Cedar Falls Getaway: Unwind at the BEST Country Inn & Suites!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Cedar Falls Getaway experience, a Country Inn & Suites that, well, claims to be the BEST. My expectations? Let's just say they're somewhere between "optimistically hopeful" and "ready to complain." And let's see if this place can actually deliver on all that promise!
Navigating the Labyrinth (and the Website)
First off, accessibility. This is HUGE for me. I need options, and I need them clearly spelled out. The website, while promising, could be better at highlighting exactly what’s accessible. Is the ramp to the front door a gentle slope or a near-vertical climb? Are the elevators big enough for my, uh, equipment? Details people, DETAILS! They do mention facilities for disabled guests, which is a start, but let's hope it's more than just a token nod.
Rooms, Glorious (and Hopefully Clean) Rooms
Okay, the sheer number of room features listed is overwhelming. I'm talking everything from "alarm clock" (who even uses those anymore?) to "blackout curtains" (amen, sister!). They hawk "free Wi-Fi," a necessity these days, thank god. Carpeting, on the other hand…well, let's hope it's been recently cleaned. I'm slightly obsessed with cleanliness (thanks, germaphobe tendencies!), so the "rooms sanitized between stays" and "anti-viral cleaning products" are music to my anxious ears. And for heaven's sake, let those "individually-wrapped food options" actually BE individually wrapped!
I'm particularly interested in the "soundproof rooms," because I’m a light sleeper. Hopefully, it's not another hotel lie designed to help me sleep. Bonus points for "extra long bed" (I'm tall) and a "refrigerator" to keep the snacks cool. And a "window that opens" - essential to feel "free"
The Food Fight (aka Dining, Drinking, and Snacking)
Alright, food. This is where things get interesting. "Restaurants"! Plural! "A la carte," "buffet," "Asian cuisine," "Western cuisine," "vegetarian restaurant"… they're throwing everything at the wall and praying something sticks. I hope they make a good breakfast. A "western breakfast" gives me the most confidence, but I would be ok with a good buffet. "Happy hour"? Definitely interested. And the "poolside bar" – sold. Now I just need to see if the reality matches the menu.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (aka Pampering & Plunging)
This is a Getaway, right? So, relaxation is key. A "swimming pool" (outdoor, even!) is a solid start. A "spa"? Ooh, fancy. A "sauna" and "steamroom" are perfect for melting away stress. But I am dubious about all of this. I will report back!
Safety First (and Hopefully Last)
Cleanliness is KING, especially now. "Daily disinfection in common areas," training on protocols, and a "first aid kit"… good, good. "Safe dining setup" is a must. I want to feel like I can breathe easy (literally). And "cashless payment service" is a win in my book.
The Extras: Services and Conveniences
I could care less about a "Shrine" on the property, but an "elevator" is essential. I also like the idea of "luggage storage" (because I overpack, duh) and a "concierge" to direct me. A "convenience store" is always clutch for late-night snack runs. And the "dry cleaning" and "laundry service" are tempting, but let's be honest, I will probably wear the same two pairs of pants the entire time.
For the Kids (and Those Who Still Act Like Them)
Okay, so I don’t have kids, but the fact that they list "babysitting service" and "family/child friendly" options is great. They can’t take that away, right?
My Stream-of-Consciousness Experience (or, the Good, the Bad, and the Beautifully Messy)
So, let's say I book it. Let's say I'm there. I'm envisioning it now:
- Arrival: I pull up. (Hopefully, the "valet parking" is actually available and not some empty promise.) The exterior looks nice.
- The Room: I pray the room is clean. I’m obsessing over the remote controls and light switches (germs, ugh!) I flip on the TV and find something entertaining.
- Swmming Time: I hope the pool is warm! And maybe its view?
- Food Time: The buffett. The Poolside bar. The Happy Hour. I'm hoping it's going to be all that.
