Now this is the way a bed and breakfast should be. Relaxed and cozy and spotless. The host and her…read morehusband interact with the guest during breakfast and they are a pair of the loveliest people you could ever want to meet. I have not enjoyed a more intriguing conversation any where. And its all about being real and acceptance and trying to see the world as someone else's eyes who is from some place totally opposite of your own.

Attended the Friday Night Valentines Day Dinner at Sylvia's Irish Inn. A beautiful Bed and…read moreBreakfast. A beautiful home. The atmosphere was very nice for dinner with a talented violinist for background accompaniment. The food was absolutely delicious. And I got to see an old co-worker, employee and friend. Thanks Ernie and Sylvia for a wonderful evening, for the extra piece of Cheesecake and Flowers for Kathleen.

I highly recommend The Gibson House Bed & Breakfast in Gibson City, IL. Beautiful home and…read moreaccommodations. The owners were wonderful and the breakfast was delicious!

First impression: WOW! How many times can you say to your friends and family that you stayed in a…read moregrain bin? It's incredible how transformed it is inside! Marcia is a wonderful hostess. Very flexible, welcoming and great conversationalist! She called to make sure we arrived all right since we were getting in late, and gave us plenty of breakfast options for the morning. It was gorgeous to see the moon out the window in the bedroom loft and be away from the city lights. We even woke up to birds happily chirping right outside our window, too! The silo is quite roomy, perfect for quiet getaways away from the noise of modern day life. There are modern amenities like a TV, but why bother when you can enjoy snuggling around the ironcast fireplace? We will definitely be recommending this once in a life time experience to all Starved Rock/outdoor adventurers!

One day, I was abducted. No need to be sorry for me; I had…read moreactually been warned in advance by an "anonymous" letter which was signed "The Bridal Shower Gang". My friends had indeed decided to take me away from my groom-to-be for a weekend to be just-us-girls together. They set their choice on a rustic retreat, far from the city and all the book-induced headaches that we all shared as students/instructors at U of C. So after a little ride in Mimi's old faithful we arrive in the outskirts of Ottowa and park in front of a silo. The weather is really grey, a cold wind is blowing and we are welcome by Marcia, the lady of the house. Emmanuelle quickly leaves us behind to go say hi to Mary-go-round, the local mare while we patiently listen to Marcia explaining all the high and lows of the area. If you don't know where to go, what to do or what to eat - she's definitely your woman and an endless well of information............ The premises are nice but not fancy. The silo we stayed in was newly renovated and it showed - there's a neat mezzanine with a queen size bed and a couple pieces of furniture, a adorable bathroom and a lot of kitchen amenities (microwave, fridge, a burner, glasses, etc.) and a wood-burning stove - which was much appreciated in this cold November weekend! There's also an AC unit for the summer months. Overall it's a cool place to hang out - but you have not to mind sleeping in the bathroom or on a bench under the window....if it sounds weird, it's because it is! I also have to mention the dozen or so of dead flies by the upstairs window...I didn't mind them but I would understand if some people don't enjoy their company that much. If you decide to go pay a visit to Marcia, the silo is your best bet. The little house where my other friends stayed didn't sound too appetizing, and even rural charm has its limits: the three of them had to share the bed because the couches were covered with mouse excrement.... and it really looked worn out, like an old hunting hut which hasn't known the loving touch of a woman for years. Almost everything was forgotten though the next morning around breakfast which was plentiful, satisfying and filled with the purrs of Simba, the most adorable and social cat we had ever seen..... It is 10 minutes away from Starved Rock State Park and it really makes you forget the hustling and bustling of the city. And Miss Illinois slept there!!! If THAT is not an argument!!!

This is a lovely bed and breakfast right in the heart of the downtown center of Pontiac! It is…read moreabundantly clear the owners really paid attention to detail in converting the home to the inn. The entire second floor has the four rooms available to guests and they have several with their own baths. We were the only guests that night, so it was super quiet! The first floor is where the yummy breakfast is served and Sharon goes all out with so many choices on what you can eat! Her waffles with fresh fruit were out of this world and the presentation makes you feel like a queen. I would defnitely recommend staying here to pamper yourself - even if just on a trip home or on your way to somewhere else instead of a destination getaway. Stop at the Route 66 Museum a block away, check out the old cars that come into town all the time and sit on the porch and wish you could live in such a friendly and peaceful place!!

I want to go back now! Tricia and all the ladies were fabulous. With all they had going on this…read moreweekend they still made us feel like we were home. The food was wonderful and the home was welcoming. If you are looking for a quaint place to stay and a peaceful town to visit and explore this is your stop. There are several restaurants within walking distance also. I would recommend this B& B !

Beautifully cared for b'n'b with all the charm of days gone by and wonderful breakfast, super…read morefriendly staff

We arrived at 5:30 PM and were greeted immediately at the door. The gentleman who met us (Brian),…read moregave us a full tour of the historic house and grounds - and even played the piano for us! We enjoyed snacks and drinks right outside our room. We sat out on the covered porch on the side of the house and enjoyed the setting sun. In the morning, we were treated to a gourmet breakfast. We stayed in the Carl Vrooman suite; had 3 rooms. One was "standard", with a comfortable bed, the second was a sitting room with Carl's desk and a couch; then a separate bath with clawfoot tub. Everything was very "period". It was quiet, clean, and easy access to restaurants in Bloomington. We bounced a dinner idea off Brian and he heartily agreed - and it was great! Left at 9:00 the next morning, refreshed and happy.

