What a great time! Situated near the campus of Southern Illinois University, The Train Inn is a…read moredarling B&B. Paul and Marion are gracious hosts who are very welcoming. We enjoyed sipping whiskey with them on the front porch of the B&B ;) Breakfast both mornings was a delightful surprise. Paul is an excellent chef who asks for likes and dislikes the evening before. Habenero poppers, French toast, bacon and yogurt with strawberries and coconut, along with fresh brewed coffee, greeted us the first morning. Oven roasted butternut squash, blueberries, avocado English muffins and omelets were served the second morning. Conversation flowed easily with our hosts. We stayed in the Carbondale Room, the upstairs suite. A comfortable king bed, shower and toilet, along with a closet and dresser, make up the room. If you are passing through, visiting your student or traveling the local wine trail, consider The Train Inn!

Paul Lewers is your host with THE MOST!! Great place to…read morechill and see So Ill! Breakfast is gourmet! Eggs with veggies from the garden out back, local bacon, pancakes with real Maple syrup!! Quiet at night and morning!

When we booked the entire property(mansion, barn and grounds) 2+ years in advance we were elated…read more The tour of the mansion and the property were beautiful. We had also been to a few events at the property before touring it. 9 days before our event(wedding), the owners tried to cancel. 5 days before our event, the owner asked if a man we did not know could share space in the mansion with our wedding crew. The day we check in at the property the barn was not ready. It was dirty and we had to clean it. We also had to place all the tables and chairs that the owners said they would set up per the contract. Every single chair was covered in filth. The owners did not properly clear the snow either. The day of our event the owner kept inserting themselves into our guests and networking. They were also seen taking photos during the ceremony. The guests were facing the owner when they took the photos. The electric service in the barn is not capable of running 3 roasters. We asked about this before planning to use them for the meal; we were told it'll work just fine. It did not. After the lights went out(during reception) my husband, an electrician, looked the service over and said there was no way the roasters could stay on. Due to the owners not clearing the snow properly we had 5 guests get stuck while trying to leave. Going back to when we checked in; Rhonda told us to call her if we needed anything. We dialed her several times and she never answered. I had to go physically find her. There was also a trailer parked right where everyone would walk past to get to the barn. It was loaded up with dead appliances, a used mattress and cardboard boxes. An absolute eyesore. There were also two vehicles parked out there to die as well. Two dead lawn mowers in the tree line too. None of these issues were present when we booked. Everything was pristine and stunning. Inside the mansion the bathrooms were not clean. Toilets had murky water and mold growing in the bowls. There were also dead insects everywhere. As long as Rhonda and Bryan are in charge of the property, I do not recommend Historic Bell Hill. It is such a shame for such a grand property to be ill managed.

We attended a wedding a week ago for my brother and his wife. The grounds were beautiful, but the…read morevenue was not equipped for an indoor reception and did not provide day of wedding coordination or hospitality. The barn was not equipped for cold temperatures and the venue did nothing to rectify this. The previous reviews were from the former owners. I cannot recommend this venue based on our experience and the lack of service, especially if you are planning a wedding in late autumn through early spring. The venue is not at all prepared for cold temperatures.

Peggy took GREAT care of us. I couldn't recommend this place more. It's pretty much the only option…read morein Pickneyville but it's also conveniently located within walking distance of a state park! We rode our bikes through the park south to one of our favorite breweries. Peggy is hospitable and friendly. For breakfast, served at a time you choose, there was eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, fruit, coffee, juice, and a pastry. What a selection! She does ask if you have food allergies first but we're not picky so, I guess we got a little bit of everything! Even though Peggy is getting on in years, she's a very engaging person to talk to. I was surprised how much in common I had with someone who had lived a much different life than I. Thanks again Peggy! We can't wait to come back!

My family and I were in a pinch and needed a place to stay as we closed on a house. They refused to…read moreallow us a place to stay because we had a chihuahua and cocker spaniel in their own separate kennels. This is quite literally an old barn next to an old butcher shop but 2 pups in their own kennel was too much for them to bear. No amount of money would persuade them. So, if you want to go sleep in an old barn, you can, just keep those filthy animals at home.

This place is one-of-a-kind in the Southern Illinois area! Whether it is a wedding, event area, or…read morejust need a place to stay, Pine Manor is highly recommended. It is as big as some hotels but has the same feel as being at home. Joyce & Julie are very accommodating and it is right outside of downtown Carbondale. The location is beautiful with its grounds, pool, hot tub, lake & fountains. Definitely going to come back. Only thing that they can improve on is improving the WIFI as it does go in and out sometimes. Other than that, go check it out!

