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Best Bed & Breakfasts On The Peninsula

Although the San Francisco Bay Area is well known for world class tourism, fine restaurants and an abundance of luxury hotels, there's also a nice collection of lesser-known bed and breakfasts. For people who have never stayed in a bed and breakfast inn, there are plenty of conveniences not always factored in before booking reservations in traditional accommodations such as a hotel or motel. Most bed and breakfasts offer earlier check-ins and later check-outs, free parking, complimentary refreshments, a spacious bed, gourmet breakfasts and free Wi-Fi (or the lack thereof). There is also the absence of cookie cutter-like rooms and loud guests next door. While San Francisco has an impressive array of wonderful bed and breakfasts, there are others throughout the Bay Area offering a quieter atmosphere. The following are five of the best bed and breakfasts in the Peninsula.

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Atherton Inn
1201 W. Selby Lane
Redwood City, CA 94061
(650) 474-2777
www.athertoninn.com

Tucked away on a quiet residential street, Atherton Inn is a highly acclaimed Bay Area bed and breakfast in Redwood City. The gorgeous five-bedroom, 6,400-square-foot home styled after a French chateau is owned and operated by Tricia Young, who has spent her entire life in the Peninsula. Customer reviews from Trip Advisor and Yelp reveal consistent five-star ratings for the Atherton Inn, citing high quality and hospitality, spacious rooms and sumptuous breakfasts. Each suite has a private bath and large tile showers, king bed with fine linens, down pillows and comforter, cable TV, DSL and Wi-Fi and a fireplace.

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Cypress Inn On Miramar Beach
407 Mirada Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-6002
www.cypressinn.com

Located 30 minutes south of San Francisco off scenic Highway 1, the Cypress Inn is a luxurious beachfront bed and breakfast overlooking the windswept beaches of Half Moon Bay. Named after the distinctive cypress trees adorning the California coast, the inn is ranked No. 2 among all local bed and breakfasts by Trip Advisor and among the World's Best 700 Places to Stay by Condé Nast. All 18 guest rooms offer breathtaking views of the crescent-shaped bay and the mighty Pacific Ocean and a brief walk to Miramar Beach. Among the many amenities offered at the Cypress Inn on Miramar Beach are full breakfast served in the Great Room or delivered to guest rooms, evening wine and appetizers and fabulously delicious homemade deserts. Nearly all rooms feature a fireplace, featherbeds, terra cotta heated floors and comforting Jacuzzi tubs.

Mill Rose Inn
615 Mill St.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-8750
www.millroseinn.com

Ranked No. 1 among Half Moon Bay B&Bs by Trip Advisor, Mill Rose Inn is located in the downtown section of this vibrant coastal city. Featuring classic European elegance, the Four Diamond AAA award-winning inn offers two elegantly furnished suites and four spacious rooms, with all but one equipped with a fireplace. Amenities include free onsite parking, laundry and dry cleaning services, onsite spa services, complimentary beverages and snacks and gourmet breakfast delivered to guest rooms, served in the dining room or al fresco in the beautiful Rose Grotto. More than 200 rose bushes can be viewed in the exquisite garden punctuated by an ornate gazebo and Jacuzzi.

Seal Cove Inn
221 Cypress Ave.
Moss Beach, CA 94038
(650) 728-4114
www.sealcoveinn.com

The tiny coastal community of Moss Beach is the setting for the visually stunning Seal Cove Inn. Located just 23 miles south of San Francisco and seven miles north of Half Moon Bay, the inn offers 10 spacious guest rooms, all equipped with a king bed and wood-burning fireplace. Gourmet breakfast served by the inn's chef includes poached pears, smoked salmon, garden vegetables and house made muffins, with the afternoon reception providing cheese and assorted hors d'oeuvres. Guests of the Seal Cove Inn may wish to visit the Moss Beach Distillery, a California Historical Landmark, originally established in 1927 as a speakeasy or the pristine waters at Moss Beach.

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Zaballa House
324 Main St.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-9123
www.zhousehmb.com

Built in 1855, this distinctive B&B is one of the oldest houses on the Peninsula, and the oldest on Half Moon Bay's Main Street. While the Zaballa House is one of the more affordable Peninsula B&Bs, its amenities rival that of other properties charging far more. Among the best features at the Zaballa House are complimentary breakfast buffet and wine and cheese, private bathrooms with extra whirlpool or antique tubs, kitchenettes and fireplaces in most rooms. The Zaballa House's downtown location allows for easy walking distance to many of the city's interesting shops, excellent dining and nightlife.

Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.

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