Treat your mom to a B&B suitable for the Queen

Lori Joe Miller Farr

A comfortable and cozy B&B differs from a hotel, even a small hotel, in several ways. Licensed B&B is a private house with rooms that provides a real feeling of space for travelers. B&B guests appreciate real experiences, but they are looking for even more. According to BedandBreakfast.com, guests want: private bathrooms (91 percent), free on-site parking (71 percent), free breakfast (60 percent), flexible check-in (57 percent), free cable or satellite TV and Wi-Fi. Fi (38 percent). On Mother’s Day there are several places among America’s boarding houses suitable for the Queen … that’s why.

Embrace Callista
1139 Lincoln Avenue
Callisto, California 94515
(707) 942-9797
www.embracecalistoga.com

California is a wine country – no dream list is complete without it. And there is something in the carefully restored Victorian homes that is the very essence of a wonderful B&B. One look at the beautiful porch where guests enjoy evening wine and cheese with hosts Brent and Chris and you’re sold out. Mom will too. In historic Calista, the heart of the Napa Valley, five elegantly and comfortably furnished rooms are different but share a touch of refined tone. Each has a large marble bath (plush towels and bathrobes) and a gas fireplace; Rooms on the ground floor also have garden views. Guests start their day with a four-course breakfast and end it with a “little slice of the sky,” a treat to local Woodhouse chocolate. During breaks, of course, there is a full day of tasting upscale wines in charming cities and at wineries located among the vine hills that are stunning every season. Brent and Chris say, “You come as guests and you leave as friends.”

Mary Prentiss Hotel
Prentiss Street, 6
Cambridge, Massachusetts
(617) 661-2929
www.maryprentissinn.com

The American flag flutters above the entrance to this classic Greek Renaissance estate hidden on a quiet street near Harvard Square. A bowl of apples says “hello”; Lisa and Lindsay are waiting for you. Twenty period-style guest rooms, some with original elements and flooring, rise up the elegant cantilever staircase in the main house. Newly built rooms with jacuzzis and fireplaces surround the back garden. All rooms have separate showers and baths. The house became the architect’s wedding gift to his son William after his marriage to Mary Prentiss in 1843. Every morning the tables are covered with tablecloths and flourishing grooves where guests can relax with a free newspaper by placing requests for products. order breakfast. In the afternoon, homemade cookies are served with tea. Entered into the National Register of Historic Places and a member of America’s Historic Hotels, the current owners have conducted detailed research and restoration with love to integrate modern amenities down to free Wi-Fi. The coveted free parking is really a bonus, and the MTA Red Line in Porter Square is a six minute walk away.

Mermaid and Alligator
729 Truman Ave.
Key West, Florida 33040
(305) 294-1894
www.kwmermaid.com

The nude areas of the ancient coral reef, Florida Keys, are unique and special … like mom. Everyone should go to Key West as often as possible. Arrive at Key West International Airport or drive 127 miles from Key Largo to the southernmost outskirts of Keys for one of the great trips to America. A pedestrian paradise measuring just four miles per mile, the casual atmosphere of Key West is perfect for an easy stay at a B&B. In The Mermaid & The Alligator with a 1904 pedigree, mom can wake up in a four-poster bed and enjoy a full breakfast (vegetarian option – an impressive award-winning dish) served by the pool next to the Royal Poinciana trees. Afterwards she will read a book on a hammock untied on the porch as it gently sways from the rustle of palms. Nine luxuriously appointed rooms with private bathroom or shower are different; six in the main house and three cottages in the garden. The only problem? Leaving this sublime oasis to learn more about historic Key West and Florida Keys. PS Be sure to tell your mom not to miss Ernest Hemingway’s house and museum, the nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square and the pie from Kyiv.

Blair House Inn B&B
100 W. Spoke Hill Drive
Wimberly, TX78676
(512) 847-1111
www.blairhouseinn.com

From a lime pie to a grasshopper … did anyone say gourmet cooking school? We all understand that mothers deserve a break from kitchen duties, but the culinary classes of a chef in the southern kitchen are a completely different matter. Some of the 11 spacious suites, rustic-style rooms and cottages are furnished with four four-poster beds and fireplaces in the living room. All have a bath or shower, some with a jacuzzi. Enjoy a private deck or patio. Add 22 acres of panoramic views, peace and quiet, a library, a gorgeous outdoor pool and spa, and it will make your holiday a fit for the Queen. Many say it is the most beautiful place in the heart of Texas Hill Country, an hour’s drive from Austin in the direction of San Antonio. Where Cypress Creek meets the Blanca River, imagine tall cypresses and spring wildflowers. The Blair House Inn is close to wineries, a glass studio and art galleries, including one in the hotel. Wimberley fans come for busy market days every Saturday (March to December); dive into the Blue Hole, one of the best holes for swimming in Texas; to observe birds and butterflies; and on summer weekend screenings under the stars.