The Lincoln House is a beautifully restored antebellum home. Built in 1833, it pre-dates the Civil…read moreWar by 30 years. I discovered this cozy old home quite by accident. Riding through the area on my motorcycle late on Sunday, October 12, 2014, I stopped in Columbus, MS for fuel and lodging. I pulled over and consulted Yelp. First I looked for a Courtyard Marriott. But it occurred to me that there must be some attractive B & Bs in this quaint little town. But it was after 7:00 and I thought I would be out of luck. I called the number for Lincoln House and left a brief message for "Brenda," inquiring about availability. Not knowing whether I would hear back, I set off for the Courtyard. I was at the lobby counter and about to pay for a room when Brenda returned my call. I'm sure glad she did. She said I could stay at the Lincoln House and suggested I have a little dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse first. She gave me directions to her home, and when I arrived she was waiting at the curb with a lantern to help me see where exactly to pull over. While the home is beautiful and filled with fine antiques, the best thing about this place is the hostess, Brenda Caradine. This was Sunday. The day before, the Mississippi State Bulldogs had secured their place as #1 in College Football for week eight. Every place within a hundred miles had been swarmed with visitors. But everyone had cleared out by the time I showed up. So I had the whole house to myself. (The Caradines live in Sid's ancestral home next door.) Brenda has that wonderful old South persona. And she must be the world's foremost raconteur on the person of Tennessee Williams, who hailed from Columbus. She's collected TW memorabilia from all around and is curator of his boyhood home, now the Visitor Center for Columbus. She hosts a TW festival here annually in September. So be prepared for wonderful southern hospitality--an uplifting encounter with a gracious hostess, a restful night, and a hopeful outlook the first morning of your stay in Columbus.

My sister and I were two of the final guests in this award winning restored carriage house filled…read morewith exquisite antiques, I can truthfully say that my stay was restful, educational, and entertaining. Much of the original structure of this fine home was visible on every wall, newel, post and step, yet all the modern conveniences needed for a comfortable sojourn were readily available - even WiFi! My sister and I were treated to a sumptuous breakfast in the formal upstairs dining room amid a veritable sea of antique tableware and decor. The spacious porches and decks allowed a peaceful and cool view of the surrounding garden and the remains of a brick smokehouse and dairy room (along with the remnants of the brick necessary). The epicurian breakfast, prepared by the owner himself, Mr. Sid Caradine, was far beyond expectation and was accompanied by a verbal history of the home which was originally a carriage house built by an ancestor of Mr. Carradine before being sold to the Lincoln family. The only down side of this visit was learning that due to health issues, the Caradine's have decided to sell this fine lady. I asked what would be done with the furnishings and was told that all but some personal items would go with the house. The most unbelievable - almost surreal - information was the asking price for this property of over 3,000 sq. ft. Can you believe that it is less than $400K? I think that I heard that the price was about $88/sq ft. You cannot build a new, less substantial,home today for near that amount and I could not even venture to guess the value of all the antiques. If I were in good enough health myself, I would be scrambling to obtain financing to buy it myself. I can only hope that someone who will appreciate her unique history and charm will be led to make her theirs and continue her grand heritage.

This is our B&b and several folks have told us about the reviews on Yelp.com--not able to…read moreaccess--please show us how--Brenda Caradine

When we arrived, we were greeted by the owner, Laird, a friendly and helpful host. As we chatted,…read moreit turned out there wasn't going to be any breakfast the next morning, since they're not set up for that. So we went to the Piggly Wiggly and bought what we needed for the 3 mornings we were going to be there, which suited us fine, because we don't enjoy typical American B&B fare; but it left us wondering why the place calls itself a B&B. It should be just a B. There is a nice big kitchen with a microwave, a fridge, a stove top for everyone to use and all the plates and mugs you'll ever need. There's also no one to clean and make the beds; that too didn't bother us much, but it's kind of unusual. A caveat: several rooms don't have their own bathrooms, but a shared one for which, in order to access it, one has to walk through another one's bedroom. It's a nice old house, but it's been quite neglected over the years. It could use some TLC. And I think the fact that it smelled very moldy inside, at least in part, comes from the fact that not a single window is operable (they've all been nailed or painted shut); so there's no way to move fresh air through the house. Nice furnishings in many rooms.

Driving through Alabama we called up this B&B last minute. Laird was very polite and accommodating,…read morehe gave us a tour of the beautiful home when we arrived. Great nights sleep, would highly recommend for anyone traveling through Greensboro.

I definitely plan to return to these folks. I went on business, but I am going back for the…read moreColumbus Pilgrimage, and I want to stay here. The week I was there, a tornado blew through. A tree went over and tore up the gas main--so no gas. MANY trees went over so no electricity. All the other poor schmucks with my employer stayed in motels--and their card locks didn't work!! But me? These folks cooked me a lovely beans & ham dinner over the wood stove, then poured wine, lit cigars, and we sat by candle light and told long stories and colorful lies all evening. They are SO interesting, and fun. They were high-school sweethearts. The place is FULL of antiques--most from their ancestors. She has a self-portrait done by her great-great-grandmother that's a nude!! From about 1865! Done in Paris, where the family went to avoid the "hostilities." If you stay in Columbus, you must find someone to fill you in on local gossip--what a town!

My husband and I stayed at the Cole House in Philadelphia. This is the first B&B we have ever…read morestayed in and with my future aspirations to own one, I figured now is as good of time as ever to start staying in a few to get some ideas (not that I don't have enough of those). We really enjoyed the Cole House. The inkeepers and owners, The Waltons are very friendly and welcoming hosts. We stayed in the Cottage, which is a private little room w/a porch and bathroom behind the main house. It is close to the casinos if you are interested in heading up to play some cards, catch a concert, or check out a buffett. Very quaint, clean, and full of all kinds of antiques. The main dining room is large for many guests to enjoy meals together. Across from the B&B is a lovely gazebo in a large park area, which could be great for a small wedding party also. All in all, very good first B&B experience!

LOL... When your destination is Columbia, MS and you book a hotel in Columbus, MS; things can get…read morepretty weird! Those two cities are about 180 miles (about a three hour drive) apart. Fortunately, the Front Desk Agent and General Manager at the Columbus Hampton Inn were more concerned about getting me where I needed to be then preserving another room-night booking. They immediately agreed to cancel my hotel reservation whiiendoneservation and help me find a Hilton property in/near

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Columbus this week. The rooms were clean and comfortable. The…read moremanager was very helpful to suggest the best places to eat. We charged our Tesla overnight at one of their three chargers. Very convenient!