Best Inn Website
July 17, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: Looking for some great summer fun, check out this family-oriented resort located on Lake Vermilion in Minnesota. The website’s colorful photos of waterslides, hot dog roasts, the fishing derby, boating, seaplane rides and even amphibious car rides will make you want to pack your bags and head to the lake. The resort offers a private island that allows kids to safely roam free and explore the pathways, fish the shoreline, visit the game room or playhouse and just be kids! Clip from the website: Activities around the resort have something for all ages-- the kids have the nature activities in our weekly program, plus the swimming, sliding and iceberg climbing at the waterfront, hiking in the woods, canoeing, fishing, and waterskiing. Adults can enjoy golf, tennis, racketball, cultural tours of nearby attractions, fishing, classic boat rides, massages, exercising in our fitness center, and top quality relaxing-- curled up in front of a fireplace or just some quiet time sitting on a lake side rock.
July 7, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: From the moment you open the first page of this website you will step inside a beautifully restored Victorian mansion surrounded by Europeon-style elegance. Photos of period antiques, stain glass windows and lovely gardens reveal the grandeur of this meticulously restored inn. A page is dedicated to the 3-course gourmet breakfast served daily by the inn’s Europeon chef, including sample menus with amazing culinary creations. Clip from the website: An evening retreat provides the substance of dreams; luxuriate in the intimacy and splendor of your surroundings. We offer five Suites and four Bedchambers, including two exquisite Grand Suites located in our separate carriage house. All guest quarters feature a private bath with a double whirlpool tub, gas fireplace, and sumptuous decor that pays homage to a great romantic poet or literary figure of the 19th century.
June 23, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: “A little piece of heaven” has been used to describe the Mountain Top Inn & Resort and describes the website as well. Gorgeous, rotating photos reveal this is a four season resort offering guests luxury in a 350-acre lakeside, mountain setting. The website highlights the abundance of activities available at the inn throughout the year through the Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Center and the Equestrian Center. The website layout makes it simple to find information on the variety lodging options and area events. Clip from the website: Whether you’re young or old…or somewhere in-between….regardless of your skill level and whether you're looking for an exhilarating experience or simply a new challenge. Whether you're with friends, family, colleagues, or it's just you and nature.The Mountain Top Inn & Resort offers an incredible variety of adventures for enjoying the unique beauty of each season while having the time of your life.
June 9, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Judi and Cecil Eager/Jackie Skinner The Gruene Mansion Inn
Why we like this website: Like the inn itself, the website of The Gruene Mansion Inn captures the drama and historical flair of Henry D. Gruene’s Victorian home. You will have a true sense of Texas history as you venture into this easy to navigate site. Vibrant photos show why this inn is on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as a designated Texas Historic Landmark. Check out the creative specials like the Estrogen Getaway and Fly Fishing Special. Clip from the website: The Gruene Mansion Inn Bed & Breakfast is located near New Braunfels, Texas in the historic community of Gruene. Sitting on the banks of the Guadalupe River, and adjacent to Gruene Hall (the oldest continuously running dance hall in the state), the Gruene Mansion Inn offers you the opportunity to enjoy lodging in the most uniquely Texas-experience in high style.
May 28, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: This website embraces you with warm, Texas hospitality. The gorgeous wooded, photos welcome guests to a distinctive and charming inn located on the banks of the Guadalupe River in the heart of Texas hill country. From the classic antiques and luxurious linens, to the recipe for famous chocolate chip cookies, everything about this website beckons you to come for a visit. Clip from the website: Guests may enjoy views of the river from the porch rockers or relax on one of the decks. The quaint conservatory facing the river is a peaceful setting with a swing for watching the sunset or sunrise. The fragrant English-style garden is a tranquil setting for romance, rest, or quiet conversation. Experience a relaxing day by the pool or enjoy a soak in the therapeutic hot tub after returning from a busy fun filled day.
