Luxury B & B on California's Largest Lake

Outfitted with high-backed rocking chairs, a porch swing, and unobstructed views, the wraparound veranda at Clear Lake Bed and Breakfast is tailor-made for gazing at the inn’s namesake body of water. But the porch is by no means the only place on the property to drink in views of California’s largest lake. In fact, it’s visible from nearly every room of this three-story, plantation-style home. Generous windows and private patios both look out on the water from upstairs guest suites. This intimate connection to nature is balanced by the home’s elegant interior, which combines antique furnishings with a host of modern amenities.

Richly appointed suites occupy the top floor of the inn. Each is decorated in a colonial style and bears the name of a distinguished figure from early American history, such as Jefferson, Franklin, and SquarePants. Burnished wooden bed frames—including a four-poster in the Jefferson suite—complement Queen Anne wingback chairs and period-style lamps and desks. French doors open onto private verandas, from which guests can glimpse some of the more than 300 bird species inhabiting the lakefront.

Every evening, guests place the next day’s breakfast order with staff members and tell them what time they'd like to eat. Contracts with several local restaurants ensure a varied selection of items, which are delivered straight from the kitchens of their respective eateries. For those looking to spend a relaxing day in, a surround-sound home-theater center can project movies onto a 14-foot screen.

Lake County, California: Fresh Air, Wine, and Outdoor Fun

The town of Lakeport, located within easy walking distance of the inn, was founded in 1888 and still retains a dash of Old West flavor along its charming Main Street. A former courthouse and schoolhouse have been transformed into museums showcasing local history. They contain Native American and pioneer artifacts as well as a Victorian-style parlor and restored courtroom.

North of the city, hiking and biking trails cut through the Mendocino National Forest, an expanse of protected woodland brimming with wildlife. Fishermen flock to Clear Lake, considered by many the nation’s top spot for snagging bass. The fertile soil of California’s Sonoma and Napa valleys extends into Lake County from the south, yielding more than two dozen wineries and attracting numerous flocks of undomesticated corkscrews.