A question for you? When celebrating an anniversary, birthday or other milestone, is the question: A year already? Or, Has it only been a year? For LakePlace and us, it has been both.
On November 24, 2023, LakePlace Bed & Breakfast welcomed its first guests, Pat and Rich from Edina, Minnesota, and Groveland, Massachusetts. Since then, we have welcomed 236 guests from 14 states and five countries. Our guests have been pleasantly surprised with the house, lake, and rooms. And we have been surprised at the popularity of Biscuit, our resident B&B cat.
We offer our most sincere thanks to all those who have stayed at the lake and taught us even more about hospitality and gemütlichkeit*. Guests have stayed with us to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and engagements; as a central meeting place for long-distance friends; and for rejuvenating get-aways for solo travelers and harried parents. This has been the best anniversary gift to us.
All of the preparation, research, and learning to make this dream a reality was worth it and we look forward to many more years of hosting and many more anniversary celebrations. Some of the highlights and lessons learned in our first year are:
- Discovering the perfect snickerdoodle recipe to welcome our guests.
- Enjoying conversations and many “small world” moments with guests.
- Figuring out the right portion sizes for a filling breakfast without wasting food.
- Finding keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan dishes to meet the dietary needs of our guests.
- Getting 20 five-star online reviews!
- Introducing guests to the local products we serve from 3 Arrows Coffee, Community Homestead CSA, Crystal Ball Farms Dairy, Slattengren Farms, and more.
- Involving ourselves in the community through the Falls and Osceola Chambers of Commerce, volunteering at St. Croix Festival Theater, and donating to local non-profits,
- Learning that peel-and-stick wallpaper IS a two-person job.
- Perfecting Mark’s croissants, cinnamon swirl bread, and Canadian butter tarts.
- Receiving the 2024 Reader’s Choice for Best Bed & Breakfast in the Valley from the Osceola Sun.
- Spreading the word about LakePlace at wedding fairs, fundraising events, and sharing at chamber of commerce and other business meetings.
- Starting out slowly last winter helped us prepare and improve for our busy summer and fall.
- Surprising guests with the fact that we have only been at this for one year.
- Transforming our garden areas (with an exciting new design from Permaculture Party for the front yard coming in 2025).
For our family, having the right sized space for holiday gatherings with our large and boisterous clan has been a bonus. We recognize every day how fortunate we are to be able to live on this beautiful property in this hidden gem of a community.
If you have stayed with us, we eagerly welcome you back. If your stay is coming up, we can’t wait to see you! If you are thinking about a stay, what are you waiting for? Join Us At The Lake.
* Gemütlichkeit – a German-language word used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer.