The Mill House Inn is a luxurious B&B in East Hampton, New York that features four guest rooms and six suites. There is also a four-bedroom cottage you can rent. The inn is mere steps from great shopping, dining and art galleries in East Hampton Village. The Mill House Inn is only minutes from the beach and offers dog-friendly and child-friendly suites. Innkeepers Sylvia & Gary Muller answered several questions for us about why they love being innkeepers, what makes their inn unique, and why their location is so special. Read on for the interview.

1. What do you enjoy most about being an innkeeper?
What I enjoy most about being an innkeeper is watching our guests relax. After even one night in our heavenly feather beds and about half-way through our amazing breakfast, you can already see the difference. And after a few days? Wow!

2. How long have you been an innkeeper?
My husband Gary and I have owned The Mill House Inn for 11 years now.  He had always been a chef and restaurateur, and it was always one of his dreams to own an inn. But for me, coming from the international television business, it was a whole new life.

3. What was your inspiration for your creating your inn?
Both of us were at transition periods in our career. We had a weekend home in Montauk and we were commuting back and forth from the city.  We wanted to find a way to make a living in a place we wanted to be.  Gary suggested buying an inn, and it felt right both as a lifestyle choice and as a business venture.

4. Why did you choose this inn and this city?
We had been looking for an inn primarily in Southern Vermont or the Adirondacks when The Mill House Inn came up on Bill Oates' website.  Gary had known Bill for years and trusted him, and this appeared to be the perfect opportunity. It was practically in our backyard, we knew the area, and since location is everything, where better to be than in the heart of the Hamptons?

5. What sets your B&B apart from others?
When we bought The Mill House Inn, we recognized that there were no lodging establishments in the area commensurate with the caliber of the residents and reputation of the area. We set out to build our facility, services, breakfast, and reputation to compete with the very best boutique hotels in the world.

6. Why do you think travelers should choose B&Bs over hotels?
Staying in an owner-operated inn or B&B offers a very different experience than even the finest hotel provides--the personal style, close relationship, intimate service, and attention to detail that a good innkeeper offers can turn a "guest" into part of the family. At The Mill House Inn we make a point of welcoming our guests "home."

7. Does your B&B have any special history?
Our house was built in 1790 by the Parsons family, one of the early families that settled East Hampton in 1648. In 1846 the ship Catherine out of Liverpool was wrecked off the coast of Amagansett. All of the passengers (refugees from the potato famine) were rescued but lost what few possessions they had brought with them.  Most of the survivors traveled west for the Gold Rush, but Patrick Lynch was offered a job on Colonel Parsons' farm. He obviously thrived in East Hampton, as he was later able to purchase our house and, in 1896, raise the roof from the original Salt Box to the current Gambrel., Apparently there was no Catholic Church in the area and mass was held in the Lynch house every other week, with the congregation spilling out into the yard trying to hear the sermon through the windows.

8. What makes your town worth visiting—are there any interesting local attractions or activities?
East Hampton, the jewel of the world renowned Hamptons, is known as the playground of the rich and famous.  Our ocean beaches are considered amongst the most beautiful in the world. Less well known is the fact that over 65% of the town is preserved green land, ensuring the beauty of the area, the quality of the air and water and the pristine vistas for generations to come.  There is also a year-round cultural community with world-class theaters, galleries, antiques, restaurants, and shops just steps away.  Did I mention the wineries? The Hamptons International Film Festival? The Hampton Classic Horse Show? A wind-swept walk on the beach in the winter? There is so much more--come stay at The Mill House Inn and we will help you plan the perfect itinerary just for you.

9. Do you have any food specialties?
Gary's breakfast (our guests call it "THE Breakfast") received a 28 in Zagats. There are over 26 items on the menu, all cooked to order. Lobster frittata, Sylvia's egg nog French toast, home-cured salmon scramble, and so much more on the menu. Too much to choose from!

10. Do you have any special offers coming up?
In the winter we do run last minute availability specials.  Every year in February we feature "The Ten Days of Valentines." Realizing that not everyone can get away for that romantic day, we extend the opportunity with complimentary red roses, chocolate-covered strawberries, and breakfast delivered to your luxurious suite throughout the week.  We hope to see you then!

