Sugar Hill Inn
SUGAR HILL, NEW HAMPSHIRE
With stunning White Mountains scenery, a cozy indoor tavern and an on-site spa room, New Hampshire’s Sugar Hill Inn provides a relaxing escape from daily life. It’s a child-free zone, so the boutique property is a perfect setting for second honeymoons and quiet getaways. Your stay includes a full country breakfast, and guests have the option of enjoying a four-course prix fixe dinner with more than 100 international wines from which to choose. Lounge by the pool, sip a cocktail fireside or embark on a leisurely package adventure featuring experiences such as maple tapping in March and sleigh rides in winter.
Point Pleasant Inn & Resort
BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND
Looking to start your vacation with a round of tennis or maybe spend a morning socializing over a game of bocce ball? Rather de-stress in a sauna? No matter your preference, Point Pleasant Inn and Resort is your place. Set on 25 acres overlooking Bristol Harbor, this historical manor house features just seven guestrooms—allowing visitors plenty of personal space to roam. Take a dip in the outdoor pool, then head indoors for a game of billiards. And don’t miss the evening cocktail hour, complete with ample hors d’oeuvres.
Crisanver House
SHREWSBURY, VERMONT
Without question, Vermont—a state known for its stunning fall foliage and idyllic landscapes—is one of the most popular destinations for B&B getaways. Elegant Crisanver House takes full advantage of its peaceful surrounds, and offers a wealth of amenities to help ease guests’ tensions. There’s a swimming pool, a shuffleboard court and a tennis court for use during warmer months; a secluded firepit to gather around on cool evenings; and a spa that can easily accommodate couples. Along with five guestrooms in the main house and three private cottages from which to choose, guests have the option of taking breakfast in a light-filled conservatory or on an outdoor deck, depending on the season. The best part? Spectacular views of Vermont’s Green Mountains abound at every turn.
Steeles Tavern Manor and Alpine Hideaway Cottages
STEELES TAVERN, VIRGINIA
Nestled on a 50-acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this refined B&B treats its occupants to some of the best Virginia has to offer. Every morning, guests at this historical 1916 manor house sit down to gourmet breakfasts prepared with locally sourced foods, such as a Southwest quiche made with herbs and vegetables grown on-site. A nightly social features Virginia wines and microbrews as well as locally farmed cheeses. Those staying at one of Steeles Tavern’s three secluded luxury cabins enjoy private kitchens in which they can prepare meals, along with cozy fireplaces and back deck hot tubs.
Stanford Inn by the Sea Eco Resort
MENDICINO, CALIFORNIA
Set among lush organic gardens between forest and the Pacific Ocean, Mendicino’s Stanford Inn by the Sea is a holistic wellness center, offering everything from spa services to foraging tours. Enjoy the indoor waters of a solarium swimming pool; practice tai chi and yoga; or splurge on a multi-day package such as a vegan cooking getaway. Each of the inn’s 33 wood-paneled rooms features a private deck with ocean views and a wood-burning fireplace. There’s an award-winning vegan restaurant on-site, as well as easy access to bicycle and canoe rentals. Did we mention it’s also dog-friendly?
Inns Fit for Francophiles
L’Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast
White Post, VA
This inn promises that “romance is alive” in its Virginia Wine Country locale, and that promise is well kept. Innkeepers Celeste and Alain have created a romantic country inn so downright French that you’d be forgiven for believing you’ve left the States far behind. But Virginia is indeed where you’ll be, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. At the farm-to-table La Table Provencale, you’ll nosh on dishes sourced from local farms, dairies and the inn’s own orchards. Breakfast in the Sun Room brings that old Gallic standby, freshly baked croissants. Rooms are named after French icons, from Voltaire to Coco Chanel. But it’s not just the French-inspired touches, it’s the upscale amenities that bring back repeat guests: electric-car charging stations, aromatherapy steam showers and gourmet picnics packed for two.
