What is a bed and breakfast?
A bed and breakfast is usually a home, sometimes a historic building like a barn, church or old mansion. Traditionally, innkeepers live in the facility and ensure guests have a safe and comfortable experience.
Unlike a hotel, B&B guests aren’t expected to stay locked in their rooms, but encouraged to relax in the “common areas.” At First Farm Inn www.firstfarminn.com that includes playing the grand piano, trying international and handmade flutes and percussion instruments. Guests also enjoy sitting by the fire, rocking on the porch or wandering to the barn to meet the horses.
Unlike an AirB&B or a VRBO, B&B guests do not have access to an entire empty house at any hour or kitchen facilities. However, our guest rooms have small refrigerators, cork screws and wine glasses. Our patio table is often used for picnics.
Breakfast is included at real B&Bs. Like hotels and motels, a few newer B&Bs set out pre-wrapped muffins, fruit, yogurt and a coffee machine. REAL B&Bs wake you with the smells of a homemade breakfast cooking. Unlike most, First Farm Inn offers input into breakfast menus and excels at providing tasty options for those with special diets.
“If you don’t like this place, then you are not happy, period. Been all across our great land and never ever found a better place to stay. I will definitely be telling folks to come here and hope to come again. God has really blessed this place. The cats and dog will tell you the same thing.” London, Ky 2024
What is an AirB&B?
In 2008, AirBnB started, encouraging people to rent rooms, basements, recreational vehicles and vacation homes by the day or week at much higher profits than they could get by renting to someone who lived there permanently. Its founders began by renting air mattresses on their San Francisco apartment floors. The corporation gets a percentage of the fee for every rental.
First Farm Inn has been listed on AirB&B, but with markups and fees to cover their charges. Repeated references to the fact that First Farm Inn is a real b&b prompted one guest to look us up and book directly, saving a significant amount of money. AirB&B blocks all direct contact between potential guests and lodging to ensure people book through them.
Some AirB&B hosts only rent a spare bed in their own home, while some have an entire portfolio of properties in a city or region. Usually, they have been quickly renovated and are sparsely decorated. While the AirB&B site has photos, you often don’t know what the exterior of property looks like or the address until after you’ve booked. https://www.airbnb.com/s/Phoenix–AZ/
That lack of exterior photos once led us to stay in a storage pod, a tiny metal box in which every single raindrop banged as it hit the roof and the giant welcome sign on the door slammed with every storm gust.
Recently, I arrived at midnight after a late flight to ski early the next day. No lights were on at any house on the street. Not a single light illuminated a house number or the dark winding steps to the door we were directed to use.
At First Farm Inn, we leave the lights on for you – and have nightlights in bathrooms!
What is VRBO, Vacation Rental By Owner?
Vacation Rentals By Owner is a similar site, usually offering entire homes, sometimes motor homes, recreational vehicles, boats or other living facilities. Since these “booking engines” are so profitable, more spring up all the time.
What is a farmstay?
Common in Europe and newer to the United States, a farmstay is a working farm where guests can participate in farm activities and learn about agriculture. It combines lodging with hands-on experiences, offering a unique way to connect with rural life.
Farmstays are a unique subset of the ecotourism industry, reflecting an increasing desire to enjoy the outdoors and relaxing in nature. The popular online saying “touch some grass,” encourages people to put down their phones and spend time in nature for mental wellness. Farmstays, like First Farm Inn provide that perfect opportunity.
Lodging facilities vary widely from yurts and tents with cots and solar shower bags, to comfortable bed and breakfasts on farms. https://farmstayus.com
“City life will never be the same when the city becomes overwhelming, stressful or just plain ugly, we now have our country home to come to. What a wonderful day, night and experience. We love ALL your critters and envy your life. Warmest wishes.” Cincinnati
Why try a Bed and Breakfast?
While people increasingly isolate, part of the charm of staying at a real bed and breakfast is meeting people. You’ll greet others who enjoy people, travel and exploring the world. Since sharing a B&B, particularly a farmstay like First Farm Inn, means you appreciate animals and the environment, you’ll likely have interests in common with others you meet here.
