10 Reasons You Need to Plan a Stay at Thistle’s Summit in Mount Vernon, Iowa

5. Sensational Food

If you love to eat, Thistle’s Summit is going to be your personal paradise. Marti is an insanely creative cook and the dishes that come from the Thistle’s Summit kitchen truly capture her shine. From salads filled with morel mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns to breakfast sandwiches on homemade sourdough, I was in awe over the delicious delicacies this bed and breakfast serves.

6. Thistle’s Summit Signature Cookies

Yes, the point above this is all about the bed and breakfast’s incredible food. But these smoked sea salt chocolate chip cookies are so good that they deserve their own section. These delicious cookies are a Thistle’s Summit signature and rightfully so. Not only are they the perfect combination of sweet and salty, they also have the perfect chewy yet crunchy texture. In fact, guests can look forward to a bag with these incredible cookies in their room when they check in.

7. Cozy Atmosphere & Amenities

Stepping inside Thistle’s Summit feels like taking a huge breath of relaxing, creative air. Inside this beautiful Victorian home with more than 115 years of history, guests can find a cozy retreat where they can rest, recharge and indulge.

During both of my stays I’ve spent the night in Martha’s Room and marveled over the incredibly comfortable bed, plentiful plants and incredible view of Cornell College’s campus, specifically the acclaimed Garner President’s House.

8. Personal Touches

Both Marti and Ash are incredibly creative people. So it’s no surprise that their beautiful home is full of personal touches and nods to the things that are important to them. I especially love this Virginia Woolf quote in the single occupancy A Room of One’s Own. Nothing could be more true at this Iowa gem!

9. Embrace the “Homostead”

Thistle’s Summit has an admirable goal of being as self-sufficient as possible. That means growing lots of backyard vegetables, forging in nearby areas for other seasonal delicacies, and sourcing as much locally as possible. When I visited we had a blast hunting for morel mushrooms in the woods behind the home.

10. Unbeatable Location

The location of Thistle’s Summit truly cannot be beat! The bed and breakfast is located about a 10 minute walk from the center of Mount Vernon and just seconds from the Cornell College campus. Incredible eateries like Big Grove Brewery and Rapid Creek Cidery are only a short drive south, and delicious ice cream at Dan and Debbie’s Creamy is just outside of town. Plus, Mount Vernon is about half an hour from both Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, making it the perfect detour for a weekend or quick overnight.

In the future, I’m excited to collaborate with Thistle’s Summit on custom guides of the area to highlight some of the region’s must-visit attractions.

Plan Your Own Stay at Thistle’s Summit

If you’re looking for a Midwestern weekend getaway or simply passing through eastern Iowa, you need to book a stay at Thistle’s Summit!

The bed and breakfast offers a variety of accommodation options from single occupancy rooms to the option to rent out the full house.

Giveaway: Win a Thistle’s Summit Tea Time Package

To celebrate the opening of this incredible bed and breakfast, I’m thrilled to be able to gift a special Tea Time package to one lucky reader. This fantastic collection of goodies will help bring the feeling of zen you get from staying at Thistle’s Summit home to you. Not only will you get some of my favorite smoked sea salt chocolate chip cookies but you’ll also receive custom tea blends from an incredible Mount Vernon shop.

Enter below for the chance to win this relaxing Tea Time package which includes:

• 3 tea packages from Kae Apothecary
• 1 mug
• 1 infuser
• 6 signature Thistle’s Summit cookies
• $25 off your stay at Thistle’s Summit

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share Your Thoughts

I would love to hear from you! Have you visited Mount Vernon, Iowa? What questions do you have about staying at Thistle’s Summit?