Romantic Bed and Breakfasts

When the standard date night is not enough, recharge your romance at an elegant bed and breakfast where doting innkeepers are happy to take on the chores of cooking and cleaning and indulge lovebirds with luxurious rooms and tasty food.

Inn BoonsBoro 
Boonsboro, Maryland
With best-selling romance author Nora Roberts at the helm, it's no surprise that Inn BooonsBoro is a bed and breakfast straight from the pages of a romance novel. Roberts and her husband own the romantic inn that is inspired by some of literature's great love stories. Rooms are named for Elizabeth and Darcy from "Pride and Prejudice," and Titania and Oberon from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Star-crossed lovers Westley and Buttercup of "The Princess Bride" fame would approve of their room with a grand king-sized bed, an elegant parlor and an oversized copper-and-mosaic soaking tub that is truly fit for a princess.

L'Auberge Provencale 
White Post, Virginia
You don't need to take your love all the way to France for a little romance. L'Auberge Provencale brings French country charm to the Shenandoah Valley just a short drive from Washington, DC. Rooms are a sea of calm with pale yellows, dusty roses and vibrant blues. La Suite Romantique has gleaming hardwood floors, a sumptuous king bed, an oversized Jacuzzi tub and a view of the gardens. Vineyards, orchards, horseback-riding and even hot air balloon rides are all nearby day-trip options. Breakfast is a feast of croissants, crepes and inspired entrees. Two examples: local shitakes over thinly sliced duck and poached egg in a potato nest basket. The inn's restaurant is a destination in itself with heaps of accolades for the farm-fresh cuisine and inspired wine list.

Inn at the Highland Haven 
Evergreen, Colorado
Finding a romantic B and B without all of the frill and flounce of more traditional inns can be a challenge. Less than an hour from Denver, Highland Haven delivers rustic-chic romance with spacious rooms decked out with warm wood and comfy leather furniture. Each room has a private entrance and bathroom so there are no intrusions on your romantic getaway. This sense of privacy spills over to the scrumptious breakfast buffet: You can enjoy chocolate bread pudding, egg strata and baked oatmeal at a table for 2 on the porch, the private champagne room or even in your own quarters with breakfast in bed.

The Reluctant Panther 
Manchester, Vermont
Escape to Vermont to the Reluctant Panther, an anniversary and honeymoon favorite in the mountains. Outdoor lovers can hike mountain trails at Equinox, Stratton or Green Mountain National Forest or challenge their sweetheart to a round of golf at historic Gleneagles Golf Course, just a short walk from the hotel. All rooms have fireplaces, downy featherbeds and elegant bathrooms, while pricier suites have a private entrance, sitting room and double fireplaces. Complimentary breakfast in the main dining room is so scrumptious that you may have to return for dinner, a feast of local favorites like Hudson Valley foie gras, Vermont Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese Tart and Maple Rubbed Vermont Rack of Lamb and Slow Cooked Shoulder all served with perfect wine pairings.

Seven Gables Inn 
Pacific Grove, California
Boasting a prime location just outside of Monterey Bay, the Seven Gables Inn is a Pacific Coast gem perfect for rekindling romance. Spread out over 7 buildings, each of the 25 rooms has a view of the sea at the Pacific Ocean or Monterey Bay while expansive corner rooms have 180-degree coastline views. Guests are pampered with a full breakfast spread, afternoon wine and cheese and cookies and milk before bed. Profess your love to your mate at Lover's Point Beach, just a few minutes from the inn, and then continue on a romantic waterfront stroll. In the winter you may encounter migrating gray whales or Monarch butterflies, but you can enjoy the silly sea otters any time of year.

The Fairthorne Cottage Bed and Breakfast 
Cape May, New Jersey
Built by a whaling captain in the late 19th century, the Fairthorne is the perfect setting for summer romance, a spring fling or a holiday getaway in the year-round Jersey Shore beach town of Cape May. Each of the 10 rooms has a private bathroom, luxurious linens and central air. Bring along complimentary beach chairs and towels to the beach or borrow a bike for a ride out to the lighthouse. After the beach, relax in a rocking chair and nibble on snacks during tea time on the wraparound veranda. Take along a bottle of wine to the many BYOB restaurants within walking distance and explore Cape May by moonlight during a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. In the morning, it's back to the veranda for a breakfast feast of sweet and savory favorites like French Toast Strata with lemon and raspberries.

Five Gables Inn 
St. Michaels, Maryland
The Five Gables Inn caters to couples looking for an Eastern Shore escape on the Chesapeake Bay. Cozy rooms and snazzy suites are spread out across 4 historic 19th-century homes with modern amenities and plush decor. The main building has an indoor swimming pool, sauna and an Aveda spa, which offers a luxurious couple's massage. Adding to the romance is St. Michael's enchanting small-town friendliness with antique shops and waterfront crab shacks just beyond the front door.

Two Meeting Street Inn 
Charleston, South Carolina
The love story at Two Meeting Street begins 2 centuries ago when a wealthy Charleston businessman presented his daughter and her new husband with an extravagant wedding gift of $75,000 to buy the mansion on the corner of Meeting Street and the Battery. Love is still in the air in this romantic bed and breakfast in the tony South of Broad neighborhood. Each room exudes Southern charm and style with high ceilings, tall 4-poster beds and porches made for sipping sweet tea and watching the activity along the Battery.

The Cottages at Cabot Cove 
Kennebunkport, Maine
Celebrate your love at the playful and whimsical enclave of cottages at Kennebunkport's Cottages at Cabot Cove. Each of these 16 restored cottages is a romantic respite from daily life with a quirky and modern cottage style featuring whitewashed furniture and bright splashes of color. Your day begins with a breakfast delivery of fresh pastries and orange juice that you can enjoy on your porch. During the day, meander around the expansive property, challenge your partner to a game of croquet or paddle around the Cove in a canoe or kayak.

Swann House 
Washington, DC
Celebrate love in the city at this romantic urban getaway in an 1883 mansion in DC's Dupont Circle. This grand Washington beauty has 12 rooms, each displaying its unique personality. The hip Milano suite has a queen canopy bed, refreshing rain shower and deep soaking tub for 2, while blue toile wallpaper and a cozy nook in the window dormer add to the French country charm in the Blue Sky Suite. The staff guarantees that you won't go hungry by offering breakfast in the formal dining room or on the covered porch, plus decadent afternoon treats and a glass of sherry nightcap.