For too many Americans, their de facto second home is an office, a car, or that one bear trap they keep falling for. Enjoy a home away from home away from home with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $140 for a two-night stay Sunday–Thursday (a $280 value)
- $165 for a two-night stay Friday–Saturday (a $330 value)<p>
A calming, two-night stay in either the Vincent Bendix or Schuyler Colfax rooms—both of which accommodate two—surrounds guests in a bright, sunny atmosphere. Queen-size beds and private baths afford deep slumber and wakeful showers as guests prepare to split their time lounging in the parlor and garden or taking advantage of in-room amenities such as cable television, complimentary Internet, and ambient-sound machines. Upgrades are available upon request.<p>
The Oliver Inn
Just southwest of downtown South Bend, a circular drive leads to the main entrance—referred to as the grand porte-cochère—of a 19th-century Victorian estate shrouded with gardens. Framed by towering maple trees, The Oliver Inn resembles a larger-than-life dollhouse, with gingerbread trim, curved bay windows, multiple chimneys, and several balustrades supporting the front porch. The downstairs alone houses seven fireplaces and original Waterford crystal sconces, relics left from the Oliver family.
Today, husband-and-wife innkeepers Tom and Alice Erlandson run The Oliver Inn as a 25-room bed-and-breakfast, named one of the Best in the Midwest by BedandBreakfast.com in 2009. Though the guest rooms are decorated in Victorian furnishings, visitors will also find modern amenities such as TVs, air conditioning, and ceiling fans. Each morning, guests partake in a complimentary candlelight breakfast accompanied by piano music. Ever the hospitable host, Alice provides breakfast recipes on the inn's website, so guests can whip up the broccoli-and-cheese quiche or high-rise pancakes they started their days with while visiting.
Throughout the day, guests can also grab Alice's fresh-baked cookies and visit the butler's pantry for free snacks, beverages, and bow-tie adjustments. The inn is only 2.5 miles away from the University of Notre Dame, walking distance from the Studebaker National Museum and downtown South Bend, and a short drive from nearby southern Michigan wineries.