Faith and Robert Kraemer are the owners and innkeepers of Hilltop Manor Bed & Breakfast in Hot Springs, AR. Besides operating an inn with incredible history, Faith serves superb gourmet breakfasts each morning. The five-room Craftsman style B&B was built in 1890 and beautifully restored in 2005. It sits on over 5 acres of land that border the National Park Forest. Read on for an interview we had with Faith about what makes Hilltop Manor unique and why the city of Hot Springs has so much to offer.

1. What do you enjoy most about being an innkeeper?
There is no doubt in my mind that it is our guests.  When we chose to open the inn I thought it would be no commute, choosing my own schedule, working for myself, etc.  But now that I have been an innkeeper I realize that by far I continue to do so because we have incredible guests.  I love to hear where they’ve traveled and lived, what their special occasion may be, and I am honored when they retell their experience at Hilltop Manor to others through a review.  It feels great to know that you’ve been able to make someone else’s day a little easier.

2. How long have you been an innkeeper?
Hilltop Manor is my first inn, and I opened it from scratch in November 2005.  So the time has flown, and I now have over five years of innkeeping to my name.

3. What sets your B&B apart from others? 
This is easy; it is the history at Hilltop Manor that no one can recreate and my food. Hilltop Manor is ensconced by the National Park Forest and the property has hidden gems of the spring house, barn, retail shop, stone horse trough and yards and yards of stone wall that creates a feeling you’ve step back in time.

4. What is your inn’s history?  
Hilltop Manor was built in the Craftsman style in 1890 by a bachelor named Mose Klyman.  Mose lived in Hot Springs during the time that the gangsters ran the city.  He was involved in gambling and was even said to have Al Capone over to the property to gamble when the officials weren’t cooperating.  Before Mose purchased the property, it was used as a dairy farm.  It is said during the 1870s that Jesse James hid in the barn to get away from the cops during one of his stagecoach robberies.

5. What makes your town worth visiting—are there any interesting local attractions or activities?
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas is a great place to visit.  First of all, we are a city and a National Park wrapped into one; needless to say we have miles of hiking trails for you to explore at all different levels.  Historic bathhouse row can’t be missed; there are still eight original bathhouses situated in the historic downtown waiting for you to enjoy them.  The Fordyce is a city museum, the Ozark is a contemporary art museum, the Quapaw was completely renovated and now offers mainstream spa services but also the soak in the Thermal Pools of Hot Springs Mineral Water that the city is named for. The Buckstaff is the only bathhouse that has been continuously running since 1912 and still performs the bathing experience much as they did back then.  Garvan Woodland Gardens is also a place that can’t be missed, with gorgeous botanical gardens and an incredible holiday lighting display with over 1.8 million lights.  Oaklawn Park is another gem that has entertained guests for over 100 years, offering live horse racing January-April and simulcast racing plus a casino year round. We also have several lakes closeby for boating, swimming, fishing and relaxing.  Add the convention center, hilarious St. Patrick’s Day Parade, documentary film festival, and music festivals of all kinds, plus great restaurants, and you have a place that you shouldn’t miss.

6. Do you have any food specialties?
Breakfast is always an event at Hilltop Manor, but I believe our most requested item is our French vanilla crème with triple berries on top. I believe in a making breakfast recipes that are a notch up from basic--for example, instead of scrambled eggs, I will make a frittata. Instead of an omelet, I will make a quiche with escalloped pineapples and Chambord strata.  The items are just a step up from the basics, so you still feel comfortable with the food.  Recipes are created from scratch each morning with the best ingredients; this changes my meal from breakfast to an event.

7. Do you have any special offers coming up? 
We always have specials coming up.  A great one for a cozy winter retreat is our “Roasting & Toasting Marshmallows and Our Love at Hilltop Manor” special. Enjoy delightful, delectable s’mores! You will be served a tray which includes all you need to make s’mores in your private suite by the fireplace.  There is no better way to relax into the evening than with chocolate dripping off your fingers and a special person by your side. This package includes a complimentary bottle of chilled champagne, wine, or non-alcoholic sparkling cider. Based on a two-night stay in the deluxe suite of your choice (based on availability) with two-person Jacuzzi, elegantly plated breakfast and afternoon snack each day.  Restrictions may apply. Expires February 10, 2011. Call 501-625-7829 to book.