When I think about B&Bs, I think Laura Ashley-floral knockoff motifs, a surplus of squashy pillows,…read moreand VCR tapes of heartwarming B-movies, peppered with potpourri. In a quest to enjoy an inexpensive staycation with my then-boyfriend last winter, I felt challenged to find a Bed and Breakfast in the Twin Cities area that didn't cater to Anglophile fantasies of rooming in a life-size doll house. I'm still young and hip, dammit! I found Dutch Lake Farm Guest House to be the anti-thesis of my B&B stereotype. Its website, while visually blinding, was thorough in information, although they neglect to mention they have WIFI. "But Melissa L.," you ask, "isn't the point of going to a B&B to escape the daily terrors of technology?" For me, the answer is no. But I digress. Making a reservation was pretty straight forward: you call or email, confirm they have an opening, and you mail part of the amount as a deposit. It's surprisingly low-tech, and perhaps they should do web-reservations for the more tech-minded, but it'll do for now. The guest house itself is over a garage, which is right next to owners Greg and Christie Wood's house. I really enjoyed the look, it was modern and not fussy at all.The ceilings are high and the decor is minimal. A lot of the furnishing are from IKEA, so you get the idea. The large window in the living area faces the woods; it's a gorgeous view. It was nice to sit on the sofa and watch the sky get dark while drinking a glass of bubbly. I went in the middle of January last year, and it was DAMN COLD. They have snowshoes for you, so it was nice to trek around and look at their Christmas tree farm, which is now operating. The area is rural, but I enjoyed the isolation. If you ski, the Luce Line trail is now completed so you can do that. There is shopping in nearby Buffalo, but I'm not interested in doodads or antiques. I should have brought more books or rented skis for the weekend. There's probably a greater deal of things to do in the summer. Amenities-wise, there is a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and some silverware and plates. If you want to bring your own food, make sure to bring a cutting board and a knife. You'll have to rinse stuff out in the sink. Also, while they do supply bottled water, it doesn't hurt to bring your own. The Wood's served a great brunch, with an entire quiche and some badass rum cakes. They were pretty friendly on the phone and through the visit. Negatives: The water smells strongly of sulfur or something, so I had a hard time washing my face without smelling like eau de farts. It does get a bit chilly at night - being over a garage will do that - but they provide plenty of blankets. It's about a two-hour drive from Minneapolis, so not too far and not too close. I'd go again for a cheap staycation, but would probably do it in the summertime in order to take advantage of the outdoors.

My husband and I stayed here last night, and it was truly magical. The farm is beautiful and…read moreremote, just right for snowshoeing in newly fallen snow. We felt right at home and were warmly welcomed. The breakfast was fantastic (quiche, fruit and coffee) and delivered to us right on time. The owner even removed the snow from our car for us. Can't wait to go back in the summer!

Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to meet the owner of this B & B, not sure if it would have…read moremade a difference in our experience or not. She was pleasant and friendly over the phone when I made our room reservation. I will say most of the B & B's I've enjoyed, was partially because we had a chance to get to know the owners a bit and see how passionate they were about making a great B & B experience for everyone who stayed with them. So, maybe I've just been spoiled a bit by the extent of the services and amenities others offer, but that's my comparison. What this place does have going for it, is it's location. However depending on where your room is, you'll hear the traffic noise as this is located on a busy street. Also, the fact that there isn't really much else around lodging accommodations limits your choices for this area. There is private parking for guests. The room was clean and comfortable. It was lacking the extra little touches that many travelers have come to appreciate from bed & breakfast operators-shampoo, blower dryer, complementary water or soda, glassware or plasticware instead of dixie cups in the room. Self service coffee, tea and microwave popcorn was available in the dining area. For the price of the rooms, the little extra touches might have helped.

