Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write a Travelogue (11/06/14)
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TITLE: Away From It All | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sarah Fehr
11/13/14 -
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A mere half hour north of the metropolis of Peoria, IL, nestled among the woods that burgeon from the Illinois River, lies a bed and breakfast called Mission Oak Inn (literally, no kids allowed under the age of 14). If you have ever been to a bed and breakfast, you are already forming an approximation of what you know as a "bed and breakfast". But I propose to you that aside from the "bed" and the "breakfast," this haven (sans kids) is above and beyond the average.
The initial charm of Mission Oak Inn lies in arriving via narrow country roads free from the garish, albeit helpful, yellow dotted lines to which stain our streets, and keep us driving on the correct side of the road. As we turn into the winding, tree-lined drive way, time seems to gradually decelerate to a calm coast.
Disembarking from the car, we are greeted by one of the greatest merits of the inn: silence. Yes, the wind is likely sighing through the trees, ducks are quacking in the distance, a fish jumps in the nearby pond. But the traffic, blaring horns, jostling, and screaming kids are refreshingly absent.
The hosts, Denny and Jan, greet us at the desk inside the common room, chatting affably. We see the welcome sign with our names and the other guests. Jan is scrupulous about learning our names and preferences such as coffee or tea, black or with cream, sugar or no sugar, or half black coffee and half hot water for the Land O' Lakes hot chocolates that tempt my eye.
The rooms are immaculate, and boast gas fireplaces, romantic lighting, and a small hot tub. Fresh cookies always lie on the counter, and the dorm-size fridge is stocked with beverages. Each room has its own outdoor access. I think of it as an "escape route" minimizing contact with other guests. They are largely friendly, but a get-away is called so for a reason! With outside entrances we can choose how much we want to interact.
Denny's cooking is almost indescribably delectable. Many of the dishes contain sauces from resident plants and trees. After the provided breakfast (my favorite is quiche Florentine and puff pancakes with raspberry sauce, although the snicker doodle pancakes with caramel syrup are a very close second...) we generally roll off to our room to sleep or laze it off. The culinary richness satisfies our appetites well into the afternoon. Don't panic if you forget to bring a lunch!
Perhaps the crowning feature of Mission Oak Inn which sets it apart from so many others, is that only two different suites are offered. And furthermore, each suite houses only two people. If you do the math, you will find that the person to square-foot ratio is extremely low! On most of our visits, we come in contact with other humans only at meal time or in passing. Not that we have an aversion to chatting with Denny and Jan. In fact, we sometimes spend more than an hour at the breakfast table. Denny has some great stories about other guests which usually serve to boost my opinion of myself in the realm of basic outdoor knowledge.
Tom and I have spent our time at the inn sleeping, relaxing, fishing, canoeing, hiking the trail through the woods, and eating (all sans kids). Several times we drove to nearby Lacon which is home to several quaint shops and fudge stores that are impossible to pass up. No matter what we end up doing, we have always been able to capture the relief of "getting away from it all." And yes, to be honest, I am always glad to see my kids when we arrive home!
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