Summer is officially just around the corner, and while you’re finding a place to store your hefty sweaters and winter coats, we’re doing our own brand of organizing and finding a place to have a relaxing weekend away while drinking loads of beer. Now, we love swanky hotels on private islands as much as the next guys, but you don’t need to jetset in the summer to change the weather, just take a drive and change the scenery.
Just because you aren’t dealing with the TSA doesn’t mean you can’t have a great weekend away that feels like a whole different world. We decided to use BnBFinder.com to locate a few bed and breakfasts we wouldn’t mind killing some time in this summer, but we aren’t your parents, and we don’t want our relaxing weekend to be too quiet. So, as a little added bonus, we only chose Bed and Breakfasts that have a great twist, lots of booze. Wineries, breweries, and tours of them both are what we’re looking for, and here are our top picks.
18 Vine Inn & Carriage House
A quaint little spot in the Finger Lake region of Hammondsport, NY, this B&B offers vacation space for single travelers, couples, or entire families. But it didn’t make our list just because of the cool checkered flag and sweet rocking chair, but because of the His & Hers Craft Beer, Wine Country, and Distillery tour.
You start out at Roosterfish Craft Brewing, the first ever farm craft brewery in the state of New York, where you can sample beers of your choosing. Once you’ve tasted your fair share of farm crafted brews, you can stop at the Crooked Rooster for some grub before continuing your day drinking and falling deeper into your buzz. Next up on the His & Hers tour is Barnstormer Winery, which uses fresh Finger Lake grapes stomped to perfection in a 150 year old barn-turned-winery. You then switch back to beer while stopping in at Wagner Brewing and sipping on some Sled Dog Triple Bock, interrupt your buzz one more time and swing over to J.R. Dill Winery, and wrap up the day at Finger Lakes Distilling, where they make premium spirits that can take you from buzzed to full on vacation mode.
While we picked this place for the drinks, there is also plenty to do when you’re too hungover to smell another shot as well. Hangout by the fire, take in the views of the mountains, or… who are we kidding, go on the tour again.
Click here to learn more about 18 Vine Inn & Carriage House
Blue Rock Bed and Breakfast
Apparently there is more in Lancaster County than the place where I bought my dog. Just shy of 3 hours outside of New York City you can find this beautiful Bed and Breakfast complete with farm charm and a porch that feels more Southern than East Coast. But again, we didn’t pick this one for its patriotic decor and green landscape, we’re all about the Working Brewery Package, a beer lover’s package offered at the Bed and Breakfast to help you learn about– and indulge in– Lancaster’s brewing history that dates back to the 1700’s.
You start your beer vacation by heading to the Lancaster Brewing Company where you can taste the flowers and smell the magic that goes into each bottle of the heavenly goodness. The package includes a $25 gift certificate to the breweries in-house restaurant, a Lancaster Brewing Company bottle opener, two bottles of their beer, a beer tasting sheet– so you can tell yourself you’re drinking for educational purposes, a $5 coupon towards any merchandise, and of course a tour of the brewery.
If you need a break from the beer, you can always relax in the park, hit a few rounds at the nearby golf course, or explore all that Amish country has to offer.
Click here to learn more about Blue Rock Bed and Breakfast
200 South Street Inn
The last B&B on our list is a little further out if you’re traveling from the city, but it’s too good not to be included. A true beer lover’s paradise, with a tour of four breweries spanning over six hours. You can start planning your tours via Central Virginia Wine Tours, who will help you create a custom itinerary for the Blue Ridge Brew Trail, ensuring you hit peak awesomeness for your taste (and tastebuds).
The Blue Ridge Brew Trail will start you off with an experienced Trail Guide, who will keep your drunken ass from wandering off during the tour– or will explain things and answer questions, whatever. Several of these great breweries also have on-site restaurants to keep your stomach fueled while guzzling down delicious craft beer, so no need to pack snacks. And if you want to keep the buzz going you aren’t too far from downtown Charlottesville where you can check out the bar and restaurant scene.
But wait, there’s more! Every evening the inn lays out complimentary wine and cheese for the guests from 5pm – 6:30pm, and offers around the clock freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Or fresh fruit, if you’re trying to be healthy on your beer vacation…
We believe that life is too short for a bad meal, a bad trip, and to not look our best. That's why i scour yelp, spend hours on @tripadvisor, watch youtube videos, and try to become an expert in everything I do in life to ensure every moment is the best it can be #Lifetailored
