All of my favorite European trips have included small hotels or b&b's with lake vistas just outside my window or from a little balcony. I've been wondering what my options might be here in the U.S. for small accommodations with ocean or mountain lake views. Any leads will be copied and pasted with my thanks. J.

There are probably thousands. Can you narrow down the area? Northeast, east coast, southeast, midwest, West, southwest?

Do you want just random names thrown out, without regard to budget, climate, location?

Actually, I'm open to all suggestions. I find that, for me, a large part of the pleasure I've received from my European trips has been the views I enjoy when I wake up or in the evening at sunset and dusk, apart from whatever "must sees" or "must dos" might attach themselves to the location. I much prefer small places. My favorite hotel has 15 rooms, and I love the quiet of most B&B accommodations. I usually travel in early June.

I do appreciate your replies, and I shall be very interested to read any suggestions you might make. J.

Stephanie Inn Cannon Beach, Oregon

The Shore House Lake Tahoe CA

Bayside Inn, Alton New Hampshire

High Tide Inn, Camden Maine

Inn on Summer Hill, Summerland CA

Harbor House Inn, south of Mendocino, California.

Thank you very much for the places you've recommended thusfar. Particularly beautiful are the Stephanie Inn (however, 50 rooms make it one of the larger ones), High Tide Inn, and Harbor House. J.

Hello, again. GoTravel wrote that there are "probably thousands". But you see, I think maybe that isn't true. I did do some looking at U.S. guidebooks before posting my question and found that large hotels and condominiums had snagged most of the prime spots not already claimed as sites for private residences. Alas. Thanks again 1J, clarkg, and nc.

I know of several in Alaska.

What do you mean any leads will be copied and pasted?

The Arbor House in Black Mountain, North Carolina and A White Texas Pelican in Kemah, TX.

volcanogirl, those are the kind of places that I'm looking for. Thank you very much!

Gail, I'm sort of old, so perhaps my techno lingo is out of date. I visit each website, and while I'm there, I copy the url and paste it in my word travel file on my laptop. That way, I've got all the links in one spot along with relevant comments. I used to bookmark all interesting urls, but I never learned how to make bookmark folders, and that list got way out of control. Oh well.

J.

I'm glad, jmw - we've stayed at both of those and loved them, and the service was excellent too.

It would be fun if you gave your top ten at the end of this thread....with links if technically feasible.

Castle Hill-Newport, RI
The Boulders-New Preston, CT
Alyce's Dunscroft-Harwichport, MA
Madison Beach Hotel-Madison, CT
The Breakers-Spring Lake, NJ (not small but not huge0

The Seven Gables Inn

http://www.pginns.com/

in Pacific Grove CA [near Monterey and Carmel]. It was divine! The view from our room overlooking the water was perfect as was the sound of the waves.

See for yourself:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DebitNM/PacificGroveCA2008

Deb

I've just spent an hour and a half visiting the websites of places recommended by the last couple of posters. I should have been working on powerpoints and lesson plans for next week's back to school.

Debbie, your 7 Gables Inn is lovely, and thank you so much for linking your own pictures. Sobster, Castle Hill is a stunner. I think two nights there would total the same dollar amount as my entire five-night stay on Lago Maggiore including airfare. But that's OK; I'll file it under 'splurge'.

The suggestions thusfar have included a range of budgets; and while most of them are more expensive than my favorite Gerra-Gambarogno two-star (with balcony lake-view), their "amenities" do dazzle.

Ncounty, I will be happy to post with the list of website links at the end of this week. Thank you all for helping me to prove to myself that it just might be possible to find my dream "room with a view" without dusting off my passport. J.

Dear jmw444-Just to be facetious, I was going to recommend Hotel La Palma in Stresa.

www.elizabethpointelodge.com or www.innonoakcreek.com.

This one has more of a harbor view, but still quite nice, I think.

topsideinn.com