Quiet, comfortable and welcoming bed and breakfast located 1 mile north of Dwight Illinois. Owners…read moreare friendly and accommodating. 2 comfortable guest rooms with 2 available bathrooms. Situated on 4 acres surrounded by farms and fields. See the stars at night outside or relax inside. Televisions are provided in each room. Excellent option if you're in town for a family reunion or other local event and need a place to stay. Made to order breakfast made from scratch from old family recipes. Check out the nearby Texaco historical service station located on part of old Route 66 that passes through Dwight. There are several family friendly restaurants in town for your dining pleasure.

From the owner: Leave the "world" behind and enjoy the three 'R's': relax, rejuvenate, reconnect…read more Country Style with a Touch of City Enjoy almost 4 acres of park-like landscaping and connect with Nature, at the same time, re-connecting with yourself. Your stay can be what you want it to be -- quiet, slow-paced, refreshing; but, if you miss a little of the city life, each room has original art by the owner for viewing and for buying. There are mini-libraries for our guests' reading pleasure.

Beautiful and peaceful retreat. The cabin we rented was dog friendly ($25 additional fee per dog),…read morewhich is perfect because the point of our getaway was to spend time with our corgi and to take her hiking. Check-in was at 4. It was self check-in and super easy. The cabin was clean, and everything was in order. The office was closed by the time we got unloaded so we didn't go. It is open for guests to borrow movies or puzzles or purchase firewood. We met one of the owners the following day. Very friendly and lovely lady! I forgot my hair dryer and she lent me one. There were trees surrounding the cabin area, a swing on the front porch, a grill and picnic table in the backyard, and there is a 2-person jetted tub along with a shower stall inside. It had such a comfortable feel to it. Full kitchen and a table for 4, a small TV and a blu-ray player, and a comfortable full sized bed. The couch was a futon, so if you need another bed, it's ready to go! There was enough space to set up our large crate for our dog. We stayed at the Zonta cabin. Overall, I had such an enjoyable time. Nothing beats waking up early in the morning to some fresh, cool air, the trees swaying gently and a nice stroll with the doggo away from traffic and car horns honking and people hurrying to get to places. I got a lot of peaceful reading time done, about 4 hours' worth of hiking in 2 days, and worked on some puzzles we borrowed from the office. I absolutely recommend this cabin resort for a relaxing getaway!

My friend and I spent two nights recently in one of the smaller cabins, looking for a peaceful,…read morecountry-oriented break from the big city. I'm very happy to report that Kishauwau's cabin fit the bill nicely. Kishauwau is what I've been describing as a cabin development. There are about 15-16 cabins in an area that backs up to the Vermillion River. In fact, the ravines behind some of the cabins are very steep. Anyone with small children will have to keep a close eye on the kids every minute they're out back. The scenery is spectacular, but oh boy, you don't want anyone sliding down that ravine. Our cabin had all the basics we needed -- a double bed, a fold-out futon couch, a big bathtub with a separate shower, and a kitchen stocked with plates, silverware, pots and pans, dishwashing liquid, and more. Every cabin has a outdoor fire ring, a grill, a porch swing, chairs, and a picnic table. The larger cabins had several chairs and tables. We had a TV with a DVD player -- you can borrow DVDs from the plentiful supply in the office building. NO INTERNET! If you can't live without access to instragram, you will be out of luck. So, be sure to plan ahead for ways to entertain yourself. I should also mention that the cabin was spotlessly clean when we arrived. The grounds are neat and well-maintained. The office has simple supplies for sale such as toothpaste, shampoo, etc., along with some snacks and drinks. There is also a small gift shop. I've already recommended Kishauwau to two friends here in Chicago. I'm very happy to recommend it to you, too.

The Has Bin is the perfect place to get away. Beautiful sunsets, trains, plains, wildlife…read moreespecially deer. Very romantic !

The Has Bin = The sweetest little spot in the middle of nowhere (and I can say that because I'm…read morefrom a patch of nowhere, myself) with an uninterrupted view of both the sunset and the sunrise. The accommodation (a quaintly-decorated, two-story converted grain bin with queen bed loft, sitting room, stocked kitchenette, double-wide hammock, multiple porches, and fire pit) is especially perfect for a honeymoon, anniversary... or romantic getaway. The hostess, Mary Kay, cooks love right into her food -- from the welcome snack to the morning spread -- it's all freshness, thoughtfulness, and deliciousness. We arrived to a cute little sign on the antique oven wishing us a happy anniversary and two ample slices of freshly-baked pumpkin spice cake. Coffee, tea, milk, juice and bottled water were available in the fridge upon arrival. We chose to drive into Danville, IL (about 15 minutes away) for groceries and then cooked steaks (and s'mores!) on the grill at sunset. Everything we needed -- from charcoal to tongs -- was waiting for us. A freshly-baked frittata breakfast was served on our schedule. It was accompanied by cinnamony baked apples and warm banana bread. (Mmm... still dreaming about those apples!) Sure, there are rules: No pets. No kids under 12. Check-in at 3:00 p.m. Check-out at 11:00 a.m. And, you need to understand that you're in the country... on a working farm. You'll hear critters and crickets and the occasional passing train (they stock earplugs in the nightstand in case you're a city slicker). But the value for the price (especially since you're also getting 2 breakfasts, 2 snacks, all the beverages you'll need, campfire kit, and fairly free-range access to the property) is unsurpassed. If you're looking for a place with lightning-speed wifi, or state-of-the-art gyms, or even barely adequate cell service: you're plain outa luck. But if you're searching for a serene little spot to unjangle those nerves, and finish sentences, and breath a little slower... THIS is where they hide that magic!