8 Of the Best Bed and Breakfast Oceanfront Inns

There is something about water. Oceans, lakes and rivers provide some of the most serene areas in the world. Find a bed and breakfast next to a body of water and you are bound to be in for a real treat whether you are looking to escape life’s daily stresses or searching for the perfect romantic interlude.

We searched coast to coast and chose these 8 bed and breakfasts that each uniquely capture the grandeur of their oceanfront environment.

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
On a barrier island 13 miles long and 2 miles across at its widest stretch, a dozen inns sit on this Atlantic jewel off the northeastern coast of Florida. Only the Elizabeth Pointe Lodge is on oceanfront property. Waves roll in only 20 yards away from the doorstep of this country inn built in 1991 in the style of a Nantucket cottage.

The view from the bed & breakfast wraparound porch, where guests may enjoy meals or just relax, is spectacular. David and Susan Caples have chaises available for those who would like to wander out onto the sand. For those who get ambitious, bicycles are also available for riding into the historic village of Fernandina Beach to shop. Guests of this 25-room inn find the library in the middle of the house a comfortable spot to socialize or read. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases line two walls and guests can relax near the cozy fireplace.

Point Independence Inn
Poised with a casual sophistication in the historic coastal village of Onset, Massachusetts, Point Independence Inn & Spa was built in 1880 in a Mediterranean stucco style. Guests can sit on the porch overlooking Onset Bay or walk the 3 miles of white sandy beach. Spacious guest bedrooms and suites offer magnificent views of the ocean.

The onsite spa is open year round and offers a menu with a variety of body treatments: massage, facials, skin therapy, manicures and pedicures. Golfers can enjoy reduced rates at the Bay Pointe Country Club a mile down the road. Easy day trips from Onset include Cape Cod or north to Boston.

Great Oak Manor
Situated directly on the Chesapeake Bay, this elegant French-style mansion is a serene and picturesque country estate. Magnificent sunsets can be viewed from the backyard area, which has a gazebo and sprawling lawn. A library with fireplace, den and formal parlors are available for guests. This is a remarkable setting for holding special events such as weddings or reunions.

The beautiful Chesapeake Bay offers boating, fishing, kayaking and swimming. Guests can also enjoy golf, hiking, shopping and visiting the local antique and museums.

Sea View Inn
A "barefoot paradise" awaits you at Sea View Inn, nestled on Pawleys Island a narrow barrier island with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a salt marsh on the other in South Carolina. You can walk on the beach, cast a crabbing line into the marsh, or settle into a rocking chair with a good book. Sea View Inn is a vacation retreat that has been welcoming guests to its tranquil setting since 1937.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the island became a retreat for wealthy rice planters to escape the heat of summer. Today, Sassy and Brian Henry, continue the tradition of offering a comfortable and casual hideaway, full of charm and hospitality, steeped in tradition and history. Enjoy dining Southern Style beginning with breakfast and concluding with dinner.

The Inn at Harbor Head
This shingled saltwater farmhouse is located directly on the water in historic Cape Porpoise- a fishing village where lobstermen have worked for generations. Sounds of sea gulls and bell buoys blend with the foghorn from the nearby lighthouse. There are outstanding views of the harbor, ocean and islands. Delightful perennial gardens surround the inn. Guestrooms feature antiques, down comforters, and turndown service. A legendary gourmet breakfast is served amidst the collections of pewter and crystal.

Cliff House B&B and Cottage
The sensual delights of the forest, the sea, rain, and sunlight have been captured in this unusual house designed by architect, Arne Bystrom. Hidden in a forest on the edge of Whidby Island is the Cliff House. A two-story, open air, glass walled atrium is the focal point of the loft bedroom where guests can gaze at the water from a plump featherbed. Sunsets are spectacular and there are miles of beach to enjoy.

The Cottage is a second accommodation available and offers cozy, country charm. It offers a fireplace, petit kitchen, window seat and views of the forest and Puget Sound.

Peter Shields Inn
Enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean at this intimate seaside B&B inn in Cape May, New Jersey. The Peter Shields Inn and Restaurant offers casual and elegant oceanfront dining in five distinctive dining rooms. Stay in one of the delightful guest bedrooms featuring a fireplace and Jacuzzi tub. Beach chairs, towels and umbrellas are provided.

Green Gables Inn
The half-timbered Queen Anne Victorian appears as a fantasy of gables overlooking spectacular Monterey Bay. The parlor has stained glass panels framing the fireplace and bay windows looking out to the sea. Most of the guest rooms have panoramic views of the ocean, fireplaces, gleaming woodwork, and soft quilts.

Across the street is the Monterey Bay oceanfront, paved cycling path. Guests can also visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium.

For information on the above listed inns:

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
98 S. Fletcher Ave
Amelia Island, Florida 32034-2216
Rates: $185-$425
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/florida/elizabethpointelodge.htm

Point Independence Inn
9 Eagle Way - Box 1236
Onset, MA 02558
Rates: $219-$279
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/massachusetts/pointindependence.htm

Great Oak Manor
10568 Cliff Road
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
Rates: $155-$285
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/maryland/greatoakmanor.htm

Sea View Inn
414 Myrtle Avenue
Pawleys Island, SC 29585-0210
Rates: $190-$275
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/south_carolina/seaview.htm

The Inn at Harbor Head
41 Pier Road
Kennebunkport, Maine 04046
Rates: $160-$325
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/maine/harborhead.htm

Cliff House B&B and Cottage
727 Windmill Dr, Whidbey Island
Freeland, Washington 98249
Rates: $210-$550
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfast/washington/cliffhousecottage.htm

Peter Shields Inn
1301 Beach Ave.
Cape May, NJ 08204
Rates: $165-$395
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/new_jersey/thepetershieldsinn.htm

Green Gables Inn
301 Ocean View Blvd
Pacific Grove, California 93950
Rates: $125-$265
www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/california/greengables.htm

Still undecided? Go to www.iloveinns.com and browse through the 19,000 B&Bs and country inns that specialize in other events that may interest you. Many of the properties listed above are also in the best-selling bed and breakfast guidebook Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns with a Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free Certificate.

About American Historic Inns and iLoveInns.com
American Historic Inns, Inc. (www.iloveinns.com), founded in 1981, is the leading publisher of bed & breakfast guidebooks, with more than 2.5 million bed & breakfast guidebooks sold, and runs iLoveInns.com, a top bed & breakfast and country inns directory.
 
Note: For photos or interviews, please contact Marcia Rockwood at 1 800 397 4667 ext 301.