La Belle Esplanade
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans simply must be mentioned in any list of great French-accented B&Bs, but this funky, feast-for-the-senses inn is actually located outside of the city’s famed French Quarter in a trio of brightly painted, connected houses built in 1883. This is true New Orleans neighborhood. Situated along Esplanade Avenue near Treme — local, friendly and free of partying frat boys — the street is bordered by houses painted purple and yellow and green. The splashes of color continue in La Belle Esplanade’s five apartment-like rooms, with their antique clawfoot tubs, original artwork and one-of-a-kind furnishings. (We love the peaceful Le Pelican suite, with its balcony and oleander tree.) The city’s Cajun, Creole and French roots collide beautifully at breakfast, where strong coffee is mixed with chicory in true New Orleans style and humdrum breakfast sausage is replaced by local boudin. At La Belle Esplanade, it’s not very hard to laissez les bons temps rouler.
Maison Fleurie
Yountville, CA
The Napa Wine Country region certainly isn’t hurting for classic French-style auberges, but Maison Fleurie, a Four Sisters property in Yountville, sets its sights high. This “flowering house” is straight out of southern France, with its stone-walled guest rooms, charming floral textiles and lavish rose gardens. Take a dip in the pool and hot tub, open from April through October. Borrow the inn’s bicycles for a ride around Napa. Hop on the complimentary Yountville trolley for a trip into town. Visit the area’s renowned restaurants and world-class wineries. (The B&B staff is happy to recommend a favorite or two.) Whatever you do with your day, you’ll want to return to Maison Fleurie by dusk for a complimentary wine hour with tasty hors d’oeuvres. In the midst of all that Napa finery, Maison Fleurie is an elegant — and surprisingly affordable — stay.
Napoleon’s Retreat
St. Louis, MO
Inside the walls of this bright butter-yellow townhouse built in 1880, find Napoleon’s Retreat. This pampering B&B is located right in St. Louis’ historical Lafayette Square, near an expansive park that also bears the famous revolutionary officer’s name. The picturesque neighborhood is lined with Victorians, perfect for a leisurely walk or jog surrounded by some well-preserved period architecture. At the inn itself, enjoy a multicourse gourmet breakfast featuring twists on French classics like crepes, soufflés and quiche. Enjoy the richly decorated rooms and their unique amenities, from the Charles de Gaulle Suite’s double whirlpool tub to the Burgundy Suite’s expansive interior and deep red textiles. Set out for St. Louis’ sights, including that famous Arch, or just enjoy the company of innkeepers Brian and Stacy — and their two four-legged assistants, les chiens Indiana and Delilah, of course.
Le Chateau de Faubourg
Quebec City, Canada
Already experienced Montreal but in need of a challenge? Why not Quebec City? It’s just a 2.5-hour drive northeast of internationally inclined Montreal, yet feels distinctly more in tune with its French colonial roots. Bed down in Le Chateau du Faubourg, a restored 19th-century home decorated in the grand style of the Second French Empire. A fairy-tale-like dining room welcomes guests at breakfast, while the formal salon’s fireplace is a wonderful accompaniment for Quebec’s cold winter months. Expect elegant draperies and fine period antiques throughout the family-owned property. No matter the season, the chateau is well within walking distance of Quebec City’s top sights, including Basse-Ville, the city’s original settlement situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence. Your French lessons may just come in handy!
Auberge de Seattle
Seattle, WA
Auberge de Seattle may be modeled after a French country inn, but it has a Pacific Northwest vibe all its own. (Perhaps it’s the views of the surrounding evergreen forest that lend it such an easygoing air?) This B&B experience is truly hands on, with an on-site French cooking school, wine lessons and garden tours available for guests to tailor their gustatory stays. Dig into coursework like “Exploring French Classical Cuisine” and learn to DIY gourmet dishes from France’s storied culinary history. Arms exhausted from the effort of kneading bread and stirring pots? Indulge in a massage treatment after class accompanied by a soak in the heated hydro-massage bath. Take a day off and book a personalized wine tour of the Woodinville Wine Country, or embark on an educational garden tour topped off with lunch made fresh from the garden’s produce and herbs. Few B&B stays come with amenities this delicious.
Puglia, Italy: The Most Beautiful Destination You’ve Never Heard of
Incredible Food
Simple, rustic dishes—this is the kind of food that you’ll find in Puglia. Pugliese cuisine incorporates locally grown ingredients such as vegetables, herbs and durum wheat as well as seafood sourced from its hundreds of miles of coastline. Specialties include ear-shaped orecchiette (tiny curls of handmade pasta often served with broccoli rabe or tomato sauce); cheeses such as ricotta forte, creamy pear-shaped manteca and burrata; and seafood that runs the gamut from raw sea urchins, shrimp and squid to baccalà (salted cod) and zuppa di pesce (fish soup). Then there’s the bread—hearty loaves like pane de Altamura, featuring a thick crispy crust and a soft golden interior that remains edible for weeks. Altamura bread has been a staple so long that Roman poet Horace was singing its praises as far back as 37 B.C.
