Romance Lives at Florida's B&Bs and Inns

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Herlong Mansion Bed & Breakfast

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Canoeing for two

Photo Credit: Donna McLaughlin Arnold

Romance Lives at Florida's B&Bs and Inns

A Quiet Retreat: Villa Nina Island Inn, Vero Beach

Here are some other great options around the state for weekend escapes at charming, small accommodations:

A Highlands House Bed & Breakfast Inn, Santa Rosa Beach
In Northwest Florida, is the pretty town of Santa Rosa Beach, and this Antebellum home. Enjoy private entrances and easy beach access, along with four-poster beds, wingback chairs and rooms that open onto the breezy front porch, where you can sit and nurse a cool drink while waiting for the sunset. The inn is minutes away from Grayton Beach, Seaside and Destin. Beach chairs, umbrellas and bicycles are included. For information, call 850-267-0110 or visit www.ahighlandshouse.com.

Bayfront Westcott House Inn, St. Augustine
Right in the heart of America's oldest city, overlooking Matanzas Bay and the Bridge of Lions, is the 1880s Victorian-styled Bayfront Westcott House Inn. Guest rooms are furnished with American and European period pieces, along with terry-cloth robes to wrap up in after a bath. Hosts Joy and Andrew Warren can arrange a few extra touches, for those so (romantically) inclined - a dozen long-stemmed roses, a spring bouquet, champagne or wine in your room, specialty baskets, and carriage rides into town. For information, call 904-825-4602, 800-513-9814 or visit www.westcotthouse.com.

The Herlong Mansion, Micanopy
The Old Florida town of Micanopy is full of real Cracker homes, antique shops and old bookshops. Ten miles south of downtown Gainesville, it's also where you'll find the Herlong Mansion, dating back to 1845. The mansion is surrounded by old oak and pecan trees, and filled with leaded glass windows and inlaid floors of maple, oak and mahogany. Relax on a cushioned swing on the second-floor veranda. Take a soak in your private Jacuzzi or schedule an in-room massage. Call 352-466-3322 or visit www.herlong.com, for more information.

Palm Beach Historic Inn, Palm Beach
In a town of beauty and elegance, the Palm Beach Historic Inn still manages to stand out. The lobby has the ambience of an intimate European parlor. The rooms are appointed in the style you'd expect in one of the world's wealthiest towns. The inn is only one block to the beach, and two blocks to Worth Avenue's highbrow boutiques. Don't miss a chance to drive along A1A (Ocean Drive) past incredible mansions in styles ranging from Tudor to Mediterranean to Medieval Castle. Each day at the inn begins with breakfast served in your room. For information, phone 561-832-4009 or visit www.palmbeachhistoricinn.com.

Turtle Beach Resort & Inn, Siesta Key
Halfway down the Gulf Coast, on the stunning sands of Siesta Key, is the Turtle Beach Resort. Here, Gail and David Rubinfeld have created a romantic hideaway of beautiful cottages right on the water. Each suite has its own hot tub, along with more traditional trappings such as four-poster beds. You can dine al fresco on the dock, or stroll along the bayside water's edge and listen to the seabirds call. There are complimentary kayaks, canoes, fishing poles and bicycles. Or rent a boat nearby. For information, phone 941-349-4554. www.turtlebeachresort.com.

Mansion House Bed & Breakfast, St. Petersburg
This inn is located in downtown St. Petersburg, within an easy walk of fine restaurants, Baywalk and the Pier. Built around 1900 by St. Petersburg's first mayor, the Mansion House is now run by Kathy and Peter Plautz. The property is actually two mansions and a carriage house surrounding a courtyard garden and a swimming pool. For information, call 727-821-9391, 800-274-7520 or visit www.mansionbandb.com.