Dutch Lake Farm Guest House

When I think about B&Bs, I think Laura Ashley-floral knockoff motifs, a surplus of squashy pillows, and VCR tapes of heartwarming B-movies, peppered with potpourri. In a quest to enjoy an inexpensive staycation with my then-boyfriend last winter, I felt challenged to find a Bed and Breakfast in the Twin Cities area that didn't cater to Anglophile fantasies of rooming in a life-size doll house. I'm still young and hip, dammit!I found Dutch Lake Farm Guest House to be the anti-thesis of my B&B stereotype. Its website, while visually blinding, was thorough in information, although they neglect to mention they have WIFI. "But Melissa L.," you ask, "isn't the point of going to a B&B to escape the daily terrors of technology?" For me, the answer is no. But I digress.Making a reservation was pretty straight forward: you call or email, confirm they have an opening, and you mail part of the amount as a deposit. It's surprisingly low-tech, and perhaps they should do web-reservations for the more tech-minded, but it'll do for now.The guest house itself is over a garage, which is right next to owners Greg and Christie Wood's house. I really enjoyed the look, it was modern and not fussy at all.The ceilings are high and the decor is minimal. A lot of the furnishing are from IKEA, so you get the idea. The large window in the living area faces the woods; it's a gorgeous view. It was nice to sit on the sofa and watch the sky get dark while drinking a glass of bubbly.I went in the middle of January last year, and it was DAMN COLD. They have snowshoes for you, so it was nice to trek around and look at their Christmas tree farm, which is now operating. The area is rural, but I enjoyed the isolation. If you ski, the Luce Line trail is now completed so you can do that. There is shopping in nearby Buffalo, but I'm not interested in doodads or antiques. I should have brought more books or rented skis for the weekend. There's probably a greater deal of things to do in the summer.Amenities-wise, there is a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and some silverware and plates. If you want to bring your own food, make sure to bring a cutting board and a knife. You'll have to rinse stuff out in the sink. Also, while they do supply bottled water, it doesn't hurt to bring your own.The Wood's served a great brunch, with an entire quiche and some badass rum cakes. They were pretty friendly on the phone and through the visit.Negatives: The water smells strongly of sulfur or something, so I had a hard time washing my face without smelling like eau de farts. It does get a bit chilly at night - being over a garage will do that - but they provide plenty of blankets.It's about a two-hour drive from Minneapolis, so not too far and not too close. I'd go again for a cheap staycation, but would probably do it in the summertime in order to take advantage of the outdoors.

My husband and I stayed here last night, and it was truly magical. The farm is beautiful and remote, just right for snowshoeing in newly fallen snow. We felt right at home and were warmly welcomed. The breakfast was fantastic (quiche, fruit and coffee) and delivered to us right on time. The owner even removed the snow from our car for us. Can't wait to go back in the summer!

Lovely Bed and Breakfast -- what a great find! So close to Minneapolis and St. Paul, yet a great get away out to the country! The hosts Greg and Christie Wood are awesome hosts and make you feel like royalty! The super modern guest house and Bed & Breakfast is dreamy; Very private setting on the lake with canoe, trails, awesome breakfast! We will definitely be back this winter for snow shoeing!