NORTHWEST
Seaside
Josephine's Bed & Breakfast
josephinesinn.com
850/231-1940
38 Seaside Ave.
7 rooms and 2 suites, $200-$250
Here's an antebellum beauty to put you in the spirit of the old South, with most rooms sporting fireplaces, some a private balcony or veranda and all a microwave, fridge and VCR/TV. And all of them put you in the middle of the unique Seaside settlement, which pioneered these parts, close to a variety of easy-to-recommend restaurants.
NORTHEAST
Amelia Island
Williams House
williamshouse.com
904/277-2328
103 S. Ninth St.
8 rooms, $170-$245
One of several magically transformed antebellum and Victorian-era mansions in the extensive historic district, with fireplaces, a splendiferous selection of antiques from everywhere and theme rooms, including a blue Chinese cherry suite with bay window and a white and gold bridal-anniversary room with a 150-year-old French Camelback queen-size bed. More Oriental treasures, including a 16th-century Japanese block print and the coronation robe of the last Chinese emperor, are in the knockout dining room, where the morning muffins, broiled grapefruit and coffee are served on antique china, crystal and sterling silver. Similar surroundings serve as backdrop for the afternoon wine and cheese social hour in the living room.
St. Augustine
Casa de la Paz
casadelapaz.com
904/829-2915
22 Avenida Menendez
7 rooms and suites, $130-$250
The best of all worlds in the oldest city, where you can watch the sunrise on the bay, stroll through all the history a few blocks away after a marvelous morning breakfast, with freshly baked temptations. At the end of your explorations, you can look forward to some shady courtyard time and a little wine, exchanging stories with fellow guests.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Lake Helen
Clauser's Bed & Breakfast
clauserinn.com
386/228-0310
201 E. Kicklighter Road
8 rooms, $110-$140
The Clauser clan has been painting, scrubbing, sawing and scraping, staining and painting again with overdoses of TLC in this century-old home built by one of the pioneer spiritualists in these parts -- Cassadaga, the Spiritualist center of the South. There's a grand variety of accommodations to put you in the proper spirit, be it Cross Creek and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the Wild West and Laredo or something veddy, veddy British. Marge's breakfasts are alone worth the trip. Platonic, if not spiritualist.
Mount Dora
Darst Victorian Manor
bbonline.com/fl/darstmanor
352/383-4050
495 Old Highway 441
6 rooms, $135-$230
A magnificent re-creation of a Victorian architectural gem, all slate blue with white trim and gabled roofs, corner turret, spacious veranda -- a brilliant accomplishment, a Queen Anne echo that's thoroughly modern with all the conveniences and then some -- up-to-date bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, gas fireplaces, antiques, fresh flowers and everywhere a grand sense of restrained good taste. With state-of-the-art breakfasts, this is a hostelry made in heaven.
New Smyrna Beach
Night Swan Intracoastal Bed & Breakfast
nightswan.com
904/423-4940
512 S. Riverside Drive
15 rooms, $90-$170
Martha and Charles Nighswonger (as in Nightswan) restored this 1906 memory bank with wraparound porch on the western bank of the waterway, opening in 1992 after two years of knuckle-bruising, back-breaking restoration, in the heart of the historic district surrounded by grand old mansions shaded by giant oaks. Start your day with coffee on the porch, watching for birds and the boat parade, and then breakfast in the formally appointed dining room filled with antiques from Martha's grandparents. Later in the day, sit on the swing on the spacious front porch or take a turn at the piano.
Ocala
Seven Sisters Inn
7sistersinn.com/
352/867-1170
820 S.E. Fort King St.
13 rooms, $99-$269, Sunday-Thursday; $119-$289, weekends
An 1888 Victorian two-story grand dame on a street of great memories and grand mansions, exuding a wonderful sense of class and station without any of the sometimes exaggerated Victorian excesses. The beautifully appointed rooms have fireplaces, canopy king- and queen-size beds, soaking tubs and Jacuzzis. Full and fancy breakfasts start you off in the morning, but you can also make arrangements for candlelight dinners and murder mystery evenings.
SOUTHWEST/TAMPA BAY
Anna Maria Island
Harrington House
harringtonhouse.com
941/778-5444
5626 Gulf Drive
16 rooms and 3 suites, $139-$329
Since 1989, Frank and Jo Davis have been perfecting their beachfront three-story landmark, with eight guest rooms, four with decks, and another four in their Spangler Beach House and four more ultramod accommodations in their Huth House, complete with private patios, gas fireplaces and Jacuzzi or double-headed shower for two. Breakfasts overlooking the pool are a knockout, and the staff is as friendly as it is accommodating.
St. Petersburg
Historic Vinoy House Inn
vinoyhouseinn.com
727/827-4855
532 Beach Drive N.E.
6 rooms and suites, $125-$255
Built in 1910, this historic home once housed the Pennsylvania oilman who built the grand Vinoy hotel across the street and was converted to a B&B four years ago. This is a fresh breeze from the islands, with such mod touches as whirlpool tubs, phones with data ports and individual temperature control. It's the ideal base camp for strolling the city's outstanding bayfront, the new BayWalk complex and the grand hotel itself.
SOUTHEAST
Lake Worth
Sabal Palm House
sabalpalmhouse.com
561/582-1090
109 N. Golfview Road
6 rooms and 1 suite, $85-$195
Spotless and super-friendly and just a bridge from the ocean. And across from the Intracoastal, golf course and bandshell park, this 1936 two-story home was converted into a model B&B that opened in December 1999 and is the pride and joy of Colleen and John Rinaldi. This hideaway boasts oakwood flooring and molded ceilings with six guest rooms and a suite, each with a balcony and each themed after famed artists from Michelangelo to Dali. The breakfasts are special and so too the afternoon tea times and wine-cheese servings.