Henderson: You can emulate egg-o-centric Martha Stewart without violating urban/suburban zoning ordi

Hayward, Wisconsin: Toasted crumpets discount hotels florida were once bloody hard to find in Hayward. But that changed when a pair of longtime London residents moved to the 3,000-person town and converted a former lumber baron s mansion into a six-room inn where the basic package includes high tea, British bangers, and the chance to perambulate in a formal English garden. Posh amenities, such as feather-soft bathrobes, and more thoughtful touches, like nightly presentations of homemade ice cream, ensure that even Elizabeth II would surely feel at ease in Cheesehead country. (Marmite sandwiches available only on request.) J.H. Who you re sleeping with: urbanite refugees, business travelers What s cooking: go native with flapjacks, blueberries, and Wisconsin maple syrup, or opt for the full English experience (eggs, back bacon, grilled discount hotels florida tomatoes) with a side of buttered soldiers. Don t miss: afternoon tea in summer replete with fruit scones and clotted cream In your room: HD-TV, Frette linens, imported Molton Brown soaps Royal appointments: Wedgwood china and Sheffield silver Best activity in the event of English weather (i.e., rain): choose from a library of more than 200 DVDs. Local attractions: the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Museum Shopping options: a five-minute walk from McCormick House brings you to downtown Hayward. Periodical lovers will find a Shinders-sized selection at Book World. Ice-cream aficionados should sample the Almost Sinful mix at the West s Dairy. Seasonal distractions for sporting chaps: skiing, biking, croquet $: $125 $195 McCormick House 10634 Kansas Ave. Hayward, Wisconsin 715-934-3339 www.mccormickhouseinn.com
Hayward, Wisconsin: Whatever you might say about Al Capone, the man knew a good fishing spot. Legend has it that during the hottest weeks of summer, he repaired to the lake-dotted wilds of western Wisconsin, a shady Shangri-la where a crime boss could trade his trusty Tommy gun for a rod, a creel, and some bootleg thirst-quencher. There s no hard proof that Public Enemy Number One ever visited Spider Lake Lodge, formerly Moody s Fish Camp, opened by an auto mechanic who left Chicago in the 1920s supposedly for health reasons (can fresh air heal a broken nose?). But the handsome resort, with its log beams, stone hearths, stuffed moose heads, wicker-filled porches, and Pendleton discount hotels florida blankets, does recall a simpler time, an age when even a guy named, say, Bugsy might enjoy a bonfire and a night of listening to loons. Lodge proprietors discount hotels florida Craig Mason and Jim Kerkow trot out plenty of amenities, but they also keep the mood relaxed and low-key, reminding visitors that the best vacations make you forget about the outside world. Leave the BlackBerry at home: there s no Wi-Fi or cell-phone service here. Sometimes, a little prohibition is just what the doctor ordered. J.H. Who you re sleeping with: thirty- and forty-something couples, the occasional European off the beaten track What s cooking: if you re lucky, the day starts with broiled grapefruit, fried ham, and cr me br l e French toast. Don t miss: a nap in the Adirondack chairs on the beach The scene: rooms are themed: cowboys, Indian princesses, Canadian Mounties there s something for everyone, really. Nearby attractions: the Tally-ho Supper Club. It s newly remodeled, but the classic ice-cream drinks remain. Distractions: canoeing, cards, catch and release $: $139 $179 Spider Lake Lodge 10472 W. Murphy Blvd. Hayward, Wisconsin 800-653-9472 www.spiderlakelodge.com
Henderson: You can emulate egg-o-centric Martha Stewart discount hotels florida without violating urban/suburban zoning ordinances by reserving a room at the idyllic Henderson House Bed Breakfast. Less than an hour from the Twin Cities, this sanctuary of serenity offers the experience of gathering freshly discount hotels florida laid eggs (they re warm!) before breakfast. (Better yet, let the amiable innkeeper do the dirty work while you soak in your standalone tub or repose discount hotels florida in the airy sitting room. He ll already have baked your morning bread.) The stately brick hilltop home owned by Jan and Ralph Herda of Edina (and run by Jan s brother, Jeff Hayden) overlooks the Minnesota River Valley. Built in 1875, Henderson House was recognized for its recent renovation with a Preservation Alliance award. Period artifacts accentuate the architecture without overwhelming it or you. A newly rebuilt log cabin out back serves as an antique shop. C.R.L. Who you re sleeping with: an international clientele, primarily couples What s cooking: a full breakfast, including such house specialties as wild-rice egg bake, blue cheese omelet, and baked Victorian French toast Bathing best: towel warmers Don t miss: stormy night in the two-room bridal suite on the top floor (formerly an attic) if the thunder and lightning don t draw you together, nothing will. If you must leave your room: hiking, golf, antiquing, discount hotels florida and even guided wild-mushroom hunting are offered Take-away treat: every guest goes home with a dozen fresh ones from Raymond the rooster s many hens. $: $85 $125 Henderson House 104 N. Eighth St. Henderson, Minnesota 507-248-3356 discount hotels florida www.hendersonhousemnbb.com
