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Lodging, Travel

Vermilion Park Inn, Soudan, MN

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Vermilion Park Inn, Soudan, MN

The Vermilion Park Inn located in Soudan, MN was not quite what I expected, both in a good and a bad way.  This house is located in the very small town of Soudan, MN in northern MN, near the Soudan Mine.  It was an ideal place to stay while we explored the Soudan Mine, Vermilion State Park, and Bear Head Lake State Park.  The town of Ely isn’t too far if you want a bite to eat.

We stayed at the Vermilion Park Inn in 2017.  I believe that it may have been a slightly off time and that they are in the process of improving.  It was nice and I imagine it would be better if we were to stay again.

We booked the Vermilion Park Inn under the impression that it was a bed and breakfast.  Technically there was a bed and there was breakfast, but I wouldn’t tout it as the breakfast you would expect  at a bed and breakfast.  I imagine an amazing home cooked breakfast when I think of a bed and breakfast.  It was more like a good to okay continental breakfast.  It did the trick and there was no pressure to get up at a specific time so I was fine with it.  If you set your expectation on the breakfast down to cereal, yogurt, cheese, a store bought danish, and things in that realm you won’t be as disappointed in the breakfast as we were.

On the flip side the rooms were very nice.  The Bed was nice.  The sheets were clean.  There is a theme to every room.  We were in the Fisherman’s room which has its own bathroom.  That is always nice.  One odd thing about the bathroom is that it is a sliding door so you can hear pretty much everything that is going on in there.

The Fisherman’s Room at the Vermilion Park Inn near the Soudan Mine

The staff is really nice and friendly.  It seems to be run by a couple of couples and possibly some friends or family.

We didn’t use it, but there is a fire pit in the back yard.  I believe I saw one of the guests using a grill as well.

View of fire pit and small deck off of the Fisherman’s room at Vermilion Park Inn

The staff will help you pre-book your tickets for the mine.  Not sure if you actually need them, but it is nice to know you will get in.

Overall the Vermilion Park Inn is a great launching point for the Soudan Mine, the Vermilion State Park, and Bear Head Lake State Park.  The town is small and you will need to head north to get a good meal.  You should definitively check out Stony Ridge Cafe if you can find it.  They have great burgers, great big burgers that is.

Lodging

Jailhouse Inn, Preston, MN

Jailhouse Inn, 109 Houston St NW, Preston, MN 55965

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Spending the night in jail is not necessarily the worst thing that could happen to you.  Well, as long as your stay is in Preston at the Jailhouse Inn.

The inn is an old court house with actual jail cells that were converted into a single room.  The old courtroom is another room.  You can stay in the old living quarters of the sheriff.  Some rooms are a bit more special than others and harder to rent.

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We stayed in the Sun Room.  I had plenty of windows.  Some of the rooms on the second floor have access to a balcony that you can sit on and rock away.

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You can check in between 3-6.  There are a lot of great bike paths around this area.  You can also go hiking or fishing or golfing or check out the Amish community.  Trout seems to be the fish off choice in the area.

We went hiking in Forestville State Park.  It isn’t for the easing going hiker.  You can go a short while on an easy path, but most of the paths seem to be horse trails and they go up and down the hillside.

In another part of the park you can see Mystery Cave.  If you are lucky you might even see a few bats.  The bats are very small.  The cave is a constant 48 degrees so bring a jacket.

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At the end of the stay or each morning you will receive a wonderful breakfast.  The eating area is downstairs.  There are plenty of tables for you and your friends.  They serve fresh fruit and a platter with hot food.  We ended up getting an cheesy omelet and herb potatoes and ham.  It was delicious and very pretty.

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