This hotel is very old and very nice. It is also very clean. The owner, Mo was pleasant and…read moreaccommodating and has great taste in shirts. He also appears to be at the hotel 24 hours a day. We stayed in Room #9 and our relatives stayed in room #11. This was the only place in town to get breakfast so the dining area was PACKED on Saturday. The dining area was closed for dinner due to the staffing problems that everyone is having. We had a very nice breakfast there on Sunday. The wait time on the food was good considering the staffing problems. Our waitress was great. The food was great. One thing to note: do not pay any attention to complaints about the hot water. They use a tankless heating system and there are signs all over the hotel informing people of that fact. The hotel was built in 1879 so indoor plumbing was obviously installed after the hotel was built. Don't expect spacious bathrooms. We will definitely stay there again.

Beautiful Historic Hotel in the heart of Grafton. The rooms are very clean and comfortable. The…read morehotel owners take great pride in offering a wonderful experience. They are very friendly and always have great suggestions for things to do in the area. The restaurant and coffee shop are also and added plus !We have stayed here twice and will be back again.

We visited Aerie's Resort on a Sunday afternoon to enjoy the view and a glass of wine while…read morelistening to some live music. After traveling up via the Grafton SkyTour (reviewed separately), we decided to do the Alpine Coaster first. It cost $18 per adult for one round-trip coaster ride. After completing a waiver on a tablet, we were able to board right away. Strangely, it was not possible for myself (5'5" F) or my partner (6' M) to sit with our backs/necks in the chair and also push the hand accelerators forward all the way. That meant we both were bending forward unsupported for the entire ride in order to go fast (fast = fun!). The coaster itself was nice and shady with twists and turns that we both enjoyed. Unfortunately, we have both had bad back and neck pain and muscle spasms after the coaster (2 days at this point). They really need to move the hand controls back about 5 inches so normal people can reach them while having their backs in the ride. After the coaster, we visited the main building (Terrace) for a glass of wine. The "winery" building was closed during our visit. The main space, which feels like a banquet hall, was well air conditioned with large windows that allow a view of the river valley. The live music was nice. The Cardinals v Cubs game was on the big screen muted. The service was rather slow, which was a surprise considering that it wasn't very busy. Our server was friendly but not very knowledgeable about wine. There were only 3 Aerie's wines on the menu. I tried their Chambourcin, which was pretty good and my partner had a Pinot noir that was okay. After the wine, we took some pictures on the patio and then headed back down the SkyTour.

View from my balcony and room are fantastic . Person at the front desk was pleasant. I still got l…read morea little lost but this place is really off the beaten path. What a great getaway! Will be trying the food tomorrow. If it's as beautiful as the views, might have to raise to 5 stars.

My favorite accommodation of my two-week trip along the Great River Road was Green Tree Inn,…read morelocated in the charming town of Elsah. My friend and I stayed in the Meadowlark Room, featuring two full beds and a shower/tub. The room was immaculately clean, quiet, and adorably antiquated. Connie and Gary could not have not been kinder or more hospitable hosts. Breakfast was lovely, and hot and cold beverages were available in the common area along with Connie's delicious homemade treats -- she even insisted on packaging up brownies for us to take on the road when we departed! When visiting, do ask Connie and Gary for instructions on how to take a self-guided driving tour of nearby Principia College, which features many amazing buildings by architect Bernard Maybeck and stunning views from the bluffs of the Mississippi River. I'll be looking for an excuse to return to Elsah for another stay at Green Tree Inn... Highly recommended!

We just stayed at the Green Tree Inn in Elsah for our annual weekend. We cannot say enough good…read morethings about the new Innkeepers. Megan and Calvin are the perfect hosts ! The Inn has the same warm and homey feel to it as it was with Connie and Gary. They have converted the "antique" room to a game room and filled it with board games ( or bring your own.) The breakfasts were fantastic (especially Megan's breakfast pizza with a puff pastry crust.) The afternoon treats are amazing (cinnamon pecan coffee cake and fresh raspberry cheesecake tarts..yumm!) The common area with the fireplace and the comfy couch and chairs is perfect after a day of hiking a Pere Maquette or exploring Grafton. The rooms are cozy and very clean. It is such a relaxing getaway ! I look forward to many more trips to the Green Tree Inn !

Cute little spot in Grafton. We came here so the kids could ride the coaster in the woods. They…read moreenjoyed it and went on it several times. I opted to grab a drink in the restaurant and hang out. Nice spot. Nice view!

While in Grafton last week, my family and I made our way to the Aerie's Winery for some wine and…read moresnacks. We took the Skytour up to the winery which was really fun and a unique way to get to the winery. It was super cold outside, so I was glad to see they had a closed in gondola for us to sit in instead of the open seat ( I would have frozen). Once we got up to the top, we were able to walk into the winery pretty quickly and since it was not too busy, we sat at a table and our server/bartender came over to check in on us and provided some menus for us to look over. We opted for some wine flights and we ordered a spin dip and a charcuterie board for the table. The wine flights were all tasty. The bartender selected 5 samples of dry, sweet and semi sweet wines for us to try. I liked how she gave us some local wines and some non local wines. It was a good mix. Sitting at the table was really relaxing and we enjoyed the view so much. I can see this spot being so amazing in the spring/summer and cannot wait to go back.

Off the main road (State Highway 3) is a small farmhouse converted as a guest house. The house…read morehas a modestly appointed kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. A living room and sitting room each complement the rest of the home. The decor and furnishings are what I would call "farmhouse eclectic". Do not expect the plush antiques of the average B&B. The house is comfortable and cozy. The kitchen is roomy with a full sized refrigerator, range with a double oven, microwave and coffeepot. The master bedroom contains a queen sized bed and more then enough closet and drawer space, The second bedroom is smaller, but will easily accommodate two or three small children or a second couple willing to share a single bed. The living room has plenty of comfortable chairs and a very nice couch and table. The sitting room is an added sun-room area. The property is located on a small working farm with some friendly cattle and a fishing pond. There was even a mother robin nesting in a wreath on the front porch! The atmosphere is quiet and serene. The cellular and G3/G4 reception is nearly none existent and no WiFi is available. Ideal for those wanting to get "away from it all" The facility also has no land-line telephone. Good cell, mobile and data reception are available in nearby Alton, Il. for those who need it. There are some locally owned restaurants In Grafton including the "Mississippi Half-Step" which we really enjoyed. For those who prefer chain eating establishments, Alton offers the usual fast food and other casual dinning places. St. Louis Mo. is about 30 miles away, placing the big city attractions within a comfortable distance. The rental cost was very reasonable, about what you would pay per night at a lower end chain motel. This was for a small house, not a cramped guest-room. . The owner does not take debit/credit cards so a check or money-order is needed for the reservation deposit. The balance of the rent can be paid by check, money-order or cash. We found our time at the Homestead Retreat to be restful, refreshing and revitalizing. The lack of electronic disturbances made this guest-house a true retreat from the noise and hurry of the world. We strongly recommend the Grafton Homestead Retreat for any small group looking for a quiet time. It truly is a retreat and a treat!