Armstrong Farms Bed and Breakfast
A working farm 45 minutes away from Pittsburgh in Butler County, this B&B sits on nearly 1,000 acres. Guests have the option of staying in the 1816 main house or the guest house, which features a fireplace, private bath, cathedral ceilings and Internet access. Two camp sites are available and guests are welcome to bring their own horses for trail rides.
Ber-Nita Acres Bed and Breakfast
Ellwood City, where you can find Ber-Nita Acres, is one hour from downtown Pittsburgh and 20 minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. At this 92-acre working farm complete with sheep, cattle, chickens -- and ostriches -- three rooms are available in the 1860s country farmhouse. Spring-fed ponds provide fishing (bass and blue gill) and the large outdoor deck features a five-person spa.
Heather Hill Bed and Breakfast
Located about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh, this 180-acre farm in the countryside is ideal for families with kids but not a bad choice for couples who want to escape. Six guest rooms and suites, all with queen beds and a full country breakfast, are augmented with an inground pool, a reception hall which can hold 175 people, a Japanese koi pond, two additional small ponds, a gazebo-enclosed hot tub, and a variety of animals. The original 1821 structure was expanded in 1995 with much of the work done by Amish contractors. Children are welcome.
The Mainstay at Saxonburg Bed and Breakfast
This 150-year-old house on Main Street in Saxonburg (about 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh) is decorated in English Country style and offers four rooms with private baths. Business clients are welcome, as fax and copier service are available, along with a message service, guest phone lines, and modem connections.
The Outside Inn
Just 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and 40 minutes from the Grove City Outlets, this bed and breakfast is situated on six wooded acres. A garden and hiking trails are complemented by free use of a nearby fitness facility, The Fitness Factory. Each of the three rooms includes a private bath; fax and computer services are available.
Sun and Cricket Bed and Breakfast
Less than two dozen miles north in Gibsonia is this 35-acre country estate. Two suites, each with a private porch and entrance, are available and are decorated in a rustic, Adirondack style. The Log Cabin Suite has accommodations for children. Guests are welcome to bring horses; box stalls and grass pasture are available.
SOUTH OF PITTSBURGH
Cole's Country Cabins
The main cabin is a colonial log home constructed in 1820, and it features three bedrooms (one with private bath, two rooms share a second bath). More privacy is available in the Red Onion or Hill House cottages. Each is stocked with a full kitchen, utensils, spare linens, etc.
Inne at Watson's Choice
About 50 miles south of Pittsburgh travelers will find this 1820s land-grant farm known as Watson's Choice. Seven rooms decorated in colors reminiscent of the 18th century each have a private bath. A masseuse is available by appointment.
John Butler House Bed and Breakfast
This country home bed and breakfast can be found in Elizabeth, about 45 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh and located adjacent to the 18th green at Butler's Golf Course. Four bedrooms, all with a private bath.
Rush House Bed and Breakfast
Built over Catfish Creek, which flows through a brick and stone tunnel under the house, this inn is about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh in Washington, Pennsylvania. A Victorian brick-and-stone building, the home itself is more than 100 years old. Four rooms with private baths.
Weatherbury Farm
Located in Avella, 45 minutes southwest of Pittsburgh, four rooms in two buildings are available at this 1870s property -- which continues to be a working beef and sheep farm. The innkeepers promise a genuine farm experience for those who want it -- "everything that is brown isn't dirt." Guests are invited to walk in the meadows with mother animals and their babies, which arrive beginning in mid-April. An inground pool also is available.
