Most Bed and Breakfasts do a fairly decent job of providing good accommodation at good prices. But that’s not enough. Discerning travellers don’t just want nice, they want different. They want historical. They want meaningful. They want personal. They want something that purrs.

A stay booked at the Historic Anderson House Hotel in Wabasha, Minnesota will provide the Bed and Breakfast connoisseur with everything on that list, including the last purring clause that can typically be so hard to fulfil.

Located in central Wabasha, the Historic Anderson House was founded by ‘Grandma Anderson’, a woman who believed that hospitality was everything. Her legacy is continued by the current owners, Teresa & Mike Smith, who provide traditional home cooking that can’t be beat and a consistently warm welcome to guests which starts with the perpetually full cookie jar at the front desk and runs all the way through to the option of having a friendly kitty sent to your room.

A Cat Sent To My Room? What!?

Allow the Historic Anderson House website to explain:

“The Historic Anderson House is known for its cats. We have five resident cats that have their own room. Guests may have their own bed warmer upon request. Cats are delivered to your room with their litter box, food, water and toys for your enjoyment and comfort. Cats are only allowed in certain rooms. Please be sure to ask for a cat at the time of your reservation so we can place you in the correct room. Guest with allergies, do not worry we do have cat free rooms for your stay with us.”

Trademarks of Anderson House, the cats are welcomed by the community as a whole. The cats are so popular that in recent 150 year celebrations, statues of cats were carved and placed around Wabasha, creating a ‘cat statue’ walk that can be enjoyed by visitors to the town.

Wabasha? I’ve never heard of it!

Less than two hours drive south east of Minneapolis lies Wabasha, the oldest town in Minnesota.  A picturesque and quaint town founded in 1826, Wabasha is an oasis of American History.  Residents of the town are dedicated to preserving the heritage which has been lost in many other regions of the country and their passion is evident in every lovingly restored building which lines the main street.

When arriving at the Historic Anderson House, which is located in downtown Wabasha, guests often comment on feeling transported back in time, partially due to the furniture and décor, much of which dates back to the opening in 1856.

Long story short, if you’re looking for a real ‘down home’ Bed and Breakfast experience where history, old fashioned hospitality and cats are valued above all, book a stay at the Historic Anderson House.

The great thing about being a B&B owner is meeting a wide range of people from all walks of life. Of course, one never knows exactly whom one is meeting.

Set in St Augustine Florida, also known as the Oldest City in America, this tale comes from Frank and Karen Covacik , veteran American B&B owners who have owned B&Bs in Florida, North Carolina and New York.  Prior to meeting Frank, Karen was a single divorcee running a B&B from a lovingly restored Victorian home.

As a single woman enjoying life out on the tiles one evening in 1985, Karen met a charming writer and photographer for the National Geographic. At some point in the usual trading of personal information, Karen revealed that she owned a Bed and Breakfast.  The handsome stranger was pleased to hear this, he was looking for suitable lodging in the area for a stay he was planning some time hence. He told Karen that he would keep her in mind.

Weeks later, he did indeed arrive at Karen’s Bed and Breakfast.  He was as charming when he arrived as he had been on the night Karen met him. On the second day of his visit, tragedy struck. Karen’s beloved Irish setter suffered a stroke. The guest was on hand to load the dog into his car and drive both Karen and the stricken animal to the veterinarian. Once there, it was determined that the dog needed to be put down. The kind stranger comforted Karen as her dog was put to sleep.

A day later he departed. Karen supposed that would be the end of things, such is the lot of the B&B owner, to meet new friends and farewell them again in just a few short days.

A week or so later, Karen was thrilled to see her kind guest’s picture in her local paper. With great interest she read the story. She had not realized that the kind man was famous.

A few words into the article, Karen discovered that her mystery guest was not so much famous as infamous. On the day he had left her home, just a few blocks from the Bed and Breakfast he had been picked up by federal agents in a carefully planned operation. The man who had shown her such kindness was actually an escaped criminal on the run from a federal prison where he had been serving time for multiple bank robberies.

Telling the story several decades hence, Karen notes dryly: “He paid cash.”