Hotel at a Glance: The Outing Lodge

Before it was a bed and breakfast, The Outing Lodge was a prize-winning dairy farm. Built in 1858 amid 300 acres of forests and rolling hills near Stillwater, Minnesota, the property’s main brick building has since been beautifully restored. Inside are seven enormous fireplaces, exposed fir beams, and wide-plank pine floors that are a century old. Near the property, 18 miles of paved paths crisscross the land, including a path that stretches all the way to Saint Paul. The property also has miles of dirt trails that can be used for horseback riding, and nearby Pine Point Regional Park features trails for hiking and biking.

• Celebrity status: Guest rooms are named for famous people, and some include fireplaces and jetted tubs; the Pablo Picasso and Eva Peron rooms also have a three-season sun porch.
• Included with this deal: You’ll receive a tour of the house and grounds, as well as a bottle of wine. Tours are at 3:30 pm.
• Breakfast buffet: Head to the dining room to enjoy items such as pastries, fruit, and eggs.
• Curl up with a book on a couch by a 7-foot-wide fireplace in the knotty-pine-paneled library.
• Walking trails: 18 miles of paved trails with wheelchair accessibility.

Stillwater, Minnesota: Historic Territory Town near the Twin Cities

Downtown Stillwater, Minnesota, dates back to 1848, making it one of the oldest towns in the state. Many of its 19th-century buildings are still standing—more than 100 restaurants and shops line the downtown, tucking into what were once brick factories and warehouses. During the winter, there is a beautiful display of ice castles near the river. Nearby, steamboats chug down the St. Croix River, which forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In the nearby Twin Cities—about 18 miles away—the paved Gateway State Trail is a popular choice for bicyclists and stretches from Pine Point Regional Park into St. Paul. Neighboring Minneapolis is more than just the geographic epicenter of the city—it’s the cultural heart too. Sports venues for the Timberwolves, Vikings, and Twins are neighbors to the lively nightclubs of the Warehouse District and the neon-lit marquees of the Hennepin Theatre District.