WATERLOO -- Cedar Valley residents longing for a weekend in a cozy bed and breakfast need look no farther than their own state.

Some B&Bs are so close, they're practically next door.

After 14 years owning and operating Wellington Bed and Breakfast, Jim and Reatha Aronson still aren't sure why they decided to open the four-story home to the public.

""We're still trying to figure that out actually," laughs Jim.

"It's a historic home. With so much room, it doesn't need to be a single-family dwelling," says Reatha. "There are historical details in this home not found anymore."

The couple have been told by many guests that their four guest rooms rival those in Dubuque and Galena, Ill. The rooms are spacious, with some offering 700 to 800 square feet of space. A breakfast of teas, coffees, bread, fresh fruit and a hot dish is served not at one community table, but to couples in their own rooms.

"Men more than women, I think, enjoy the privacy. They're not as likely to want to sit and talk with everyone," says Reatha. She says there are many types of B and Bs, and most of the time, both local and out-of-town guests just want their privacy.

Dane Rasmussen and his wife, Jennifer, have owned the Carriage House Inn for three years, and most of their guests are local.

"I would say it's 70 percent local and 30 percent out of state," says Dane. "Most people think at a B and B you stay in someone's house and have to eat at their table, but we're a lot different than those B and B's."

The two rooms on the Rasmussen property have private entrances and baths, with made-from-scratch breakfast served direct to the room. Each antiques-furnished room also features a whirlpool bath, a gas fireplace and skylights, making a guest's stay far different from the same old hotel room.

"I can't imagine any nicer rooms," says Dane, who also works with guests to make their stay unique to them. Guests at Carriage House range from young to old.

"Most people don't really know what staying in a B and B is like. They don't want to stay in somebody's house," says Dane. "I'd be weary to stay in someone's house, too, but if I had a place to come to like ours, I'd jump on it in a minute."

Wellington Bed and Breakfast

Location: 800 West 4th St., Waterloo; 234-2993

Details: Each of the four rooms has its own character, with two rooms housing whirlpool baths. The home's woodwork and stained glass is original.

Rates: $75-$125

Dinner options: Breakfast is brought to the room, and includes an assortment of breads, coffees and teas, plus a hot dish.

Carriage House Inn

Location: 3030 Grand Blvd., Cedar Falls; 277-6724

Details: Each room has a private entrance and whirlpool bath.

Rates: $125

Dinner options: Owner and chef Dane Rasmussen provides a breakfast of morning delicacies like omelets, quiche or Belgian waffles in your room.

Brandt's Orchard Inn

Location: 1279 53rd Street, La Porte City; 342-2912

Distance: 21 miles

Details: Established in 1987, the inn features private sun room suites with traditional and antique furnishings. Cedar Valley Nature Trail and other Northeast Iowa attractions are nearby.

Rates: $65-$75

Dinner options: Features a large country breakfast.

River's Bend Bed and Breakfast

Location: 635 Park Avenue, Iowa Falls; (641) 648-2828

Distance: 56 miles

Details: Offers activities from golf to canoeing to a horse-drawn wagon ride; overlooks the Iowa River and Iowa Falls.

Rates: $79-$129

Dinner options: In-season fruits, freshly made breads or muffins, a hot entree and plenty of steaming coffee begins each day.

Ivy Rose Inn

Location: 624 Commercial, Box 424, Strawberry Point; (319) 933-4485

Distance: 65 miles

Details: Four tastefully decorated rooms located near Backbone State Park. Golf courses, museums, trout streams, snowmobile trails, antique shops and the Mississippi River are all within easy scenic driving.

Rates: $65-$75

Dinner options: Breakfast is included in the rate, though other meals are available.

The Mandolin Inn

Location: 199 Loras Blvd., Dubuque; (563) 556-0069

Distance: 91 miles

Details: The Inn gets its name from the unusual window on the first landing of the staircase, which pictures Saint Cecelia holding a mandolin. The dining room is the most magnificent in town, with a fantasy forest painted on the ceiling.

Rates: $85-$150

Dinner options: Gourmet breakfast provided