Getting away inn style

Article by: Kerri Westenberg , Star Tribune
Updated: June 15, 2007 - 2:18 PM

Need a retreat? These five small hotels will take you away -- to quaint towns, lake shores and the kind of luxury you know you deserve.

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I awoke to rain tapping the window and realized I might not get to take that kayak paddle on the lake I had planned. I didn't mind. Breakfast consoled me: homemade cinnamon rolls, muffins, fresh fruit, piping hot coffee, and a steaming bowl of oatmeal delivered to my door. Treats in the room itself helped, too: The movie "The Queen" borrowed from reception's smartly stocked library; the whirlpool tub, and a view of the still lake and an island connected to the shore by a twinkle light-bedecked bridge.

I was At Canoe Bay, which sits in splendid isolation somewhere near Chetek, Wis. No motorized boats roar on the lake. Loons visit. Hiking trails wind through woodlands and past ponds that buzz with life. But the rain poured, and I realized that the room makes an inn more than the surroundings. I'd be happy to stay in all day.

Other small hotels in the region also pampered us in style. An art-filled room in Fargo surprised us with its urbane style. A suite just yards from chilly Lake Superior warmed us with a heated floor. A classic log lodge welcomed us with a plush chair beside an expansive stone fireplace. All are easy drives. Price is another matter; quality doesn't come cheap. But when you want to leave the world behind, they're worth the price -- come rain or shine.

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At the St. James in Red Wing.

ABOUT GREAT GETAWAYS With the Great Getaways series, Travel offers a guide to some of the best vacation destinations in the region. We scouted out our own picks and asked experts, including guidebook authors and well-traveled readers, to share theirs. Here are the topics we explore: Part 1: State parks, June 10. Part 2: Lodges and inns, today. Part 3: Resorts, June 24.