Bed and Breakfasts in Ontario

The one thing about travel in the United States...well, indeed,the world, these days, is that you pretty much find a slice of home everywhere you go. McDonalds, Burger Kings, Arbys and Pizza Huts are ubiquitous. So are the big hotel chains like Holiday Inns, Super 8s and Motel 6s, not to mention the Courtyard Marriots and the Residence Inns and so on. And I'm not knocking them. They serve a valuable purpose.

However, when I travel, I like to experience new things, and that includes new places to stay and new restaurants in which to dine and new museums to explore.

Which is why when I travel, at least to certain parts of the cuntry and the world, I like to stay in Bed and Breakfasts. These types of places give you a real ambiance, a feeling of an actual home away from home instead of an impersonal hotel room, and you meet many more people this way. And they can offer you deals and travel help just as the big hotels can.

Take for example the Victorian Charm Bed & Breakfast at 6028 Culp St in Niagra Falls, Ontario (which you can book at BedandBreakfast.com).

They have a wide variety of specials on offer, with travel until the dates below:

Romance Packages -- until 12/30/09
2 nights accommodations in a jacuzzi room, 1/2 bottle of real French Champagne and plate of hors d'oeuvres(cheeses, baguette slices, fresh fruits, chocolates)served at your convenience, 2 dinner vouchers to Elements on the Falls Fine dining Restaurant, OR, 1 hr spa treatments(1/2 hr Swedish massage and pedicure or manicure)
$$475.00 CDN/$425.00US approx.

Wine Lovers Getaways until - 10/31/09
2 nights accommodations in a jacuzzi room including 2 gourmet breakfast each day, fiesta wine tour, including free pick up at B&B and return, visit 4 wineries , 4 free tastings at each one including icewine, gourmet lunch at the Shaw cafe restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and time for shopping! departs 10:20AM and return around 4PM
Rate is $499.00CDN/449.00 USapprox.plus 5% tax.

Getaways For Gardeners until 10/31/09
2 nights accommodations and 2 gourmet breakfasts with choice of 6 hot entrees and fresh fruits, served from 7 to 10:00am, guided tour of my garden, choice of plants to take home and instructions on planting, pruning. Later in the Summer you can harvest fruits, make jam and jelly with Anne-Marie, a Home Economics Teacher, You can also take home Everbearing raspberry canes, blackberries, Rose of Sharon trees, cuttings from cacti.
Rate $325.00 plus 5% tax and up depending on room chosen

Green Getaways/eco Escapes until 10/10/09
2 nights accommodations and 2 gourmet breakfasts, rental of 2 bicycles for a day with helmets and locks, picnic lunch, bottled water and map of trails.
$375.00 CND/$330.00US approx. plus 5% tax. Add 2 Swedish massages and/or 2 dinners for $90.00

Grandparents-Grandchildren Packages until 10/11/09
2 nights accommodations in the Victorian family Room and gourmet breakfast with choice of 6 hot entrees served from 7 to 10:00am, (sleeps 4-5 in 2 queen beds and sofa-bed)plus 2 adult and 2 children admission to Marineland Funpark.
$499.00 CDN/$449.00US approx.

Family Fun until 10/26/09
Come to Niagara Falls and enjoy worry free, 2 nights accommodations in the Victorian Family Room(sleeps 4 to 5 in 2 queen beds and sofa-bed) and gourmet breakfasts with choice of 6 hot entrees and fresh fruits, served from 7 to 10:00am, plus 4 Great Canadian Midway Fun passes, including admission to 5 attractions: Sky Wheel, Movieland Wax Museum, Dinosaur Park or Galaxy Minigolf, Ghostbusters Dark Ride,Cosmic Coaster Ride and 15 tokens for the Arcade Games. Children of all ages are welcome. They have baby beds, high chairs and strollers.
$499.00CDN/449.00US, based on a family of 2 adults and 3 children under 12.

Spa/massage Specials until 12/30/09
Hot Stone 1 hr & 15mn $100.00/$80.00US
Swedish Massage: 1/2h = $45.00 1hr = $90.00/$72.00US
Herbal Therapy Tangerine Salt Scrub
1 hour treatment $115.00/$92.00US
Mango Ginger Brown Sugar Scrub
1 hr. treatment $115.00
Full Body Exfoliation
Soothing Touch Lavender & herbal Dead Sea Salt Scrub with finishing lotion & massage $135.00/$108.00US
75 min. of pure relaxation $145.00
All of these and more done in the privacy of your room!

B&B Cooking Schools until 10/31/09
Enjoy learning how to make and taste delicious "creme Brulee" with Pierre, a Baker & Pastry Chef from France. 2 nights accommodations in any available room, gourmet breakfast with choice of 6 hot entrees and fresh fruits. $435.00CDN/$399.00US approx.

Food Glorious Food until 12/23/09
Learn how to make the thinnest and melt in your mouth "crepes" with Anne-Marie or her famous Belgian waffles and take some home!2 nights accommodations in any available room, gourmet breakfast with choice of 6 hot entrees and fresh fruits. $440.00CDN/$399.00US approx. Cooking time can be in the late morning or early afternoon, leaving time for sight seeing.

Now those are some great experiences!