Are you game to go to an inn?

Will 2008 be the year the kids have graduated from chain hotels on the interstate to that much more gracious mode of accommodation, the bed-and-breakfast? Take a look at Junior right now. If he's slapping his sister with one hand while examining the nether regions of his mucus membranes with the other, perhaps you can wait another year.

It's not as though the kids have to pretend they're in church or military school when staying at a bed-and-breakfast; they just have to realize it's someone's home and respect the property -- a fine lesson to learn, wouldn't you say?

And, no, there might not be a game room or a pool to prune up in all day, but there are the wonderful kinds of adventures that children should be having outdoors. A bonus is that you can trade in the land of breakfast buffets -- coagulated scrambled egg product, stale bagels and a passable cup of joe in the hotel buffet line -- for an early morning baby artichoke and goat cheese frittata with a cherry tomato ragu. (OK, that's for you. The bed-and-breakfast owners should ask what your children like and offer something delish for them, too.)

Consider choosing your first bed-and-breakfast experience from the Top 10 list of family-friendly bed-and-breakfasts in the nation according to www.BnBfinder.com.

Ease into the inn adventure at a place such as Mountain Top Inn and Resort in Chittenden, Vt. Offering tons of action, from ice skating, cross-country skiing and horse-drawn sleigh rides in the winter to a fantastic summer camp for kids, Mountain Top (www.mountaintopinn.com) is a classic four-season resort that started out as a barn on a turnip farm in the 1870s. Today, accommodations range from chalet homes to mountain cabins and lodge rooms and the resort offers a reasonable Winter Family Wonderland Package through March 31. Although not a traditional bed-and-breakfast, the proprietors offer guests the same level of attention that one would find at a smaller bed-and-breakfast and a full country breakfast is included in your room price. Call (800) 445-2100 for details.

For a genuine Vermont inn vacation, look to Wildflower Inn in Lydonville. Innkeepers and staff have been hosting families for nearly 20 years with a good mix of kids' activities, down time for parents and free time to discover this part of the planet together. Family vacation packages usually include discounted lodging, family fun (canoeing, skiing, art and more) and meals. Take a gander at http://wildflowerinn.com or ring (800) 627-8310.

If you've always wanted to visit mystical, magical Sedona, Ariz., but are waiting 18 or so years for the kids to grow up, this one's for you. Adobe Grande Villas is one of the only family-friendly inns in Sedona, with large rooms featuring both a pull-down Murphy bed and a king-sized bed (a crib is also available); themed rooms; a pool with a sloped entrance for the safety of younger kids and rooms stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks and -- get this -- fresh bread made in your villa for wonderful aromas.

Adults will appreciate the views of Sedona's famed red rocks; fireplaces; and the three-course breakfast and afternoon appetizers each day. Call (866) 900-7616 for reservations after you explore www.adobegrandvillas.com.

If you have a child attending Space Camp in Alabama in the coming year, consider checking into the Mountain Laurel Inn in Mentone (www.mountain-laurel-inn.com) with the rest of the family. Hike Desoto Falls State Park, explore Indian caves of Little River Canyon or horseback ride. Nestled in the woods on a canyon below DeSoto Falls, the bed-and-breakfast offers morning coffee outside each guest's door, followed by a full, family-style breakfast with fruit, homemade breads and creations such as breakfast pizza, huevos rancheros and decadent French toast. The number to call for reservations is (800) 889-4244.

Other top family-friendly bed-and-breakfasts on the list include the Elephant's Nest Bed & Breakfast in Nova Scotia, Canada, where kids are more than welcome, and those younger than 3 stay free; Anchorage's Alaska House of Jade that offers multiple beds in each room; and the Lost Whale Inn, near the ocean and the famous California redwoods.

For information on these and other inns suitable for your crew, go to www.BnBfinder.com/FamilyTravel.