All Hail the Queen!
Written: Oct 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: romance, beautiful lodging and surrounding area
Cons: no pool, pricey dining
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| rmgood's Full Review: St James Hotel |
I'm not really a princess, I just act like one! And now I've found a place that not only meets my "royal" expectations, but actually exceeds them! The St. James Hotel combines the best of all possible worlds: luxurious lodging, fine dining, unsurpassable customer service and (believe it or not) fair pricing. It doesn't get much better than this!
So much to say, so little space! Wherever shall I start?
LOCATION
The Historic St. James Hotel is located in historic Red Wing, Minnesota. This is a slow-down-and-smell-the-roses kind of town. This is the kind of place you retreat to in order to lower your blood pressure or forget about life for awhile. Red Wing is popular for wedding proposals and anniversary celebrations for good reason -an ideal place to rediscover quiet romance. If you looking for a wild time, its not here.
Other than enjoying picturesque beauty, there isn't a whole lot to do in Red Wing which is why it is ideal for romantic getaways. The town is located on the Mississippi River. No matter what your preference for exploring natural beauty may be, it will certainly be satisfied here. For those that enjoy hiking, there are several incredible trails including Frontenac State Park. If you prefer biking, try the Cannon Valley Trail. Want something a little more relaxing? Try a drive along the Great River Road along the shores of the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin. Or have a picnic at any of the lovely parks in the area.
Shopping is another main attraction of Red Wing. The city is known for its 19th century architecture, which is most prominent in the downtown area. There are a variety of unique shops in the lower level of the St. James Hotel complex. For a larger selection, stop next door at the Riverfront Centre. Also within walking distance from the hotel are many other specialty shops and antique stores. This is a great place to find gifts. You won't find any Walmart or ToysRUs here. These are all one-of-a-kind shops, if you're looking for a drug store, you'll have to go for a drive. But if you do have to hop in the car for the shampoo run, be sure to check out the historical pottery district on the other side of town. Here you will find more specialty shops such as a year-round Christmas store, a unique clothing store with the most beautiful sweaters you will ever find and a couple old-fashioned candy stores, among a vast variety of other types of shops.
LODGING
The minute you walk into the lobby of the St. James Hotel, you will experience on uncontrollable draw to look around every corner. The Victorian-style furnishings are restored to perfection and are an attraction in their own right. From the large white pillars to the polished grand piano to the hand-carved railings, St. James has preserved their 19th century charm down the finest detail. As you walk through the lobby, you will find a library room complete with old-fashioned leather chairs and a cozy little fireplace. In this quaint little room, you can sip a brandy, read a novel (many are provided for your enjoyment) or play a relaxing game of cards or a board game, all of which are right there for your use. If you'd like a drink, simply pick up the perfectly polished cradle phone and a staff member will bring one right to you.
The hotel has five floors. Sixty guest rooms make up the first four floors. On the fifth floor you will find a ballroom called The Summit with an incredible panoramic view of the city. This room is popularly used for weddings, receptions and conventions. On Sundays, it is used to house an incredible brunch which I will address later in the dining section. Also on the fifth floor is Jimmy's Pub and in the basement is the Port of Red Wing restaurant.
GUEST ROOMS
The guest rooms are divided into two sections: the Historic section and the Riverview section. The decorations are similar in both sections (although no two rooms are furnished alike), but the room shapes and ceiling heights vary slightly in the two sections. Most of the rooms on the historic section are rectangular, whereas many rooms in the Riverview section have unique odd shaping since that newer section of the hotel is slightly curved. The Riverview section has more modern architecture and bay windows facing the Mississippi River. The Historic section has more intricately designed Italian architecture with tall, narrow windows. The Historic section has higher ceilings, especially on the second floor. Also, the hallways in the Historic section are wider than those in the Riverview section and contain more historical art.
