Winterset, IA - Not your typical small town!

Birthplace of a Hollywood legend? Home of the last Madison County drive-able bridge? Minutes from one of the major stretch of interstate in the US? Winterset, IA has everything you are looking for in a destination!

Winterset, Iowa is much like many other small towns across the United States. It has so much to offer and can be over looked by the typical traveler. First and foremost this beautiful community is the birthplace of the late, great John Wayne. Winterset is home of the John Wayne Museum, and features his birthplace home. Huge events are celebrated each year in honor of this great man. The largest being his Birthday Celebration in May. 

Although being the birthplace of John Wayne is quite a draw, Winterset also boasts the last covered bridge in Madision County that you can drive on. A total of six covered bridges remain in the county and they celebrate them each year at the Covered Bridge Festival.

After a long day of enjoying the many things that Winterset and the surrounding areas have to offer you can enjoy beautiful accommodations at the new Cobblestone Inn & Suites! At this hotel you will feel at home with microwaves, refrigerators, luxury linens, Wolfgang Puck Coffee, and flat-panel televisions in every guest room. We offer our guests the amenities and services they need with 24-hour Wolfgang Puck Coffee Service, Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet, Guest Laundry, 24-hour Onsite Convenience Store, Fitness Center, High Speed Wireless Internet Access, onsite Beer and Wine Bar, and so much more! At the Cobblestone Inn & Suites, you will receive “Big City Quality, Small Town Values…” each stay.

Many reason to stay in this "Main Street Community" - Waverly, Iowa!

One can say the community of Waverly, Iowa is the perfect size. Boasting big industry like Nestle, restaurants as far as the eye can see, festivals, and a downtown that carries the town's motto of "The Main Street Community" well.

With the small towns across this fine country comes a great deal of culture and Waverly, IA is busting at the seams with great things to do around every corner. From the huge abundance of antique shops, to festivals like Concert In Kohlmann, and the Waverly Art Walk you can experience great things year round in this wonderful little town!

This small community has all the fix-ins when it comes to food and beverage. Applebees, Taco Johns, McDonalds are a few of the many but if you are looking for local fare you will not be let down by the East Bremer Diner. Do not let the name fool you. Microbrewery beer, made to order pizzas, and an expansive menu full of "supper club" type meals will keep all in your family happy. My tip would be to try their "Cheese Frenchy".
 

After you have had your day of fun and belly is full, check in at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites in Waverly, IA. This beautiful downtown hotel offers a free hot breakfast buffet, large guest rooms, hot Wolf Gang Puck coffee 24/7, and warm fresh cookies at check-in.

River Ridge? National Park? Pizza? Charlestown, Indiana has it all!

When you are driving along Interstate 265 on your way south (maybe to Louisville, Kentucky) you may want to take a day or two to make a pit stop in a great little community called Charlestown, Indiana. Great people, great food, great hotel accommodations makes this small town, right down the road from the big city, a wonderful place to visit.

There are two major attractions or reason that people come the this great small town. One is the Charlestown State Park. This State Park stretches over 5,100 acres and lands it's self along the banks of the Ohio River. Home of the Devil's Backbone, a rock formation formed by the flow of the Fourteen Mile Creek, this adventurous terrain offers camping, hiking, and areas to just have a peaceful picnic. If you are not a camping visitor stay and the new hotel in town. The Cobblestone Hotel and Suites in Charlestown, IN offers quick and easy access to the park as well as luxury linens, a free hot breakfast buffet, a beer and wine bar, and much more!

The second major factor people are flocking to the area, besides a great hotel and great pizza (you will find out about that later), is the River Ridge Commerce Center. Neighbor to Port of Indiana on the Ohio River, this hub is the home of over 1 Million Square Feet of Amazon's fulfillment centers, over 141,000 Square Feet for a Manitowoc Crane Care Warehouse, Goodrich Aircraft, and much more! There is also festivals and events year round. All of this makes for a great place to visit and a great place to live.

Jobs, good times, and food! Pizza is always on my mind and when you are in Charlestown, Indiana you stop at Charlestown Pizza Company! Their BEER Menu is larger then most chain pubs put together! Oh yes, I said BEER MENU! Stop in for some great pizza pies, something cold to drink, great company!

Not just your Groundhog Capital - Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania!

A community as popular as Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania usually has a rap for being a sort of “one hit wonder”. Not this this beautiful small town. Home of the famous “Punxsutawney Phil”, a spectacular Ground Hog Day Celebration each year, and (who could forget) the site for the shooting of the infamous movie, Ground Hog Day, there is a lot to be said about this great community and what it has to offer.

 

As you drive through this wonderful community, its rolling hills and breathtaking views, you know in your gut that you are on the East Coast of this fine United States of America. The community of Punxsutawney, PA is littered with antique shops, quaint restaurants, and ground hog statues. Yes, ground hog statues. In tribute to a major economic factor in the community you will find ground hog statues all over the community. Each beautifully painted with a different theme. They are a site to see if you are passing through the area. Groundhog Day is obviously a staple in the community with events like; Hogtober Fest, Phil’s Trick or Trot, Groundhog Picnic and Phil Phest, Gobbler’s Knob Wine Festival, and Groundhog Ball.  

Take a walk down the Gobbler’s Knob Trail and when you are ready for some food to refill there are many places to choose from. During my visit I had the pleasure of dining at the Tres Amigos where I was pleasantly surprised with the high quality, high flavor, Mexican food I devoured. The service was TOP NOTCH and they will be a place I return to when I am in the area again. I also refueled at the friendly Punxy Phil’s Family Restaurant and had a very good alfredo from Mary’s Place. 

