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Question:
We want to see the Christmas decorations
at some lovely inns. Where should we go?
Answer:
So many choices, so little space! A great
way to get into the holiday spirit is to
treat yourself -- or your loved ones -- to a
weekend at a country inn, beautifully
decorated for the holidays. If your schedule
permits, an especially appealing time to
visit is during late November and early
December, when inns in many communities
sponsor Christmas open house tours. Although
no two are alike (that's half the fun),
here's how it often works: You buy a ticket
for a tour of the participating B&Bs, each
beautifully decked out for the holidays. At
many, seasonal refreshments like hot cider
and home-baked cookies await you; some even
give you a holiday ornament or recipe. Tours
are typically self-guided, running from 1-5
pm or occasionally 5-8 pm for candlelight
tours. Often, all or part of the ticket
sales goes to helping a local charity or
other worthwhile cause. If you stay
overnight at one of the participating B&Bs,
your tour tickets are usually included;
click here for some examples.
Tours in the Northeast
Midcoast Maine Inns, Brunswick, ME,
December 11, 12 noon - 5 pm: Fifteen Midcoast inns invite you to tour
their uniquely decorated properties, and
enjoy
demonstrations on everything from
embellishing gingerbread houses to creative
napkin folding, to inventive cookie
decorating. Savor treats, sip cider, and
take recipes home. Tickets are $10 and all
proceeds benefit Habitat For Humanity.
Several participating inns offer a weekend
package with two nights lodging, breakfast
for two each morning, two open house
tickets, and a Maine balsam wreath to take
home, starting at $275 per couple. Info:
www.midcoastmaineinns.com
Chatham Lodging Association, Cape Cod, MA,
December 11, 1:30 - 4:30 pm: Join the 8th Annual Holiday Inn Tour to visit grand oceanfront resorts
and intimate B&Bs, all decked out in their
holiday best. Advance tickets are $10;
proceeds benefit local charities. Info:
www.chathamlodging.com
Southern New Hampshire Inn to Inn Christmas Tea, December 3 -
5, 2004: Henniker’s
Colby Hill Inn and Bradford’s Rosewood
Country Inn and Candlelite Inn are offering
a tea, tour and lodging package featuring a
Saturday afternoon tea. Guests enjoy a
different course at each inn, including
mushroom tartlets, tea sandwiches, apricot
scones, and more. The weekend package starts
at $288 per couple, and includes two nights
lodging at one of the three inns, gourmet
breakfasts, the Christmas Tea tour, a
12-recipe packet, and map. Info:
www.colbyhillinn.com,
www.candleliteinn.com,
www.rosewoodcountryinn.com
Country Inns in the White Mountains, Mt.
Washington Valley, NH, December 11 - 12, 11
- 5pm: Join in the sweetest holiday tour
as 17 participating inns host the 8th
Annual Inn-to-Inn Cookie & Candy Tour.
Sample holiday cookies and candies and take
home a keepsake collection of vintage
holiday recipes. Enter your own cookie or
candy recipe in the Great American Cookie
Bake Off and vie for a $250 gift certificate
to any participating inns. Get two free
tour tickets (a $50 value) when you stay two
nights at any participating inns. Info:
www.countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com
Historic Inns of Manchester, VT, December
4-5, 11-12: The 19th annual Christmas Magic in Vermont starts on Friday
evening with a candlelight reception at
Hildene, once the summer home of Robert Todd
Lincoln, son of the sixteenth President. On
Saturday afternoon, guests can tour the
seven participating inns, and will be
welcomed by the innkeepers, dressed in
period costumes. On Saturday evening,
tourgoers will be treated to a private
holiday shopping event, featuring
refreshments at the Manchester Designer
Outlets. Tour tickets alone are $15 and
benefit area children’s organizations.
Weekend packages including a two-night stay,
breakfasts, and weekend events, start at
$296 per person. Info:
www.historicmanchester.com.
Historic Inns of the Battenkill, Arlington,
VT, December 4, 1- 4 pm:
Tour eight historic inns along the
Battenkill River Valley and enjoy seasonal
refreshments and festive holiday
decorations. Take advantage of the
Arlington Inn’s Holiday Inn Tour package
including a two night stay, full breakfasts,
a four-course candlelight dinner for two,
and the tour for $395-555 per couple.
Info:
www.arlingtoninn.com/Inntour.html,
Tours in Mid-Atlantic & South
Historic Shenandoah Valley Bed and
Breakfast Inns, Harrisonburg, VA, Sunday,
December 5, 10 am – 5 pm:
The first Holiday House Tour, benefiting the
American Cancer Society, is sponsored by
Historic Shenandoah Valley B&Bs. Tours of
the accommodations and common rooms will
include descriptions of the history of each
house, rich in Civil War history. The
participating B&Bs will be decorated in full
holiday regalia and include Stonewall
Jackson B&B, Old Massanutten Lodge, and By
the Side of the Road B&B, a former Civil War
field hospital and home of one of the
earliest Virginia Mennonite Bishops.
Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $3 for
children. Info:
http://www.harrisonburgbbchristmastour.com/
Amelia Island Bed and Breakfasts, Amelia
Island, FL, December 4 - 5, 2- 6 pm:
The 14th Annual Amelia Island B&B
Christmas Tour gives visitors an inside look
into eight stately Victorian B&Bs, dressed
up in their holiday best. As a bonus, eight
ticket holders also will be selected at
random to win a two-night romantic getaway
in 2005 at one of the inns featured on the
tour. The weekend includes everything from a
Pet Parade to tree lightings, concerts and
strolling carolers; tickets cost $15. Info:
http://www.ameliaislandinns.com/christmas-tour.html
Bed & Breakfast Inns of Historic Riverside
Avondale, Jacksonville, FL, December 18, 3 -
8 pm:
Hubbard House, a local safe shelter for
women and children, will be the beneficiary
of the first annual Bed & Breakfasts of
Riverside Avondale fundraising tour. Each of
the seven participating B&Bs will be
beautifully decorated for the holidays, and
will feature carolers and music ensembles,
holiday readings, and tasty homemade treats.
Tickets cost $15, and are also good for
discounts at area restaurants and retailers;
each ticket provides seven chances to win a
getaway at one of the inns on tour. Info:
www.innatoakstreet.com
St. Augustine Historic Inns, St. Augustine,
FL, December 11-12, 2 – 6 pm: The 11th Annual Holiday Tour benefits the St. Johns County
Police Athletic League (PAL), a nonprofit
organization devoted to helping kids. The
$20 ticket opens the door to 23 B&Bs (half
on Saturday, half on Sunday) and includes
samples of specialty treats from the city’s
top restaurants, a tote-bag, and keepsake
recipe book and touring guide, a $20 ‘Come
Back to an Inn’ coupon. All ticket holders
are eligible to win a free night’s stay. The
St. Augustine Sightseeing Train offers free
inn-to-inn transportation, while local
singers, musicians and storytellers
entertain all who attend. Info:
www.staugustineinns.com/holiday_tour.html
Tours in the Great Lakes
Christmas at the
Mansions of Oregon Creek, Duluth, MN,
December 2 and 9, 5:30 - 7:30 pm:
Take a guided tour and enjoy holiday cookies and
refreshments at the Manor on the Creek Inn,
a 1907 Neoclassical Arts and Crafts mansion,
and the Firelight Inn, built in 1910. A
candlelit path leads you from one inn to the
next. Tickets are $12. Info:
www.firelightinn.com or
http://www.manoronthecreek.com
Historic Bed and Breakfast Inns of Duluth, MN, December 5 and
12, 12:30 – 3 pm or 3:30 – 6 pm.
The Sixth Annual Holiday Progressive Tour
and Tea includes B&Bs displaying a variety
of architectural styles from ornate
Victorians to grand mansions. At each
elaborately decorated inn, discover
architectural treasures, listen to live
music, and enjoy the delectable courses of
this progressive tea. Bring a toy to benefit
the Toys for Tots program. Spend the
weekend at one of the participating inns
during the tea weekends, and your tickets
(regularly $26.60 each) are free.
Info:
www.duluthbandb.com/high_tea/
Lanesboro
B&Bs and Businesses, Lanesboro, MN, December 5: Tour Lanesboro’s historic downtown
district, visiting beautifully decorated
retail shops, B&Bs, and resorts, and
enjoying discounts and refreshments.
Tickets cost $10, and donations of non-perishable foods for
the local food pantry are welcome. Enjoy a
two-night stay at the Stone Mill Suites for
$354, including tour tickets for two, gift
basket, roses, and a horse-drawn buggy ride.
Info:
www.stonemillsuites.com
Tours in the West
Victorian House
Tour, Heraldsburg, CA, December 12, 2 - 4
pm:
Healdsburg, an exquisite Wine Country village, is the perfect backdrop
for this free tour of five Victorian inns,
complete with lovely holiday decorations and
light refreshments. Guests at the Camellia
Inn will enjoy the Twelve Days of
Christmas Package, available November 14
- December 30, 2004. Breakfast entrees will
reflect that day’s theme, accompanied by a
similarly themed ornament. Rates are
$109-209 per night per couple, including the
tour, ornament and breakfast for two. Info:
www.camelliainn.com
Mendocino Coast B&Bs, Mendocino, CA,
December 8-11, 4 - 8 pm:
The 16th
Annual Mendocino Coast
Christmas
Candlelight Inn Tour benefits
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of
Mendocino County and the Mendocino County
Unified School Enrichment Foundation. See
the Mendocino Coast’s finest inns decked out
in their holiday best. Enjoy refreshments,
local lore, and entertainment. Tickets cost
$15. Info:
www.mendocinoinntour.com
Historic Country Inns of El Dorado County,
Placerville, CA, December 4 - 5, noon - 5
pm: Stroll through nine country inns and wineries during the Historic
Country Inns Holiday Tour, and ring in the
holiday with old-time Christmas caroling
amid strolling musicians. Warm up by the
fire, sip hot cocoa or cider, or taste a
fine local wine. Sample delectable treats,
like home-baked cookies, brownies, and
gingerbread. Tickets cost $15. Info:
http://www.goldcountrylodging.com/tour.htm
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