Best Black-Owned Bed and Breakfasts in the USA

It’s vacation time and I’m not trying to leave the country. In fact, I really don’t like flying anymore.

Once upon at time, I used to do a lot of business travel and it didn’t take long for even the best hotels to become boring. I starting seeking out the extended stay type lodging with the apartment look but they have no character and are normally tucked away from the business districts. 

On a weekend getaway a few years ago a friend suggested we stay at a bed and breakfast. I wasn’t too thrilled with the idea but went along anyway. I loved it.

Last week, while listening to one of my favorite podcast, they did a story on Black owned Bed and Breakfasts. Their web site list 22 of them with photos and descriptions. (Click HERE for the site).

I learned that many of these B&Bs are owned by retired professionals who also traveled a lot. They had a desire to start a second career in hospitality and designed their B&Bs according to their tastes.  I was encouraged to also learn that a good number of the Black owned B&Bs  rate among the top B&Bs in their respective cities and also in the country. They're located in NY, DC, Cape May, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Virginia, Durham, New Orleans, Arizona, Wisconsin,  and California.

Here's one...

Akwaaba Mansion

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

In 1995, Monique Greenwood and husband Glenn Pogue opened Akwaaba Mansion, the first of their four elegant, stylish Afrocentic B&Bs. Akwaaba means "welcome" in Ghana's Akan language.  The 1860s Italianate villa in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood has four fully-appointed, themed guest rooms: Jumping the Broom Suite, Regal Retreat, Ashante Suite, and the Black Memorabilia suite. Rates are $175 Monday-Thursday, and $190 Friday-Sunday.
Call 866-466-3855 or e-mail info@akwaaba.com.