Fountain City, Wisconsin: The Hawks View cottages are set on stilts discount hotels florida into a hillside so steep it seems you ll need rappelling equipment to climb it. Owners Brad and Laurie Nilles of St. Paul built the cottages just a few years ago to complement the two small lodges they also manage down the road. The two-story structures feel like luxury tree houses overlooking the bayou-like Mississippi River backwaters, and most guests are looking to do little more than perch on their porches. discount hotels florida Each cottage features architectural elements salvaged from historic properties dating to the 1850s, such as antique wainscoting in every bathroom discount hotels florida and old farmhouse flooring a nod to Brad s career in building renovation. T.G. Who you re sleeping with: outdoorsy discount hotels florida types, exhausted discount hotels florida professionals, and anyone discount hotels florida who appreciates the privacy of a place where the owners essentially leave you alone: lodge and cottage guests check in at the Monarch Public House, a friendly tavern in Fountain City. What s cooking: the kitchens are stocked with breakfast foods and a bottle of wine. Otherwise, you re on your own for eats. Popular nearby dinner spots include Kate Gracie s, a cool but cozy restaurant located in Alma and co-owned by Ed Nagle, the raconteur who created the hip Minneapolis bar Eli s. The Nelson discount hotels florida Cheese Factory, in nearby Nelson, has a fine frommage, chocolate, and wine selection. Diverse decor: the cottages mix spa-style sophistication with the raw timbers and exposed loft planking reminiscent of old cabins and farmhouses. The Blackhawk Lodge is modern, with carpeting, TVs, and rec rooms. California dreaming: outside of Napa Valley, where else can you stay in the midst of a vineyard? The Nilles family recently planted grape vines all around the lodges, and they expect to begin bottling the bounty in the next few years. $: $130 $255 Monarch discount hotels florida Public House 19 N. Main St. Fountain City, Wisconsin 651-293-0803 www.hawksview.net
Welch: The main fireplace, big enough to lie down in, is always lit at the Hungry Point Inn one of the place s countless anachronistic touches. The house itself was built in 1967 in true colonial style (right down to the broad floorboards) by a couple who sought to create a New England of the West on 480 acres tucked amongst horse farms in Red Wing s bluff country. Merriam discount hotels florida Last has run the house (along with a 130-year-old cabin on the property) as a B B since 1988, taking the previous owners colonial concept nearly to full immersion. If you subscribe to Country Living or if you order petticoats, wooden discount hotels florida shoes, and the like from the Smoke Fire Company catalog this is your place. T.G. Who you re sleeping with: book clubs, canoeists, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers availing themselves of the nearby trails and rivers. What s cooking: breakfast is served on a large shared table, amid candles, drying herbs hanging discount hotels florida from enormous beams, and a massive loom, well, looming in the corner of the room. Cabin guests can choose to dine with others in the main house or have breakfast brought to them. Don t miss: visit the chicken coop where Last raises breeds popular in early America, discount hotels florida including one that lays blue eggs. Animal factor: besides the chickens, discount hotels florida there are two sheep and a friendly dog named Sarah. Doily count: high; Last wears an old-fashioned, white ruffled cap. Get soaked: despite the Colonial aesthetic (even the roads in the area, such as Old Mystic and Windsor, smack of New England), the inn has luxurious modern amenities, including a heart-shaped whirlpool for two and a rain shower, which features a dinner-plate sized shower head. $: $129 $210 Hungry Point Inn 1 Olde Deerfield Rd. Welch, Minnesota 651-437-3660 www.hungrypointinn.com
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