Beloved Drinks
Whether it’s steaming cups of espressino (an addicting mix of espresso and milk with a dusting of Nutella) served in bustling cafes or a glass of Puglian wine such as primitivo—an intense red similar to California Zinfandel—or the darkly colored fruit-flavored negromaro al fresco at a local trattoria, quenching a particular thirst comes easy in these parts. The region is dotted with wineries, especially the endlessly sunny Salento Peninsula, which stretches diagonally across Puglia from Taranto to Ostuni, connecting the Ionian and Adriatic seas. While it’s also easy to find well-known Italian liqueurs like limoncello and Sambuca, many locals prefer Padre Peppe, a walnut-based digestive blended with herb and spices—originally invented by an early 19th-century Capuchin friar in the Puglian city of Altamura.
Miles of Beachfront
Puglia features more coastline than any other mainland region in Italy. Along Puglia’s southern Adriatic waterfront, you’ll find gems such as Polignano a Mare, a stunning resort town of towering limestone cliffs, sheltered coves and swimmable sea caves; and Monopoli, with its long sandy beaches. Puglia’s Salento Peninsula is known for seaside towns like Gallipoli—home to clear, Ionic Sea waters and restaurants that burst to life during warmer months—and Otranto, where you’ll find the Baia dei Turchi or “Bay of the Turks”—stunning white sands sheltered by a pine forest.
Olive Oil
It doesn’t take long after leaving Bari Airport to find yourself in the thick of one of Puglia’s prime agricultural treasures: endless fields of olive trees. Puglia produces 40 percent of Italy’s olive oil (more than anywhere else in the country). In small-batch, locally produced bottles—which you can often purchase directly from producers—you can taste Puglia’s varied terrain, including hints of pomegranates, green apples and grass. If you’re lucky enough to visit the region from mid-November to mid-December, you’ll even catch the annual harvest. Multigenerational family members take to the land to reap the rewards of the season, laying out heavy-duty nets beneath each tree and shaking the olives loose from their branches with handheld and pneumatic rakes. They then gather the olives in crates and transport them to the press, where the oil and the skins are separated. The sweet smell of oil permeates Puglia, already dense with an air of celebration. One word of advice: Puglians do not go easy on their olive oil; so if you want to eat like a local, get pouring!
A Subterranean World
Puglia’s Murge plateau is a low-lying stretch of limestone tufa that occupies much of the region. It’s home to Alta Murgia National Park, known for its many ravines, caves and sinkholes. There’s the Pulo, a massive amphitheater-like hole that delves 300 feet down into the ground and is lined with caves prime for exploring. The nearby town of Gravina is the park’s central base and has an underground of its own worth visiting. The park is also home to dozens of rupestrian churches carved into the land during medieval times, with the remnants of ancient frescoes still adorning their walls. An organization called Messors offers summer art restoration workshops at which you can y help restore the timeworn frescoes, as well as culinary workshops and a chance to assist in preserving an entire ancient cave site.
Distinct Culture & History
Romanesque cathedrals, seaside fortresses and picturesque old towns are another part of Puglia’s immense charm, as are its people. You’ll find a great combination of the two in Bari’s Orecchiette Quarter, where local women set up outdoor tables to make orecchiette, cavatelli and orecchiette pastas by hand. This ancient port city is also home to Basilica di San Nicola, where a portion of the relics of St. Nicholas (yes, that jolly ol’ St. Nicholas) remain. Each May, locals honor the 11th-century arrival of these relics with La Festa di San Nicola, a three day celebration that includes a costumed procession through Bari’s streets and culminates with a fantastic fireworks display. Although Capuchin friar Padre Pio was born in Italy’s Campania region, he spent the bulk of his life in San Giovanni Rotondo on Puglia’s Gargano Peninsula. Opened in 2004, the city’s massive Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church pays homage to this Catholic saint who passed away in 1968. The site draws millions of visitors annually—many who come to see his body in a crystal coffin.
