Innkeepers Kevin and Kathryn Carson had a long-term plan to turn a home that they did not even own yet into a bed and breakfast. A series of events conspired to dramatically speed up their plans, according to an article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. First, the property they had their eyes on unexpectedly went up for sale. Then, Kevin's work place went out of business. And so, The Red Door Inn of Canandaigua, New York, is now open for business.

More New York Bed and Breakfasts:

• Bedford Post Inn - Bedford, New York
• Mill House Inn - East Hampton, New York
• Saugerties Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast - Saugerties, New York

^{Photo courtesy The Red Door Inn}

Astor House Bed and Breakfast in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is up for sale. Innkeeper Greg Robinson recently told the Green Bay Press-Gazette that he and his wife Barbara are "ready to move on and do something else." He told the newspaper, "We never had an idea we'd own a bed and breakfast in Green Bay. The time was just right for that to happen, and I'm sure for the next buyers that will be true too." The asking price is $509,900.

Buying a Bed and Breakfast:

• Best B&B For Sale Listings
• Before You Buy a Bed and Breakfast
• Million Dollar Bed and Breakfasts

Neighbors of a bed and breakfast in Staffordshire, England, have complained to authorities that a fence should be built so that they do not have to see the inn's guests, who tend to be nude. According to a report from the BBC, owner Mike Howard said he and his wife are planting shurbs and trees around their property, which is described as a "naturist bed and breakfast."

One neighbor told the BBC that she was moving cattle on her farm when she "saw a man walking around with no clothes on and a cup of tea in his hand, or coffee, whatever it was." The Howards said they are working to ensure "that privacy and modesty is maintained for direct neighbors who are very important to us."

The web site BedandBreakfast.com recently announced the winners of its fifth annual awards program for bed and breakfasts. According to a press release announcing the winners, the selection criteria for the "Best of BedandBreakfast.com" Awards included both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the independently posted reviews at the site.

Awards were presented in a variety of categories, including the top 10 overall inns, the best urban inns, the best in various regions, and innkeepers of the year.

Running a bed and breakfast is never dull. The variety of guest personalities, the daily responsibilities, the many surprises -- it all adds up to non-stop action. And then you have the strange things that guests sometimes leave behind. In the About.com Bed and Breakfasts Forum, innkeepers discuss all sorts of topics. In one discussion thread, they talked about the most unusual items guests have left behind. This feature compiles the most interesting comments.

Strange But True Innkeeper Stories:

• The Berserk Telephones
• The Grumpy Guests
• The Serious Story
• Strange But True Index

The Falkland Islands, about 300 miles east of the coast of Argentina, are one of the most remote destinations on earth. Found in the South Atlantic Ocean near the southernmost tip of South America, the Falklands are a true getaway. If you're interested in visiting, take a look at these Falkland Islands bed and breakfasts.

More Island Bed and Breakfasts:

• Caribbean B&Bs
• Bermuda B&Bs
• More Unique Getaways

One of the last of the South Side mansions that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, The Wheeler Mansion in Chicago, Illinois, is a Queen Anne, Second Empire-style home built in 1870; the two-story window bay at the front of the building and the intricate front-porch canopy were added in the mid-1880s. I booked a room in this bed and breakfast for my husband, Erik, when he traveled to Chicago.

^{Photo © Erik Arneson}

When you need a truly relaxing vacation, bed and breakfasts can provide exactly what you're looking for. And when your definition of relaxing includes plenty of time to read books, these bed and breakfasts with a literary connection should be at the top of your list of places to stay.

More Interesting Getaways:

• Haunted Bed and Breakfasts
• Historic Bed and Breakfasts
• Castle Bed and Breakfasts in the U.S. and Canada
• Castle Bed and Breakfasts in Europe

The unique look of Thyme for Bed B&B in Lowell, Illinois, about 95 miles southwest of Chicago, has caught the attention of many travelers. Described on its web site as an "ultra-modern Monolithic Home with a touch of Victorian decor," Thyme for Bed is a dome-shaped building with two guest rooms, each with a private bathroom. According to a recent article in the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana, innkeepers Don and Sherryl Bainbridge are opening their home to the public as part of the annual National Monolithic Dome Home Tour on Oct. 24 and 25.

More Unique Bed and Breakfasts:

• Treehouse Bed and Breakfasts
• Underground Bed and Breakfasts
• Unique B&B Index

^{Photo courtesy of Thyme for Bed B&B}

A plan to turn an apartment that was once the site of a shootout involving Bonnie and Clyde into a bed and breakfast has been rejected by the city council of Joplin, Missouri. According to an article in The Joplin Globe, council members voted 7-2 against a request by Rev. Phillip McClendon to obtain a special-use permit. The newspaper reported that the apartment recently was designated a state and national historic site and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Several area residents testified at the hearing, both for and against the idea.