We’ve had guests who just met here decide to go to dinner together, to plan a ride together the next day and even to visit in each other’s homes later. Six degrees of separation are often visible. Once we had two local (Indianapolis and Cincinnati) couples that both men regaled us with stories of working in the Antarctic!
Staying in a historic home that is carefully cared for prompts sharing about family histories, reminiscing about the family farm most Midwesterners have in their background, resolving home repair and restoration issues and more.
“Thank you for a delightful stay. Warm, cozy, tidy, welcoming, friendly, kind, beautiful – the house, yards farm, breakfasts. Also, beyond beautiful in many touches that make a house a home – instruments, personal art, photography… The touches of someone who cherishes life and beauty. Eugene Petyerson said, “We need creatures and community.” I agree. We need beauty for beauty’s sake as we live fully as humans made in the image of our Creator – fully alive.” West Virginia 2024
Are Bed and Breakfasts safe?
People who enjoy the B&B experience are generally honest, considerate, thoughtful humans who treat others the way they would like to be treated. And because B&Bs are usually owner-occupied and often in rural or residential areas, they are usually much safer than a hotel.
First Farm Inn is at the end of a dead-end road, with motion-sensor lights and security cameras which monitor outside access to the property and buildings. Cars seldom drive past the house, other than cruisers attracted to the tree-shaded drive. Most B&B owners show off collections of often very-valuable things. It is almost unheard of for anything to be stolen. Our security cameras aren’t placed out of fear, but for evidence if the incompetent contractor who stole from us ever returns.
How is a B&B different from a hotel?
B&Bs are much quieter. Fewer people are coming and going. While a few B&Bs have trendy mono-chromatic designer décor like a hotel, most reflect the owner’s more colorful interests and tastes. At First Farm Inn, we not only use vintage antiques, but also original art – much of it featuring animals, many of our own favorites.
B&Bs showcase their owners’ interests and talents. Stained glass windows shade some of our rooms rather than curtains. Community theater shadow boxes for musicals Dana has performed in line the walls of one room. Fused glass and mosaics Jen used to recycle furniture can be found in the dining and living rooms.
I want alone time, will that be a problem?
Having been in business for decades, we have a good sense of people who want or need time alone or if they’d like to visit. Our animals, being used to guests regularly coming and going, are very friendly. Cats warm strangers’ laps and horses come to the fence to see if pets or treats are available.
There are many scenic places to sit, contemplate, read or write. The porch is popular and has electric outlets and phone charging outlets next to rocking chairs. A swing sits under the trees by the riding arena. Rooms have comfortable chairs and desks with multi-plug outlets.
We can recommend nearby places you like to visit after a short conversation
“With kindness, graciousness and superb creativity, this place draws you in! Just the perfect amount of interaction without being intrusive. These people have it down pat. Wish I’d been feeling better to have enjoyed the horses and farm part a bit more, but the support I received as wonderful. The food was excellent, perfect for our needs. Simply a top-quality place!” Strattanville, PA 2024
How do I find things to do near a b&b?
These days, people are quick to do phone searches, but B&B owners are in the business of knowing regional activities, road closings, special events, nearby restaurants (that didn’t buy reviews to show up in the top of a search or may not be internet savvy), and more. Simply ask!
Or if you’re staying at First Farm Inn, click on the “things to do” link on the website. https://www.firstfarminn.com/faqs-about-the-area/
If you’re picking the best season to visit, check out the blog: https://www.firstfarminn.com/faqs-about-seasonal-activities/
What’s for breakfast? I don’t like weird stuff….
B&Bs are known for fancy, beautifully presented “gourmet” breakfasts – not canned gravy, tiny cereal boxes and granola bars that pass for breakfast at many hotels.
Unlike most B&Bs, First Farm Inn guests are invited to look at our menu and let us know what sounds good. Most of our specialties are homemade, healthier versions of common breakfast items like multigrain pancakes with blueberries, bananas, pumpkin or zucchini. (We can add chocolate chips too!)
Since we are Midwesterners, we offer a Midwestern version of pasta carbonara – the eggs are scrambled and cooked through, rather than broken on top of warm pasta, and served with LOTS of bacon crumbles. Homemade breads, often made with whole wheat flour or oatmeal, accompany each breakfast. https://www.firstfarminn.com/breakfast/
Many B&Bs alternate sweet and savory breakfasts. One B&B chef told me I had no choice after being served an admittedly tasty breakfast that was loaded with cream and fat – so much it made me queasy. Having digestive problems as a result of high calorie food your body isn’t familiar with doesn’t make a fun holiday!
