(Coastal Living) -- Now's a prime time to enjoy a cozy bed-and-breakfast. Whether you want to trek a nature trail or shop along a dock, these places offer a great escape.
Santa Barbara, California
For those who dream of living in Santa Barbara, staying in one of its 15 B&Bs is the next best thing. Find 100-year-old Victorian inns, France-inspired cottages, and Craftsman-style country homes nestled within exclusive neighborhoods. One standout, the Simpson House Inn, sits amid English gardens and has garnered accolades as one of the best B&Bs in North America. For more information, call 805/966-9222 or visit santabarbaraca.com.
Check into: The Eagle Inn, a short walk to the beach; 805/965-3586. AAA five-diamond-rated Simpson House Inn; 800/676-1280.
Troncones, Mexico
Minutes from the popular Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo resorts, Troncones has an attraction all its own. The small village has emerged as an eco-retreat with more than 10 boutique inns. Choose from beachfront bungalows, waterfront rooms, private suites and villas. Most inns offer yoga sessions, spa treatments and snorkeling and surfing lessons. For more information, visit troncones.com.mx.
Check into: Casa Delfin Sonriente, a Mediterranean-style retreat; 831/688-6578. Casa Viva, with thatched-roof bungalows and solar panels; 011/52/755/553-2913. CoastalLiving.com: Top 10 seafood and wine festivals
Duluth, Minnesota
This Great Lakes town features old mansions and cobblestone streets. Eight inns combine historic charm and modern amenities. Each is within view or earshot of Lake Superior and near the Lakewalk, Canal Park shopping district and fine restaurants. Nature lovers can stay at one of the "birder-friendly" inns that offer birding resources and excursions. For more information, call 800/438-5884 or visit visitduluth.com or duluthbandb.com.
Check into: The birder-friendly Firelight Inn; 888/724-0273. The Olcott House, a Georgian Colonial mansion and carriage house; 800/715-1339. Solglimt, on the water between the lake and Superior Bay; 877/727-0596.
Annapolis, Maryland
The state capital welcomes visitors to spend a night at restored Colonial homes in the historic district, where you're a short walk from shops, art galleries and the bustling dock area. Or, head across the drawbridge to Eastport for a water-view room near restaurant row. For more information, call 888/302-2852 or visit visitannapolis.org.
Check into: The fancy, plush Annapolis Inn; 410/295-5200. Inn at Spa Creek, in Eastport; 877/269-8866.
Petersburg, Alaska
This small fishing town off southeast Alaska embraces its Norwegian heritage with public art and sidewalks embossed with traditional designs. Accessible only by boat or plane, it's a rustic getaway filled with friendly, no-frills accommodations. B&Bs, many with water views, welcome visitors after a day of seeing wildlife and exploring the Tongass National Forest. For more information, call 907/772-4636 or visit petersburg.org.
Check into: Nordic House, with views of Wrangell Narrows; 907/772-3620. Waterfront Bed and Breakfast, a short walk from downtown; 866/772-9301.
Key West, Florida
The old town section has a timeless appeal not often associated with free-spirited Key West. Century-old trees shade classic-American homes with white or pastel finishes, ornate gingerbread trim and working shutters. The large Hemingway Suite at Lighthouse Court, which neighbors the writer's home, melds history with modern amenities (including a 42-inch plasma television), and offers views of the lighthouse.
Check into: The Popular House, a three-story Victorian home built by Bahamian shipbuilders in 1898; 800/438-6155. Lighthouse Court, next door to the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum; 877/294-9588.
Georgetown, South Carolina
Stay overnight in a Georgetown bed-and-breakfast and step back in time. Visitors can turn in at a renovated circa-1765 Colonial on the historic waterfront, while others bunk at a pre-Civil War plantation featured in the blockbuster hit "The Patriot." For more information, call 843/6595 or visit visitgeorgetowncountysc.com.
Check into: Harbor House, with guest-room views of Winyah Bay; 877/511-0101. Antebellum Mansfield Plantation has nine rooms within three guesthouses nestled on nearly 1,000 private acres; 866/717-1776.
Yachats, Oregon
Lacking fast-food chains and strip malls, Yachats (derived from a Chinook Indian word meaning "dark waters at the foot of the mountain"), is a small vacation town known for uncrowded beaches and a breathtaking location on Oregon's central coast. Accommodations with simple amenities and water views welcome travelers. For more information, call 800/929-0477 or visit yachats.org. CoastalLiving.com: Oregon's Cape Perpetua
Check into: See Vue Motel (specifically Crow's Nest, a nautical-theme room with expansive ocean views); 866/547-3237. Heceta Head Lighthouse's Keeper's House serves a seven-course breakfast; 866/547-3696.
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May has attracted visitors since the late 1700s. Restored Victorian inns line the streets of the "Queen of the Seaside Resorts." The Mainstay Inn, a former private gambling club, operates as the town's oldest bed-and-breakfast. For more information, call 609/884-5508 or visit capemaychamber.com.
Check into: Angel of the Sea, a castle-like inn about a half-block from the beach; 800/848-3369. The Queen Victoria, 32 rooms in four restored properties in the historic district (complimentary bicycles included); 609/884-8702. The Mainstay Inn; 609/884-8690.
Kennebunkport, Maine
You may have trouble choosing among your options in this famous port city. There's a historic Colonial edging the Cape Arundel Golf Course, private coveside cottages, an 1805 sea-captain's mansion, even a cushy lodge next to the marina. Each June, Kennebunkport kicks off the summer season with its Arts in the Inns festival, which features dinners with local artists and a tour of 16 area hostelries; 207/967-0857 or visitthekennebunks.com.
Check into: 1802 House Inn, on the 15th fairway; 800/932-5632. The Cottages at Cabot Cove; 207/967-5424. The Captain Jefferds Inn, a restored home and carriage house that serves breakfast and afternoon tea; 800/839-6844. The Yachtsman Lodge; 207/967-2511. The Kennebunkport Inn, in Dock Square with a piano bar and on-site spa treatments; 800/248-2621.
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