A very pleasant stay, and I am not a fan of B&B's because I have to, you know... socialize, and I…read moream not an extrovert. But hey, our hosts were relaxed and friendly, and the folks we sat down with to breakfast had fun stories to tell. The rooms are idiosyncratic but charming. The bathrooms: just idiosyncratic, but they worked. Breakfasts on the weekends were more elaborate and tasty, and on weekdays simpler but adequate. I get the feeling this may vary with the number of guests. The Birdhouse is on a "busy" intersection which is no big deal because Excelsior is a pretty quiet little town; and a charming one. You are a walk away from good shops and restaurants. You are a very short walk from Lake Minnetonka and its activities. The Porch and grounds are delightful. If you get the right weather for it, lazing outside could be a delicious experience, with an elevated view of the neighborhood. Of course, getting bearable weather (not too many mosquitoes, not too much heat and humidity, not 5 degrees below zero, can take scheduling and luck. In the winter, I imagine the large parlor would be very inviting. So a point off for the various weird bathrooms, which were all functional but awkward, but all in all, I will be staying there again, the next time I visit relatives.

At the recommendation of a supplier, I stayed here one night on a recent business trip and was very…read morepleasantly surprised. My first impression from the outside was that it was a sketchy operation- especially after finding out that the tavern employees assist with checkin. However the rooms turned out to be very spacious and comfortable and the little upstairs sitting area was very nice. I certainly can't say enough good things about the amazing bbq restaurant and tavern downstairs. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating and the food was truly first class. They smoke their meats in a giant smoker behind the tavern so guests can stand on the rear balcony and take in the aromas of smoky bbq deliciousness. I would definitely stay here on a future trip through MN.

This is one of those reviews - that you really don't want to write. Not because you had a bad…read moreexperience - quite the opposite. Because you don't want anyone to know about one of the best kept secrets in Minnesota! But because I wish them absolutely all the best - I MUST tell the world about one of the best Stay-cations I have ever had... I booked a room here last summer to get away by myself for some R&R. I've been looking to book again, and am happy to say that the prices have not gone up. Each room is $139- $149 a night, and is worth e v e r y p e n n y. This is not your typical Bed and Breakfast, nor is it a typical hotel. The gracious owners own an upscale BBQ restaurant downstairs, and run the Inn upstairs. Breakfast is served off their menu down in the restaurant - and was absolutely fantastic. I had a delicious chocolate chip scone and coffee, with spicy breakfast potatoes, eggs, and toast. They were extremely accommodating, and said I could order whatever I pleased. I sat on their back patio all by myself and it was - heaven. The rooms - OH THE ROOMS. You'd be hard pressed to find a hotel this nice anywhere nearby. They were clean, updated, and they spared no expense. There was a separate powder room, a huge luxurious whirlpool tub, and over-sized shower. The bed was large and comfy, and I fell asleep at night to the in-room electric fireplace. There was not one, but TWO flat screen tv's, and a beautiful marble sink/vanity area. The room also included a mini-fridge and a Keurig stocked with Caribou Coffee. The rooms were spic-and-span, and HUGE. There is even access to the shared back-porch. The inn-keepers were friendly and offered to give me suggestions of what to do in the area. Head down a few blocks to the main street and you will find plenty to do. There is also a wonderful winery about 8 minutes away called Chankaska Creek. If the guest book in the room is any indication, I am not the only one who has enjoyed my stay at the Konsbruck. It felt like a luxury to even be standing in that bathroom. I have been day-dreaming about returning ever since I left!!

Best place to stay in New Ulm. Beautiful old house, warm and friendly family hosts. Comfortable…read morebed, nice linens. Superb breakfast. What more could you ask for?

Wow, great B&B! House is beautiful, rooms are well done, food is great, lots of little extras and…read morehosts offer great hospitality! Highly recommend!

Amazing Private Bed and Breakfast. Exclusive clientele consisting of family and friends.read more

Out of all the houses in Minnesota, this one is my favorite. Formerly the Hunt House, this…read morerenovated B&B is filled with charm, light, and thoughtful touches. I found this spot randomly when I came to Mankato for my birthday, and couldn't be happier. Breakfast is always delicious, and owners are experienced hospitality folk who go above & beyond to take care of their guests. I stayed in the Free Press Room, and my one friend who was visiting home also took a staycation and occupied the Worlds Fair room next door. Both were very comfortable, tastefully decorated, had an Google Home thingy that we learned to use . Plus, lovely bath products. They have recently added a second house for large group stays, which is a great option for "spillage" during larger family events (Ie, weddings, reunions, family vacations). Thank you for a wonderful stay, and keep up the great work!

