Sherman's Travel

I can’t start my day by seeing strangers in their bathrobes. I don’t want to exchange pleasantries before I’ve wiped all of the sleep from my eyes. This is why I never understood the allure of B&Bs. There’s a fine line between quaint and awkward and, frankly, hearing the nocturnal sounds of people with whom I’m sharing an old house is more of the latter. This past weekend, however, I stayed at a B&B for the first time in several years and found myself relishing the coziness. Was I completely wrong about these intimate accommodations?

Bucks County, Pennsylvania is B&B country. Houses dating back to the 19th century with their wrap-around porches and adorably painted shingles line the winding roads and lure you in with promises of fresh scones. I prefer biscuits to scones, but when you stay at inn, you relinquish control of your breakfast carbs. I had chosen to stay at the 1740 House in New Hope, Pennsylvania because most of my friends attending the same wedding had booked rooms there, including the groom. I assumed that if I knew the majority of the guests, that a B&B could only present so many unpleasant social interactions.

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