Outing Lodge at Pine Point

Just four miles from Stillwater, Outing Lodge at Pine Point (a county park) is the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Located down a long gravel driveway, this majestic, ivy-covered mansion once served as a public "poor farm" before falling into disrepair. The owners have transformed it into an inviting, cozy B&B set amid the hardwoods and evergreens, adjacent to a pond (where hardy guests can ice-skate in the winter). Guests are welcomed in the great-room, with its huge stone fireplace. (It takes two men to move a giant log across the hearth and onto the grate!) The exposed beams and high ceilings make the place feel more like a hunting lodge in the North Woods than a weekend retreat just 30 minutes from the Twin Cities. The nine rooms are loosely themed on notable people, such as Bob Dylan, Robert Frost and Eva Peron. All feature gas fireplaces. Rooms start at $135. The Outing Lodge is well-known for its indulgent evening feasts held throughout the year. Themes include "Paris in the 1920s" and "An English Christmas," for which guests arrive--weather permitting--in a horse-drawn sleigh. Prices for the themed dinners range from $70 to $90, and of course, reservations must be made in advance.