May 16, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Richard and Jan Grinnell 5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast
Why we like this website: The simplicity and completeness of this website are two of its most attractive features. Easily browse the pages to quickly obtain all the information you could need on the quaint, Victorian 5 Ojo Inn and the Eureka Springs area. A guest comments page, special packages, and direct links to the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau make planning your getaway effortless. Clip from the website: Surprise your sweetie with a romantic getaway in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, or treat your best friend, sibling or parents to a well-deserved weekend of pampering. Show just how much you care with one of our specials, designed to make your time at 5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast unforgettable. You just pick your package, and we’ll take care of the details, or you can create your own special for a truly personalized getaway.
April 30, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: Romantic is the best word to describe this website. Photos of elegant weddings, dreamy, uniquely decorated rooms and gourmet, three-course breakfasts will entice you to travel to San Antonio to stay at the inn. An entire page complete with links is dedicated to local attractions including The Alamo, museums, and a multitude of activities. Comments from guests will give you a personal perspective on the inn and its amenities. Clip from the website: At the Inn at Craig Place, we offer you a warm welcome to an atmosphere of casually romantic, elegant comfort. Our San Antonio bed and breakfast inn, built in 1891, is on the National Historic Registry as part of the historic Monte Vista neighborhood. Wrap-around twin porches invite you to enjoy romantic lodging where you can relax in pampered contentment. At last, a Bed and Breakfast that serves you breakfast in bed!
April 23, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Dorothy Wilcox RV Ranch
Why we like this website: This quick loading website caught our attention with its easy access to concise information. Rotating photos of the rustic, yet luxurious cabins and suites and the beautiful ranch setting will make you want to pick up and take the whole family on an adventure! Clip from the website: The Ranch offers 9 luxury cabins and 4 suites. Each one is distinctly decorated with furnishing acquired from locations in the deep interior of old Mexico to the piney woods of East Texas. From our intimate Jacuzzi cabin to our 2 bedroom suite with kitchen and dining room, we offer a variety of unique rustic charming accomodations for a single night stay, a romantic getaway, or a family reunion. April 14, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: Photos of beautiful sandy beaches, lush gardens and island style rooms will make you want to pack your bags and head to the Melbourne, Florida. This website features this luxurious, seaside retreat inn, its history and a whole page on things to do and see in the area. The ease and simplicity of the site will invite you to getaway! Clip from the website: The historic Port d'Hiver Bed and Breakfast Inn is old Florida luxury at its finest. A comfortable yet elegant retreat just 200 feet from the Atlantic Ocean, Port d’Hiver has gorgeous ocean views, large private porches, a bubbling spa pool and winding brick paths through a private compound of four Island style buildings surrounded by lush tropical landscaping.
April 7, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: A slide show of gorgeous photos of the Cascade Mountains, the Icicle River and the stunning Run on the River Inn and Refuge will take you away. See first hand the abundance of wildlife that lives around this rustic, yet luxurious inn. Surrounded on both sides by the Washington Dept of Wildlife refuge, the inn caters to outdoor enthusiasts. A whole page is dedicated to outdoor adventures providing trail maps and information on everything from mountain biking to snowshoeing. Clip from the website: Freund Canyon Ride - You can leave right from the inn and bike three miles to the trail head, or do the American thing and load the bikes and drive to the trail head. (How did we ever start driving to a bike ride?) The Freund Canyon ride is a strong climb up. It takes me about an hour with a couple of stops for views and a walk over a tough spot. (Hey, I'm not proud, I'm here for the workout.) Elevation gain is about 1400 feet. March 31, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: John and Thersa Porter Benbow Hotel & Resort
Why we like this website: This website is first class in all possible ways highlighting a truly first class property. Clearly marked tabs help you to navigate this "California Redwood Retreat" with ease. Colorful photos of the the elegant inn, lush golf course, and recognized RV Resort invite you visit Humbolt County to experience the beauty of the redwoods. Winner of numerous awards, the Benbow Hotel & Resort has something for everyone! Clip from the website: Our AAA four-diamond historic Redwood Coast hotel offers gracious service, charming antique-filled guestrooms, golf, swimming, and a celebrated dining room, which has been awarded the Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence. Our guests revel in our scenic gardens and grounds, afternoon tea service, and classic, architecturally significant common rooms, massage services, and full-service lounge. March 24, 2008 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: John & Caryl Cowden Fort Lewis Lodge Why we like this website: “Wonderfully wild, uncommonly comfortable and centuries old” describe the 3200-acre Fort Lewis plantation, and the Fort Lewis Lodge. This website shares the history of the area that Col. Charles Lewis settled more than 2 centuries ago and is complimented by beautifully scenic photographs showing the richness and sheer beauty of the Shenandoah Valley and the Fort Lewis Lodge. Clip from the website: Descendants of Col. Lewis managed the plantation for over a century. By 1850 the Lewis family had diverted water from the river and built a gristlimm to service the plantation and neighboring farms. The Mill has been faithfully reconstructed and now serves as the Lodge's dining room. The Cowden family purchased Fort Lewis in 1959 and brought a herd of registered Black Angus cattle to the valley. Today we strive to be stewards of the land while continuing to raise cattle, grow crops and provide for wildlife.
