Potawatomi Inn in Angola, Indiana

Fireplace off the main lobby

One fun thing we've discovered in years of traveling is that it's always nice to forego the chain hotels and stay somewhere more interesting. It doesn't always turn out to be amazing. We've had a few crazy  stories where it didn't turn out as well as we'd hoped. In the majority of cases, we've been pleased and often the bed and breakfasts, historic hotels, independently-owned cabins or other overnight spots have exceeded expectations.

I have loved finding inns located at state parks that may not be decorated in the most modern fashion or equipped with the most modern technology, but are full of history and style and just so cozy and inviting.

View from interior back hallway at Potawatomi Inn

We stopped recently in Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana to check out the toboggan run and visited the Potawatomi Inn while we were there. The toboggan run is a huge draw in the winter months, but the grounds and lake look like they're pretty stunning and fun during the warmer months. Throughout the inn are little pieces of history - chairs and taxidermy animals and little plaques giving historical tidbits. There's a large formal dining room where I'd hoped to have a meal, but we happened to be there during the 2 - 5 p.m. span when the restaurant is closed between lunch and dinner and didn't have enough time to hang around until it re-opened.

The toboggan run at Pokagon State Park

The in has 138 guest rooms as well as 8 historic cabins and four luxury cabin suites. The inn includes an indoor swimming pool, an arcade lounge and craft room. What I found most charming were the common rooms where families sat in front of fireplaces or snuggled on sofas or tucked away in corners playing board games. On the back of the inn is a long hallway that is all windows and filled with seating facing out at the lake. It's a perfect place to just curl up with a book and a cup of tea and get lost for hours.

If you plan on making a visit to Potawatomi Inn in the Winter (or 6 other state park inns), you can take advantage of a 2 for 1 offer that is valid Sunday through Thursday until March 2 (excluding the holiday break - December 25, 2016 - January 5, 2017.) If you stay for two nights, you just pay for one. To make a reservation, visit IndianaInns.com or call 1-877-LODGES1.