Revel in Historic New Hampshire’s Bed & Breakfast and Country Inns!

New Hampshire is a wonderful living refuge of American history, and nowhere will you find history more alluring and comfortable than in the state’s many bed and breakfasts and country inns!  Here are seven taken from the files of ILoveInns.com, the nation’s premier source for distinctive B&Bs and Country Inns

The Highland Lake Inn B&B

The Highland Lake Inn B&B is one of the oldest homesteads in East Andover. It started life as a ‘gentleman’s farmhouse’ in 1767, was enlarged in the early 1800s, and was then completely restored in 1999. The Highland Lake Inn has its own private beach and seven acres for walking and enjoying views of Mount Kearsarge. This B&B’s ten rooms feature period furniture graced by luxurious Mascioni Italian linens.  In the morning, you’ll wake to fresh fruit, and hot entrees and breads from Bread and Chocolate, New Hampshire’s famous Austrian bakery.

The Dowd’s Country Inn
The Dowds’ Country Inn in Lyme, New Hampshire, is a classic Country Inn/B&B. Built in 1780, the Inn offers original trim and doors, taking you back in time. Wander through the Inn and you’ll see exposed beams, wide-plank floors and many windows paned with their original glass. Each of this B&B’s 22 rooms has its own distinct, homey feel, with authentic country art, homemade quilts and historic stenciling.

1785 Inn & Restaurant
North Conway’s 1785 Inn & Restaurant is a charming colonial that offers the best in New England hospitality. Built by Captain Elijah Dinsmore after the American Revolution, this B&B is replete with original hand-hewn beams, corner posts, fireplaces and a brick oven, all visible and still operating.

The Hancock Inn
The aptly named Hancock Inn is said to be New Hampshire’s oldest original Inn still in operation. When this country inn opened its doors for business in 1789, George Washington was in the first year of his presidency! As a result, the Hancock Inn is a true time capsule; a place where you can enter the 18th century while still enjoying all the amenities of today. The inn features colonial-style furniture, antiques, hand-painted murals and curios from centuries gone by.

The Inn at Pleasant Lake
Built in 1790, The Inn at Pleasant Lake in New London has been a working resort since 1878. It was established by retired Union officer Colonel William Mercer who added a second story and a row of deep gables. With waterfront property on Pleasant Lake, the Inn at Pleasant Lake offers 12 bedrooms, all traditionally furnished and with private baths. Executive chef Brian MacKenzie and his wife Linda offer superb five-course meals with delicacies such as Roasted Rack of Australian Lamb, Seared Sea Scallops, and … wait for it! … a mélange of Fresh Berries over Blackberry Cream in a Lace Cookie Cup with Dark Chocolate Sauce!

The Applebrook B&B
The Applebrook B&B in Jefferson is a wonderfully rambling, 210-year-old farmhouse with a long, illustrious local history; in 1797, the first structures were built on the property.  The Applebrook has 12 rooms, most having private baths with showers, Victorian claw-foot soaking tubs, or both. Outside, you’ll see sweeping vistas of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. In the winter, you can ice skate or ski at local ski hills, then soak in a hot tub under the stars!

Stepping Stones B&B
Finally, atop a hillside garden in Wilton Center, sits the Stepping Stones B&B, an 1834 Greek Revival home surrounded by vast gardens tended by your hostess, Ann Carlsmith.  Ann has a Certificate in Landscape Design from Radcliffe College and brings 40 years of plant collecting and expertise to this B&B’s grounds! Stepping Stones, offering three gorgeous period bedrooms, is close to a reservoir, is within walking distance of a waterfall, and is still just a short drive away from Boston.

Still undecided? Log onto www.iloveinns.com and browse through the 19,000 B&Bs and country inns in other locations that may interest you. Many of the properties listed above are also in the best-selling bed and breakfast guidebook, Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns, with a Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free Certificate. ILoveInns also offers Bed and Breakfast Gift Certificates, a perfect solution to help celebrate any occasion.