B&Bs for the Holidays

Eat, sleep, and be merry! These festive New England inns will stoke your seasonal spirit.

BY KIM KNOX BECKIUS

ou could hire a chef, an interior designer, and a squad of elves and still not create a holiday haven that compares to these decked-out B&Bs. Their owners’ passion for Yuletide celebrating borders on obsession. And each inn welcomes you into a community where the spirit of the season shines bright.

The Captain’s House Inn

Santa hats on chairbacks, a twinkly tree, fluffy wreaths in greenhouse-style windows—Saint Nick’s personal designer could not fashion a lovelier setting for a holiday high tea. Make reservations to savor this seasonal treat, whether you’re overnighting in a fireplace-equipped guest room at this 1839 clipper ship captain’s home or day-tripping to hunt for gifts in Chatham’s singular shops. Owners Jill and James Meyer close their inn briefly at Christmas to celebrate family traditions as dear to them as the town’s annual Christmas by the Sea Stroll (December 8–9) is to residents. Then it reopens to delight food-loving revelers who arrive for First Night, when fireworks and midnight’s Countdown Cod drop welcome a new year. Chatham, MA. 508-945-0127; captainshouseinn.com