Category Archives: B&B/Hotel Reviews

B & B Retreats at the Mansion at Elfindale

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Retreats are great for revitalizing the spirit and connecting with others. Whether it’s a corporate retreat, a ladies’ retreat, a family reunion, a bridesmaids’ retreat, or whatever the occasion, atmosphere has a lot to do with allowing that revitalization and connecting to take place. After spending the night during this past summer and the previous summer at the Mansion at Elfindale in Springfield, Missouri, I highly recommend this B & B!  It’s world class!   Although it was just our family staying there, my imagination could see how this would be an awesome place for a retreat!

Isn’t it fun to get away with your girlfriends and talk “girl talk” until the wee hours of the morning?  A Ladies’ Retreat with a group of ladies from church has always been a lot of fun for me.  Getting away to a special place enhances the enjoyment of the trip, getting away from the hustle and bustle of the busy routine of life, getting to relax and share about things that are really important and things that are on our minds, and last but not least…just having fun together, sharing funny experiences and laughing so hard that we’re almost in tears.
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In order to have a ladies’ retreat, there needs to be ample places to congregate for chit chat, for sharing funny stories, and for serious discussion.  Having stayed at The Mansion, I can see how this Victorian style bed and breakfast would be an awesome place to stay.  The atmosphere of this European like castle is like taking a step back in time, yet keeping all the modern conveniences that we want to have.  The wide hallways provide many places to sit and congregate as seen in the picture below:

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This beautiful breakfast room can also be used for more than just breakfast at retreats:
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Many suites have sitting areas which are great for small group discussions. The Veranda Suite as seen in the picture below is one such room. Not only does this suite have a great sitting area inside but outside as well on the beautiful veranda seen in the second picture. By the way, this is the only suite with a veranda.
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The Rose Suite is the perfect name for this lovely suite as you can tell by the picture. It has an excellent area in the room for conversation and sharing thoughts.
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The Chapel Suite is where we enjoyed staying, and it can sleep four very comfortably. The suite is nice and spacious and also has a great sitting area, perfect for a small group meeting.
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I want to share one more of the 13 suites with you, and that is the tower suite. Note the tall tower on the right-hand side of the Mansion, the tower that reminds me of a castle:
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The Tower Suite contains two levels which makes it so charming and so much fun. There are actually four rooms to this suite being the bedroom, the bathroom, a sitting area in the tower, and then another sitting area up higher in the tower which is reached by a beautiful circular staircase. Below is the highest room in The Mansion. 

To see more, visit The Mansion at Elfindale on Facebook.
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Weddings in Springfield, MO, @ The Mansion

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Springfield, Missouri, is in such a pretty area of the country, and the Chapel at The Mansion at Elfindale in Missouri is a very romantic setting for a Springfield wedding. The Chapel sits next to the European style B&B on lovely wooded property.
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The center aisle is a favorite for many brides. The aisle can be beautifully decorated to provide an elegant path for the bridal party.
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The magnificent flooring at the altar is imported marble which adds to the beauty of the occasion.
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The special events coordinators at The Mansion take care of the fine details to ensure a memorable wedding that is personalized and beautiful!  Here are some of the things they offer:

  • Minister
  • Wedding music
  • Brass candelabra
  • Marble columns
  • Video recording of the wedding
  • Reception room
  • Cake and punch
  • Buffet dinner
  • Sit-down dinner
  • Special tree-lined archway drive as seen below.  The lights on the archway are lit in the evenings from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

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The Mansion offers 13 suites for night lodgings for the honeymooners or their guests. A favorite suite is the tower suite which has a romantic ambiance to it.  Rooms are available for bridal showers as well.  For more photos, go to Weddings @ The Mansion at Elfindale in Springfield, Missouri.
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For more information, call 1-800-443-0237 to speak with one of their special events coordinators.

