Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast is a nature-oriented inn that is located west of Valparaiso, Indiana. The location of the property is further away from the rest of the city, putting the property in a more rural area that is surrounded by trees and animals rather than buildings and people. The owners say that they will often see animals like deer, raccoons, and possums near the property, as well as many songbirds that live in the nearby forest.
The building has a total of 8 rooms to choose from that can range in size and decoration. The typical demographic of guests that come to Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast tends to be couples, whether they are honeymooning or celebrating their anniversary. Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast also doubles as a location where guests can purchase massages and facials. The bed and breakfast is located a short distance from Indiana Dunes State Park and is about 55 minutes away from the University of Chicago. Lake Michigan can be found by going north of the property.
Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast is a bed and breakfast with five guestrooms and three suites for guests to choose from when they are making reservations. The suites are larger than the guestrooms so that guests can reserve a room for more space if they would like. Each room is uniquely decorated, with some having a king-sized bed and others having a queen-sized bed. Regardless of which room guests select, each one comes equipped with a television, ceiling fan, a whirlpool bathtub, and a shower, which is separate from the bathtub. The Bluebird Room and The Robin Room tend to be popular with both previous tenants as well as the owners.
Other services are offered to guests for a fee, such as full-body massages and facials, a three-course breakfast that can be brought to the guests' rooms, and a chef on the property that can prepare dishes for almost any meal of the day, so long as it is reserved and the chef has been given enough time to make it. Breakfast is complimentary, though there is an additional charge for it to be brought directly to a bedroom so that patrons can eat there instead of in the common area. Breakfasts at Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast can consist of a number of dishes, including quiche, French toast, omelets, bacon, and a wide variety of fruit. Barbara, one of the owners, makes breakfast and serves it at about 9:00 A.M. The breakfast is different from day to day, so that guests aren't getting the same dish for breakfast every day.
One unique thing that Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast does for its patrons is they set up microphones in the forest and wooded area that are hooked up to speakers in the common area that pick up the sounds of the songbirds so that guests may eat breakfast in the mornings while listening to the various bird songs that the microphones pick up. The building that makes up the bed and breakfast is surrounded by paths that are lined with an abundant amount of flowers that tend to attract butterflies and dragonflies, and behind the building is an expanse of trees and wooded areas where there are lots of wildlife. There is plenty of outdoor seating and even a few hammocks outside for visitors to give them the chance to enjoy the scenery.
The town, which is called Valparaiso, has been described as a "foody town" by the owners, who explain that there are a number of restaurants and eateries to visit. Several of the restaurants that she mentioned were Industrial Revolution, Meditrina Market Cafe, Restaurante Don Quijote, and Radius-Valpo. These restaurants have an agreement with Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast where visitors can talk to the owners and get special coupons and discounts to these places, but typically they have to request them from the owners. There are also a few noteworthy places that guests can visit for entertainment, such as Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest, which offers hiking trails and outdoor activities, and Indiana Dunes State Park, which is right on the coast of Lake Michigan.
Barbara explains that the culture they try to give off at Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast is one that is relaxed and quiet. The goal is to create an atmosphere that helps guests find peace in a nature-themed living space. To help the business create this environment, the establishment has put in place several different policies. Among these policies, they do not allow children, and they do not allow pets either. Other things that are rejected from rooms are red wines and beverages, which Barbara explains that they have seen a number of things go wrong regarding dark liquids in the rooms, so they finally had to create a specific ban for it.
The Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast receives its name from the birds that can be found and heard in the surrounding area. The microphones that are set up in the woods pick up all of the songs the birds sing, allowing for guests to have the chance to hear first-hand what the rest of nature sounds like when the forest wakes up in the mornings. Barbara says that the motto for Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast is "where nature and luxury converse," which she explains is the epitome of their goal.
There are a number of reviews that have been left regarding the property, with one such review reading, "We really enjoyed our stay here. It's very beautiful inside and out, and the hospitality is wonderful! Barb welcomed us with a great attitude and made us feel comfortable right away. The food was amazing." Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast offer spa treatments and facials as well for their visitors to take advantage of as well. There are a variety of spa packages to choose from, including a Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and others. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the Aestheticians come to the bed and breakfast and offer guests to purchase facials.
Along with these added packages for sale, those staying at Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast can also buy things that add a romantic aspect to the stay. Barbara explains that it is not uncommon for honeymooners and people celebrating their anniversary to make reservations, so they also give them the option to add onto their stay with extras, such as a bouquet of roses, chocolates, and even the chance for their visitors to renew their wedding vows with their vow renewal package.
Outside of the property, guests can find a number of things to do and places to go. The first notable place that the owners recommend is Indiana Dunes State Park. Indiana Dunes State Park is on the edge of Lake Michigan, which means that guests can enjoy a variety of water-based activities at the lake. Another place that can be visited for those wanting to spend time outdoors would be Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest. The University of Chicago is just under an hour away by car for those who would like to travel to or from the university to see family or friends.
Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast was originally established about 21 years ago, back in the year 2000, though the building itself has been around for a longer time than that. Before it was turned into Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast, it was initially used as a dairy farm, and the rest of the land had many trees that made up an apple orchard. The current owners, who are Barbara and her husband Efrain, are the original owners of the property and have owned the property since they bought it, though Efrain has experience in the industry that dates back to the 1970s.
In all of their time there, Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast has seen many people go through its doors and has earned a number of awards and recognition from a variety of sources. The magazine known as Midwest Living has featured Songbird Prairie Bed and Breakfast in multiple issues over the last few years. The bed and breakfast was also recognized as the "Best Romantic Getaway" by the organization called Official Best of Indiana, which is an award that the establishment has won three years in a row, from 2018 - 2020.
174 North 600 West
Valparaiso, Indiana 46385
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Barbara & Efrain
