We stayed here just for a weekend, but somehow 2 days at the Duckett House Inn seemed to last long enough to get us ready to go back to work on Monday! The rooms are beautiful and comfy, the pets (3 cats and a dog) are quick to adopt you, and the breakfasts are simple yet satisfying. We'd never stayed in a B&B with a shared bathroom before, but our anxiety about sharing the space with strangers went away as soon as we saw the place. You really feel like you're a guest in someone's house - someone who's known you a long time and is in-tune with how to make you feel at home. Our favorite feature of the home was the wrap-around porch that looks out at lawn, complete with a patch of corn. The porch has plenty of comfortable seating, and is great for relaxing either after a day of hiking or in the morning with a cup of coffee before breakfast is served.

If you like rambling old farmhouses, huge front porches, babbling streams, comfy quilts, and a nice big breakfast with all the fixings, the Duckett House Bed and Breakfast might be just the place for you. My husband and I have been there twice in the last couple of years: once in October at the height of leaf season (absolutely beautiful) and once in November, when it was slightly chillier but no less inviting. On both occasions the 6-bedroom/2-bath house was full, yet we never lacked privacy. There's just something about the place that makes you feel like you've got it all to yourself.

THE ROOMS: The spacious bedrooms are located on the second floor of the house. They're decorated in a somewhat rustic, traditional style (antique mirrors, chairs, and desks) and sport warmly colored walls. There are plenty of windows to let the light in. The first time we ended up with two double beds; for our second stay we requested a king-size. We were fine with both circumstances. I'm a picky sleeper who can feel every spring in a cheaper mattress, so what mattered to me was that I didn't acquire a backache. We discovered that regardless of the size, these are not cheap beds. They're really comfortable. Each is covered with a large, warm quilt. If you get chilly you can always grab another one from the basket in the hallway. Rooms cost between $105 and $130 per night.

THE BATHROOMS: One reason we used to avoid B&Bs is that I am not a big fan of sharing a bathroom. The Duckett House has softened my stance on this issue. The two full bathrooms are beautifully cleaned and restocked every day, and you never have to wait long for your turn, if at all. One has a stand-alone shower, toilet and sink along with a gorgeous stained glass window. The other is bigger and includes a claw foot tub, a shower with one of those you're-in-the-rain showerheads and a pedestal sink. It's best to enjoy the bathtub on an afternoon when everyone else is out and about.

THE HOUSE AND PREMISES: The house isn't fancy, but it's 100% liveable. You never feel like you shouldn't be sitting on the furniture. The TV room features a large-screen television, a few comfortable sofas, videos, games, books and--occasionally--a dog and/or a couple of cats (none of which are allowed in the bedrooms). It's a great place to hang out between dinner and bedtime. For those who just want to enjoy the outdoors, the porch is the place to be. There are at least half a dozen rocking chairs as well as a hanging porch swing. Because the porch extends across the entire front of the house, several people can sit on it without getting in each others' way.

During daylight hours, take a walk down to the stream that runs right beside the house. It's beautiful.

MEALS: For lunch and dinner you'll have to head into town...all of 0.2 miles away :). We really like the Broad Street Cafe, which offers fresh local food and several vegetarian options. For fries and a beer, head to Paddler's Rest just a few steps up the road. The place is fairly full on Friday nights when locals crowd in for a few drinks and a chance to choose the songs on the jukebox. The closest restaurant to the B&B is a diner--I forget the name but you can't miss it. It doesn't look all that spiffy from the outside, but don't let that deter you from going in to enjoy some extremely tasty burgers (including veggie ones), salads, and desserts (I highly recommend the strawberry-rhubarb pie if the filling is in season. It's amazing!). Finally, there's a small ice cream parlor in town. We like to stop in for a small snack in the afternoon.

BREAKFAST: Guests share a communal breakfast. During both our visits we positively stuffed ourselves on coffee, granola, organic milk, eggs, french toast, and fruit. The "menu" changes daily. They can accommodate special dietary requests (for example, they'll provide soy milk for vegans). Just let them know ahead of time.

We recommend the Duckett House for people who live within a 4-5 hour radius of Asheville and who are seeking relaxation, privacy, and comfort. The inn provides all three in spades.

We stayed at the Duckett Inn in Hot Springs NC in May 2005 for three nights. It's a B&B with six rooms and two shared baths in the tiny resort-ish town of Hot Springs. The inn is a large, well-kept Victorian home. Our room was large and well furnished. We opened our windows to hear Spring Creek rushing nearby. The two bathrooms were very nice, one has a big tub as well as a shower, the other has a large shower.

Breakfast was pleasant and varied each day. The hosts, dog Jack, and several cats were all friendly.

There's a TV in one of the downstairs parlors. More importantly, there's a huge porch with several rockers and a glider-swing. Hummingbirds feed at the sugar feeder and many other birds visit the other feeders. A rooster and chickens live in a coop in the yard.

The whole scene and experience were very pleasant.