We stayed at Moulin Rouge's house on a Monday night in late June. It was a last-minute decision…read moremade while we were still on the road in the evening, looking for a place to stop. Crhis answered the phone and had the good news that he had two rooms for our party of three, with the dog. He only asked that we don't let the dog go on top of, the bed, which we don't anyway at least when I'm around. It turned out that we were the only guests at Moulin Rouge that day. Kris said that typically, it's completely full during the weekend. As a testimony to that, he is still had a tent set up for a wedding party, and he was folding it when we arrived. Then her house is gorgeous and immaculately clean. I wiped up water after my dog, drank from her bowl and spilled a little on the floor. The napkin I used for that came back spotless white. The multiple course warning meal does not happen on weekdays, only on weekends. However, Chris still prepared yogurt parfaits for us and had a bunch of watermelon in the fridge. He also set up multiple baked goods and breakfast bars for us in the kitchen, ready for us to eat next morning. We opted to eat some of them that same evening. He also offered us to take whatever drinks were in the refrigerator, and we were able to store our stuff in the kitchen fridge as well. The windy Terry guys live upstairs to our rooms. Crhis unlocked our two rooms, and the other two or three rooms remain locked. Our rooms were connected, so we used them as a suite. The smaller room had a closet with a small refrigerator, which we didn't use because we had the downstairs kitchen with fridge our exclusive use. There were three bathrobes in the closet, and they used one of them. The bathroom was beautiful, with a shower and a very nice bathtub with bath salts out on the bench hanging across the tub. The water pressure was great in the shower, and the bath was very relaxing. There were bottles of water in each room with nice crystal glasses next to them. The house had a nice deck outside furniture, tables and sofas, and armchairs. There was also a beautiful small yard with yet another table and chairs, and a small vegetable garden. We had our breakfast in the courtyard outside, and our dog enjoyed the grassy area with bunnies hopping across once in a while the evening was hot, and there were fireflies in the air. Chris told us about. The area had flood issues, with landslides that week, so we couldn't get to see the Riverbank because they blocked the access due to dangers of mudslides. Still, we enjoyed a short evening walk with our dog in the neighborhood. Crhis pointed out that there was a house on their block were a famous writer of Betsy used to live on. He even pulled out one of the Betsy books that my 11 year old and I read together. My sophisticated 11 year-old First said she didn't really care for the book, but eventually, we both found it charming and enjoyed it. I also enjoyed listening to Chris story of how he ended up running the bed-and-breakfast. Apparently, he used to run an Eco hotel in Belize, where he met his wife who came as a guest. He followed her to Minnesota, where he went into the hospitality business. I think he works at one of the larger hotels, but a day, and also runs this bed and breakfast. His experience in hospitality business shows in how thoughtful the amenities are set up, and how clean the whole place is. All in all, it was the best hotel experience we have had while driving from Duluth, Minnesota back home to Berkeley, California. We usually don't stay in bed and breakfast, so this experience encouraged us so much that we tried another bit of breakfast, and Keystone, that had a great reviews, but it was far from the Moulin Hey Jeannie asked how we gonna celebrate July 4 and what they can bring Moulin Rouge experience. By the way, the reason why the place is called Moulin Rouge is because the house used to be a beauty parlor that had that name. He kept the name and the sign over the door, and the red tones in the decor go well with the Moulin Rouge theme.

This is our fourth time staying at Winowannastay and we had a BLAST!…read moreWent with four of our friends to bottle the wine we made last year. Janet and Bruce are the best hosts in the world!! They are just amazing and think of all the special touches that make guests feel welcome and appreciated! Thank you and we'll be back!

