It’s no secret that I love Inns. Not Inns that are hotels in disquise, but a place where I feel I have come home the moment I walk through the door.

Before my first stay in an Inn, I had the common misconception that I would feel like an intruder in someone else’s home. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Good innkeepers make a point of making you feel very much at home and will go out of their way to make sure you have everything you might need. With the exception of one Inn I stayed in, the Innkeepers don’t even live in the Inn; they often live in a renovated carriage house or garage apartment somewhere hidden in the shadows.

I love the personal touches that some Inns provide, like fluffy robes, hand-milled soaps, homemade cookies, crystal glassware in my room, and the ultimate, turndown service. In one very special Inn I stayed at, when I came back from dinner, my red bedspread had been replaced with a white down comforter, which was turned down to reveal sexy red sheets, the shades had been pulled down and a bottle of spring water had found its way to my nightstand. That’s thoughtful service.

I’m an animal lover but I don’t have a pet because I travel so much; I instantly fall in love with an Inn with a resident cat or two-or a friendly dog. I usually travel alone and spend quite a bit of time in the gathering room for guests working; if a cat curls up to me I am in heaven.

Breakfast in an Inn is always special. No “complimentary continental breakfast” for this traveler! I’ve had the opportunity to try new things made to order, washed down with excellent coffee and juice. At home I’m a toast and coffee kind of girl, but when I travel, bring it on.

I am always amazed by the details. I can hardly keep up with the dust in my house, so I keep bric-a-brac to a minimum. Inns have an inordinate number of little antiques and pictures everywhere, but I can never find any dust! I’ve never actually seen anyone cleaning, either.  The floors are always gleaming and the carpets have that just-vacuumed look, but no sign of anyone actually cleaning.

My kind of Inn doesn’t give you a key when you check in. They just show you to your room, giving a mini-tour on the way. I have never felt scared when I’ve come in late at night even though I know the Inn was unlocked.  Sometimes I even forget to lock my door before climbing into bed.

My kind of Inn rarely has a TV, either in the room or in the great room.  I can watch TV at home, but at an Inn I can’t wait to investigate the gardens, the antiques or the library.

Did I mention that I love the extraordinary quality of the beds? The beds are always high and elaborate and the mattresses are just right. I feel like a queen in those beds.

Wait a minute! That’s what I love about Inns—they make me feel pampered and special, like the queen that I am!

A favorite New Hampshire Inn:

I’ve stayed in numerous Inns in the past several years, so I consider myself a pretty good judge of what constitutes a good Inn.  There is a rather high bar for Inns to really impress me, because many of them are wonderful, welcoming Inns and I expect great service, beautiful décor, good breakfasts and gracious hosts.

There are many Inns that succeed in impressing me, but one Inn stands head and shoulders above them all: The Riverbend Inn in Chocorua, New Hampshire.  I have to be honest here, I stayed for free as a media guest for the Inn-to-Inn Herb Tour that took place on May 30-31, 2009, but my opinion wouldn’t be different if I hadn’t been compensated.  This Inn is clearly outstanding.

Jerry Weiss and Craig Cox, the Riverbend Innkeepers are perfect hosts. From the moment you step into the Inn, you feel as if you’re the most important guest they’ve ever had. A tour of the exquisite Inn is always first on the agenda as you are shown to your room, and one of the first tenants you meet is Homer the cat, who takes up residence on the back of a comfortable chair in the main gathering room, which is beautifully appointed with oriental accents and is painted red-both walls and ceiling. A large fireplace beckons you to sit in one of the many comfortable chairs, and soft music seems to be ever present. The view from the living room’s windows is a vista of the Chocurua River, which takes one of many bends right behind the Inn. The water is crystal clear and it is easy to imagine trout lurking there, just waiting to be caught.

The breakfast room, with its brick floor and walls of sliding glass doors, is a very inviting room and almost makes you wish it were time for breakfast. The doors in the rear of the room take you to a wonderful deck where breakfast is offered when weather permits. The other wall of glass leads to a patio where more oriental-themed objects make their homes beside bird feeders and flowering trees and shrubs.

My room, #3, is certainly a room I would request. It is painted red, walls and ceiling, trimmed in gold and white, and carries the oriental theme.  The massive bed takes up a large portion of the room, and in the corner sits a white loveseat, casually draped with a red velvet throw. The bathroom is white, trimmed in red and black.

My brother, the Meat & Potatoes Guy, (www.meatandpotatoesguy.com) has a room that is kitty-corner to mine and is done is a lovely shade of sage green, which makes is very restful and welcoming.

Jerry, an interior designer, had succeeded in making this Inn a combination of romance, elegance and beauty. There is no detail overlooked. I was impressed with the nightly turn-down service; my red bedspread had been replaced with a white down comforter, turned down to show the luxurious red sheets and the shades had been drawn while I was out enjoying dinner with two of my brothers in Conway.

As part of the Herb Tour, the Riverbend Inn showcased Rosemary. I was fortunate enough to catch the first batch coming out of the oven shortly after my arrival. I sampled delicate rosemary-lemon shortbread cookies that melted in my mouth, and rosemary spice cookies which were delicious.  Craig handled most of the cooking duties expertly.

Breakfast was a fresh fruit parfait with a granola topping and a slice of Jerry’s Rugula, a recipes passed down from his grandmother, followed by a Frittata, sliced ham, home fried potatoes (a mix of white, red and sweet potatoes) and an edible garnish of kiwi, melon and cherries.

I cannot imagine anyone exceeding what Jerry and Craig have done with this Inn. It is immaculate and the attention to detail is beyond compare.  Although their prices are higher than most of the other Inns it is well worth it.  Guests are pampered and treated like royalty. 

The Riverbend Inn is the best of the best. I would highly encourage anyone looking for a romantic and relaxing long weekend to make a reservation. I’d even ask for #3!

The Riverbend Inn is right on Route 16, less than a mile north of the blinking light in Chocorua.  The website is: www.riverbendinn.com