Now is the perfect time to cozy-in at a comfy B&B. Indulge yourself with a gourmet breakfast at the inn or maybe a long, soothing soak in a whirlpool. You'll find a wide selection across the state. Here's a sampler of some of the areas in Southern Minnesota with several inns to choose from, plus some fun outings to enjoy during your stay.

Mississippi Rivertowns

Inns: The charming towns along the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota are graced by lovely old homes built in the late 1800s. Several of these elegant homes have been converted into bed and breakfast inns, combining beautiful antiques with modern luxuries like whirlpools. Choose from B&Bs in Hastings, Red Wing, Lake City, Wabasha or Winona. There are also two historic hotels in the valley, the stately St. James Hotel in Red Wing and the Historic Anderson House in Wabasha, the oldest operating hotel in the state, which offers guests a cat to warm their bed for the night.

Outings: Watch for eagles along the river, especially in Wabasha and Red Wing. Shop for antiques, or visit specialty shops like the Scandinavian shop in Red Wing, the kimono gallery in Wabasha, or LARK Toys in Kellogg. For a night out, see what's playing at the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing or the Page Theatre at St. Mary's University in Winona; both venues feature plays, concerts and dance performances by touring arts groups.

Bluff Country

Inns: The small villages tucked into wooded valleys carved by the Root River started life as farm-towns, but the development of a bike trail launched the transition of this area into a popular destination. But Bluff Country still has an off-the-beaten-track, undiscovered feel to it. To serve the growing number of visitors to this area, many of the lovely old homes and some of the old commercial buildings have been converted to B&Bs. Lanesboro alone is home to a half dozen B&Bs, and look for others in Rushford and Harmony. In Preston, the 1869 county jailhouse has been reborn as a 12-room inn.

Outings: Get tickets for a play at the professional Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, and visit the art gallery here and another in Harmony. Harmony also has a Scandinavian shop and an Amish shop. Take a walk along the scenic Root River Trail and enjoy the scenery, or in the winter, enjoy easygoing cross-country skiing.

Minnesota River Valley

Inns: In Minnesota's other big river valley, select from an English-style mansion in Mankato, or two late 1800s historic homes in New Ulm, which both reflect the Old World charm of this German-flavored city.

Outings: Visit Schell's Brewery in New Ulm, or one of the German imports shops in town, and enjoy a German meal in a local restaurant. Hike or ski at Flandreau State Park on the Big Cottonwood River on the outskirts of New Ulm. In Mankato, take a stroll along the river; in the winter try downhill skiing or snowboarding at Mount Kato.

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