The Carriage House of Cady Cottage

Now that October has come and gone, it hit me this morning…this is the first year since moving back from Florida that we didn’t visit Hermann, MO for Oktoberfest.  Hermann was established by Germans on the banks of the Missouri River in 1837.  Today Hermann offers quaint shops, numerous local wineries and a brewery all with an old-world look and feel.  The first four weekends of October, Hermann celebrates its heritage and opens its arms to visitors who enjoy fall colors, festive bands, brats and plenty of drinks.

In 2009, we made the trip with a group of friends…rode the train from KC to Hermann, squished way too many people into two hotel rooms and enjoyed beer, wine and food from sun-up to sun-down (reminiscent of a number of college trips).  In 2010, JPug and I decided to make the trek on our own and classed it up a bit whole lot.  I found a B&B online with a decent website, reasonable rate and a charm I just couldn’t resist.  The same weekend as MU’s homecoming, we detoured through Columbia to enjoy campus for the afternoon and continued on to Hermann.

Once we arrived, we had some difficulty finding the place…from what I remember, the numbers weren’t well-marked on the house and there was no discernable front door.  After circling the block twice, we figured it out using process of elimination and the help of a nosy neighbor.  We walked up the path to the front door (which was actually on the side of the house) and knocked; the owner, Chris, came out.  Big sigh of relief…we’d come to the right place!

Chris (short for Christine) was on the upper end of middle-aged, standard build with silver-grey hair pulled back into a classy ponytail.  She asked if we had any trouble finding the house to which we replied (and lied through our teeth) “No”.  After a few pleasantries, she asked us to pull our car into the alley behind the house which was the main entrance of The Carriage House of Cady Cottage. 

As we pulled up, it appeared that The Carriage House was a two-car detached garage that had been converted into the only room Chris had to offer.  From the outside, it was well kept but didn’t look like much.  As we entered, we were transformed into an old English cottage complete with four-post bed, dining area, sitting area w/ fireplace, reading nook and bathroom.  I’m usually not one for cluttered décor but the look and feel Chris infused into this small cottage was absolutely amazing.  Come to find out, she had been collecting English cottage pieces (furniture, accessories, etc.) for years and opened The Carriage House once her collection was complete.  Chris walked us through each of the features of the room and was sure to point out our evening dessert on the dining table…homemade apple pie!

The next morning, Chris prepared a gourmet breakfast…truly better than I’ve had at any B&B.   The breakfast area was decorated as an art studio and displayed numerous pieces of Chris’ own handmade folk art.  As we wrapped up our meal, she was sure to provide recommendations regarding places to eat and things to see and do in Hermann.  After a long day of enjoying Oktoberfest, we returned to The Carriage House to find another terrific, homemade dessert.  The next morning, Chris whipped up another amazing breakfast…homemade stuffing & egg soufflés served with a side of seasonal berries.  Once we were finished, we said our goodbyes and were on our way.

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, I would absolutely recommend Hermann, MO and The Carriage House of Cady Cottage.  Whenever possible, JPug and I try to support local B&Bs rather than large hotel chains.  We’ve stayed at our fair share of B&Bs and I can say with certainty that The Carriage House of Cady Cottage tops them all.  Hermann is known for its wineries but the visitor’s bureau does a great job of offering all sorts of events and opportunities to enjoy Hermann if drinking isn’t your thing.  Bon voyage my friends…I hope you have a great trip!