My wife and I had our wedding here last Saturday. Throughout the whoel time from reserving the…read morelocation to cleaning up after the wedding the staff was amazingly friendly and willing to help make our wedding day as special as possible. The mansion its self is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. There is plenty of room throughout the house that both the both sides of the bridal party were able to get ready without even being on the same floor or side of the house. My wofe stayed the night before int he bridal suite which is huge. If the complete bridal party wanted to stay the night before the wedding they could with ease. We had a very big bridal party containing 20 people and had plenty of room. The outside of the mansion is beautifully landscaped with a gorgeous lake out front with a couple of fountains inside. There's a inground pool, hottub and outdoor bar/grill area also. Pine Manor went above and beyond to make our wedding day special and absolutely gorgeous!!

We loved staying in this beautiful old mansion with an amazing history. We were made to feel at…read morehome, had great conversation with the inn keeper and enjoyed hearty breakfasts! This is a great place to stay when you want to visit beautiful Shawnee National Forest, but don't want to camp or stay in a cabin!

If you're an antique collector or lover this is the only place to stay in Alton. I went here for a…read morework trip and have extreme diva standards when it comes to hotels. In Alton there isn't much to choose from. For a decent hotel you'll have to drive to St. Louis which is 30 minutes out of my way for meetings. I chose this place because it's a B&B and it was gorgeous from the pics and literally 6 minutes from my meeting the next day. Once I booked it, I got a call from one of the owners, Jim, who asked me about my tea preferences and what he could do to make my stay there more comfortable. I was ecstatic. Tea and antiques! Once I got there I was blown away at the detail they put to maintain a long gone era of Victorian décor. Everything was carved and commanded a presence of luxury. Also, I immediately notice how calming and quiet it was, which was a pleasant surprise! I really dislike loud noises of any kind (high anxiety here), and I felt peace in this place. Jim helped me take my luggage to my room and even gave me a tour of my room outlining all the details and amenities just in case I wasn't sure. My room was absolutely gorgeous! There was an 8 or 9 foot tall carved teak armoire, a great size bathroom with separate shower and bathtub and homemade lavender infused bath salts his wife made! I took a bath every night and I felt like a queen! I was ecstatic. There was even a separate antique vanity strategically placed in the corner of the room right in the middle of two windows so that light would surround it evenly. It was fabulous. I enjoyed all the attention to detail. They made sure a guest would not need a thing. The bedding was perfect. Down comforters and down pillows and cotton sheets, none of that microfiber nastiness. It smelled and felt like home. The most important thing was the food! They had a tea station in the dining room for 24/7 use. And the kitchen was open in the morning for breakfast. Tea, oatmeal, bagels, fruit, eggs. Perfection! I would've been happy with just the 24/7 tea station. And let me tell you it was just bliss to be able to obtain some decent tea and hot water at any point throughout the day. I am HUGE tea drinker! And this was the reason I fell in love with this place. There was also coffee and their own brand of tea which was also quite delicious. They even had stevia if you didn't want the 5 other choices offered for sweetener. On the other side of the dining room there was a station for CHOCOLATE! I was a mess. They were all carefully placed in crystal dishes with the flavor or type of chocolate being offered just above it. Just shoot me. It was amazing. Sadly, I stayed here for less than the time I actually booked it for since I had a cancelled flight and rushed to book something earlier as a result of the airline. I was in such a panic to leave that I left my very expensive leather backpack in the room and didn't notice until I was already at the car rental location. When I called over I spoke to Jim and he went to my room to locate it and said he would overnight it to me as per my request. It contained not only my laptop but also my house and car keys! I was distraught, but knew Jim would take care of it as he had taken care of everything else while I was there! Overall the price was more than fair for the room. Cleanliness 1000%. Quiet. Beautiful. EXCELLENT customer service. Oooh and there also was free brandy in the parlor. I gotta stop because otherwise I'd be writing a dissertation. Please stay at this place when you're in Alton, Illinois!

What a delightful bed and breakfast mansion complete with host in a tuxedo and amazing history! I…read morefelt right at home and absolutely loved my amazing suite complete with chandeliers in the bedroom and spa bathroom. The bed is soooo comfortable, the fireplace homey and takes any chill off on a rainy night. The jacuzzi helped ease my muscles after a long drive. I was a short drive from bakeries, restaurants and St, Louis.

