68 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2016
W
hen Karen Baker first began planning her dream
bed-and-breakfast, she started with a list. "My
husband and I have traveled a lot," Karen said.
"I sat down and thought, 'What have I liked best
about the places we've stayed?' "
Answers came quickly: privacy, a feeling of safety, plenty
of blankets and linens and counter space. Most of all, a sense
of community, of family.
Today, Bakers Bed and Breakfast in Blair, Nebraska,
entertains guests from places as far away as Finland and
Canada and provides a getaway for all sorts of folks, from
lawyers to newlyweds to groups of scrapbooking friends. "I
love hearing their experiences, and getting to know them,"
Karen said.
Interest in bed-and-breakfasts in Nebraska is growing fast,
innkeepers say. People are drawn to the serene atmosphere,
homey touches and personalized attention that staying at a
bed-and-breakfast affords.
"The experience is just more special," said Sally Hansen,
innkeeper at the Kaley House Bed & Breakfast in Red
Cloud, Nebraska. "At a bed-and-breakfast, you have a lot
more privacy. In our case, we have three parlors you can
enjoy. It's kind of like having a home away from home."
Innkeeper Kay Wunderlich, of Roca, Nebraska's Wunder
Roost Bed & Breakfast, said that their guests are often lovers
of the outdoors. "We're out in the country – we have goats,
chickens, the stars, the farm life," she says. "A lot of people
just want to get away from the hustle and bustle and create a
new memory."
Staying at a bed-and-breakfast is as affordable as any other
lodging, Wunderlich added, and you'll get more for your
money. "We create an experience, not just a place to sleep,"
she said .
If you want to find a reputable bed-and-breakfast to
stay at, a good place to start is with the Nebraska Bed and
Breakfast Association, at nebraskabb.com. Each of the 29
member locations has been inspected to ensure that it meets
high-quality standards for a bed-and-breakfast. ■
A Home Away From Home
Nebraska bed and breakfasts take vacationing up a notch.
By Renae Blum
Along the Road
PHOTO
BY
JENNY
NGUYEN
Oft's Bed & Breakfast in Bennington.
