What It Is

You could take him out to dinner or buy him a shirt, but why not make this year’s Father’s Day really special and treat Dad to a weekend getaway at a bed and breakfast. These inns provide plenty of pampering and relaxation, as well as a unique and memorable experience.

Give Dad the Gift of History (and Baseball)

If Dad is a history buff, then a stay at the Portobello Inn Bed & Breakfast is a must. Located in Herkimer N. Y., this 1840s Italianate mansion is resplendent with colonial charm and elegance. The rooms are tastefully decorated with classic furniture, the wraparound veranda looks out on hillsides that will remind you of Tuscany, and the property even has the original 1760 homestead still on sight! This is a place where Dad (and Mom) can truly unwind and relax.

Take Dad to the Wild, Wild West

Is Dad a Wild West fan with a taste for the supernatural? Then take this closet cowboy to the 1859 Historic National Hotel in Jamestown, Calif. Opened in 1859 in California’s Gold Country, the National Hotel has been in operation continuously since then. During all those years a lot of gold dust has crossed this B&B’s original redwood bar. Legalized prostitution was conducted here until 1930, and the site had a casino until 1949.

The rooms are a treat, each decorated in period style with antiques with comfortable beds perfect after a day of sightseeing or panning for gold. A buffet-style breakfast is served each morning, and the hotel’s restaurant features gourmet cuisine. The Gold Rush Saloon boasts the original 19th century redwood bar and a working cash register that dates back to 1881. Jamestown is close to a variety of activities, including Yosemite National Park.

Dad Deserves a Little Romance

North Carolina’s Outer Banks are one of the great tourist secrets of this age. Its wonderful white sands and warm Atlantic waters make it a perfect Father’s Day getaway. For bed-and-breakfast lovers, The White Doe Inn in Manteo is worthy of a visit. Listed in the National Register, this 1910 white mansion features in-room spa service, chocolate dipped strawberries and champagne, beautiful period rooms with gas fireplaces, and the beach just a few minutes’ walk away. The White Doe Inn is so romantic, in fact, that Dad and Mom might rediscover a passion that they thought had slipped away. On second thought, let’s not go into that, shall we?

Get Dad Back to Nature

Michigan’s La Belle de la Riviere (French for ‘The Beauty of the River’) B&B is an restored 1871 mansion on the Muskegon River, in one of the most scenic hunting, fishing and water sports areas in America. The object here is to relax and take leisurely strolls along the beautiful River and historic downtown but manly men can exercise their fishing and hunting skills while their significant other enjoys the mansion. Or they can play together at nearby golf courses. In the morning after the inn’s signature French breakfast, they can explore river-valley wonderland. What more could Dad want?