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Introduction
You'll find bed-and-breakfasts in big houses with turrets and little houses with decks, in mansions by the water and cabins n the forest, not to mention structures of many sizes and shapes in between. B&Bs are run by people who were once lawyers and writers, homemakers and artists, nurses and architects, singers and businesspeople. Some B&Bs are just a room or two in a hospitable local's home; others are more like small inns. So there's an element of serendipity to every stay in an inn or B&B. But although that's part of the pleasure of visiting these establishments, it's also an excellent reason to plan your travels with a good B&B guide. The one you hold in your hands serves the purpose neatly. We think it's the best of its kind.
All the establishments we've included promise a unique experience, a distinctive sense of time and place; each is a destination in itself, not just a place to rest your head at night, but an integral part of a weekend escape. For that reason, we tell you not only about places to stay but also about what's up in the area and what you should and shouldn't miss -- everything from historic sites and parks to antiques shops, boutiques, and the area's niftiest restaurants and nightspots.
To create this guide, we've handpicked a team of professional writers who are confirmed B&B lovers: people who know a well-run operation when they see it and are only too eager to communicate their knowledge to you. For all the premier inns and B&Bs in the areas they cover, they've inspected the premises and checkesd out every corner. They report critically on only the best in every price range -- what's good, what's bad, and what could be better.
Fodor's B&B Critics
Sasha Abramsky, who updated the Central Coast and North Coast chapters writes feature articles for New York Magazine, City Limits, and the Bay Guardian. He also publishes musings on America in several British national newspapers. He currently lives in New York, but has periodic longings to buy a convertible and move out West. His other work for Fodor's includes contributions to Fodor's India and
Fodor's California. Andy Moore, who updated Sacramento and the Gold Country chapters, is a native Californian, born across the street from Disney Studios. He became a filmmaker at age 12, and as an adult , worked for Columbia, Warner Brothers, and Francis Coppola's American Zoetrope studios. Andy is now based in San Francisco, working on his own independent films. He has also contributed to Fodor's California and upCLOSE California. Clark Norton, who updated five California chapters, is a freelance travel writer and a screenwriter who shuttles between offices in New York and San Francisco. He is the author of Fodor's Where Should We Take the Kids? California and has contributed to Fodor's California and upCLOSE California. He also writes for the Washington Post Magazine and has sold screenplays to major Hollywood studios. Bobbi Zane, who updated San Diego County, the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Los Angeles chapters, lives in Southern California and has been writing about B&B travel for more than a decade. A frequent contributor to Fodor's, her byline has also appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times, and Westways magazine.
Our Best Tip
When traveling te B&B way, always call ahead. If you're traveling to an inn
because of a specific feature, make sure that it will be available when you get there and not closed for renovation. The same is true if you're making a special detour to take advantage of specific sights or attractions. And if you are traveling with
children, if you prefer a private bath or a certain type of bed, if you have mobility problems, if you have specific dietary needs or any other concerns, discuss them with the innkeeper.
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