Another reason why B&B's are A BETTER WAY TO STAY

Recently, I booked some nights in a hotel for the upcoming Innkeeper's conference in South Carolina. I know what you are thinking – why are they staying in a hotel and not a Bed and Breakfast? As troubling as this decision was – it ultimately was decided that, after going to seminars, lectures, vendor fairs, etc. for 3 days – we might really enjoy the chance to get away from the TOPIC of B&B’s and re-charge our batteries as a couple .

SO, I was poking around on the website of this internationally known hotel chain – not to mention any names - but a certain celebritante is the recipient of this family’s legacy and trust-fund. I know you know. Okay, so I am at the website and I see they offer a “Menu” of items that can be placed in your room upon arrival. How nice I think – how welcoming! Here is a partial list from their menu of items and their costs:

San Pelligrino 1 liter bottle, 5.50 USD

Liter Fiji Water: 5.50 USD

12oz bottle Sierra Mist 2.50 USD

12 oz bottle of Pepsi: 2.50 USD

Cheese Selection served with

Sliced Bread and Crackers 9.95 USD

3 Freshly Baked Cookies Price Per Item: 6.00 USD

A $2.50 Room Service Delivery Charge and 18% Gratuity are added to all orders. Price does not include 7.5% Sales Tax.

WOW! I really need to get out more! At our Inn, the Mountain Goat Lodge – we include all the above and much more, in the price of the room.

Here’s our list (ALL INCLUDED FOR FREE WITH EACH NIGHTS LODGING) :

* Full hearty country breakfast which consists of an egg/meat entrée, fresh fruits, cinnamon rolls, toast, bagels, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea. With breakfast you may order a Latte or any other espresso drink you can think of.
* Unlimited 24-hour availability of coffee, tea, hot chocolate.
* Happy hour refreshments consisting of Premium beers, Locally bottled Wines, Soft Drinks, crackers and homemade goat cheese.
* Homemade cookies at bedtime

With few exceptions, most all Bed & Breakfast Inn’s across the country are including many of the same items as we do – although not all have a professional-grade espresso machine run by an ex-barista trained to do all types of drinks! But if you stay in a hotel – you won’t get these treats or personalized service. If you have never stayed in a Bed & Breakfast Inn try it and see for yourselves that it's A Better Way To Stay!

Leaving Seattle for Colorado - how I came to buy the Mountain Goat Lodge

The DECISION TO LEAVE Washington State, my lifelong home, was easy. I knew that I could not take one more winter, one more rainy, muddy wet day, one more dark cloudy windy day, one more cold in your bones, depressive mood. So, the climate and the weather were my motivators.

Secondary motivation was my career. I needed a change – a chance to run my own business into which I could throw all my life experience, skills, passions and talents.

Lying in bed one early morning thinking about my life, I knew I wanted to move away from the dark NW weather into the sun. I didn’t mind going where it was cold or snowy, as long as there was sun. My husband’s job now afforded us the flexibility to live anywhere in the USA as long as he could fly to Houston every six weeks or so – so I had a lot to choose from.

I wanted to move, but I knew that if I just bought another house somewhere – no matter how nice –that my friends and family might not ever come to visit. People always say they are going to, but rarely do. But! If I bought an Inn, a lodge, a bed & breakfast – in a charming place with tons of year-round activities and attractions – then chances are they would visit (Build it and they will come!). This idea struck me like lightening. As soon as I thought it, I knew it was the right way, the right goal for me.

Once I had the goal, the rest came easy.

Even in the worst real estate market of our lifetime – I knew that I would be able to sell my home and my investment rental property – which is what needed to happen in order to buy the Inn. I hadn’t yet found the right place – but I started the process right away.

I searched the internet for anything that met my criteria:

Had to be a lodge, not an old Victorian mansion,

Had to be an existing B&B, with room for improvement

Had to have at least 4 guest rooms

Nice innkeepers quarters

At least 10 acres

Two hours from an airport

A sunny climate

Open-minded friendly people

Lots of year around activites

A drier climate for the goats.

Thankfully, I found The Inn Matchmakers, based out of Denver. Now, Colorado was not my first choice, however it soon became clear that the best place for our new home would be in Salida Colorado. It had everything on my list – everything almost – except the airport requirement– which is 2.5 hours away!

Salida Bed and Breakfast Looking forward to new Beginnings!

At Mountain Goat Lodge, a Salida, CO Bed and Breakfast, new beginnings abound! Owner Gina Marcell took over the inn in 2010, changing the name from Colorado Crossroads to Mountain Goat Inn, to reflect her love for the beautiful Oberhausli goats that share the Lodge with Gina and her husband.

Among other things, including a new web site, Gina was excited to unveil the large Colorado rock carved with the inn's new name:

This is the beginning of another new beginning, as the carved rock is not the final project. Coming along soon will be a magnificent Goat sculpture, who will be perched atop the rock.

Mountain Goat Lodge is a pet-friendly bed and breakfast located in beautiful Salida, Colorado.