March 17, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Dan Sager Shenandoah Valley Inn
Clip from the website: Glorious gardens have been on the Garden Club tour for many years and are a joy to experience. Terraced on several levels with meandering paths that lead to three ponds and a swing where all one hears is the babbling water and the songs of a variety of species of birds.
March 10, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Gary and Carolyn Burke The Park Place Bed & Breakfast
Why we like this website: Picture a magnificent, Victorian house just minutes from the spectacular Niagara Falls, and you’ll have The Park Place Bed & Breakfast in Ontario, Canada. Their website combines the romantic ambiance of the Victorian era with modern technology featuring a virtual tour of the inn and its amenities. Stunning photographs of Niagara Falls will capture your attention and inspire you to take a trip to experience their beauty.
Clip from the website: We have restored the exterior and decorated and re-styled the interior to set up an ambiance which blends the romance of the Victorian era with the comfort of today's lifestyle. Pamper yourself in one of our luxurious spa suites; The Queen Ann Suite or The Prince of Wales Suite. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast served to your suite or by candlelight in the restored dining room.
March 3, 2008 Best Website
Why we like this website: Warm, soothing colors welcome you into the website of this national award winning inn and model for sustainable tourism. Learn about this unique inn’s efforts at historic preservation and green remodeling. Innkeeper, John Imes, even has an article you can read on better living through green remodeling. Read about the history of the building, its ecological renovation and the many ways the Arbor House provides the art of hospitality within a model for urban ecology. Clip from the website: Arbor House’s mission is to provide the art of hospitality within a model for urban ecology. Our goal is the wise use of resources and providing guests with an unparalleled combination of natural design, features, fabrics, amenities and surroundings, while providing opportunities for recreation and learning more about urban ecology.
February 25, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Wendy Kelts Candlelight Inn
Why we like this website: We loved everything about this website… its gorgeous, romantic photographs, the outstanding amenities offered to guests such as an amazing three-course gourmet breakfast, and the 5 day itinerary for making the most of your time in the wine country. It seems the innkeeper, Wendy Kelts, has done her homework and knows exactly how to tend to the every need of her guests. You won’t want to miss this beautiful website if you want to travel to Napa! Clip from the website: Morning greets you with a gourmet, three-course breakfast beautifully prepared and plated by our chef. Freshly-brewed coffee, fresh juice and fruit, and inspired kitchen creations will delight your senses and prepare you for a day of wine tasting or exploring Napa Valley. Served in our sunny breakfast room — reminiscent of a charming European café — the morning fare at the Candlelight Inn is a culinary experience you won't soon forget. February 18, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Karen Cigala Clarendon Square Inn
Why we like this website: Simplicity and class describe not only this inn, but its website as well. Easy navigation and elegant photos of the Clarendon Square Inn make this website a pleasure to explore. A whole section is dedicated to useful information on the Boston area including weather, transportation, attractions, dining and entertainment. You'll also find a list of inns located all over the world that the innkeepers have named their "Favorite Places". Clip from the website: Have a look and catch the feeling of our property and of our style. We hope you will see the attention to detail that makes our inn special, from the fine furnishings, to the richly restored interior finishes. Should you stay at Clarendon Square you will experience American history first hand by living in an 1860s merchant townhouse. February 11, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Brady & Elaine Anderson-Wood The Blue Mountain Bed & Breakfast
Clip from the website: Take a day to relax right here at the Inn while you...
