A Staycation in Ditmas Park: Rugby Gardens B&B

If you've ever spent time in Ditmas Park, chances are you recognize Rugby Gardens, an iconically colorful Victorian home on Rugby Road. But did you know that the home serves as one of the neighborhood's many bed and breakfasts?

"It's a comfortable place to stay while traveling," said Sue Fishkin, owner of Rugby Gardens. "We have a lot of people coming to visit their kids at Pratt, Brooklyn College and NYU, and Europeans, Aussies and New Zealanders who like a quiet place."

Fishkin and her husband Michael Hurwitz opened their home as a B & B six years ago and haven't looked back since. "We have friends in the neighborhood who had been doing it for a while," she said.

The pair converted two bedrooms on their third floor to guest rooms when their eldest son and daughter moved out. "There's direct access to the third floor, and guests share a bathroom," Fishkin said.

"We totally redecorated the rooms. Each bedroom has a flatscreen television, DVD player and in the hall is a library of DVDs."

Guests are able to borrow the many New York travel books Fishkin makes available, as well as consult the guide of local restaurants in each bedroom.

In the morning, guests can take advantage of the continental breakfast prepared by Fishkin, who goest to great lengths to ensure each guest is comfortable with the food available.

"We try to accommodate everyone if they have special needs," she said. "You want people to have what they want."