My husband and I just returned from a wonderful weekend spent in Annapolis and Baltimore during which we stayed in the fabulous Randall House bed and breakfast. The B&B was recommended by my parents, who had stayed there several years ago, shortly after it opened.

When we first arrived at Randall House, we were greeted by Jerry, who told us that Sandra was away for the weekend, visiting their daughter who had just had a baby. I was a bit disappointed that Sandra would not be there, as my parents had raved about her cooking. However, Jerry assured us that she had already prepared most everything ahead of time, so we would not be missing out on the famed breakfasts. He was certainly right, as the breakfasts were the most scrumptious and satisfying we have experienced. We barely even needed to eat lunch, as we were still full from breakfast up until the late afternoon! Breakfasts feature fresh fruit, a delicious baked good, and a very generous hot entree (a flaky croissant sandwich filled with fluffy eggs, bacon, and cheese sauce on our first day, and French toast stuffed with sweet strawberry-cream cheese with sausage patties alongside the next). Jerry's coffee deserves special mention, as it's some of the best we've had. The ambiance at breakfast is stellar as well---there are three individual tables set up instead of one large table (which we definitely prefer on romantic weekend getaways, during which we are generally not overly interested in conversing with other guests), the china table settings are quite impressive, and there is pleasing classical music playing in the background. The dining room itself is beautifully decorated as is the entire house, inside and out.

We had reserved the room at the back of the house (known as the "Deck Room"), which features a lovely connecting deck. The room is very large as is the bathroom, and the furnishings and decor are gorgeous. The back deck is a wonderful place to relax and look towards the Naval Academy chapel dome. The other two rooms in the B&B looked charming as well, but I would definitely recommend splurging on the large back room (I imagine that it's also the quietest, as it is farthest from the street).

The location of Randall House simply could not be better. We were amazed at how close all of the Annapolis sites, shopping, and restaurants are. The Naval Academy, City Dock, historic houses, Maryland State House, etc. are just steps away. We especially enjoyed its proximity due to the very hot weather during our visit---it was nice to be able to stop back and hang out in our room for a while as a brief respite from the heat (despite its historic status, Randall House has the blissful benefit of central air conditioning); Jerry also kept a refrigerator for guests stocked with lots of water at all times and encouraged us to take as much as we wanted.

My husband and I have stayed in many bed and breakfasts, both here in the U.S. and abroad, and we both agree that Randall House ranks number one. The decor, amenities, location, breakfasts, and hospitality are unmatched. Annapolis is the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend getaway, offering just the right amount of sights and activities to keep more active tourists satisfied, as well as a plethora of great dining options, tons of lovely boutiques, and, of course, its picturesque waterfront. And nothing will enhance a visitor's experience more than staying at Randall House.