While big chains and business hotels have their place, you can't beat a good old-fashioned bed and breakfast, where chances are you'll be greeted by the owner, be given personal recommendations for the top attractions in town, and spend your evenings chatting to other guests by the fireplace. There are hundreds of places to stay in every state, but these small boutique properties all have oodles of charm. 

Read on to discover our pick of the best B&Bs across the US...

This is Southern hospitality at its finest. Visitors can greet the morning with a steaming cup of coffee on the fragrant, oak-shaded wrap-around porch of this historic B&B, set in Magnolia Springs, just north of the Gulf Shores. Cozy rooms with gleaming wood floors and antiques reveal loads of charming details, such as the original wavy-glass windows dating from when the inn was built at the turn of the 20th century.

The Alaskan wilderness is this B&B’s backyard. Denali National Park unfolds just south of this unique, domed building, which sits on nearly 10 acres of woodland and reflects its natural surroundings with light-filled rooms, log furniture, and Alaskan art. Outdoor activities abound, from hiking, rafting and husky homestead tours to the ultimate splurge, flightseeing (sightseeing from a small aircraft), which takes you soaring over the top of Denali, North America’s tallest peak.

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The red-rock mountains of Sedona are a glowing hub for healing and rejuvenation. So is Sedona Views Bed & Breakfast, set in a red rock wall alongside the boundary of the Coconino National Forest. Its handful of individually styled suites look out across spectacular scenery from sunrise to sunset, where guests can enjoy the view from a private deck or hot tub, explore on hiking trails or horseback rides, or see it from above on a helicopter or hot-air balloon tour.

Both the inside and the outside are equally impressive at this charming B&B, set in a beautifully maintained Queen Anne-style Victorian mansion. Stained-glass windows, detailed chandeliers and fireplaces dress up the place, and the plushest suite of all is the soaring Treetop Suite with its brass four-poster bed and private whirlpool. Beyond the front door lie sun-speckled gardens, the historical town of Eureka Springs and the mighty Ozark Mountains. 

California’s northern coast is on magnificent display at this ocean-view farmstead, with 15 sprawling acres populated by free-range chickens – that means there are fresh eggs for breakfast – and roaming llamas (yes, llamas). The spacious, amenity-rich rooms are the ultimate in B&B living: think wood furnishings, fireplaces, and French doors. Plus, there’s a daily wine tasting in the Lodge Building, including Mendocino County varietals. 

When in Colorado, one item usually tops the travel to-do list: tackling the great outdoors. This long-running B&B in the famous Colorado ski town of Crested Butte is the perfect place to do so, and with a history that stretches back to 1963, it's the only hotel still in operation from the ski area's earliest days. Visitors can relax in the handsome Alpine-style rooms, fuel up on fresh fruit, granola, and potent pots of coffee, and then hit the slopes to ski, hike, and bike, with free transport from the lodge to the town and mountain.

It’s hard to get closer to Mystic River than Steamboat Inn, which rises over its breezy banks. The 11 rooms, with romantic names like Summer Girl and Harmony, have plush beds, wood-burning fireplaces, and spot-on views of the river. The inn is set in the historic little town of Mystic, with its famous Seaport Museum. It's the country's largest museum for maritime heritage, offering a glimpse of seafaring life through its replica of a 19th-century fishing village.

The lovely Savannah Inn is tucked away in the small coastal town of Lewes, which residents proudly claim was America's "first town in the first state", founded by Dutch settlers in June 1631 with the name Zwaanendael, or Swan Valley. A short walk from the bay, the beaches, and the restaurants and gift shops of downtown, this quiet inn is the perfect place to wind down. It has vibrant coastal decor in all of its six spacious guest rooms, with charming furnishings and super-comfy beds.

A Victorian mansion in the tropics? Yes, that’s Marrero’s. This lively B&B celebrates Key West in all its quirky glory. Splash into the saltwater pool, soak in the scents of the fragrant gardens, and then kick back on the front porch for daily happy hour. Beyond the front door and just around the corner unfolds Duval Street, the main drag of one of Florida’s – if not the country’s – most colorful, rebellious islands.

