







Begin your search for where to stay in Clarksville VA with a warm Dutch welcome at Sunnyside Sisters Bed & Breakfast. Nestled just steps from Kerr Lake and downtown delights, our 1833 mansion blends historic Southern charm with authentic European touches. Whether you’re planning to stay in Clarksville VA for a romantic weekend, a solo recharge, or a business trip, you’ll find comfort, convenience, and genuine hospitality here.
Bed and Breakfast Guide | History, Benefits & How to Choose the Perfect B&B
Martijn & Eveline
A bed and breakfast (often abbreviated as B&B) is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast as part of the room rate. Unlike hotels, B&Bs are typically:
Owner‑operated — often run by individuals or families who live on‑site.
Intimate in scale — usually fewer than a dozen rooms, each with its own character.
Personalized in service — hosts often greet guests personally, offer local tips, and prepare breakfast themselves.
This combination creates a homely atmosphere that blends comfort, hospitality, and a sense of place.
The concept of hosted lodging is ancient — from Roman inns to Silk Road caravanserais. The modern term “bed and breakfast” gained popularity in Britain in the 1800s, later spreading to North America with European settlers. Today, B&Bs exist worldwide, known by different names:
Pension (Europe, Asia, Middle East)
Pousada (Portuguese‑speaking countries)
Gasthaus (German‑speaking countries)
Minshuku (Japan)
While styles vary, the core idea remains: a warm bed, a hearty breakfast, and genuine human connection.
Travelers often pick B&Bs for reasons that go beyond price:
With fewer guests, innkeepers can tailor recommendations, remember your preferences, and make you feel like more than a booking number.
Rooms are often individually decorated, sometimes in historic buildings or themed styles — no cookie‑cutter layouts.
Breakfasts often feature regional specialties and locally sourced ingredients, giving you a taste of the area before you even leave the property.
Innkeepers are often deeply rooted in their communities, offering insider tips on attractions, dining, and events.
When you factor in breakfast, parking, Wi‑Fi, and the absence of resort fees, B&Bs can be competitively priced compared to hotels.
B&Bs come in many flavors, each appealing to different traveler types:
Historic Homes — Restored mansions or farmhouses with period furnishings.
Urban B&Bs — Townhouses or lofts in city centers.
Countryside Retreats — Rural escapes with gardens, trails, or working farms.
Waterfront Inns — Lakeside, riverside, or coastal properties.
Luxury B&Bs — High‑end amenities like spa services, gourmet dining, and concierge assistance.
Themed Stays — From literary‑inspired rooms to eco‑friendly lodges.
Individually styled, often with unique furniture and décor.
Many offer en‑suite bathrooms, though some may have shared facilities.
Lounges, libraries, gardens, or porches for guest use.
Spaces encourage mingling with other travelers.
Usually included in the rate.
Can range from continental spreads to full cooked meals.
Dietary accommodations often available with notice.
When booking, consider:
Location — Proximity to attractions, transport, or natural features.
Style & Atmosphere — Historic elegance, rustic charm, or modern minimalism.
Amenities — Wi‑Fi, parking, pet‑friendly policies, accessibility.
Reviews — Look for consistent praise on cleanliness, hospitality, and breakfast quality.
Policies — Check for minimum stays, cancellation terms, and check‑in times.
Book Direct — Many B&Bs offer better rates or perks when you book through their own website.
Ask Questions — Dietary needs, room specifics, or local recommendations.
Travel Off‑Peak — Enjoy lower rates and fewer crowds.
Consider Packages — Some B&Bs bundle stays with tours, dining, or event tickets.
Couples — Romantic settings, privacy, and special touches like champagne on arrival.
Solo Travelers — Safety, companionship, and a welcoming environment.
Families — Multi‑room suites, home‑style meals, and space to relax.
Business Travelers — Quiet workspaces, early breakfasts, and personal service.
Communicate Arrival Times — Many B&Bs don’t have 24‑hour reception.
Respect House Rules — Quiet hours, smoking policies, and shared space etiquette.
Be Courteous at Breakfast — Arrive within the serving window and engage politely with hosts and guests.
B&Bs are evolving with:
Online booking platforms
Sustainable practices (solar panels, farm‑to‑table menus)
Hybrid models blending traditional hosting with boutique hotel amenities
Yet the heart of the experience — personal connection — remains unchanged.
There are moments in life when a dream changes shape.
For us, this is one of those moments.
Years ago, we came to America carrying what so many people carry with them: hope, ambition, and a dream. We poured that dream into every corner of Sunnyside Sisters Bed & Breakfast — into the old wood floors, the guest rooms, the gardens, the breakfasts, the late nights, the laughter on the porch, and the quiet mornings with coffee before guests woke up.
This house became so much more than a business.
It became home.
Over the past years, we have met extraordinary people from all over the world. Some arrived as guests and left as friends. Others returned year after year until they felt like family. You helped turn an old Virginia estate into something alive again. Something warm. Something meaningful.
And for that, we will forever be grateful.
But life sometimes asks us to make difficult decisions — not because the dream failed, but because circumstances change.
Due to changing immigration realities and the growing uncertainty surrounding long-term residency options in the United States, we have made the deeply emotional decision to close this chapter of our lives and relocate to Spain.
This was not a quick or easy decision.
In many ways, this was our American Dream.
We did not just build a business here. We built a life. We restored not only a historic property, but also a part of ourselves along the way. Every room, every porch, every flower bed, every repaired window and painted wall carries years of hard work, sacrifice, hope, and love.
Especially over these last months, we have worked tirelessly to finish the complete renovation of the property — inside and out. Long days became late nights. Weekends disappeared into paint, repairs, landscaping, gravel, woodwork, chimneys, windows, porches, and countless finishing touches. We wanted Sunnyside Sisters to be everything we once dreamed it could be.
And somehow, just as we reached that finish line, we received one more incredible honor: being named Best of Virginia 2026 for the second year in a row.
That recognition touched us deeply.
Not because of the title itself, but because it felt like confirmation that all the years of hard work, hospitality, and heart truly meant something to the people who walked through our doors.
There is something bittersweet about finally completing a dream home, only to realize it is time to let it go.
With very mixed emotions, we will officially close our doors as of today, May 21th.
However, there will be one final exception: during the Lake Festival, we will open Sunnyside Sisters one more time. One last weekend filled with guests, laughter, lake memories, and everything that made this place so special to us over the years.
It feels only right that we say goodbye one final time surrounded by the energy and community we have loved so much.
Maybe that is also the beauty of old homes and old dreams: you care for them for a while, you leave your mark, and eventually you pass them on so someone else can continue the story.
We leave with full hearts.
Thank you to our guests.
Thank you to our friends.
Thank you to our family.
Thank you to everyone who supported us, stayed with us, recommended us, laughed with us, cried with us, and believed in us.
You made Sunnyside Sisters a success far beyond numbers, awards, or reviews.
You made it matter.
As emotional as this goodbye is, we are also looking ahead with hope. A quieter life awaits us in southern Spain, together with our dogs and cats, where we hope to build a new future surrounded by nature, simplicity, and perhaps — eventually — new adventures once again.
Sunnyside Sisters will always be part of us.
And we hope, in some small way, we became part of your story too.