Image courtesy The Artist's Inn
By Maryann Hammers
Wherever your travels take you, you’ll find a hearty welcome — with a military discount, too — at a bed-and-breakfast (B&B).
Michigan
Throughout November, veterans (retired or inactive) get a 50-percent discounts on lodging at The Terrace Inn . Active duty military members get a 15-percent discount all year round. The historic hotel is near the Bay View community — one of Smithsonian’s top 20 small towns. The inn features accommodations ranging from cozy cottage rooms to king whirlpool suites
with kitchenettes. Regular rates start at $79 to $129, depending on the season. Call (231) 347-2410.
Missouri
Bring your friends and family: University Avenue Bed & Breakfast in Columbia offers active duty and former military members a 25-percent discount on the second and third rooms booked by the same party. Regular rates start at $99, and all rooms have a private bath and/or shower. The four-room B&B is near downtown shops, art galleries, restaurants, and entertainment. Call (573) 499-1920.
Pennsylvania
Pennsbury Inn offers military members 15-percent off a one-night stay, 20-percent off a stay of two or more nights, or 25-percent off two-night reservations made less than 24 hours before check-in. (Holidays are excluded.) Regular rates start at $145. Located in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsbury Inn offers easy access to the historic Amish farmlands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Famous for its gardens, the 8-acre property is a certified wildlife habitat. Call (610) 388-1435.
Amish buggies regularly roll by the peaceful farmland surrounding the Artist’s Inn and Gallery, a small B&B in Lancaster County. “Though the town is quiet, many attractions are nearby,” says innkeeper Jan Garrabrandt. “The Antiques Capital of the USA is 10 minutes from the inn, and Shady Maple — a large farmer’s market and the county’s largest smorgasbord — is 3 miles away. Amish attractions, museums, all kinds of shopping, and pretzel factories are within a 20-minute drive. You can kayak on the Susquehanna [River], go zip-lining, or hike.” Active duty and retired military members are offered a year-round 10-percent discount.
Virginia
Caledonia Farm 1812 is adjacent to Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountain’s fabulous Skyline Drive. It’s near hiking, canoeing, birdwatching, horseback riding, and Civil War battlefields and is driving distance to Washington, D.C. Rates start at $140. Military members who stay two nights get a third night free. Call (540) 675-3693.
West Virginia
From Nov. 9-11, rooms are free to military members and veterans with valid ID at Gillum House in Shinnston, near hiking trails, wineries, and craft shops. (In fact, the innkeepers — who have a grandson in the Navy — started the B&Bs for Vets program, which offers active duty and retired military members complimentary accommodations on or around Veterans Day.) The rest of the year, the three-room Gillum House offers military members a 15-percent discount. Regular rates range from about $115 to $150. Mention that you’re a military member when booking. Call (304) 592-0177.
Thomas Shepherd Inn in West Virginia's eastern panhandle offers free rooms to veterans on Veterans Day. The rest of the year, the inn offers active duty and retired military members a 10-percent discount for any stay. Regular rates range from $150 to $210, so with the discount, your price is $135 to $189. The six-room inn is walking distance to fine dining, unique shops, and local music — and an easy drive to Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry. It’s just a mile from the C&O Canal Towpath, a biking/hiking trail that runs from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Call (304) 876-3715.
More B&Bs
The search engine BnBFinder has a section just for servicemembers, with discounted rates (and sometimes free stays around Veterans Day). Stay in historic one-of-a-kind mansions and manors, guest homes, farmhouses, cottages, and inns — no cookie-cutter accommodations. Find your discounts (they vary by property), and be prepared to show proof of service to the innkeeper.