February 4, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Lindsay Pugnali Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa
Clip from the website: Stroll through the orchards where, depending on the season, you can find peaches, nectarines, pears and apples to snack on. Continue on to the vegetable garden and discover a mouth-watering array of heirloom tomatoes, crisp carrots, colorful gourds and a variety of leafy greens you may enjoy at your Spa luncheon. At the Aviary House, you'll find the heritage breed chickens who provide the Inn with organic eggs as well as our brood of proud Peacocks who will give you a rousing welcome. Wander over to the goat and llama barn to meet the newest residents of the Buttermilk Falls farm: our delightful Angola goats and their companions, the ever watchful llamas. The gardens and farm are designed to enhance the rejuvenating experience that you'll discover at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa; come explore how they articulate the particular beauty of the seasons in the Hudson Valley January 28, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Mike Webster Stevenswood Spa Resort Why we like this website: Experience the beauty and splendor of the Stevenswood Spa Resort with a virtual tour on You Tube. This unique website offers extensive footage of the Mendocino coastline, the gorgeous accomodations at the inn featuring tranquil views of the lush forests, as well as a glimpse into the luxurious spa facilities. Further highlighted is the elegant dining room complete with beautiful artwork showcasing the local talent. We find this website gives you a real sense of the serenity and rejuvenation awaiting you at this AAA four-diamond resort. Clip from the website: For an idyllic retreat on Northern California's Mendocino Coast, Stevenswood Spa Resort rates accolades. Contemporary and secluded, this tranquil inn hotel offers a gracious respite from the daily whirl. Nestled in a forest by the sea, the intimate lodge echoes the natural beauty of its rural setting. Here guests are pampered with comfort, privacy, and peace, and indulged in gracious service and superlative cuisine in the beautiful bed and breafast setting.
January 21, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Lee and John Mellor Buckhorn Inn
Why we like this website: Rotating, gorgeous, panoramic photographs set to music showcasing the grandeur of the Smoky Mountains will beckon you into this website. A further look will reveal stunning photos of the Buckhorn Inn as well as the 25 acres of lush forests, meadows, and nature trails surrounding the inn. Clearly marked tabs easily direct you to detailed information on the seasonal changes in flora and fauna, local attractions, as well as information on wedding and conference facilities, all highlighted by more beautiful photographs. This website is a work of art and will inspire you to take a trip to East Tennessee to experience its natural beauty firsthand. Clip from the website: Nature Trail
January 14, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Cassandra and John Fedas - Great Oak Manor
Why we like this website: Stunning photographs of an elegant, historic inn by the bay and its breathtaking surroundings combined with the warmth and grace of the innkeepers invite you into this beautiful website. Easy to navigate and full of detailed information on the history of the area and the inn itself make this a website you'll definitely want to visit when planning a trip to the Chesapeake Bay area. Clip from the website: Welcome. I open Great Oak Manor to you so that you may come to know her grace and her charm. I hope you will feel welcome here the moment you enter the manor’s embrace. Please do come and visit us. And then come back again. Because once you’re here in this magical place, a part of you never really leaves. Great Oak Manor on the Chesapeake Bay possesses grace and elegance that's tempered with a sense of days gone by. From the moment you reach the meandering roads of the Eastern Shore, you feel as if you are traveling back through time. Here on the edge of Chestertown, the closest highway to this historic inn is the duck flyway, and the only honking comes from the geese flying high over your head. Our romantic manor inn's story began in 1938. Born out of the bricks from the ballast of W.R. Grace sailing ships, Great Oak Manor was styled after an 18th century English country retreat. January 7, 2008 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Steve and Diane Pearson -Pearson's Pond Luxary Inn & Adventure Spa Congratulations! Enhance the memory of a lifetime, your wedding day. We arrange and customize everything for you, including wedding coordination, ceremony, and mini-reception for a carefree experience surrounded by Alaska’s rainforest or on a glacier. Pearson's Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa in Juneau, Alaska is listed # 4 "Most Romantic Hotel Destinations in the World" by Msn.com & WomenCentral.com. This is a perfect venue for a wedding or honeymoon. We arrange and customize a package just right for you including wedding coordination, ceremony, and mini-reception for a carefree experience surrounded by Alaska’s rainforest or on a glacier top. Offered in your customized package is your choice of lodging, sightseeing, ageless adventures, wildlife & glacier cruises & activities galore.