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Surrounded by rainforest filled with tropical birds and a stone's throw from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcano Village Lodge is the ultimate Hawaii Island escape. Spacious, light-flooded lodges feature everything from meditation lofts to koi ponds, along with all the amenities of a high-end hotel – pillowy beds, soft robes, and slippers. 

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Set a stone's throw from the University of Notre Dame campus, this early 19th-century inn is a convenient gateway to explore northern Indiana. Each of its 10 rooms has its own character and decor, many with original Victorian features such as clawfoot baths, marble sinks and private balconies. It's well-located for the delights of downtown South Bend, where museums include Studebaker National Museum, dedicated to South Bend's famous carriage maker Clement Studebaker, along with outdoor activities and beer trails visiting local breweries.

Rising over the breezy banks of the Des Moines River, this welcoming inn, built in 1846 by Mormon craftsmen, was born as a hotel for steamboat travelers. Rooms reflect the past – think old-fashioned quilts, rocking chairs and sleigh beds – plus there’s the Caboose Cottage that’s inside, yes, a real caboose rail wagon. It's set in the village of Bentonsport, with a historic center dotted with churches, well-preserved general stores, and an old wagon bridge, all little changed since its time as a 19th-century steamboat port.

A stellar location in the Flint Hills of Kansas sets this charming B&B apart – though the interiors are just as inviting as the sprawling grounds. Steal away to the quaint formal parlor, with its 19th-century furniture, or sit out on the veranda, which grants awesome views of rippling hills. Breakfast is a belly-busting affair: choose from breakfast pizzas, enchiladas, casseroles, and homemade cinnamon rolls. 

When Kentucky’s most famous liquor is part of the name, you know good things await. This elegant B&B, set in a pre-Civil War mansion, lives proudly in Bardstown – also known as the Bourbon Capital of the World. The amber liquid is celebrated throughout, from the spirit-themed rooms and bourbon bar, to the piano parlor and nightly drinks reception.

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Folded into New Orleans' leafy Garden District, this place was designed by renowned Big Easy architect Thomas Sully, who was also the brains behind NOLA's landmark Hennen Building, and helped define the building style of the city's Uptown area. The splendid Queen Anne-style mansion has original stained-glass windows, soaring ceilings, and a front porch overlooking a hundred-year-old oak tree. 

The cozy Red Bud Cove offers up a mighty dose of nature, with gorgeous views of Table Rock Lake. Plush accommodations here range from the Red Bud Lakefront Lodge, a gorgeous waterside farmhouse with its own dock, to a handful of spacious barn house suites, also right on the lake. Nearby is the city of Branson, which proudly calls itself the entertainment capital of the Midwest.

If it’s a taste of the Old West you’re after, then this remote outpost in Unionville, west-central Nevada, delivers. There are few frills at the 19th-century Old Pioneer Garden Country Inn, but that’s all part of the charm. It’s located in the once-booming mining town of Unionville (now a relative ghost town) and guests can expect cozy rooms with antique furniture and a hearty farm-to-table breakfast.

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The 'golden pond' this property is named for is actually Squam Lake, the second-largest lake entirely in New Hampshire, which is a home for nesting birds from loons to herons. It was made famous by the 1981 film On Golden Pond (which saw Katharine Hepburn dive right into the water) and guests can typically get out on the lake with boat tours and kayak rentals. The welcoming Inn on Golden Pond itself is surrounded by 50 wooded acres and oozes rustic charm, with quilted bedspreads and picture windows.

Artist Georgia O’Keeffe was inspired by the dusky red landscapes of Santa Fe – and so is Four Kachinas Inn. This earthy abode oozes southwestern charm: the walls are hung with local art and spacious rooms have Saltillo tiles, Spanish Colonial-style furniture, and colorful tapestries. Guests can greet the morning with a homemade breakfast and then pick up a paintbrush. Santa Fe has a way of turning everyone into an artist.

The Catskill Mountains may be just a couple of hours north of New York City, but they feel worlds away – especially at rustic retreats like The Kaaterskill. This is the best of the Catskills – views of the mountains piercing the sky, quiet paths that meander through the woods and gorgeous, Alpine-style suites. After a day of hiking, retreat to The Kaaterskill spa, which offers massages and warm stone treatments.

The aptly named Sweet Biscuit Inn is set in a 1915 Colonial Revival-style mansion, and has just seven rooms in the Main House and two in its adjacent Carriage House. Start the day with a hearty three-course breakfast, or see out the evening sipping cider by the firepit. It has an enviable location just a mile from the leafy Biltmore Village, the sprawling estate built by George Vanderbilt to house his legion of workers, and just two miles (3km) out of arty Asheville with its galleries and hipster art studios.

From the quiet, sweeping plains to the surreal Badlands, North Dakota is the epitome of the Midwest. And travelers can still find sweet little B&Bs, such as the inviting Dakotah Rose on the banks of the Souris River in Minot. Set in an elegant home dating back to the early 1900s, the rooms have lovely historical touches like leaded glass windows and clawfoot tubs, while the garden is populated by maples, oaks, and lilac bushes.

Located in the heart of Amish country – and less than two hours from both Cleveland and Columbus – The Barn Inn provides a peaceful escape from the city with plenty of space. Each charming room offers the ultimate in relaxation, including six with Jacuzzi baths. There are antiques and collectables dotted around the property, a balcony so guests can sit back and enjoy the gorgeous gardens, plus a farm-style breakfast each morning.

This enticing inn has an impressive backyard: the largest state park in Oklahoma, the Lake Murray State Park. Visitors can spend the day hiking, trekking, and birdwatching – the inn lends binoculars – and then kick back in a comfy room. The beautifully appointed spaces have plush beds, fireplaces, and soaking tubs for two. 

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This beautiful B&B shares its cliffside location with one of Oregon’s most famous lighthouses: Heceta Head (pictured). Housed in the Heceta Head lightkeeper's home, it commands stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, and offers access to the beach and lighthouse via a sloping path. The lovely rooms look over waves crashing on basalt rocks, the lighthouse piercing the sky, or the sun-dappled garden. Breakfast isn’t just fruit and cereal, either – it’s seven courses that includes local sausages, cheeses and more.

Genteel Newport is famous for its Gilded Age mansions, and guests can stay in one of their own at Cliffside Inn, an elegant Victorian mansion that was once home to artist Beatrice Turner. The inn’s signature experience is a stay in Beatrice’s Room, which has door panels hand-painted by Turner, as well as an upholstered king-sized bed and a fireplace with a stone mantel. Wake up to a seasonal breakfast and then trek the nearby 3.5-mile (5.6km) Cliff Walk overlooking the Atlantic.

Cobblestone streets, pre-war mansions, horse-drawn carriages, and perhaps a mint julep or three on a breezy porch – Charleston is the quintessential Southern city, exemplified by lovely B&Bs like 86 Cannon. This boutique inn, set in a beautifully preserved 1860s home, features classic rooms that could be straight from the glossy pages of an interior design magazine. 

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The little city of Lead is home to one of South Dakota’s most unusual places to stay: Town Hall Inn, which is housed in, yes, the former town hall. Elegant suites, with dark-wood furnishings and upholstered chairs, are charmingly named – think Mayor’s Office, Jury Room, and Library, for example. Meanwhile, the nearby town of Deadwood is anything but dead. This historic hub is filled with beautifully preserved Gold Rush-era architecture, and also serves as a jumping-off point for exploring the scenic Black Hills region.

This classic country inn oozes New England charm – as do the surrounding hills of southern Vermont. Guests can cozy up in the impeccable rooms, which have polished wood floors and leather wingback chairs, or in one of the spacious guest houses ideal for families. There's also an acclaimed restaurant, which serves farm-fresh local cuisine too.

There's a distinctly presidential vibe around this Colonial Williamsburg inn, from the JFK Library and Reagan Dining Room, to suites named after Lincoln, Washington, and Teddy Roosevelt. Play chess in the library, stroll the Churchill Gardens, or enjoy the daily home-baked treats and complimentary wine. It's just a stone's throw from the living museum of Colonial Williamsburg, and a 15-minute drive to Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. 

One for adventurers, this treehouse-style lodge on the western border of Wyoming offers easy access to the wildlife-filled landscapes of Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, and Yellowstone National Park. The property takes its cues from the log cabins of the Old West, with wood-beamed ceilings, cozy spaces, and patios with reading chairs and captivating woodland views. 

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