Take a Trip

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To these four small-town bed-and-breakfast destinations

Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming and animals are on the move. Just like the rest of creation, there is something about spring that wakes us up and makes us want to explore our surroundings. If you have a hankering to get out there and see something new, you’re in luck. With these four distinct bed-and-breakfast locations across Southeast Missouri, there is surely something for everyone.

Plain & Fancy Ironton, Missouri

If romance is what you’re after, look no further than Plain & Fancy Bed and Breakfast in Ironton, Missouri. Located about 90 minutes west of Cape Girardeau near Elephant Rock and Millstream Gardens, this B&B has been serving guests for 25 years. Set in the country, it’s a beautiful getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, where people can relax, unwind and enjoy each other’s company.

But it’s the amenities and detailed care that make this one great. With spa showers in every room, a hot tub that overlooks the creek and a fire pit on the patio, you may just come and not want to leave. Owner Brenda Merello is OK with that.

“I love guests coming to see me,” she says. “I love fixing them breakfast and talking with them and seeing newcomers let down their guard as they settle in and become comfortable in my home.”

And over the years, she’s found that “if you are kind to people, people are kind back.” It doesn’t hurt that she greets you with homemade cookies and fudge. If you stay at the Plain & Fancy, be sure to ask for the Banana Split pancakes, a specialty breakfast, for sure.

Main Street Inn Sainte Genevieve, Missouri

If you’re looking for the high-end comforts of a boutique B&B, then Main Street Inn in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, is a place you’ll want to stay. After a complete renovation, Main Street opened in 2017 and has a modern-day vibe sure to make you feel at home. As part of your stay, you are invited to wine hour in the evenings and a substantial home-cooked breakfast in the morning, where you will be greeted by proprietors Dr. Susan O’Donnell and Patrick Fahey, along with innkeeper Terri Scott.

“We love making your stay special,” Fahey says. “Caregiving is a big part of what we do. It’s more than breakfast or a clean room. We are here to accommodate your personal needs and want you to enjoy the benefits of community.”

During the day, get out and explore French colonial life in the 1700s by visiting historical homes and museums in the area, or check out nearby vineyards and distilleries.

Ready to pack, but worried about leaving your pet at home? Bring them along! Main Street Inn has a pet-friendly room, with plans to open another one in the near future.

Rose Dale Farm Piggott, Arkansas

You really like privacy? Rose Dale Farm in Piggott, Arkansas, may be the place for you. Six miles from the Missouri border and set on 18 acres of land, the Rose Dale Farm is great for a full-sized family, “especially if they are chummy,” says owner Bert Lewis.

With two bedrooms and an extra futon, most people rent the entire home and are encouraged to have guests over, giving them a place to congregate and spend time. Lewis and his wife, Bonnie, are travelers themselves, and have patterned the bed and breakfast after some of the amenities they like. They tend to let people do their own thing.

“We’ve found that not everybody wants a heavy breakfast, so instead of cooking a meal, our guests just tell us what they want, and we stock the kitchen because we’ve found that many people just want to grab and go,” Lewis says.

And just where are guests headed? Maybe to check out the local Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum or any number of antique shops in town. In May, the annual Rod Run will bring visitors in, and of course the barbecue restaurant Strawberry’s in Holcomb, Missouri, is always a crowd-pleaser.

Patty Creek Farm B&B Fredericktown, Missouri

If nature is your thing, then Patty’s Creek Farm near Fredericktown, Missouri, will hit the spot. This rustic bed and breakfast allows you space to disconnect from electronics (a.k.a. there is no WiFi) and enjoy the freedom of the open land. Between horses and hayrides and campfires, there is plenty to keep you outside and away from the cellphone.

“We love to see people getting back to nature: kids running outside and playing, watching a sunset, enjoying the creek,” says owner Pat Weber, who loves to “tweak the creek” all summer long, moving rocks in and around the crystal clear water.

It’s like camping, with extras. In the summer, the creek is the main attraction, but in the fall, it’s the haunted hayrides through the woods. And just recently, they’ve added a venue for rustic weddings. There is always something happening here.

With so much entertainment on the farm, it really is its own attraction. But if you must leave, then check out Taum Sauk Mountain for hiking or Silver Mines Quilts and Antiques for shopping. And when you return, the fresh air and stars will be waiting for you, with a full country breakfast in the morning.