Who doesn't love (ahem...need) a getaway? I take them as often as I can, usually looking for…read moresomewhere nearby so I don't spend half my vacation time in traffic. I always think I'm ahead of the game when it comes to Inn's and B&B's, but I'm always surprised to find new places I've never heard of, especially when they are located in a town I've never visited. Last month, I hopped on Google to search for my next trip, and scanned on over to Faribault, where the pickings were slim. I hovered over an Inn on the property of an International boarding school (in Minnesota?). I figured it was private and almost clicked away, but was drooling over the photos and had to investigate. Sure enough, this is an Inn, open to the public, and tucked away so wonderfully, you'll feel far far away. The hostess was kind and helped me reserve a room over the phone, but you can also reserve online. There are simply not enough photos on their website...this place is gorgeous and spacious. It was built in 1817 as a library, then a dorm. then an infirmary for a school, and was recently restored and renovated in 2013. It has all of the modern amenities one could want, and yet they've preserved the beauty of the old architecture and incorporated it as much as they can.
I reserved a Single Studio for $109 a night (a steal), which comes with a complimentary grab + go style breakfast, as well as coffee, tea and punch. The breakfast area seats around 10 comfortably, and we only ran into 3 other people in the morning. The Inn is also rented out for small weddings and company meetings, but we didn't wander into those areas. The hostess leaves in the evening, so we had the place to ourselves and were encouraged to walk around and make ourselves at home. We didn't notice any unwanted noise or disturbances, even with several cars in the lot. Note that you need your key to get back in after 10pm.
We were upgraded to a King Suite at no extra charge, simply because the room was available. I was impressed and grateful for the wonderful customer service. The room was HUGE, and had a sweet sitting area, with a cute green couch, and flatscreen, as well as a flatscreen around the corner across from the comfy bed. It had a large armoire and desk, and big windows. The room was cozy, and we noticed the couch and ottoman could be converted to a hideaway bed if needed. The bathroom was large, but the shower was small - it could definitely have held a tub and bigger shower, but was fine for us. It was clean and modern, and I loved the smell of the toiletries made in NYC.
Definitely take a walk around the grounds - we walked down an unmarked path down to the river and train tracks to explore a bit. I saw only a handful of students on the grounds, and wonder what it would look like while school was in session - however you are not in the middle of the school grounds so you have you own privacy.
For the price, the comfort, and the location, this place is absolutely the best in Faribault, and I will definitely be returning next time I head south for an escape.