December 24, 2007 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Kathryn & Thomas White - Beechmont B&B Inn, PA
Why we like this Website: “My favorite part of the Beechmont website is the invitation full tab labeled Business Travelers. Just having the tab so prominent reinforces to business people that this is something they should consider next time in the area. Listed companies in the text is an added reassurance. Best of all is the quote and the bulleted list of HOW the inn accommodates these travelers. The “list” gives an immediate comfort helping potential guests to see their needs would be met “at a glance.” Additionally the exterior photo of the inn on this page is especially appealing and says gracious, welcoming “inn” not Grandma’s house with doilies. Photos of the street of historic homes, surrounding area and a paragraph on the home page reassure the visitor of a new and exceptional experience near famous Gettysburg. The list of bed and breakfast books the inn is featured in, placed on the home page, authenticates the inn’s public recognition in lieu of more media coverage from newspapers, magazines, etc.. Clip from the website: Welcome Business Travelers The Beechmont Inn is a welcome change from chain hotels. We've welcomed business travelers for 20 years by extending attentive service and outstanding amenities and conveniences. We are conveniently located three blocks from central square in downtown Hanover, just blocks away from Hanover Hospital, Hanover Wire Cloth, Sheppard Industries, and many of Hanover's 200 fine companies- Bookspan/Yes Solutions, Elsner Engineering, ESAB Welding and Cutting Products, Giant Foods, Glatfelter, Hadco, Hanover Foods.” More important than all of the amenities, The Beechmont Innkeepers are delighted to help you with dinner reservations, maps and directions, appointments, and just about anything else you might need while on business in Hanover. December 17, 2007 Best WebsiteInnkeeper and Inn: Mary Jo & Michael Salmon - Hartstone Inn, ME
Why we like this Website: The Hartstone web site makes you hungry! For fine food, for comfort, for adventure. First it opens with a very large photo of one of the inns’ guest rooms, then food and fun photographs follow. The music that begins grabbed favorable attention of some of our staff - (but disturbed others who think that the employee planning a getaway while at work will be found out)! However, as soon as you have the presence of mind to click on the Cooking School – or any other tab – the sound goes away and you can dream to your heart’s content. We especially like the cooking school idea because even if the school is held only once a year, you have the joy of knowing that you will be in the hands of a CHEF and are guaranteed to have acess to satisfying food service.
 Chef for the Day Join Chef Michael in his Camden, Maine restaurant kitchen for a private one-on-one cooking class. The chef for a day program runs from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and is available Wednesday — Sunday. Students will assist Michael in preparations for that evening's dinner and will also get specialized training on prearranged topics. The afternoon begins with a review of the evening's dinner menu and assignment of duties. After a quick tour of the kitchen and orientation, you will work side-by-side with Michael preparing dinner. If you have a preference to learn about one of Chef Michael's recipes or a specific type of cuisine, Michael can work with you in advance to make those arrangements. We recommend you join us for dinner that evening to enjoy the dishes you helped prepare. December 10, 2007 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: Audrey Firth & Glynn Williams - DesBarres Manor Inn, NS |
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Why we like this Website: From the Chef picking herbs to the fine estate photos, a first look at the DesBarres Manor website draws you in. The elegant yet personal feel combined with guest and press comments assures you of an inn worth investigation. Another thing we especially like is the double spacing that (CSS used to space the line height ) entices you to keep reading, we feel this B&B website portrays an experience that will long be cherished. Once you click on packages, more packages are listed on the side and then you are captured. You want to read each one. This inn seems to epitomize not only an elegant, full service 10-room inn with dinner and wedding capabilities, but also an innkeeper who will describe the current migratory bird patterns. Everything we want an inn to be.
Clip from the website: Birding Getaway Package*
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Whether you are a novice birder or an expert ornithologist, Chedabucto Bay and its nature areas provides you with outstanding opportunities for bird sightings. When you first arrive, the Innkeeper will give you a self-guided tour map based on current migratory patterns and your personal interests. Following a relaxed afternoon of birding around the Manor, you will join guests for a Taste of Nova Scotia in the Parlour Room, and then on to your table in the fireside dining room for a three course dinner. Start your second day with a hearty full breakfast, then off for more birding with a picnic lunch.
