Unlike your cookie-cutter hotel/motel chains, each Bed & Breakfast is unique, reflecting the personalities of the owners. Getting to know your host or hostess is all part of the B&B experience. You will also meet other guests and get to know them as well, many new friendships are made this way.

The Inn Keepers can also tell you all about the local area and attractions. In a hotel/motel if you ask the desk clerk where to eat they will send you to the tourist trap restaurants. However, at a B&B, your host or hostess will point you to the little known local favorites instead. Everywhere we have stayed our Inn Keepers have been very helpful and full of useful information that made our stay more enjoyable.

Charming Bed & Breakfasts make for a unique and enjoyable vacation experience. So forget about that same old hotel/motel, make your next vacation a Bed & Breakfast Experience.

To locate a B&B in your area, click on the link at the end of this article which will take you to my blog where you will see directories to help you find the perfect Bed & Breakfast.

The problem is most inns are booked months ahead of time for the foliage season but you may luck out and find one that has had a last minute cancellation. I would recommend going mid-week to avoid the weekend crowds and traffic jams.

Timing is everything as the peak only lasts for a few days and will vary depending on weather conditions. Stormfax Guide to Fall Foliage has a great list of phone numbers and websites for fall foliage information.

Here are some good tips for saving money on your Bed & Breakfast Experiences.

• Travel off-season : Go to the beach in the winter or a ski area in the summer. There are still many activities that you can enjoy and there will be no crowds and lower rates.
• Take advantage of special rates: Many Bed & Breakfasts offer special rates for midweek stays or multiple nights.
• Stay in a neighboring town: If you are going to a tourist attraction, don't stay in that town, look around in a neighboring town and the rates will be much less. It's worth making a short drive to save 10- 50% on your Bed & Breakfast.
• Plan Ahead: Don't wait till the last minute to make reservations. Most Bed & Breakfasts only have a few rooms and stay fully booked.
• Do the opposite: Remember the city B&Bs will be busiest during the week with business travelers and the country B&Bs are busiest on the weekends. So to avoid the crowds, stay in the country during the week and the city on the weekend.

Here is another great Bed & Breakfast to stay at in the mountains of North Carolina. The Inn at Ragged Gardens is a warm, antique-filled, beautiful place to visit. The Hyatt family has restored this turn-of-the- century home in downtown Blowing Rock and your stay there will be memorable.

Every time we have tried to stay there it has been completely booked. So make your reservations well in advance. Some good friends of ours have stayed there and told us that they really loved it. We have taken a tour of the rooms and hopefully will get to stay there on our next trip to Blowing Rock. You can get a nice look at this lovely Bed & Breakfast on their website: The Inn at Ragged Gardens .

This charming Inn sits on an acre of enchanting gardens and their gourmet breakfast includes the use of herbs and flowers organically grown in their own gardens.

To find more information about Blowing Rock visit their website: Information on Blowing Rock, NC . If you know of a great Bed & Breakfast please share it and leave a comment.

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