Celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month En Plein Air at a Bed and Breakfast

July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and inns across the country are joining the celebration by offering exhilarating getaway packages that combine fun outdoor activities with trips to the most fascinating natural wonders in their areas. There are thousands of bed and breakfasts on BnBFinder.com that are tucked in the most out-of-the-way places that place their guests just within reach of enchanted forests, mysterious caverns, scalable mountains, and pristine lakes.

Innkeepers are also a spontaneous traveler's best friend. They know the secret places to explore and they can offer narratives of local lore that makes the trip even more intriguing. Innkeepers also know the best roads to take, the turns to not take, and the tastiest places to eat. They can direct you to the general store where you can buy a good bottle of wine, or help you find a fishing rod and live bait.

Inn-Digenous - The San Jacinto Mountains, which pop icon Peter Gabriel sings about in one of his most famous songs, "San Jacinto," embrace the magical town of Idyllwild, California, where the  scent of the dense pines and cedars that grow here create a distinct and pleasing fragrance that greets guests upon arrival at the rustic and stylish Strawberry Creek Inn. Just two hours from Los Angeles, this inn is a world away from the freeways and the perfect place to decompress. Book the Hiker's Picnic Special and the innkeepers will send you into the forest, or to their lovely creek, with a gourmet picnic lunch that includes artisanal sandwiches and is paired with a refreshing white wine. Homemade cookies, like the famous Caribbean Oatmeal ones that will appear in the inn's soon-to-be published cookbook, are tucked inside, too. This special also includes a bona fide US Forest Service Adventure Pass that lets you hike to your heart's content in the spectacular near by wild lands, and see unmatched vistas and the distinct "sky island" ecosystem only visible at higher elevations. Vegetarian or vegan options are also available. Request the Hiker's Picnic special when making your reservation.

Inn a Homemade Jam - Nine species of hummingbirds call the Huachuca Mountains in Southeastern Arizona their home. Dozens of other species take part in the morning rush hour at the feeders suspended at the Birders Vista Bed and Breakfast in Sierra Vista, and observing them is part of the morning ritual for guests. After your homemade breakfast served on the B&B's honeysuckle-covered verandah, take your camera and head over to Kartchner Caverns, a fascinating live limestone cave with calcite formations and giant stalagmites. The two-night Kartchner Cavern package, available until October 31, includes full breakfasts with homemade jams and breads and two tickets to the Caverns.

Beauty and the Bike - Only one mile from Starved Rock State Park, which is also known as on as one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois," is the Willows Hotel in Utica, which offers a Bike in Beauty package that gives you not only two nights in a suite with a Jacuzzi and fireplace, but also a pair of bikes so you can pedal through the park one day and along the I&M Canal bike path the next. Also included is a savory backpack lunch. The town is chock full of nightlife: restaurants and pubs abound, as do boutiques. Please let the innkeeper know you found the package, which is available starting August 12, on BnBFinder.com.

En Plein Air - Prancing in the mountains of the Northeast Kingdom is even more joyous with a group and a guide to lead the way to the best panoramas. The delicious box lunch packed for you by the innkeeper - with either a Vermont ham and cheddar or a roasted vegetable wrap and homemade cookies - makes arriving at a clearing and dining en plein air too inviting to resist sitting down and eating. Guided hikes, picnics, and great views come with the two-night Hiking the Kingdom package offered by the Estabrook House in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. Also included are hearty Vermont-style breakfasts and a map to guide you on additional hikes you might want to take. The innkeeper will cook up a plat du jour dinner for you and your group, which can be served on the lovely porch or in dining room, for an additional $25 per person. This package is subject to availability and ends on November 1.

Browse the Great Outdoors Packages on BnBFinder.com to discover the bed and breakfast getaway and fresh air activity that renews your appreciation of our great land and all that it has to offer.