Wonderful surprises in Cedar Falls
This is a great old hotel located on a very quaint Main Street. I believe I heard that it is the oldest hotel in continuous operation in the state.
An architect and his wife own it and are trying to keep it true to its roots. It's decorated with antiques that are solid and a cloud of dust doesn't rise when you sit down on them. Also, when originally built, there were no closets. So the owners have purchased different and beautiful antique armoires as "closets" for each of the rooms.
While there wasn't room service when I was there, the hotel did have a martini bar and an old-fashioned barber shop and was planning on opening a coffee shop.
The rooms are themed, which adds some extra charm. Suites are available -- Yo Yo Ma actually stayed in one while he was in the 'hood -- and even the regular rooms have remodeled bathrooms that come complete with rubber ducky and bath salts for the deep tubs. Added bonus? Free WiFi internet access.
While there, you should definitely take a walk down Main Street. There's a nice coffee shop across the street from the hotel and a few art and artsy stores. Not to be missed is a fabulous restaurant called Montage. It has a great wine list and a huge menu of the best food imaginable, ranging from appetizers like Chicken Empanadas or Chili Cheesecake with chips to pinon-crusted chicken with chipotle sauce to chicken suizas to a down-home comfort food - Montage Squash-Chicken Casserole. Yum!