December 3, 2007 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: Christine and Ed Edelson - Cornucopia at Oldfield, CT
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Why we like this Website: The best part is the extensive information under Host Family. There are so many touch points in the extensive story that guests would feel comfortable – as though they had something or several things in common with the innkeepers . This is a special gift to first comers to inns but really to all as it warms you up to your hosts
Clip from the website:
The Host Family:
Christine and Ed Edelson look forward to being your Innkeepers and to making your stay at the Cornucopia at Oldfield a memorable one. For years they dreamt of owning a bed and breakfast where they could help people relax and enjoy some of life's true pleasures - quiet time by themselves or with new friends in beautiful surroundings. They both have had extensive experience in customer service related professions and look forward to using that experience and their skills at Cornucopia at Oldfield.
Christine and Ed have had the opportunity to live in many places. They met while teaching at a private school in Connecticut some 30 years ago. From there they moved to Vail, Colorado where Ed worked in hotel services and Christine opened a much needed nursery school and day care center. A few years later they moved back east to Ithaca, New York where Ed received his engineering degree from Cornell University and Christine taught preschool. Ed’s work took them to Colombia, MD; Pasadena, CA; and Kennewick, WA.
Cornucopia News and Specials:
Invent a Getaway
Chocolates in your room, a special bottle of champagne, an arrangement of roses, massage in your room, dinner at one of the excellent area restaurants, explore the Litchfield Hills with a box lunch, relax at a day spa, or have a massage therapist come to your room (we have relations with several local massage therapist including The Traveling Spa), shop for antiques, horseback ride or just do nothing.
You tell us what you would like to do and we will help you do it in a one, two or three day getaway at the Cornucopia designed just for you. Priced according to content. Spa days require reservations at least 30 days in advance.
For information and reservations, Contact Your Innkeepers. to Colombia, MD; Pasadena, CA; and Kennewick, WA.
November 26, 2007 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: Nancy & Bill Hazewinkel, Inn at Fawnskin- California
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Why we like this Website: Beautiful opening page with its photos of the doe and fawn takes in the fullness of the natural mountain environment you will enjoy as a guest of the Inn at Fawnskin in California. The page also provides an interesting explanation for the naming of the town fawnskin. You are instantly drawn in by the warm and relaxing feel by the selected colors and design of the website. One particular plus to the website, that we don't see often, is that when you enter each room picture from the homepage you are greeted by past guests comments. This is very reassuring to the viewer that it’s not only a nice looking website, but it’s also a wonderful place to stay.
Clip from the website: Rental Cabins
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"Enjoy the astounding natural beauty of Big Bear Lake with all the comforts of home. When you want to get away from it all, the one thing you don't have to leave behind is comfort. The Inn at Fawnskin Cabin Rentals make your stay as relaxing as your favorite easy chair. These homes provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the world. Whether you crave a charming cottage for a romantic getaway or a larger home with room for the entire family, our goal is to provide you with a relaxing, comfortable, clean home in which to enjoy your vacation. Whether you're newlyweds looking for a quiet hideaway or a large group planning a family reunion, we have the home to suit your needs. There is a two night minimum for all cabins, 3-4 night minimums during holiday periods."
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November 19, 2007 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: Jack and Linda Grup, Highland Lake Inn
Why we like this Website: Beautiful opening page, with a large horizontal photo in flash exquisitely portraying the beauty of the nature experience when you visit Highland Lake Inn. This is a very deep site with excellent photography including people in the natural environment such as a man fishing alone in a canoe on misty lake rimmed with fall color and a grandfather type showing grandchildren types of plants in the meadow, these shots alter with pure nature shots. All in all, the photography inspires me to book a flight immediately to North Carolina, especially the waterfall. The same scheme is used for dining with photos of purple and hat people and a family then altering to food shots that instantly answer – yes I can have thanksgiving here and that big turkey makes m e want to. There are good graphics for the events calendar and the inn’s newsletter.
Clip from the website: Some History....
