alison's blog | Cottage House Inn

Signs of Spring

Welcome Back!

And just like that.....we are back open for another year of hosting you for your bluff country getaway! Spring is here, with wide swings in temperature and precipitation, but the daffodils are still blooming and trees are just opening their buds. Anglers and hunters are ready for trout fishing and turkey hunting. Bikers are itching to get back on that beautiful pavement that winds through valleys, farmland, woodlands, riverbank, and more. The Commonweal Theatre Company has opened its repertoire with the play "Bernhardt/Hamlet". Lanesboro and Whal

Quiet Time Isn't Just for Kids

Quiet Time in Lanesboro: It may be quieter around town, but that means it is a perfect time to really relax and unplug in Lanesboro and Whalan for a day trip or overnight stay. While some of our Inns (including us) close for a few months during the winter, there are still plenty of lodging options. Check out availability on our Chamber lodging search, by going to lanesboro.com and doing a search on the homepage or under the "Where to Stay" section.

With Thanksgiving....Online Auction....Give to the Max!

It is the season of Thanksgiving...once again! We have so much to be thankful for in Lanesboro - our public school, our outdoor recreation opportunities (thank you DNR!), multiple organizations to get involved with (Sons of Norway, Lanesboro Museum, VFW, Chamber, EDA...), volunteers, entrepreneurs, a strong arts community, new underground infrastructure around our building (thank you City!), neighbors helping neighbors, and so much more.

Fall into Winter

It is November 1, and we are expected to reach a high of 70 degrees! These above average temperatures in October and now November have kept our bicycling season going, but we know the Fall season will soon change into the Winter season. Late Fall and early Winter in Lanesboro mean more quiet and less bustle. But don't let the quiet fool you - we are still open and ready to host you for a day or overnight. Lanesboro and Whalan still have plenty of things to do in the winter, and plenty of opportunities to do a whole lot of nothing! Remember you can always se

Celebrate Fall and Winter Seasons in Lanesboro

Lanesboro is enjoying another warm day but we know cooler days are ahead. As the season changes to fall and winter, we are celebrating with a plethora of activities and events!

Sat., Sept. 24 - Fall Boutique & Business Crawl

Sat., Sept. 24 & Sun., Sept. 25 - History Alive! Pop Up Plays - Roma, Norskies, and Bumtown 1935

Sat., Oct. 1 - Fall Into Lanesboro

Sat., Oct. 8 - Filthy 50 Bike Race

Fri., Oct. 14 & Sat., Oct. 15 - Lanesboro Area Art Trail

Knee High by the Fourth of July

Happy 4th of July! It is a rainy start to this holiday, but let's reflect on the blessing of rain and what it does to help agriculture, a major economy in our humble Fillmore County. There is a saying that if the corn is knee high for the Fourth of July, everything will be OK and the corn will mature in time for harvest.

Events are Back in Full Force!

Our tiny but mighty little town and surrounding area puts on many festivals and events each year (over 26), and it is exciting to see them all returning after two-year hiatuses. These events are organized and executed by non-profits, area artists, business owners, organizations, and more and have a collaboration with many partners, like the City of Lanesboro, the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and our Lanesboro Businesses Promotion Group. It is exciting and inspiring to see what these volunteers can do! Some guests plan their visits around these events, and we encoura

Owl Art for Ukraine....and more!

Our neighbor to the east, the International Owl Center in Houston, MN, has amazingly hosted two online auctions of Ukrainian youths' owl art, with proceeds benefitting UNICEF, to help Ukrainian children. A third auction is currently live, until April 3. This initiative has turned into a huge success, thanks to the hard work of the Owl Center, and many patrons. If you are interested, please head to their online auction website, https://one.bidpal.net/ukrart4ukrkids/welcome. Even just browsing the artwork is quite the experience, witnessing the creative artist

Deep Cleaning in the Deep Winter

After the falling of roughly seven inches of snow, everyone is shoveling and plowing in the beautiful winter sun. Today is a picturesque winter scene in Lanesboro with snow-dusted cedars on the bluff, frozen ice on the river, geese at Sylvan Park, a sundog in the sky, and a few bundled-up people heading into lunch at a favorite cafe. Winter at the Cottage House provides a time to slow down a little from the fast-paced previous season and get ready to.......deep clean! Maybe you have a deep-clean list of your own for your house, apartment, or even garage. Our list