San Juan Capistrano 11/4/2008 2:00:00 PM
News / Business

Commune with Nature at a Remote Country Inn or Bed and Breakfast

ILoveInns.com Enjoys a Pampered Wilderness Experience

Combine a remote wilderness experience with the pampering comforts of a country inn or bed and breakfast. Commune with nature without the hassles and backaches of camping. ILoveInns.com found three remote country inns that will pamper you while you get away from it all.

Almost Heaven: West Virginia
Located between the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests, Wildernest Inn is a secluded hideaway on 1200 acres. Observe hawks soaring in the sky, deer at the pond, periodic parades of wild turkey and visits by curious black bears. At the bottom of the property is South Mill Creek Lake, with a canoe and fishing gear. The two-mile nature trail around the lake invites hiking or jogging. Many natural attractions are nearby, including Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Smoke Hole Caverns, Big Bend Recreation Area, Seneca Rocks and Canyon and Spruce Knob.

Magnificent views overlooking the lake and the mountain ranges beyond are enjoyed from the inn. A large covered deck adjacent to the dining area offers al fresco dining--a beautiful setting for special events and spectacular sunsets. Relax on comfortable sofas beside the fire, or delight in the secluded private hot tub under brilliant star-filled skies (towels and robes provided). Venture into the recreation room for a game of billiards, darts, board games or cards.

The adjacent Wildernest Lodge includes seven bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, dining room, large recreation room with fireplace and pool table, spacious back deck and large covered pavilion. A few miles away Wildwood Cabin offers a peaceful setting on its own 190 forested acres with marked trails.

Innkeepers/owners Kathy and Stewart were born in South Africa and moved to the USA in 1995 with their two sons. For seven years they searched for the "perfect" place to work and live. "Our search ended when we discovered the beauty and tranquility of West Virginia and the Wildernest Inn. The quietness, the star-filled skies, the wide open spaces, the wildlife and spectacular scenery, are things we'd taken for granted in Africa and we believed these qualities would be hard to duplicate…we were wrong, we have it all here."

Rocky Mountain High
The Crested Butte Mine was the heart and soul of Crested Butte, Colorado for eight decades before closing in 1958. The building which now houses the Purple Mountain Bed and Breakfast was originally built in 1927 as the office for the mining company. It was moved from the mine to the town in the 1970s and remodeled to become one of Crested Butte’s first bed and breakfasts in 1978.

Recently renovated, this historic inn has added a day spa that offers massage therapy and skin care, including various body wraps, along with Swiss, deep tissue, hot stone and sports massage.

The area abounds with trails lined with spectacular wildflowers. View fox, bear, dear and elk. After a day of hiking, skiing, white-water rafting, ice skating, dog sledding, mountain biking, rock climbing, hot-air ballooning, fly fishing, horseback riding, or exploring the historic town’s shops and art galleries, return to this cozy inn for a soak in the hot tub before receiving a gentle massage in the on-site spa, or just relax by the fireplace. Each guest room is named after the spectacular mountain view seen from each of the second-story rooms. 

Home on the Range: Montana

A four-season nature-lover's sanctuary in the wilderness of western Montana, Twin Creeks Bed and Breakfast offers majestic views of the Mission Mountains in the scenic valley of the Flathead Indian Reservation. The Mission Mountain Wilderness Area is just out the back door and The National Bison Range, where big game can be seen or photographed, is just minutes south of town. Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge and Flathead Lake are nearby.

Spend time being active or relaxed, be it in sky swings after an evening around the campfire, playing with the twin St. Bernard dogs Hansel and Gretel, wading in creeks, photographing scenic views or blissing out during a massage, hot tub or sauna. The lodge features a small conference room, barn theater, communal hot tub and a fire pit with logs for sitting around the camp fire.

Experience the Native American way of life sleeping in one of Twin Creek's three tipis or stay in a guest room accented with quilts and named after local historical figures. Take home a souvenir photo and biography of the room's namesake.

Visit www.iloveinns.com and browse through the 19,000 bed and breakfasts and country inns. Some of the properties listed above may be in the best-selling bed and breakfast guidebook
Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns with a Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free Certificate. I Love Inns also offers Bed and Breakfast Gift Certificates, a perfect solution to help celebrate any occasion.

About American Historic Inns and iLoveInns.com
American Historic Inns, Inc. founded in 1981, is the leading publisher of bed and breakfast guidebooks, with more than 2.5 million bed and breakfast guidebooks sold, and runs iLoveInns.com, a top bed and breakfast and country inns directory.

Note: For photos or interviews, please contact Deborah at 949-481-6256.