You will be tired after filling up on the local fare. I had the pleasure of staying at the Cobblestone Hotel and Suites in Punxsutawney. The staff could not be beat. The beautiful hotel, set up on one of those “rolling hills" I was talking about earlier, offers everything you could ask for: meeting space, free internet, beyond comfortable beds, free breakfast, and so much more!

 

This community is full of activities, places to eat, and just all around fun, whether you are an antiquer at heart, a movie buff, or just want a great place to relax.

More then just Polka in Pulaski, WI

This Small Town is hopping and not just because of it’s ability to draw people from a far to celebrate an American pastime of good olé polka music! Although the great town of Pulaski, Wisconsin is known for it’s much celebrated and widely attended Pulaski Polka Days it can be sited as a great keeper of fun and industry as well.

Pulaski, Wisconsin is home of Marquis and Carver Yachts where yacht enthusiast flock to secure their very own piece of water bound luxury.  On any given day you can drive down Highway 32, which runs right down the center of Pulaski, Wisconsin, and you will see massive works of art being worked on in any given stage of the yacht building process. It is quite a site to see.

If you are looking for a good time, or maybe even a thrill? You can book some flying lessons with Blue Skies Aviation located at the Carter Airport just a couple of minutes from the beautiful community of Pulaski.  This booming small town is also 5-minutes from Oneida Casino OneStop, right off Highway 29 and a short 20-minute drive to the historic Lambeau Field Stadium. Taking an adventure to Lambeau Field offers you and, if you have them along for the ride, family a wonderful time. Although this monumental landmark is beautiful to see you can also roam around the stadium’s public areas, have a meal at one of their many find eateries, check out the Packer ProShop, check out the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame, or even take a guided tour through the stadium with the tour ending on Lambeau Field itself!

After your long day taking in everything Pulaski, Wisconsin has to offer, kick back and relax at the new Cobblestone Hotel and Suites in Pulaski. This is not your typical small town hotel. You will find a beautiful in-door pool, luxury bedding, relaxing lounge outfitted with any cocktail of your choice, as well as a delicious hot breakfast buffet each morning.
So as you make the drive down Highway 29 in Wisconsin and see that sign for Pulaski, stop in, say hello, and stay for the fun and “Big City Quality, Small Town Values…” you are always on the hunt for.
 

Knoxville, Iowa - Not Tennessee!

The small town of Knoxville, IA boasts many things for a traveler to take part in. In it's infancy this beautiful town was set up to be a coal mining town to attract the railroad in the late 1800s. Now? This booming community of over 7000 people offers much more in the industry sector as well as the tourism sector then one would realize.

A few highlights when it comes to Knoxville, IA? Beer! Racing! Home of the Award Winning Peace Tree Brewing Company! Yes, this small town brewery has won many awards for its "Blonde Fatale". Winner of the Belgian-Style Blonde or Pale Ale Category at the 2014 World Beer Cup! These wonderful brewery has more to offer then just a wide and ever changing selection of beer. If you are lucky and you wonder into this fine establishment on a one of their Trivia Nights, be ready for some fun! Whether you are participating or just siting back and enjoying the show you will feel right at home! Have a sample or two or three! You will find a server to help you decide with helpful education, a friendly disposition and even live music on select evenings.
Even though the friendly beverage establishments might be why people stay in Knoxville at the Cobblestone Hotel and Suites, the Knoxville Raceway will certainly be why they come to this beautiful town! I can't forget to mention the fact that Knoxville is the "World Sprint Car Capital". From April to September each year the rumble of the engines will bring you to the Knoxville Raceway! That is not all that brings people from a far to the beautiful Knoxville, Iowa area! Go hiking, fishing or boating at Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s biggest lake. This picturesque lake will make your jaw drop! It did the first time I saw it. My exact thought was "where the heck did this come from". Beaches? It has them! Bird watching? You bet! How about the Lake Red Rock Balloon Fest? Yes! Check out the spectacular gathering of hot air balloon enthusiasts!

C.A.R.E. Training - Happy Worker, Happy Guest!

Cobblestone Hotels BIG TRAINING WEEK!

One thing that I feel sets Cobblestone Hotels apart from a lot of other companies that I have worked for is it's unique and fun work environment. As I travel through the country I see more people appreciate the small town hospitality that someone who grew up in a small community would already know. What does that have to do with a good work environment?

This past week was Cobblestone Hotel's Quarterly Brand C.A.R.E. Training. This training is a crucial step in the success of the manager at each of our Cobblestone Hotels. This five day course is a lot for anyone. Long days of packing as much information into a new employee's head with a extensive exam at the conclusion determining if you pass.

So you ask me again, what does this have to do with a work environment and small town hospitality? Each of our managers endure the training in order to be the best manager they can be as well as learn how to give the best hospitality and guest experience possible. In order to do this you must have a good work environment. If you have a poor and stressful work environment it will eventually trickle to affect the guest. Leading by example, the CEO of Cobblestone, Brian Wogernese took the time out of his day to prepare and serve each of the trainees from the Cobblestone Food Truck.

Providing a good work environment will always make it's way to the guest. They will feel it in the way they are treated and they will witness it in how happy employees at the hotel are. We wish all the wonderful trainees luck in creating wonderful work environments at their hotels and look forward to seeing the wonderful compliments from their guest.