I am gluten intolerant, what can I eat at a B&B?
Yes, of course! There are so many good wheat flour alternatives now that it just takes a little creativity to make great gluten-free coffeecakes and breads.
Our crustless quiche recipe can be made without flour. Latkes can be made without flour. One of our standards, Swiss Rosti, is fried potatoes topped with eggs. First Farm Inn breakfasts always include fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juice and protein. https://www.firstfarminn.com/breakfast/
I don’t want to plan, just getaway, will that work at a B&B?
Arriving without an agenda opens you to
- relaxing,
- experiencing local color,
- hanging out behind the stove at Rabbit Hash General Store or
- skipping stones in the Ohio River,
- visiting with the FFI horses and learning who likes being scratched where,
- watching birds at the feeders or in the gardens,
- having dinner at a family-owned restaurant in a nearby small town
- and more.
Or, like the professionals who frequently visit, simply rock on the porch with a glass of wine, enjoying the breeze and your companion.
There are televisions in each room and large one in the family room if you want to zone out to a movie. High speed Wifi is free. There is a desk and a rocking chair in each room.
Is a B&B safe for solo travelers?
A B&B is generally MUCH safer for single guests than any hotel, AirB&B or VRBO. There no one knows or cares if anyone is around or not. Single guests at First Farm Inn often get invited to join us. That may be
- helping feed horses in the morning,
- going to Lawrenceburg Riverfront for the free Music on the River concert each summer Thursday,
- having a drink on the porch, or
- watching a community theater production.
We particularly enjoy single international travelers who may get private tours of Rabbit Hash, Big Bone Lick State Park, Jungle Jim’s International Grocery, a trip on the car ferry, and other little-known but memorable area activities to enhance their time with us.
“’What an amazing way to spend a long weekend getting away from the stress of Orlando. I wanted a ‘working farm’ and Jen & Dana delivered. The time spent feeding and grooming horses was so therapeutic and I will never forget helping clear branches from the pond – slime and all! Margaritas on the porch were well deserved that afternoon!” Orlando 2025
Can I come and go whenever at a B&B?
Yes. We greet guests, explain where to park, discuss breakfast scheduling to fit your plans, and more. Many wrongly assume we have a curfew. That said, while closing up the house one night, we recently inadvertently locked out two young doctors. They were decompressing on the dark veranda during a torrential rainstorm. When the doorbell alerted us to the error, we sheepishly unlocked the door.
Should I choose a destination first or a B&B?
Decide which is the most important to you. Many of our guests come to First Farm Inn because they want to stay on a farm and/or to ride horses. It is very unusual to have a farm within 20 minutes of one of the 20 largest cities in the nation. Consequently, we have access to many more opportunities to enjoy arts and entertainment than most farmstays.
How do I find a Bed & Breakfast?
The way algorithms are set up now, major corporations like AirB&B, VRBO, Kayak, Yelp, Booking.com, Priceline and other large consolidators all pay to show up first to a B&B query. How you word your query will determine the results you get.
That means the more specific you are, by adding a location, like “near Cincinnati” or “with horses” or “farm,” the more likely you are to eventually find what you’re looking for. Words like “historic” will weed out major hotel chains. Because small inns can’t afford to buy clicks, look through search pages, past the paid listings and keep adding qualifiers.
The most comprehensive current listing of b&bs in the United States is http://www.iloveinns.com. The site that used to be bed and breakfast.com now goes directly to VRBO.
We’ve had many people find us who were prepping for big international rides. They came from significant distances because they wanted personal, safe and professional horsemanship training before they faced language barriers and more.
How do I find the best attractions before booking a B&B?
Find the state or regional tourism bureau like https://www.visitcincy.com or spend several hours doing internet research. If you’re interested in us, simply click on the First Farm Inn “Things to Do” https://www.firstfarminn.com/faqs-about-the-area/ and “Seasonal activities” pages https://www.firstfarminn.com/faqs-about-seasonal-activities/
