B&Bs

We've stayed at B&Bs a bit throughout the years. Some definitely seem like you're staying in some stranger's home. Others are more like you're staying in a period show home - like a museum. And some are more like small inns. Some places have only one guest room, and some may have many. I always try to choose carefully by researching online, comparing them, looking at pictures, etc., to kinda read between the lines. KWIM?? (know what I mean??) And sometimes we're still surprised!!

We only stayed at two B&Bs this trip, and both were very enjoyable - neither one had the "staying in a stranger's home" feeling. Both had great hosts, wonderful breakfasts, etc.

The place in Sundance, Wyoming, Sundance Mt. HideAway, (http://www.sundancemountainhideaway.com/) has three cabins of varying sizes, and they are probably going to convert the Antiques store cabin into another guest cabin. We were in the smallest one, which was very spacious. We got to Sundance too late to really enjoy the property, but we had a nice chat with our host - that B&B seemed geared more towards people who aren't into socializing with strangers, because each group has their own individual cabin. However, breakfast is usually in the family home, but you could probably request to take it to the cabin if you wish!

The place in Interior, South Dakota (at the edge of the Badlands) is on a ranch, and was designed specifically as a B&B: http://www.bbonline.com/sd/circleview/ http://www.circleviewranch.com/guestrooms.htm. It's more like a small inn, with guest rooms on two levels. The ranch has a guest living room, kitchen and game room! We reached Interior pretty early, and had lots of time to socialize, play games (ping pong and foozball), hit the internet (they have a PC setup with high speed internet for guests), look at picture books, and walk down to the creek. We also enjoyed a pretty sunset from the deck.

Because Greg and I are both pretty social and sociable creatures, we really have no problem with most of the B&Bs we've stayed at. I usually pick them for unique qualities. A couple examples: In Newport, Rhode Island, we stayed at a big ol' historic home http://www.agincourtinn.com/. It was built in 1853 as a summer home, and is furnished with period pieces - it was kewl, like staying in a museum home. Near the Quad Cities, we stayed in a caboose: http://www.bbonline.com/ia/caboose/. That was pretty neat too.