Corporate Travel & Meetings in Springfield, Missouri

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The Mansion at Elfindale, which looks like a charming European castle, is nestled in the trees.  Just a couple of blocks away are your normal everyday shopping and residential areas.  However, when you enter the property for this B&B, you feel like you’re out in the country,  yet you’re just a few minutes away from the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the “Grandaddy of all Outdoor Stores”.  

If you’re looking for a get-a-way from the hustle and bustle of the city for your corporate meeting or corporate travel, but yet you like some of the amenities a city has to offer, The Mansion is just for you! Fully restored and renovated a little over 20 years ago, The Mansion is like stepping back in time only with the modern conveniences of today such as an air conditioning system that leaves the air smelling fresh, never musty like I imagine a castle smelling!  Here are some of the amenities of this historic and captivating bed and breakfast:

  • Highspeed Wireless Internet in all the rooms
  • Breakfast included in the price (ask about breakfast)
  • Higher level of privacy
  • Relaxed environment which helps people to be more creative
  • Competitive rates
  • Comforts of home & comfortable and quiet sleeping environment
  • Great place to focus on the work at hand without distractions
  • Safe area with higher level of security
  • Close to area attractions which fosters team building

  Whatever your corporate needs, whether you need small group space or a meeting room for a larger group, The Mansion at Elfindale can provide accommodations that will inspire creativity and planning sessions for your business.

Weddings @ The Mansion at Elfindale in Springfield, Missouri

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………. <PART ONE ……. PART TWO…….PART THREE >

The Mansion at Elfindale is such a beautiful bed and breakfast in Springfield.  There are also wedding services available in their chapel and reception area as well.  While we were standing on one of the covered porches at the Mansion, we could look across and see the chapel which is connected to the Mansion by a brick covered walkway.


Once inside, we were surprised with the beauty of the chapel which is absolutely perfect for a Springfield wedding. It has a center aisle which is very important to most brides. The stained glass windows, arched cathedral ceiling, and imported marble flooring at the altar are impressive.

The covered walkway from the chapel to the Mansion leads to an area that is perfect for a wedding reception as seen pictured below.  This room was originally the State Dining Room but later was transformed into a ballroom with a fireplace.  The owner purchased a magnificent fireplace mantel for this room at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, imported from France with dolphins carved into the beautiful wood.  That is why it is known as the Dolphin Fireplace and the room is referred to as the Dolphin Room today.


There are several suites in the Mansion which would be nice for honeymoon bed-and-breakfast lodging, but I think the most romantic would be the Tower Suite.  It is situated on the third floor and contains three rooms plus the bathroom.  Two of the rooms are actually in the tower.


Upon entrance to the suite, my eyes were immediately drawn to the first tower room. Through the passageway, you can see a sitting area with beautiful lace curtains and a desk.

Once you enter the sitting room, you see this impressive winding staircase leading to the top of the tower. The view from this room is great but a fourth story view is even more inviting!


The view from the top of the tower is impressive. Looking over tops of trees, you can see the small lake which is on the property. This room is perfect for relaxing in the morning with a leisurely cup of coffee and maybe even watching the sun rise.


From this fourth story tower room, you can easily see the original school built on the property as well as many other places.  By the way, some people like this suite as a retreat away from the busy, hectic life they live. This is also a place where people can retreat and refocus on what is important in life.


This Springfield bed and breakfast also makes great accomodations for the wedding party, relatives and guests attending the wedding from out-of-town. There are 13 luxurious bed and breakfast suites, each suite distinct with its own personality and charm.  For more info: Weddings in Springfield, MO, @ The Mansion.

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B & B Review: The Mansion at Elfindale, Springfield, Missouri – Part Two

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………        .<PART ONE ……. PART TWO…….PART THREE >

In Part One of The Mansion at Elfindale series, I showed you the beautiful staircase and Chapel Suite where we stayed. To continue my review of this absolutely charming Victorian Bed and Breakfast in Springfield, this picture shows the size of this B & B, The Mansion at Elfindale. Shown here on one side of the Mansion is a covered drive for the carriage entrance.


