Inn at Irish Hollow

The Inn at Irish Hollow provides a perfect, romantic getaway. The eight-room B&B has two distinctly different types of rooms. Inside the main building - the General Store - three guest rooms are available. Decorated with early American and French antique furniture, poster beds, floral wall and window treatments, and original 4-inch, plank oak floors, these rooms are the more budget friendly. Nestled behind the main building sit five private guest houses. Unlike anything you'd expect in this historic region, these rooms are luxuriously appointed in Ritz-Carlton style. The simplest of these is the French Maid's Cottage, which is an 1890s restored wood, roadside building. Its lush appointments reflect the other cottages' more elaborate dcor. Two cottages called the Country English Cottages are bilevel with giant fireplaces. They both have the same gorgeous furniture, international style, plush baths and kitchenettes. In these intimate cottages it is so easy to find a little nook by a window to read or to sink into a couch to cocoon. The pretty, spacious Gardner's Cottage has a lighter feel with more pastel shades and an equestrian theme. Finally, the most exquisite cottage is the Stationhouse. The Stationhouse could easily be a luxurious home in the countryside. It has a massive stone fireplace visible from the bedroom's four poster bed, Jacuzzi tub and sitting room. Regardless of where you choose to say, all rooms have fireplaces, whirlpools and hot tubs, internet access, luxurious bathrooms (Caldera bath and skin products) and full gourmet breakfast. There are no telephones or televisions, but bookshelves stocked with good reads. There is Internet access. The rural inn is located on 500 acres of undulating rural countryside and next to a 1,300+ acre nature preserve. It was once a hamlet of 10 called Rodden, Illinois. The owners have managed to preserve the historic feel of the area while providing all of the accommodations you'd expect from a luxury resort. Rates include a full country gourmet breakfast which you can have delivered to your room. In addition, guests have the option of adding on a seven-course candlelight dinner, which showcases the world-class fare from the Inn's kitchen and includes complimentary wine. For those looking to get out and enjoy nature, there are ski and hiking trails or the owners will set up a sleigh ride for you. Nearby Galena provides plenty of shops and restaurants but we think you'll find that once you arrive, there's nowhere you'd rather be. Rates from $185; breakfast is included.