The Hook (aka the "Buy This Now" Pitch)
Okay, here's the deal: Craving a Stress-Free Escape? Cedar Falls Getaway might just be your ticket! They promise delicious food, relaxing spa treatments, and a pool that can, or maybe can't, make you look like a travel magazine model. With all the promises of safety and cleanliness, there is a glimmer of hope that this might actually allow you to relax, unwind, and breathe.
But seriously, this is an offer - Book Your Getaway Now, and you'll get 10% off your first spa treatment! And, if you're a total control freak like me (and I suspect you are, you're reading this whole thing), you can even request your room be double sanitized. Just in case.
Final Thoughts (AKA My Own Disclaimer)
Look, I can't guarantee paradise. I can't promise that the coffee won't taste like dishwater or that the "massage" won't feel like a vigorous rubdown with a rusty shovel. But… I'm cautiously optimistic. And hey, at the very least, you can soak in the tub, eat a cake, and complain about it and get other people to laugh and love you.
Escape to Lake of the Ozarks: Your Baymont Wyndham Osage Beach Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my utterly unhinged itinerary for a stay at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Forget perfectly planned itineraries, this is more like a chaotic dance of caffeine, questionable life choices, and the desperate hope that I don't accidentally set off the fire alarm.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Pancake Debacle
- 1:00 PM: Check-in and initial assessment. Right, so the lobby… it IS a Country Inn & Suites, right? Carpet, a vaguely floral aroma (that could be the cleaning products or a senior citizen’s secret perfume stash), and that eternally cheerful desk clerk. Check. Room key obtained. Success! Immediately I’m going to make a beeline for my room. The promise of a soft bed and a functioning TV is just everything right now. I pray to the travel gods above it’s not a smoking room.
- 1:30 PM: Room Inspection & Existential Dread (and a little snack). Okay, room’s decent. Standard issue. The floral patterned bedspread feels…dated. I wonder if the previous occupants ever had a wild party in here. I’m already starting to crave something salty and crunchy, so I’m off to the vending machine downstairs to fight the cravings. Oh man, the vending machine is a mess, like a sad reflection of the American Dream. Twinkies? Really? Still? The only snack I want is out of stock. Sigh. This is always how it goes.
- 2:30 PM: The Great Pancake Debacle. The complimentary breakfast. Ah, the siren song of hotel breakfasts! I stroll in, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to face the day. This, my friends, is where it all goes sideways. The pancake machine. This mechanical beast and I were destined for a showdown. Pancakes…or more precisely, pancake discs were the challenge of the day. The machine's little robot arms spewed out these pre-made, overly-browned circles of alleged breakfast food. Mine were particularly tragic: burnt on the outside, raw in the middle. I think I could have paved a road with them. I went back 3 times, and they were all equally tragic. I almost cried. I ended up drowning my sorrows in watery orange juice. It was pathetic, utterly, gloriously pathetic. I started fantasizing about running away to the Waffle House down the street.
- 4:00 PM: Exploring the Realm of the Local Bar. Okay, pancakes were a disaster. I need a stiff drink. Time to find the local watering hole and absorb a little local atmosphere. This is where I'm hoping to gather some real Cedar Falls stories and possibly score some interesting company. Maybe I can gather stories from the locals, and maybe even hear some good gossip. I'm sure they know all the best spots in town, and maybe even have a few good stories to tell. Or maybe I'll just awkwardly nurse a beer in the corner and people-watch. Either way, it’s better than those pancakes.
- 6:00 PM: Post-Drink Wandering and Emotional Turmoil. Ah, back from the bar. Feeling a bit mellow, a bit reflective, and a whole lot hungry. I can never quite figure out if I'm a positive or negative person when I'm alone. I feel lonely. I want to go back to the bar and order a second beer, but I know I can't. I need to eat. Decisions, decisions…I stumble back to the hotel, stomach rumbling, my mood swinging wildly. Dinner? Room service? Ugh, the choices! I really need a vacation from this vacation.