The history of The Mansion at Elfindale is interesting! John O’Day and his wife, Alice, lived in the Mansion which was completed in 1893 and contained 27,000 square feet. Several years later when John and Alice divorced, Alice was awarded the Mansion. Eventually, Alice could not afford the upkeep and sold it to a group of nuns for use as a school.

The nuns built a beautiful chapel next to the Mansion (which is used as a wedding chapel today and will be featured in Part Three of this series). Next to the chapel they built a three-story classroom building which you see pictured below.

The property was sold once again in 1977, to a small group of Iranian businessmen with intentions to use the Mansion as a safe house for the Shah of Iran, but that didn’t work out. So the property was sold again, this time to Cornerstone Church in 1979. They built a sanctuary on the property, made the chapel available for weddings, and made the historical Mansion available to the public in 1990 as a Bed and Breakfast after fully restoring and renovating it to make 13 suites with private baths.

Each suite in The Mansion has its own distinct charm and personality, and I have chosen three more suites to illustrate that uniqueness and charm. In Part One, the Chapel Suite was featured.

The Veranda Suite as seen in the picture below has beautiful stained glass surrounding the doors out to the veranda.


When you go through the doors pictured above, you find yourself on this beautiful veranda pictured below. This is the only suite with a veranda and such a serene outdoor setting. Wouldn’t this be a lovely place to sit and have a cup of coffee or tea in the morning? So peaceful!

The Flora Jane Suite, pictured below, contains this beautiful canopy bed and reminds me of something out of a movie. Isn’t it gorgeous?  This is such a pretty room!

This suite, even though it contains the large canopy bed, is very spacious and also has a lovely sitting area where you can sit and relax, read a book or visit in nice peaceful surroundings.


The Rose Suite in the picture below is very spacious and keeps with the theme of roses. It looks like a comfy and cozy place to sit and talk, watch TV, or just relax from the busy life so many of us have!


Before closing, I must share one thing we really enjoyed. During the middle of the afternoon in the large hallway outside the dining room, you can help yourself to coffee or a selection of teas along with gourmet cookies. Or maybe you would prefer to have a cookie and some coffee in the evening.

We had delicious chocolate chip cookies both days. I could definitely get spoiled to afternoon tea of my choice and fresh baked cookies every day.  Very nice!

Next, I want to share with you about the beautiful wedding chapel and which suite I think would be wonderful for a honeymoon, so watch for Part Three!

………..<PART ONE ……. PART TWO…….PART THREE >

B & B Review: The Mansion at Elfindale, Springfield, Missouri – Part One

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………… <PART ONE ……. PART TWO……    .PART THREE >

 

We were blessed to be able to stay two nights and review this beautiful European style B and B, The Mansion at Elfindale which at one time was the largest bed and breakfast in Missouri.  It exceeded my expectations, and I must say that the pictures on their website do not do it justice. The pictures do not completely capture the spaciousness and elegance of this Victorian era mansion. We felt as though we had stepped back in time, only with the modern conveniences of air conditioning (which worked really great), cable television, and wireless Internet. Since the mansion was completed in 1892, I expected a little bit of a musty smell but there was absolutely none…not at all. My husband can testify to the freshness of the air as he has a very good sense of smell.

The Mansion is a wonderful place for a couple or a family with older children to stay.  This beautiful bed and breakfast in Springfield has hosted ladies’ retreats, even a youth group retreat, family reunions, wedding parties, and “girls’ night out” events.  If you’re headed to Branson, it’s less than 40 miles away which makes it a perfect bed and breakfast near Branson, yet out of the busy tourist area.

We stayed on the second floor which you can see on the far left side of the picture. A beautifully decorated, extra-large bay window provided us with a wonderful view.

Let me give you a tour inside.  Pictured below is the magnificent grand staircase made with imported teakwood, adorned with stained glass windows.


Once we got to the second floor landing, our room was straight ahead.  You can see my husband and our son unlocking the door to our suite.  By the way, there are thirteen suites in the Mansion, each suite complete with its own distinctive charm and personality.  And this is very important, each suite has its own private bath unlike some B & B’s.

