Holiday Inns: Five area bed-and-breakfasts turn on the charm

During the bustling holiday season, I long for a moment to witness snowflakes dancing across the winter sky. I seek twinkling lights and decked-out halls. And even though my calendar is decorated with parties and plans, I crave lazy days to write letters in front of a crackling fire. Luckily, I've discovered places where such holiday wishes come true: Area bed-and-breakfasts and small inns.

I've waded through my share of frou-frou lace and dusty knick-knacks to find pretty, welcoming inns with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, but no televisions in sight. Most of my favorites offer comforts such as luxe bathrobes scented with lavender or a jar filled with warm cookies. But, the real gift is one of time - to peruse local shops for gifts, to soak in a whirlpool tub and to linger on a feather bed.

After a few days of pampering, the holiday bustle seems less daunting. There are dozens of inns that spread holiday cheer and good will. Here are a few of the best.

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1 RED WING

MOONDANCE INN

1105 W. 4th St., Red Wing

651-388-8145 or 866-388-8145

www.moondanceinn.com

Inside the mustard-yellow stone house with purple trim, innkeepers Chris Mahoney and Mike Waulk have created an elegant retreat.

During the Christmas season, a pretty angel dressed in a burlap gown sits atop a 12-foot-high tree. Outside, heaters allow guests to enjoy the spectacular front porch even when temperatures are cold enough to crystallize breath. And what better way to take in the illuminated outside wonderland, but with cookies and hot cocoa?

The suites offer many amenities, including roomy tubs and billowy beds. In the King Suite, golden curtains surround the bed. In the Queen's Room, the rose-colored decor brightens wintry days.

One recent morning, cantaloupe and grapes started off the breakfast feast. Lemon poppy seed muffins frosted with cream cheese followed, along with French toast stuffed with homemade jam, chicken-spinach-asiago sausage, and cardamom oat breakfast cakes with vanilla sauce. Don't pass on the coffee - it is a special roast made just for Moondance Inn by the Great River Roasters in Pepin, Wis.

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2 STILLWATER

THE OUTING LODGE AT PINE POINT PARK

11661 Myeron Rd. N., Stillwater

651-439-9747

www.outinglodge.com

At their historic country inn outside of Stillwater, owners Carlota and Lee Gohlike have created a popular spot for garden weddings in summer and fall. But what many don't realize is that their cozy lodge and witty sense of style create a festive winter interlude as well.

Nine European-style suites are filled with a mix of antiques and fireplaces. Some have whirlpools, some have showers, a few have porches and all have intriguing names and themes - among them, the Charlie Chaplin, the Albert Einstein, the Mercedes Benz and the Eva Peron (an homage to Carlota's roots in Argentina).

Outing Lodge is more of a small inn than a traditional bed-and-breakfast. Mornings are quiet, and a continental breakfast spread is served in the main hall. Special event dinners, during which guests dine at long, candlelit tables, are scheduled at the inn about every month. An English Christmas is slated for Dec. 15. It is designed to feel like a holiday at an Edwardian Country house, complete with sleigh rides. New Year's Eve festivities are slated for Dec. 31, and on Jan. 13, an opulent Russian New Year will recreate Czar Nicholas' last party at the Winter Palace.

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3 CHASKA

PEACOCK INN

314 Walnut St. N., Chaska

952-368-4343

www.peacockinn.net

The Peacock Inn, whose name was inspired by the showy bird in the stained-glass window on the second floor, gazes onto a gazebo and park at the heart of Chaska. Joyce and Jens Bohn renovated the house, also known as the C.H. Klein Mansion, and serve as innkeepers.

Details matter to them. The three floors and five guest rooms sparkle, especially during the holidays. In the main entryway, fairies dance amid twinkling light above the Victorian tree. Throughout the house, family ornaments mix with antiques and modern pieces. Among them are glittery words wishing holiday joy, family photos with Santa, and dolls sharing holiday tea.

The spirit infuses each room. In the Charles and Matilda Klein Room - named for the home's original owners - feathery white angels and garlands drape across the bed's headboard, while a tiny tree created just for the space glistens with golds, blues and pearl tones. In the Annette Ess Room, midnight blue and gold tones set a regal scene for the velvet stockings shaped like Jester's boots that hang on stands beside a wood-burning stove.

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4 ST. CLOUD

HERITAGE HOUSE BED-AND-BREAKFAST

402 6th Av. S., St. Cloud

320-656-5818 or 888-547-4422

www.heritagehousebbmn.com

This 100-year-old Victorian home is topped with a red brick tower that resembles a castle's turret. An 8-foot-diameter leaded glass window looks into the front parlor, and brass rails on the front porch hint at luxury.

Once inside, guests get a warm welcome from owners Deb and Jerry Middelstadt - and the Victorian-inspired holiday setup. Regal red and white decor acts as a backdrop to the Middelstadt's collections of old world ceramic Santas and grass ornaments.

Decorations fill the public spaces, but the guest rooms go without. The Middelstadts believe in giving guests a calm and serene space. I liked the cozy intimacy of the German Suite, which has warm wood and natural tones; the comfy sitting room with daybed was a nice bonus. The English Suite, in the tower, features a grand soaking tub.

If you can't get away overnight, the Heritage House offers a holiday tea by reservation. Deb Middelstadt created the tea-time rituals with the help of her English sister-in-law; the tea includes three courses and a tour of the house.

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5 HASTINGS

CLASSIC ROSEWOOD

620 Ramsey St., Hastings

651-437-3297

www.thorwoodinn.com

Meeting innkeepers Pam and Dick Thorsen is like visiting old friends during the holiday season.

One of the longest-running B-&-Bs in the state, their 1880 Queen Anne features fireside spaces for reading, breakfast served to suit the needs of each guest, and homemade cookies in an ever-stocked jar. A collection of angels and Santas peek from between branches of real pine garland, and 14 Christmas trees scatter holiday spirit throughout the house. Each room has its own decorated-to-the-hilt tree.

A bonus is the wrapping room on the back porch: There are Christmas carols playing, and the space is stocked with gift wrap, ribbons, cider and cocoa.

Can't get away? Check out the seasonal Dickens Dinner, when guests are treated to five courses including roast goose, beef Wellington, butternut bisque soup and Christmas pudding.

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Freelance writer Sarah Tieck lives in Burnsville.