Architectural Treasures
Puglia abounds with unique architecture, from its 16th- to 19th-century masserias (fortified farmhouses or large estates) to its trullis—dry stone structures with adorable cone-topped roofs that dot the Valle d’Itria countryside outward from Bari. Alberobello is trulli central, with its Monti district sporting more than 1,000 of these beehive huts, many which house eateries, souvenir shops and B&Bs. Lecce is also known for its architectural wonders, with more than 40 stunning Baroque-era churches in the city alone. Among its many ornate facades decorated with griffins, gargoyles and human figurines stand the remains of a 1800-year-old Roman amphitheater. Ostuni, Puglia’s “Città Bianca,” is a hilltop town of whitewashed homes, hanging archways and hidden staircases perfect for exploring, while the more subtle walled old town of Altamura is especially known for its claustros, approximately 80 courtyards that allowed individual ethnic groups to coexist in the larger city.
Where to Stay
There’s Trullo Barbagiullo, an expanded trulli home with six cozy guestrooms and an in-ground swimming pool, located in the hilltop town of Cisternino. Over in Lecce’s Corigliano d’Otranto, Agriturismo Masseria Sant’Angelo features both spacious guestrooms and stand-alone cottages tucked among a grove of olive trees on a working farm. Help milk goats, feed the donkeys, and even assist with dinner by picking fresh vegetables from the garden. Up north in Puglia’s Foggia Province, the six-guestroom Bed and Breakfast Dalla Nonna is a fully renovated seaside property that includes a daily breakfast overlooking the water. Discover even more Puglia B&Bs.
How to Plan the Perfect Montreal B&B Getaway
Montreal is named after the triple-peaked mountain that towers over the heart of the city. Long inhabited by First Nations people then settled by fur traders, it has throughout its history been a welcoming home to many: immigrants, students, the LGBT community and travelers too.
This is a city of neighborhoods. Historical Vieux-Montreal and the Old Port stretch along the water, where cobbled streets wind around old buildings and the stunning Notre Dame Basilica. To the north and east, the Plateau and its Mile End district are home to the city’s creative types and the funky shops, cafes and bars they frequent. Most every area is walkable or bikable; traversing this city on foot leads to the discovery of its many charms.
No matter the neighborhood you call home during your stay, you’ll find plenty to welcome you. Here are some of our favorite things to do, see, eat and drink—and of course some of our favorite B&Bs to book).
Outdoors and Indoors
First, know that most parts of Montreal are best seen by foot or wheel. Rent a BIXI (the city’s bike-share program) and pedal up Parc Mont-Royal’s many moderately challenging paths. (Don’t worry—walkers are welcome, too.) In summer, kids can enjoy Mont-Royal’s rowboats as they ply the park’s Lac Aux Castors; in winter, sled or snowshoe instead. Also consider a stop at the city’s other green spaces, Parc Jean Drapeau and Parc La Fontaine.
Got a green thumb? The Botanical Garden and its flowered walkways contain some 22,000 different plant species in a vibrant array of colors. Thematic gardens, greenhouses and a pavilion are all worth exploring, and concert series, exhibitions and guided tours offer many angles on Montreal’s crown jewel.
Walk along Vieux-Port, Montreal’s photogenic waterside neighborhood. Catch a ferry or fireworks, grab a cocktail and snap photos of the St. Lawrence around this working port.
Enjoy the city’s many museums, including the Biodome, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and more. Arts and culture fans should consider picking up a Museums Pass that includes admission to dozens of spots plus three days of public transport and shop discounts.
If your bed and breakfast comes with a kitchenette, there’s no better place to pick up local produce, flowers, herbs, cheeses and baked goods than at Jean-Talon. It’s one of the largest public markets in North America and offers a bounty of Quebec’s freshest ingredients.
Montreal’s Plateau has a slate of top consignment shops, designer clothing boutiques and cutting-edge interior design studios. Stroll and spend along Rue St. Denis and Boulevard St. Laurent. For amazing vintage pieces, Mile End is bursting with options, from critical darling Citizen Vintage’s well curated collection to Annex, where everyone can relive the ’90s with great abandon.
Visiting in winter? Don’t skip Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal lit up in its holiday finest. The grand Gothic Revival basilica looks magical dusted in snow and aglow with blue lights. Guests can take a brief guided tour in English or French; enjoy an hour of music led by organist Pierre Grandmaison; or snag a coveted ticket to the basilica’s moving Christmas Eve Mass.