Our stay was INCREDIBLE!…read more First, apologies on how long it took to get to this review. It's been go go go since we returned. However, our stay here was so amazing that it hasn't left our minds. So, the "bed" part of bed and breakfast? So comfortable! The rooms were amazing and had such a sense of history. The rooms were very spacious and beautifully decorated. Vintage wallpaper and bed dressings give you the full effect of traveling in time to a bygone era. The showers and bathtubs were great. The tubs were the claw foot standalone type tubs and not the typical Home Depo special you get in motels and hotels. There's just something about showering in one of those tubs that takes you back. However if you want to use them, there are indeed wonderful modern jacuzzis available in the rooms as well which are super relaxing after a day of walking around and sightseeing and shopping. Things were very comfortable inside despite it being very hot and so humid outside. And there were extra fans if you needed them and you wanted to stay cooler too. The furniture is actual wood and not the cheap particle board stuff used with in so many places today. The wood just feels "rich and elegant." From the outside, you get such a sense of history. The place is absolutely beautiful. Now... the "breakfast" part of bed and breakfast was so filling. You will eat like you've never eaten before and will want more but won't have the space to put it. I wish we could have stayed an extra day even just for the food. The owner asks about your preferences and needs and does such a great job with the food. She makes a killer sweet tea as well! The place was remarkably maintained and the owner was so welcoming. She felt like a family member we haven't seen in so long, like a grandmother to us and our kids. She was super flexible about the check in and check out times as well, enabling us to get a quick shower in before leaving so that after sight seeing we didn't need to sit in our sweaty clothes for the next leg of the trip. We so much wanted to stay longer! It was such a great experience there is no doubt that we will stay here every time we come to Metropolis. Oh and I should mention that when you stay here, you do get admission to the Superman museum included in the cost which is just icing on the cake. So really, why are you still reading? Book a stay. You will not be disappointed. Five stars, fifty stars, five hundred stars!

If I could rate this fabulous bread and breakfast a 10 star review I most definitely would. Lori…read morewas gracious and informative that made our stay in Metropoles one to remember. Breakfast was prepared to perfection the room was elegant and comfortable. We will definitely return to the Riverview Mansion

Such a beautiful and comfortable home to stay in. Tammy is an awesome hostess and we highly…read morerecommend this as the place to stay in Centralia! Each room is beautifully decorated with access to a private bathroom. We can't wait to stay there again soon! Great WiFi, and snacks, drinks, etc provided. And if you are from Centralia, the photographs of days past of our hometown are so cool to look at to reminisce. The photos I've posted don't do justice to the gorgeous decor and woodwork of this stunning home.

Visiting the town on business, I am so fortunate to have stayed here. Tammy was incredibly sweet…read moreand when I say their beautiful B&B is one of the most relaxing and comfortable stays I've had while traveling, I am not embellishing. The cook Cindy delivered some of the most delicious breakfasts I've had. If you are needing to stay in Centralia overnight for any reason, I cannot recommend the Centralia Garden Bed and Breakfast enough. Exceeded all of my expectations.

My 7-year-old son & I stayed here on April 4 thru 7, 2015 for quick-but-comfortable access to the…read moresights of the spectacular Shawnee National Forest (if going, try the Garden of the Gods Backpacker Parking and Rim Rick to Pounds Hollow Trails). Bruce and Sue were extremely accommodating. In fact, Bruce let me usurp his garage spot to charge my electric car (they refused to take money for the electricity usage). Sue's breakfasts were also top notch. Lastly, the grounds and proximity to river views were exceptional. I rated this 5 stars not because it is perfect (the décor was dated and the toilets and showers were small) but because it fully met my expectations given the price (only $130/night for the large Captain's room and high-quality breakfast for 2) and the age of the building (the house is over 100 years-old). I'd happily pay 20% more if they opted to refresh the décor (e.g., wallpaper, improved baths). We will return either way

Beautiful location with a porch view of the Ohio River. Husband and I went to Southern Illinois for…read morea fall getaway. With limited lodging options in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest, this was a hidden gem. We truly enjoyed the company of the owner and other guests as we relaxed on the porch. Breakfast was a wonderful treat thanks to Sue's culinary skills. Our only complaint was the bed in our room (the Quilt Room) was very worn out. We were told it was about to be replaced--definitely needed! It sound like other rooms were more updated on beds. We loved the house and owners and would love to return.

We spent five nights at the amazing Timmermann House in Aviston, IL. The innkeeper, Sandy is the…read moreultimate professional. Such an authentically nice person. Her husband Andy, also so lovely, has great stories and made me want to sit and talk to him for days!! :) This place is a gem and MUST VISIT destination. The house is pristine and decorated so beautifully. The hard wood floors are immaculate and the bedrooms are super inviting and cozy. The house is a wonderful place to stay but then you go to breakfast and you are transported to culinary heaven. Chef Sandy is brilliant. Her food is perfection. She makes different dishes each day of your stay based on your preferences she obtains when you book your trip. The food is always fresh, mostly from their own garden. I can't even describe how amazing our whole experience was. The house is located very near many townships but it is so quiet and peaceful tucked away on a nice plot of acreage. The yard is massive and landscaped so beautifully. The minute you arrive, everything is just perfect down to every detail. I recommend booking early and request the bedroom with en suite bathroom. The king size bed is so comfortable and the linens / towels are 5 star hotel quality! The house has a beautiful outdoor deck overlooking the yard with shade cover. I could go on and on but really this was the best hospitality we have ever experienced. 10 out of 10 definitely would recommend!!!

We just booked our third stay at Timmermann House. Wonderful accommodations and excellent hosts…read more Visiting family members it is such a nice option to relax, and enjoy the beautiful garden, at the end of each day! We have moved from OK to AL and still find this our favorite! Scott & Nancy look forward to this visit!