- 8:00 PM: Meltdown and Movie Night. Well, the dinner decision was made for me: the vending machine won. I'm now in the hotel room, clutching a bag of chips and mentally preparing for the end of the world. I’m also flipping through channels, desperately seeking a decent movie to distract me from my existential angst. Come on, Netflix, save me! I'm hoping for something cheesy, predictable, and utterly, utterly forgettable. Preferably with a lot of explosions. Because, you know, that's what I do when I'm deeply sad.
- 10:00 PM: Bedtime Rituals and the Fear of the Unknown. Lying in bed… I need to chill out, and pray I sleep well. I'm also convinced there's a serial killer lurking in the hallways. Don't ask me why. I just feel it.
Day 2: Finding the Light (and Maybe More Pancakes)
- 7:00 AM: Operation Breakfast – The Redemption. Okay, here we go again with the breakfast. Maybe, just maybe, the pancake machine gods will smile upon me today. Or maybe I'll just grab a banana and run. I'm armed with a newfound sense of caution. And probably some antacids. Lord, help me.
- 8:00 AM: A Walk in Cedar Falls. Time to explore! I'll try and locate a park and go for a walk. I'm hoping to soak up some sunshine and possibly encounter some friendly locals who can tell me the stories of the town. Maybe even a cute dog to pet. I'm basically hoping to find something, anything, to lift my spirits.
- 10:00 AM: Coffee and Contemplation. Back at the hotel and I need a coffee. It's back up to the lobby, or maybe a quick trip to a local coffee shop. I'm hoping to absorb myself in some quiet contemplation. I'm going to try again to accept the fact that the pancakes were a failure.
- 11:00 AM: The Iowa Experience. Time to explore. I need to find something interesting. I want to visit the main attractions, but I want to avoid the crowds. I’m trying to stay optimistic things will turn around.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch of Champions. I really want to eat something other than vending machine food. I need a good, hearty lunch. I'm torn between wanting to eat like a local or just find the closest chain restaurant. Decisions, decisions…
- 3:00 PM: Post-Lunch Slump. I need to take a nap. It's just that simple.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner and the Descent into Madness (Maybe). Considering a fancy dinner, or just something simple. Going to see what the day brings.
- 7:00 PM: Last-Night Reflections and the Sweet Embrace of Sleep. Time is winding down, and I'm hoping I'll return home, filled with stories of adventure and perhaps a new appreciation for the joys of a decent pancake.
So, there you have it. My "itinerary." Expect the unexpected. Expect meltdowns. Expect bad pancakes. And, most importantly, expect a whole lot of me, just being me. And maybe, just maybe, amidst all the chaos, I'll actually have a decent time. Wish me luck. I'll need it.
Moriarty's BEST Kept Secret: Quality Inn Review (You WON'T Believe This!)
Okay, spill it. Is Country Inn & Suites in Cedar Falls REALLY the 'BEST' getaway? I saw the ad. Is it just... lies?
Alright, alright, hold your horses. "BEST"? Bold claim, I admit. Honestly, it's not like they're handing out Michelin stars for hospitality here. But, and this is a big BUT… it REALLY hits the spot for a quick recharge. I went there last fall, needed to *escape* the work-from-home chaos. My cat, Mr. Fluffernutter, was *not* pleased. He's a judgmental fluffball, you see. Anyway…
Look, it's clean. Breakfast is… passable (the waffle maker is a definite win, though you might encounter a small army of kids in pajamas wielding tongs at peak breakfast hours). The rooms are comfy enough – no complaints there. My mattress was *amazing*, actually. Slept like a log. Which I desperately needed because my brain was fried.
So, "BEST"? Maybe a smidge hyperbolic. But "Damn good for a quick escape and a good night's sleep"? ABSOLUTELY. Consider it cautiously optimistic.
The pool situation… is it a kiddie-pool-carnage situation? My kids are… spirited.
Oh, the pool. Right. Okay. Here's the deal… yes. There will be kids. Loud ones. Splashing ones. Ones who *definitely* forgot their manners and are probably screaming about wanting a popsicle when your head's barely above water. It's part of the experience. Think of it as… ambient noise. Or, if you're feeling a bit more cynical (ahem, like *me*), consider it a free form of cardio trying not to get splashed.
