Found a deal on Groupon for a 2-night stay for $279 and in a secluded cabin/bungalow how can you resist?
Serenity Springs is located right off 94E and is about 65 miles from Chicago. Upon arrival you are directed by signs to tell you where the office is. Checking-in we were greeted and I was asked to sign my invoice showing the Groupon deal, but also a $60+ charge for taxes/fees. Upon scanning the invoice I notice without the Groupon deal our 2-night stay would of cost us around $600, so yes, Groupon was a good way to go.
We then handed over our car keys, for them to move it to the designated parking area, transfer our luggage to the back of the horse carriage, and took a ride to Cabin 14, our home for the weekend. I like the carriage ride, but ours had a "flat tire," the left wheel was missing part of it's wheel so it continuously "clunk." Which can get frustrating after awhile. Arriving at our cabin there was an employee there to assist with our bags and show us the basics of the cabin. Our bedroom was upstairs on the loft while on the ground floor we had a dining table, couch, coffee table, TV, jacuzzi, fire place, and a curtain to separate the toilet and shower from the rest of the room, it was cozy. Also provided to us were complimentary juices, coffee, plates, utensils, popcorn, and corn to feed the geese. The cabin was clean, but outdated. The couch and bedsheets can definitely use an upgrade, don't need fine leather or anything, but something more comfortable.
Our back patio has a gas grill to grill some food or a fire pit to make some smores. I didn't sit out there as I've been prone to mosquito bites a lot this summer and we were surrounded by trees so I didn't want to risk it.
My favorite thing about the cabin has to be the butler door. There are no phone lines between cabins so the best way for communication to request items is the butler door. Need more kleenex or popcorn? Write it down, put it in the butler door, and turn the service switch on. Throughout the day staff will come by your cabin to see if a request is needed and fulfill it within a timely fashion. When a request is completed they put the items in your butler door and switch on their switch and a red light will turn on letting you know you have items in your butler door. Old fashion, but efficient.
During our stay we were given the option for a complimentary extended carriage ride through the property and we are glad we took them up on their offer. Not only was it a beautiful day, but our drive was friendly and answered any questions we had. We also spotted a baby dear and a turtle. Found out there are 36 cabins, 5 are currently use for storage due to renovation at their main office. Also thanks to internet deals it's the busiest they have been in awhile. (Side note: we got a carriage without a flat wheel.)
The jacuzzi was great. It fit two people comfortably and there was a basket of towels waiting right next to it and when the AC got freezing we would just turn on the fireplace switch and "wha-la" it's on and heating up the room.
Every morning we received a basket full of breakfast goods such as, pastries, breakfast bars, or fruits. I was kind of disappointed because I'm not a "sweet" breakfast kind of girl and I would of love some croissants. Also you can request eggs, but we had nothing to eat them with so it was kind of pointless, we ate them plain and by themselves. Every evening we would receive sweets, which in our case was 2 slices of variety cheesecake. A nice gesture but from being around town we were often too full to eat it. And everything is complimentary.
Want to stay in your cabin and not venture out? Well, there are lunch and dinner options for you from Chili's and another local joint. It'll take some time for your food to arrive, but it's something to take advantage of if you just want to lounge and enjoy the area. You put in your request during the available hours and for the Chili option an employee will pick up and deliver your meal to you. While the other option I believe was pizza and it delivers to the office and the staff will deliver it to you. So no hassle for you.
Overall, our stay was relaxing and comfortable, but there isn't much to do on grounds. It's definitely scary at night when returning from dinner and it's pitch black besides the cabin porch light or the Christmas lights on the trees by the office, but they do provide flashlights, although I feel like they can add some walk way lights. Also if you do not like the smell of well water this is definitely not a place for you. read more