At the end of each Inn's 'write-up' beneath its picture, you will find (in parentheses) three words chosen from the categories below. The innkeepers at these inns have selected their 'descriptors' from these lists in order to uniformly and concisely convey information to the traveler concerning the Location, Style and Type accommodation found at that particular Inn. We hope these descriptors will help you select just the right place for you.

• B&B - Generally a converted private home or mansion. Décor is highly dependent on the owner's personal tastes. In most cases each guestroom is uniquely decorated. High quality décor and amenities are possible due to the smaller size of such properties.
• Contemporary - Modern-to-striking furniture, furnishings and decor. Service tone may range from stylish to relatively informal.
• Elegant - Luxurious properties. The buildings, interiors, artwork, grounds and amenities are all the finest available. Service levels are well above average, and staff are appropriately attired in keeping with the ambiance of the property. Frequently, elegant inns will feature world class cuisine/wines.
• Historic - Property is listed on one or more historic registers. Generally, it is decorated and furnished in keeping with its architecture/history. Most of these properties are in or near historic sites.
• Modern - Uses fine contemporary architecture and design to craft an environment that may either stimulate or relax. Modern inns may provide more of an avant-garde or trendy Metropolitan Home feel. Service may vary in tone from stylish to informal, but is always excellent.
• Rustic - Tends to have a relaxed, natural feel in architecture, furnishings and service. Provides the extras without being pretentious. Local wood, stone and art are often used to enhance the flavor of the inn.
• Traditional - This is what guests picture when they think of the 'traditional country inn': Warm, hospitable, friendly, with a more informal atmosphere. There are likely to be several levels of rooms, and tremendous differences are possible in décor styles, but the furnishings are tasteful and the hospitable, friendly staff are guest oriented. Traditional inns generally feature excellent regional cuisine.

• Country - Rural setting, with the conveniences of population centers several-to-many miles away. May offer access to recreation opportunities such as fishing, skiing, bird watching.
• In Town - Larger town or city, with the range of cultural and other facilities expected in such locations. Properties in smaller towns may offer access to natural attractions as well.
• Mountain - Country, with 'topographical irregularities'.
• Village - Smaller community of a few hundred to a few thousand people. The smallest may be relatively isolated. Many offer historic, natural, or specialized cultural attractions.
• Waterside - River-, lake-, or ocean-side, with related recreational opportunities. May or may not be near population centers.

• Breakfast Inn - Typically five to ten or fifteen rooms offering full morning meals. Decorations, furnishings and hospitality comparable to Inns.
• Hotel - Generally fifty rooms or more, with the range of amenities and services traditionally associated with hotels.
• Inn - Generally ten to thirty or forty rooms, with an emphasis on personal but professional hospitality from owner and staff. Inns will offer breakfast daily and dinner (to guests only, or to guests and public) four or more nights a week, and furnishings wild vary substantially in type among rooms.
• Ranch - An inn, often multiple buildings, located in a ranch setting, with the recreational opportunities associated with that kind of operation. Ranches most often will be in a country location but may be mountain or seaside.
• Resort - A hotel or inn offering on its own or adjacent grounds, a variety of organized recreational activities such as golf, tennis, racquetball, riding, health and fitness facilities, etc.
• Retreat/Lodge - A property at which the guests' personal and physical privacy is emphasized. The setting most often is one of solitude. Recreational opportunities may include hiking, nature exploration, hunting or fishing, and the like.