The pool isn't massive, though. So if you're expecting Olympic-sized serenity, adjust your expectations. I mainly just bobbed around, avoiding eye contact, and trying to channel my inner zen. (Spoiler: I failed miserably. But hey, the water was warm.) But hey, the *hot tub* is usually pretty good.
Breakfast! Tell me EVERYTHING about the breakfast. Is it the same sad buffet every day? I need to know. I'm breakfast-dependent.
Okay, breakfast. Alright. Look, the breakfast is… consistent. Think of it like a reliable friend - it's *always* there, even if it’s not the most exciting one. Waffles, yes! The waffle maker is the star. Embrace the waffle! Load it up with all the fixings. And don’t judge yourself, even if you go back for seconds… or, ahem, *thirds*. No one's watching.
They usually have scrambled eggs (sometimes a bit… *questionable*), sausage (sometimes a bit… *greasy*), and the usual continental suspects: bagels, muffins, cereal, and the dreaded yogurt (I'm a fruit-on-the-bottom kind of gal myself). Coffee’s decent, though. And a *must* for the morning, after that kid-army-pool-carnage I mentioned previously.
It's not gourmet, folks. But it's free, and it'll fill you up. And hey, if you *really* want to go fancy, there's a *Starbucks* across the street. Just sayin'.
What's there to *do* in Cedar Falls? I don't want to just sit in a pool surrounded by small humans.
Okay, now we're talkin'! Cedar Falls *has* stuff! It does! I mean, it's not *Manhattan*, obviously… The main drag downtown is cute – lots of boutiques and little shops. I found this AWESOME bookstore. Seriously, I could’ve spent a whole day there. And I did! (Don't tell my husband, he still thinks I was "exploring scenic hiking trails.")
The UNI campus is pretty. There are some parks and trails. If you're into craft beer, there are a couple of breweries. I hit up "SingleSpeed", which was fun. Good beer... and a place to actually get to talk to my own thoughts! I felt like I needed that!
And, honestly? Sometimes, doing *nothing* is the best getaway. Read a book in your room. Watch some terrible reality TV. Order pizza. That’s a valid itinerary, too. Embrace the lack of ambition!
The rooms… are they... clean? I’m a bit of a germaphobe.
Clean? Well, they're *hotel* clean. You know, the kind of clean where you *hope* they changed the sheets. The kind of clean where you're better off not peering *too* closely into the corners.
On the plus side, the bathroom *looked* clean. And, more importantly, and the AC worked. Oh, *glorious* AC. It was a sweltering day! And the AC saved me. Saved. Me. And that is worth a great deal.
So, yeah, the rooms are… okay. Bring some wipes if you're truly paranoid. I did. It's better to be safe than sorry. Now, the complimentary shampoo? Questionable. Bring your own. Seriously.
Okay, let's be honest: What was the WORST part of your stay? Spill.
Alright, deep breath… the *worst* part? Hmm. Okay, I’d have to say… the elevator. Yes, the elevator. It was slow. Like, "waiting-for-a-bus-that's-always-late" slow. And sometimes, even when you pressed the button, nothing happened. And then one time, it stopped between floors. I was stuck in it, *alone*, with a gaggle of screaming children. And it wasn't even the cute kind of screaming. Nope. This was 'I NEED A NAP' screaming.
It wasn't a long wait. But the elevator was really what killed me. I mean, the kids weren't great. But the elevator! Just.. the elevator. Made the whole thing feel... *off*.
Thankfully, I made my escape. But every time I took the elevator after the incident, I would grip the handles and pray. It was a bit dramatic, I admit. But hey, that's me!
Would you go back? Be honest.
Good question. Seriously. After that elevator incident... you'd think I would run the other way!
But… yes. I probably would. The convenience, price, and that incredible mattress are major draws. Besides, my brain needs a break every once in a while. And, let's be honest, sometimes you just need a space to do *nothing* without feeling like you're ignoring a giant pile of laundry at home!
So, yeah. Maybe. I'll bring snacks this time,Ocean View Inn
