“Romance is in the Air”
Fluffy luxurious robes, a large whirlpool bath, an elegant four-poster bed, and beautiful picturesque views of lush flowering gardens overlooking a gentle flowing river create a romantic setting at The Herrington Inn & Spa. An upscale boutique hotel in Geneva, Illinois, the Inn creates a wonderful romantic getaway while blending history, romance, and whimsical fun. Nestled on the waterfront of what was once the home of a tiny creamery today is a 61 room Inn that enchants couples and guests with love stories, nursery rhymes and “cows.”
The lobby bar with its warm golden shades displays “Unbridling Beatrix” the hotel’s mascot “cow”. A bovine masterpiece, Beatrix is artfully spotted with the greatest love story of all time, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, carrying the tradition of romance to the Inn.
Our spacious room is beautifully decorated in a rich Victorian décor with golden tones. A king size four-poster bed with a plush down comforter, a desk, a large marble top credenza and a gas fireplace make it a comfortable and romantic setting. Being on the 3rd floor (top floor), our room has higher ceilings giving an open feeling. From our private balcony, we enjoy the relaxing scenic views of the landscaped gardens and the Fox River. The bathroom is ultra-deluxe! An oversized deep whirlpool tub, a bidet, and separate granite glass shower are all top quality.
Located in the shopping district of Geneva, Illinois, it’s an easy walk from the Inn to explore this charming small town for bargains and eateries. After window shopping, we walk to the Dam on the serene Fox River. Canadian Geese perch on the dam as water tumbles over it. A group of ducks struggle to swims upstream at the base of the dam until they finally give up. Across the river, a walking and biking trail is under renovation. Once finished this will be a great trail for jogging, biking and leisurely strolls along the shores of the scenic river.
A busy Friday night, hotel guests are dining at the hotel’s premier restaurant, Atwater’s which features fresh regional cuisine and an outstanding wine list. For extra romance, the Riverside Gazebo offers a beautiful riverside dining. From our patio, we watch as the Gazebo is set for an intimate dinner for two. For us it’s a casual dinner in a local downtown pub.
Returning to our room for the evening, we find luxurious robes draped carefully over the bed with slippers placed on the floor. Forget champagne! Two pint bottles of fresh milk chill in the ice bucket. Fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies welcome us for a delectable bedtime snack. Recalling childhood bedtime, we savor the cool milk and chewy cookies. Absolutely fantastic! We forgot how tantalizing and tasty good milk and cookies are. Forget the calories, we each eat our entire cookie and finish off our own bottle of milk. A whimsical poem shares the weather forecast for tomorrow “from the cow that jumped over the moon.”
Milk and cookies assure we have a restful night’s sleep. The next morning starts with a complimentary European style continental breakfast buffet served in the lobby. While we only had one night at the Herrington Inn & Spa, we found a hidden treasure of an upscale romantic boutique on the outskirts of Chicago. Keeping history and tradition alive, often with a whimsical touch, the Inn assures “romance in the air.” Even in the nursery rhyme romance blossoms as the cow may have jumped over the moon, but remember – “the dish ran away with the spoon” – maybe to a romantic getaway at Herrington Inn & Spa.
If you go: The Herrington Inn & Spa, 15 South River Lane, Geneva, IL 60134; P: (630) 208-7433; www.herringtoninn.com