The rooms themselves are divided into four main categories: small, standard, large and whirlpool. Although incredibly quaint and charming, the small rooms are exactly that -small! The best rooms in the hotel are the whirlpool rooms which are both spacious and cozy. Personally, I would highly recommend the Minnesota room, which is my favorite room to stay in and one of the ten whirlpool rooms at the hotel. The Minnesota room (number 406) is located in the Historic section and amenities include one queen bed, a double whirlpool tub in the bathroom, a handheld shower and a view facing main street. The bathroom is equal in size to the bedroom and the old-fashioned double whirlpool tub is incredible in both size and luxury.
All rooms are styled in an old-world fashion that makes you feel right at home. Handmade quilts are provided for the beds and antique furnishing decorate the rooms. All rooms contain a cable television (carefully hidden inside an armoire), a telephone and air conditioning.
DINING
The St. James Hotel provides several dining options. For those looking for an elegant dinner, the Port of Red Wing is an excellent choice. Although there is no dress code, the atmosphere is definitely upscale and reservations are recommended (and usually a must for weekends). This restaurant offers wonderful standard dishes such as steak and fish, as well as new entrees with a touch of world flare. The prices are a little high, but worth every penny.
Adjacent to this restaurant is the Port of Red Wing Lounge which is open evenings and is a charming place to have a quiet after-dinner drink or to relax and wait for your reservations.
The Veranda Restaurant is a more casual and slightly less pricey dining option. The Veranda is also open for breakfast, which the Port is not. I asked the waitress on my last visit for her menu recommendation and I must say her choice of the Wild Rice Soup is excellent. Reservations are not accepted at the Veranda and it is worth it to note that the Veranda is non-smoking.
Jimmy's Pub on the 5th floor is open evenings and offers appetizers and sandwiches. On many nights, they even have live entertainment to enjoy. The lighting is dim and the atmosphere reminds me of an old-fashioned gentlemen's club. Pricing is reasonable and it is a wonderful place to relax and unwind.
The dining highlight of the St. James Hotel is the Sunday brunch offered in the Summit on the 5th floor. The cost is up there: $16.75 plus tax per person, but it is an experience like no other! The buffet is open from 11am-2pm and offers an array of food like I've never seen before! It is always changing, both weekly and during the course of the meal. Everything from smoked or poached fish to grilled entrees to freshly baked breads to every dessert you can imagine -its all there and more! Not usually a big breakfast eater myself, I almost passed on this incredible dining experience. Now I am counting the days until I can enjoy it again!
CUSTOMER SERVICE
From the moment you arrive until you leave the premises, the St. James Hotel staff will treat you like royalty. At check-in they will make every effort to ensure you are delighted with your room and are happy to talk about the hotel history or recommend specific shopping. They offer assistance carrying your bags to your room and even greet you with a bottle of champagne (or sparkling cider on request). They happily provide you with extra bedding or soaps (yes even shampoo so you don't have to hop in the car and find a drugstore afterall!) And first thing in the morning, they bring up complimentary coffee and hot chocolate. If you want to tour the rooms, they are happy to show you any that aren't occupied and they are most helpful in arranging reservations and recommending favorite rooms.
ANY DRAWBACKS?
Well, that depends on what you are looking for. The St. James Hotel's biggest drawback could potentially be its biggest draw. Although always welcome, the hotel is not at all designed to be children-friendly. There is no pool or gameroom and most of the furnishing throughout the hotel are of the "don't touch" nature. They do offer use of the local YMCA which is down the street (within walking distance but not connected to the hotel) for a fee of $5 per person or $9 per family. This allows use of their pool, whirlpool and all other athletic amenities. However, because it is not directly connected to the hotel, it is inconvenient to use. The restaurants are quiet and although they offer a children's menu, I would not recommend a stay there with young children. They are sure to become easily bored and cranky. On the other hand, because of this, the hotel tends to be very quiet and romantic -the perfect weekend away from the kids!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rmgood
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Member: Raquel
Location: Minnesota
Reviews written: 89
Trusted by: 85 members
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