Atlantic Coast
ANN'S POINT INN & SPA
Bass Harbor, Maine
You could call this waterfront inn a bed-and-breakfast. It's hidden on Mount Desert Island's southwestern tip and certainly exudes the warmth of a B&B: King beds and gas fireplaces anchor four spacious rooms, and owners Phil and Lesley DiVirgilio serve blueberry Belgian waffles for breakfast. But the indoor heated pool, Finnish sauna, clutter-free rooms, solid walls, and wireless Internet service make the onetime summer home feel more like a resort. Phil and Lesley can recommend jaunts to nearby Acadia National Park or help launch a kayak off the back lawn into Bass Harbor's sea of colorful lobster buoys. Adventurous types might climb aboard Phil's biplane for a whirl over the photogenic coastline. Afternoons at this not-so-bed-and-breakfast feature complimentary wine-and-cheese tastings; evenings end with freshly baked cookies and milk. Details: $155 to $345 (additional for the biplane ride); 207/244-9595 or annspointinn.com.
GREY HAVENS INN
Georgetown Island, Maine
A favorite Coastal Living photographer, Sara Gray chose this inn for her honeymoon and returned years later for visual nourishment. "When you park behind the inn, it seems nondescript, but step onto that porch and you are transported," she says. "You won't find a better view in the state of Maine. You gaze out to a few islands and peninsulas and finally to the open Atlantic. Wrought-iron beds, fine linens, eclectic furnishings, lace, hatboxes, historic photos, and nautical artifacts take you back in time. The interior's knotty pine gives a dark feeling, but that draws you even more to the views. The four turret rooms look to the ocean and islands, and room number six has a balcony and rockers." Breakfast features the inn's signature blueberry pudding, plus local fruit in muffins and pancakes. Details: $160 to $280 (open May through October); 800/431-2316 or greyhavens.com.
CASTLE HILL INN & RESORT
Newport, Rhode Island
Castle Hill Inn's Beach Cottages make a stunning first impression. The 10 hideaways began as rustic "summer shacks" on this historic New England seaside resort's private beach. A recent renovation turned the property into a luxurious beachfront destination—without losing the feel of rough-hewn simplicity. Somehow, marble countertops and fluffy Frette towels meld perfectly with industrial-style light fixtures and exposed studs and rafters. The lullaby of the waves and a veritable ocean of feather pillows ensure slumber. Sunrise filtering through the draperies starts the day on a gentle note. Details: $309 to $1,059; 888/466-1355 or castlehillinn.com.
SHERATON ATLANTIC CITY CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Here she is, Miss America. Or, at least, here are some of her gowns and other memorabilia, in the lobby of a business-oriented hotel. The Miss America Pageant has taken its runway elsewhere, which lends poignancy to the displays—especially those that recall the pre-TV days, when the event (first held in 1921) had more of a small-town flavor. The Sheraton, with its retro-ish decor and embrace of local history, offers a lot more character than most chain hotels. Four blocks inland from the boardwalk, beach, and waterfront casinos, the Sheraton's location means either a slight inconvenience or blessed peace and quiet, depending on one's point of view. Casino-facing rooms provide the best views. Shoppers will love the outlet mall a block away. Details: $139 to $529; 609/344-3535 or sheraton.com.
INN AT HORN POINT
Annapolis, Maryland
Cory Bonney left his corporate job and purchased a run-down, 1902 house that he converted to a comfortable, somewhat quirky bed-and-breakfast. Cory loves the setting, a block from the water in Eastport—once a place of noisy boatyards and rollicking sailors, and now a leafy residential neighborhood. He also loves the great restaurants within walking distance and the funky Victorian decor in the five guest rooms, each named for a vintage yacht. (Sequoia has the most sybaritic bath, plus a tiny private balcony and a gas fireplace.) But Cory really, really loves creating sumptuous homemade breakfasts, and his guests wake up smiling in anticipation. Details: $159 to $289; 410/268-1126 or innathornpoint.com.
SMITHFIELD INN
Smithfield, Virginia
Breakfast spotlights ham biscuits at this 18th-century inn in the greater Chesapeake Bay area. After all, Smithfield Foods, the famous ham purveyor, owns the property. Mozell Brown has been baking the perfect, piping-hot morsels here for more than 40 years. She brings a homey touch to the Colonial splendor of the nine guest rooms and dining room. At cocktail hour, locals swing by the inn's William Rand Tavern, or gather on the front porch to sip what one neighborly doyenne calls her "hummah" (bourbon). Here in peanut country, dining room favorites include peanut-crusted pork medallions. Small galleries and shops entice visitors to stroll down Main Street, Norfolk lies 40 minutes away, and it's 25 minutes to the car ferry to Jamestown and Williamsburg. Details: $85 to $155; 757/357-1752 or smithfieldinn.com.