Events and Festivals
If you’re looking for an event around which to plan your visit, you’re in luck. Montreal’s calendar is packed around the year with festivals, fetes and parties.
- Pack your warmest mittens for outdoor music festival Igloofest (January/February)
- Catch music, circus acts, dance, and lights during Montreal En Lumiere (February)
- Sample from a miles-long list of beers during Le Mondiel de la Biere (June)
- Spectate the Formula One during jetset favorite Grand Prix Montreal (June)
- Listen to top jazz acts at the world-renowned Montreal International Jazz Festival (June)
- Or catch some big names — like Radiohead big — at outdoor festival Osheaga (July)
- Join the parade (and PM Justin Trudeau) at Montreal Pride (August)
- See the city in its holiday finest during Noel dans le Parc (December)\
Eating and Drinking
Poutine is more than just a mere bar snack or a guilty pleasure; it’s something of a cultural institution. Experts say a perfect poutine should have crisp browned frites smothered in flavorful brown gravy and studded with squeaky white cheese curds. La Banquise dishes up some of the city’s most famous renditions of the dish, from a classic poutine with no added frills to L’Obélix, a local favorite piled high with Montreal-style smoked meat. Try a fancy version at Au Pied de Cochon, Martin Picard’s temple to meat, where the poutine comes with rich lobes of foie gras. Patati Patata on Saint-Laurent is also a favorite, a tiny diner-style spot that serves a tasty classic poutine alongside burgers for unbelievably cheap prices.
Beyond the famous fry dish, Montreal has a few other dishes that can’t be missed. Start with some wood-fired bagels at St-Viateur or Fairmount Bagels, where the flat, slightly sweet, always smoky bagels are best topped with a smear of Philadelphia cream cheese and ribbons of bright smoked salmon. For even more smoky flavor, grab a smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s or Lester’s, both upholding the Jewish tradition of peppery brisket. Other musts are Portuguese roast chicken, any number of classic French bistro dishes, and a perfectly pulled espresso (Montreal has a serious cafe culture).
Speaking of intoxicating drinks, Montreal’s beer scene is vibrant, with world-class and wonderfully affordable breweries dotting the city. Dieu du Ciel brews right on-site in the Plateau; if you’re lucky enough to nab a seat on the terrace, you can spend all night sipping from the dozens-long beer list (including our favorite brew, the darker-than-night Péché Mortel stout). Other top spots include Vices & Versa, Brouhaha, L’Espace Public, and Le Saint Bock.
Bed and Breakfasts
Montreal has a lengthy list of bed and breakfasts from which to choose, but we selected a few favorites for their artsy vibe, great locations, and little extras.
In downtown Montreal, just steps from Le Centre Bell, Auberge Les Bons Matins resides in a row of Victorian townhouses. Here, interiors are bright and funky, and wood-burning fireplaces warm guests in winter months. Extra-large deluxe suites have Jacuzzi tubs and cozy private terraces. Plus a generous all-you-can-eat breakfast includes Montreal’s best wood-fired bagels and local maple syrup.
A fabulous 1927 home surrounded by hundred-year-old trees, Le Terra Nostra is also a quick walk from downtown (but its location feels downright residential). With only three rooms, the accommodations are quiet and private, and each room has a distinct, well-decorated theme—Europe, Asia or Africa. A den, garden and living room offer plenty of nooks for reading.
La Loggia Art and Breakfast’s rooms are airy and modern, filled with works by local Canadian artists. Bilingual hosts Rob and Joel (a personal trainer and sculptor by trade, respectively) have created space focused on tranquil creativity right near Vieux Montreal. Guests are even welcome to take sculpture classes at the nearby studio.
Perched on the edge of Plateau, one of the planet’s hippest neighborhoods, is Gingerbread Manor. Traditional decor, private baths, homemade breakfasts, and a garden are well worth coming for, but it’s the surroundings that make the Victorian manse a worthy stay—Square St. Louis and Rue St. Denis are just steps away.
Finally, A La Carte more than lives up to its well-earned reputation as one of the top B&Bs in Canada. In the family-friendly neighborhood of Rosemont with easy Metro access to downtown Montreal and the Plateau. Private rooms and a self-service apartment offer options if you’re coming with a large group. And the cute-as-a-button resident miniature poodle, Monsieur Petit, will be happy to show you around his digs.
