Should you stay at a bed and breakfast with kids?
We’re always looking for unique and comfortable accommodations when we’re traveling. Before kids, we loved staying at bed and breakfasts because of their unique accommodations in big, old houses that have history to them. But bringing kids to a BnB? We had never really considered it. We discovered that you absolutely should stay at a bed and breakfast with kids after a wonderful stop at a home on the range in Southern South Dakota.
It wasn’t my original intention to stay at a bed and breakfast with our kids. Typically, those are saved for romantic getaways with my husband, few and far between as they may be. However, with a dearth of decent spots to stay near South Dakota’s Badlands National Park, I decided to check alternatives to our usual hotels or AirBnBs. And I am so glad that I did.
We found the most charming and historic Bed and Breakfast at Triangle Ranch, and it took eight miles on unpaved roads to get there. We passed hundreds of acres of fields, dozens of cows (We even had to stop the car once to let one pass by) and a couple of tractors on our way.
The home was built in the early 1920s, a Sears Roebuck and Company catalog home known as “Alhambra”, by the proprietress’ great-grandparents. Triangle Ranch includes the main house with four bedrooms, a carriage house and a 3-bedroom cabin.
My kids were enamoured with the fact that we were staying in a house with people we didn’t know, who seemed like “temporary grandparents”, and it didn’t take them long to make themselves at home. My older son asked our hostess how he could help her, and fixed an ironing board that was missing … I think he would have entertained her the entire night had we not shuffled him off to hang out with us.
Staying at a bed and breakfast with kids could be a little more stressful than opting for the local Marriott, as it is a more up-close-and-personal experience, but with a few tips we learned, you can have a stay that’s even better than a hotel.
Here are a few tips for visiting a bed and breakfast with kids:
Ensure that kids are allowed at the property
While our wonderful hostess welcomed kids at her inn with open arms, not all proprietors feel similarly. Many list “adults only” or “not appropriate for children under 16” on their websites, but not all of them do (in fact, in a quick Google search it’s much easier to find kid-friendly accommodations than it used to be). Still, it’s a good idea to check with the property before you book. And, depending on the property, it may not be good to bring really young kids to a BnB (crying babies in a multi-room house is a no-no). Our hostess had two separate buildings that were perfect for families. They were booked while we were there, but with well-behaved 11- and 13-year olds, renting two rooms in the main house was perfect.
Find out the history of the house (and its contents)
In the case of our stay at the Triangle Ranch BnB, the house had been in the family since it was built as a homestead in the early 1900s. Our hostess gave us the history of her grandparents moving west to the homestead. She also used family heirlooms in her decor – a family Bible that went back several generations, the marriage license for her grandmother, and lots of sepia photographs. Many are like mini museums. Ask your proprietor for details, they are usually delighted to take time to give some background on the house and its contents. Plus, it can even be a history lesson for the kids.
Expect that you will likely need more than one room to fully accommodate your family
If it is a traditional large house BnB, most rooms only have one bed, so it’s possible that you will need to get two rooms to accommodate a family of four. I’d also highly recommend an en-suite room as running kids back and forth to a shared bathroom doesn’t sound like much fun and might be disruptive for other guests.
Bring something to do, but also enjoy the space around the BnB
Most BnBs rooms don’t have TVs and many don’t have WiFi, but they often have books or games that you can borrow. We like to travel with a pack of cards and a game or two. Triangle Ranch had a cornhole game and lots of land to wander about, so we spent a lot of time outside. Plus, it was fun to fully embrace being on a ranch in the middle of the Plains, cows mooing in the background.
Make sure your hostess is aware of food allergies, timing for breakfast and other accommodations
Typically, you can place your order for breakfast the evening prior. Some BnBs offer a variety of food on a buffet, while others serve you by the plate. My kids were thrilled that chocolate chip pancakes were on the menu, and marveled at the options for juice and water glasses. We do plastic cups at home! While many offer, “rolling” breakfast, others have specified times for seating.
Staying in a bed and breakfast with kids was by far one of my favorite stays we’ve ever done. It was even more meaningful because of our hosts and the feeling of what life on a ranch in South Dakota would be like. Just as some AirBnBs feel more comfortable and homier than a hotel room, a bed and breakfast can give you the same vibe. The pancakes and bacon are a great bonus.
We’ll be looking for other spots like this.