I was impressed with the sliding, wooden doors, the original doors from 1892.  Once inside, this was the first view of our spacious room, authentically decorated in Victorian style and elegance:

The Chapel Suite where we stayed had two very comfortable queen sized beds with luxurious sheets which made for a wonderful night’s sleep. There were plenty of pillows which were great for propping up to read in bed at night.


 As I mentioned, we had all the modern conveniences of cable television, DVD player, telephone, and wireless Internet which was greatly appreciated while using the laptop.  Here’s another view of our room with the entertainment center:

The furniture throughout the mansion was styled according to the era in which the mansion was built.  This chair in our suite was so cool!  It’s the early version of a recliner which my husband took to instantly!


I could have slept longer, only I woke up hungry and thinking about the breakfast which was going to be cooked for us.  The first morning, we had eggs, bacon, sausage, cantaloupe, homemade biscuits and gravy with strawberry preserves on the side.  Coffee, a selection of teas, and orange juice were our beverages.  The second morning, we had eggs, sausage, homemade gourmet muffins, and sliced bananas topped with yogurt sprinkled with granola.  Our son took the picture below which is my favorite breakfast picture:



MORE TO COME!  In Part Two, I will share some interesting history of the mansion.  It was once a convent/school and later was considered as a possible safe house for the Shah of Iran before it became a bed and breakfast.


………. <PART ONE .    …… PART TWO…    ….PART THREE >

Royal Kona Resort in Hawaii – Family Friendly

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Family vacations are something that we have treasured throughout the years.  It’s a time when a family can get away from the hustle and bustle of the daily routine in life.   If cell phones and technological devices can be kept to a bare minimum, or better yet can be turned off completely, then the family can focus on quality time together.  It doesn’t have to be at a resort, even the simplest of vacations can accomplish bringing a family even closer together.

Several years ago, our family went to Hawaii for a vacation we will never forget.  Beautiful scenery surrounded us almost everywhere, and we had a lot of fun as a family visiting the abundance of sites and attractions on four of the islands.  When we were on the Big Island of Hawaii, we stayed at the Royal Kona Resort pictured above.  My husband was able to get a significant discount through AAA Travel, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this resort.

The Royal Kona Resort gets a top rating from us.  The resort, which sits on the oceanfront overlooking Kailua Bay, provides a perfect vantage point for a spectacular view.  We thoroughly enjoyed sitting by the pool and watching the waves crash against the shore which sent huge sprays of water up into the air.  Our kids especially enjoyed watching this.  The evening was so pleasant sitting outside that it was hard to go inside.

Once inside, our rooms were spacious and nicely decorated.  We slept well and were ready for sightseeing the next day.  Before heading out on our adventure, we had breakfast in the charming open-air restaurant pictured below.  The spectacular view of the Pacific along with the scrumptious breakfast made for a wonderful ambiance the family still remembers.
Once we had breakfast, we were ready to head out for the day.   We headed first to the Punaluu Black Sand Beach (this is due to the constant volcanic activity of the island) to see the huge Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.

Then we headed on to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:


Even though the terrain was bare in spots from the volcanic ash, it was a neat experience to be that close to an active volcano:

Next we visited the Ola’a Rainforest and went for a hike, enjoying the natural beauty of this lush forest.  Our daughter, Christi, and I walked at a slower pace:

After a long day of sightseeing, we headed back to the resort.

For anyone interested in visiting the Royal Kona Resort, they are a family-friendly, non-smoking hotel (they do have a designated smoking area).  They are conveniently located, being within walking distance of International shopping, historic attractions and restaurants.  Besides having a split-level swimming pool, they also have four lighted tennis courts.  And one of their popular amenities is the hosting of a luau (a Hawaiian feast) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  To contact them, you can call 800-22-ALOHA (222-5642).

* Note:  This post was completely my opinion.  I was not compensated in any way by the Royal Kona Resort.