We are going to Asheville this summer and would like to stay at a nice bed & breakfast. We are looking at Cedar Crest Inn. We want something with a lot of "character" and nice hosts. Any other recommendations?

The Richmond Hill Inn is probably the nicest in Asheville and one of the nicest in the state.

I would have to go with the 1889 WhiteGate Inn and Cottage.
Great hosts, wonderful breakfast, and rooms with charm and character. Walking distance to downtown Asheville. We walked to dinner every night and enjoyed being so close to downtown.
This is my favorite place to stay in Asheville. The host's made some wonderful suggestions for dinner. They will also make the reservations for you.
Have stayed in the cottage, which is very charming and private, and in the Emily Dickinson suite. Wonderful amenities also.
The website is:
http://www.whitegate.net

We just returned from a wonderful weekend in Asheville. We stayed at The Wintersun Inn...it was amazing!! You can see it at innatwintersun.com They don't advertise. Its a 5 bedroom place on 80 acres....absolutely beautiful!!! The owners do not live in the house so you really have alot of privacy. A lady comes to cook breakfast for you every morning. They have wine, soft drinks, and bottled water available all the time. The rooms all have a fireplace, and are decorated to the max with traditional furnishings. The view of the mountains was breath taking . On the property there are walking trails...it was really so relaxing. The rooms go for $190 to the most expensive $385. The most expensive one would be awesome for a honeymoon. It had a jacuzzi tub with a fireplace next to it overlooking a waterfall outside the window...gorgeous!! Our room was the cheapest and everything about it was comfortable. I highly recommend checking it out if you will be in Asheville. Its only one exit up from downtown Asheville...about 5 min. to Bilmore estate.
Cyn

If you're looking for character and nice hosts, Windsong: A Mountain Inn & Llama Farm (www.windsongbb.com) will do nicely. It's in Clyde NC, not far from Asheville. We were there for four days in 2002 and it was the best B&B we've stayed in.

Barbara and Russ Mancini have 5 spacious themed guest rooms and two suites, plus a pool, hot tub and tennis courts. They are known for their Llama Dinner Treks (you walk the animals into the woods and have a multi-course barbecued salmon dinner, served on a table built over a stream). The cost is extra.

Barbara (a native of Great Britain) prepares amazing gourmet breakfasts that you'll want to linger over, as the view down into the valley is mesmerizing. Think pygmy goats, barns, sloping green hills and the Smokies in the background. Russ retired from IBM and they have lived all over Europe. They are friendly hosts without being intrusive.

Room rates: $115-145 (low season) and $125-153 (high).

We stayed at the Beaufort Inn in Asheville in May 2001 and it was beautiful. The property has perfectly manicured lawns and gardens. The rooms were lovely and romantic and the food and hosts were great too.

If you are looking for a romantic atmosphere....this is the place. It is very close to the Biltmore as well.

I ditto the thoughts about the Richmond Hill Inn. It sits atop a hill, so you have a great view from the rocking chairs on their porches. It is a Queen-Anne style Victorian home with 2 groups of cottages overlooking a croquet field and a garden area. The rooms are romantically decorated with florals and other soft touches. There is also a terrific restaurant, Gabrielle's. We'd go back in a second!

Ok, you have to at least visit our website
http://www.timberwolfcreek.com
and see if we're what you're looking for.

Every B&B is different. If you're looking for Victorian elegance, I'd have to send you someplace else. If you're looking to be off secluded in the mountains alongside a tumbling stream and get a WOW breakfast served on the creekside deck, barefoot if you like, then you've found the right place.

Asheville is about half an hour from here, on I-40. We're in Maggie Valley.

Check it out.

Sandee