Words can't tell you how special this little hidden gem is! You mouth will drop with all the…read moregorgeous, detailed & creative artistic designs in this home. Each room has its own theme-not a single inch of the house isn't thought out & special & unique!!!! Clean comfortable with a lovely beautiful backyard oasis. The best part is the hospitality of the owners & couple who own& share their special lovely home & the stories & life experiences they've had. You will NOT be disappointed with your time & stay here. I can't wait to go back & share it with other family & friends Jen B

While the house itself was pretty, that was the only positive aspect of my stay. The rooms were…read moremuch smaller than they appeared online, and there were cobwebs in several areas of the home. Overall, the experience was not worth the $250 per night price. Breakfast was served at 9:00 AM, and when I arrived, there was only a single plate of food prepared specifically for me. It appeared to have already been made and needed to be reheated. There were no additional options available, such as fruit, muffins, or other choices. I was not informed in advance that 9:00 AM was the only time breakfast would be served or that there would be no alternatives. For the price, this location did not meet expectations. I would not return and would not recommend it to others. You can spend your money elsewhere and have a much better experience.

Lovely! I booked the Dayton Room in the penthouse for the night before my wedding. It was a last…read moreminute purchase and I was very pleased with the results. I didn't want a generic hotel room so the New Victorian Mansion allowed me to have comfort as if I was in my own home. Some of my favorite highlights include: wrap around front porch, view of the Cathedral, large bathroom with a nautical theme, breakfast in the dining room and overall peacefulness and serenity of the space. Upon arrival, there is a free parking lot wrapped around the building and a main entry (you'll ring the doorbell) to get access to your room key pad number and front door code. Depending on what wing and room you stay in, you will travel either inside or out and have the option for both if you stay in the penthouse. The mansion is separated by two sections and anyone staying in the penthouse is on an opposite wing of the building. There is no elevator in the penthouse and it's clearly advertised online so you'll know what to expect in advance without any surprises. The penthouse is technically meant for large group gatherings as there is only shared 1 bathroom. Contrary, I saw others in the penthouse when I was there and we never overlapped on bathroom use. I enjoy the New Victorian because you can customize how you want to stay whether that is luxurious or a more modern dorm style. No matter what you choose, the common shared spaces in each wing are adorable being it's all a mansion. Even the penthouse kitchen was just enough with every accommodation possible: Nespresso machine, coffee cups, wine glasses, blender, fridge, pots, pans, etc. While I only stayed one night and had to depart early, I couldn't fully enjoy the breakfast as I was in rush mode to get married. Contrary, the staff accommodated a slightly early meal for me which was very thoughtful. Rating this a 4 as there is some generic wear and tear, missing paint, carpet stains, and cleaning supplies and cords in the open spaces. With some paint, hiding of tools, carpet stain remover, small porch sweeping with added flowers, this would get a 5 star. My understanding is that there are new owners so perhaps repairs are all in the works after being handed off? Don't be fooled: the place is clean but it looks more dirty due to the slight repairs that need to be done to keep the upscale vibe going.

Very lovely, very comfortable, and the host Chad went above and beyond to make sure my stay was…read moregreat. Really appreciate Nicolin Mansion and recommended highly.

I stayed at the Nicolin Mansion for a wedding and was super impressed. The room was super…read morecomfortable and clean, and the common areas and patio were great to relax in. Owners Chad and Laura were very responsive and helpful with everything from advice on local restaurants and sights to the delicious breakfast the next morning. I would definitely recommend staying here!

My wife and I stayed here on a Friday evening. I booked the Sunroom based on the photos on the…read morewebsite. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. The interior was clean and bright. Our hostess Amber was very nice and helpful. Breakfast was tasty and plentiful. The bed and chairs were comfortable. The only real negative is that the building is next to a busy street and it can be a bit noisy with the windows open. All in all I can recommend this place as a change from chain motels, but I am not sure the location makes it ideal for a romantic getaway.

What a wonderful place to stay. They have done so much work to make the place homey and…read morecomfortable. Very reasonably priced, and the breakfast was marvelous. Amber was a sweetheart and made us feel welcome and at home. We will be back.