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1941 Robroy Farquhar opened "The Old Mill Playhouse" in the mill, starring actresses "Kim Hunter" and "Joanne Woodward." (Later moved and became the Flat Rock Playhouse.)
1946 Property sold to Berryman Longino who ran the "All America
1947 Camp Brandeis, a summer camp and school for young people of the Jewish faith.
1950s Our Lady of the Hill's Camp, a Catholic camp for boys and girls on Madonna Lake, now Highland Lake.
1985 Highland Lake Inn Conference Center and Restaurant opened and operated by the Lindsey Family.
1999 Highland Lake Inn operated by the Grup family. Today the entire property has been lovingly restored to offer unique and charming dining and lodging experiences. Our award-wining restaurant takes pride in offering fine dining in a casual country setting where seasonal menus are based on the flow of produce from our organic gardens.
2004 The Old Dining Room is renamed Season's Restaurant. Season's has been honored to receive the "Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator magazine since 2000 for having one of the best restaurant wine lists in the world.
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November 12, 2007 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: Dallas and Nancy Renner, The Chocolate Turtle B&B
Why we like this Website: This Acorn-designed Website launched in August this year and highlights the best part of B&Bs – the sense of place and unique style, and provides a tasty morsel of the actual experience. Real guest comments are incorporated onto each page in a Guest Book Graphic and usually relate to the page it is on. This brings the site visitor immediate confidence that they, too, would have a fabulous time and that staying here would be an excellent decision. There is good placement at the top of page for the phone number and availability link. Pictures are nice and big although sometimes less is more (some pages have too many).
Clip from the website
Warm, comfortable, relaxed environment is how our guests describe the Chocolate Turtle, an inviting New Mexico vacation spot. Located in the historic Village of Corrales, the one level, southwestern style home is nestled on one and a half acres so that the portal and patio face the breathtaking Sandia Mountains. The pastoral setting provides a great escape from your daily hustle – our neighbors have horses, geese, turkeys- yet our Corrales hotel alternative is just minutes from every shopping convenience you might desire and an array of local and national restaurants.
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November 5, 2007 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: Jerry and Tina Wolsborn, The Inn at Occidental of Sonoma County
Why we like this Website: The basic Website design for Inn at Occidental has lasted a long time and it still works well because of dramatic improvements and additions on individual pages. Go to the room pages and review the world-class creativity and interactivity that has been integrated onto these usually pedestrian shots. For instance, each room has a “click for vacation ideas” link that goes to a well built-out page describing an activity such as ballooning, theatre, art, etc. There is also a FUN link on each page that asks you a question. All this makes you want to click on every room page so you can play. This keeps you on the site for a long time and you won’t forget the experience. Quotes about the inn from prime magazines and newspapers are integrated onto the bottom of each page, reaffirming how wise you would be to make a booking now – which is also easy because there’s a phone number right at the top of the page.
Clip from the website
Tour the estate and see sample rooms, cuisine and things to do in Sonoma County ...
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October 22, 2007 Best Website
Innkeeper and Inn: Blair Hill Inn, Greenville, Maine
Why we like this Website: Blair Hill Inn's site evokes an enormous amount of emotional appeal by the use of excellent photography and LARGE photos that immediately draw the visitor into the experience. We are extremely fond of the welcoming photo of smiling innkeepers standing behind glasses with slices of lemon, just waiting for you to come and be served. This is exactly the feeling of hospitality that no hotel can match. We like the testimonials used throughout the site that give potential guests a sense of security and also add credibility to the property. The room shots provide simple navigation from one room to the other without pogo sticking which reduces conversion. What seems to be missing is an immediate call to action or an easy to find phone number at the top of page. Otherwise the site lets you right into the joy of inngoing.
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Tour the estate and see...
Panoramic vistas that span from New Hampshire to Canada. The vast blue waters of Moosehead Lake stretch out before you,the sky is huge and the colors are rich.
More than 15 acres of manicured grounds, gardens, reflecting pond, and woodlands, each acre overlooking the lake.
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Please forward any great Bed & Breakfast and Country Inn Websites you see to comments@iloveinns.com with Websites in the subject area.
Julie & Jeff Anderson, Lisa Lothson Rivertown Inn
