for those wishing to enjoy all the fun of Seattle, and perfectly romantic for couples seeking a special getaway. Guest rooms are spacious with sitting areas and fireplaces. Many have views of the garden. You will be pampered with a full breakfast, and in the afternoons, the innkeepers serve wine and appetizers. Guests can walk to shops, art galleries, restaurants and world-famous Pike’s Place Market.

After a few days’ stay at the Saratoga Inn on Washington’s picturesque Whidbey Island, you’ll probably be sneaking looks at local real estate and ready to pack and move to this scenic spot. The guest rooms are romantic retreats with fireplaces and views of the Saratoga Passage. Pamper your significant other with a full breakfast and gourmet afternoon treats. You can even surprise your special someone with a bottle of sparkling wine or chocolate truffles and a teddy bear. The vast island offers an abundance of nature activities, as well as shops and art galleries.

Cypress trees and gardens dot the landscape at the Seal Cove Inn, a romantic bed and breakfast just a few minutes from the coastal town of Half Moon Bay and only 24 miles from San Francisco. The peaceful, romantic setting includes spacious guest rooms with a private balcony or terrace with views of the ocean. The rooms also include king beds and fireplaces. Treat your special someone with the inn’s Keepsake Package, which includes balloons, chocolate truffles and a teddy bear.

The West Cliff Inn combines the romance of ocean views with the historic ambiance of a restored Victorian manor. The three-story Victorian Italianate bed and breakfast offers guest rooms with king beds and fireplaces. Some rooms include a jetted spa tub. One particularly romantic suite has its own private, outdoor hot tub. After a full breakfast, head out and take a walk along the beach or explore the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Spectacular ocean views and romantic dcor await you at the Green Gables Inn in Pacific Grove. The historic, restored Victorian is literally just across the street from the sea, and many guest rooms offer a stunning view. Cuddle up next to a crackling fire in your guest room or enjoy afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres while gazing at Monterey Bay. The Gosby House Inn is another Pacific Grove gem. Located in a sunny, yellow restored Victorian, the guest rooms have been decorated individually in English Country style. Several have sitting areas with fireplaces, and two rooms include both a fireplace and spa tub. Both inns are near to all of the attractions of the Monterey Peninsula.

Channel Road Inn is an ideal Southern California bed and breakfast. Located just a few minutes’ walk from the sea in Santa Monica, guests can borrow the inn’s bicycles and pedal along the town’s famed boardwalk. The historic inn offers 15 individually decorated guest rooms, many with a fireplace, canopy bed or jetted spa tub. A few have a peek ocean view. Guests are pampered with a full breakfast, afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres, and freshly baked cookies. All the shopping, museums and attractions of Los Angeles are a short drive away.

At the Blue Lantern Inn in Dana Point, guests enjoy a sweeping view of the local harbor and the coastline. Just a few minutes from Laguna Beach and about an hour south of Los Angeles, this Southern California bed and breakfast offers spacious, romantic guest rooms with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. Several boast a sea view. The innkeepers have bicycles for guest use and a fitness center. On-site spa treatments also can be arranged. The innkeepers’ Celebration Package includes a bottle of champagne, chocolate truffles, breakfast in bed and one of the inn’s signature teddy bears.