<p>We'll be visiting this summer. Any suggestions on where to stay? Thanks.</p>
<p>Archer House, if you can get it. I stayed there with my parents when we visited and loved it.</p>
<p>Archer House is on the main street in Northfield and easy walking distance to campus, but beware of some of the more floral rooms. You can also check to see if there is room available at the Alumni Guest House. I’ve also heard good things about the Magic Door B&B.</p>
<p>I love Archer House too. 
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<p>does anyone know about the super 8? I think I’m staying there when I move in. we went for price rather than reviews but I’m hoping it’s ok.</p>
<p>There’s a nice AmericInn not far from campus. Not much unique “personality,” but it’s clean, well-run, and inexpensive.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Archer House once and never again. If you like old 80’s fixtures and noisy, dirty rooms then it might be for you.</p>
<p>The question is, ProudMary: How much emphasis do you put on “character” as opposed to “sanitation?” :)</p>
<p>If you stay at the Archer House, get a room that faces Division St rather than the river. Across the river is the train track and the whistles blow through the night. I have had problems in the past with Archer House changing which room was reserved for a different room.</p>
<p>Same thing with Country Inn by Carlson which is located immediately next to the tracks. There you want one that faces on Hwy 3. Those rooms are significantly quieter.</p>
<p>I’ve never been in a room at Super 8, just swimming pool birthday parties. It is really close to a Perkins for cheap food and the Target for dorm supplies.</p>
<p>In a perfect world you want to be at AmerInn. It is not walking distance from campus but it is the quietest.</p>
<p>We’ve stayed in Northfield many times over the years. We used to stay at the Country Inn, which is nice as long as your room doesn’t overlook the RR Tracks. This past year we discovered the Super 8. I had always been hesitant to book there because…well…it’s a Super 8, but you know, it was the nicest Super 8 I’ve ever been to and it was very reasonably priced with a decent breakfast. The people who worked there were helpful too. It was clean and comfortable. We will probably always stay there now.</p>
<p>Another possibility: stay up somewhere in the cities far from those railroad tracks. Make a day out of visiting Northfield. Visit St. Olaf in the morning, wander around Division Street for lunch, and see Carleton in the afternoon. Do Macalester either the day before or after. Hell, throw in the Walker and Mall of America. I mean, if you’re traveling in from out of town, may as well be thorough, even if you’re not very interested in St. Olaf or Mac. I got a lot out of tagging along with friends and visiting colleges I had no interest in attending because it helped me clarify what I liked and didn’t like. (For example: did not like required common classes all freshmen must take. Did like lots of green space.)</p>
<p>I would agree with staying near the Mall of America - lots of nicer places to stay in the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. We stayed directly across from the Mall over parent weekend - managed to squeeze in a visit to Macalester with our junior daughter - as well as other Twin City sights and visits with old friends. The drive to Northfield is not a big deal - unless you’re driving through a white-out blizzard in the middle of January. My husband adds - if you’re visiting Carleton in the middle of January, you are demonstrating extremely poor judgment and are probably the victim of “brain freeze”. (He can say this because he survived twenty years in Minnesota).</p>
<p>My wife and I have stayed at AmericInn many times while visiting our son at Carleton. I agree with “Hindoo”, it is clean and inexpensive.</p>
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<p>Same with us. The “bathroom” was a toilet in the corner with a curtain around it. There’s “character” and then there’s…ugh. After that, it was Super 8 all the way.</p>
<p>FYI - Incoming freshmen will be graduating on June 15, 2013. Make hotel reservations now. Not kidding.</p>
<p>There’s something seriously wrong if Super 8 ends up looking better…</p>
<p>No kidding, petro.</p>
<p>Hmm, I luckily didn’t experience the curtain bathroom–if I did I’m sure I would be squicked out as well. Our room had a regular bathroom :)</p>
<p>I’ve definitely had better bathroom experiences than Mary13 as well. And the rooms I’ve had at Archer have always been clean, though certainly time worn. Still love the character of the place. I remember talk it had been recently sold and rehab was planned. Would be great to see.</p>
<p>Country Inn, AmericInn and Super 8 in the area are standard fare chains but I’d agree they’re new, very well kept, and relative bargains. I generally try to help the local independents but admit I’ve occasionally succumbed to practicality, even visiting Carleton. Never stayed at Northfield area B and B’s. </p>
<p>Apropos of avoiding train noise from select rooms in the Country Inn, just read this spring’s issue of the “Voice.” Listed at number 15 of “The 50 Things We Love About Carleton”:</p>
<p>“The trains. Because there’s something impossibly romantic about the sound of a train whistle - except maybe at 2:30 in the morning.” :)</p>
<p>Super 8 is a franchise. The local owner pays franchise and marketing fees. From my personal experience, this motel has everything that is important in away from from accommodations. It is clean, quite, the beds are large (queen) and comfortable, it has internet access, the management is both helpful and friendly, and it is inexpensive and just 3 miles from Carleton. Given the cost of a Carleton education and the transportation to get there, I for one am grateful for what they have to offer. Also I have to note they they have never jacked up their prices during obvious time of high demand, like move in day. I’m not denigrating other accommodations, but snobby attitudes should stick to the northeast!</p>
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<p>That’s a fine how-do-you-do. </p>
<p>I surfed in because we are planning a trip to Carleton. I read Mmomms’ post about the Super 8. Inexpensive, clean, comfortable, friendly people, breakfast … I’m thinking ‘done deal.’ Then I get to the last post, where sparkydad takes offense at someone from Las Vegas taking a swipe at Super 8 which is echoed from someone from Kentucky. So, while taking the high road by not “denigrating” other accommodations - he decides to denigrate the Northeast with their “snobby attitudes.” Great. </p>
<p>Sparkysdad,</p>
<p>Is that what you tell your kids, that we are a bunch of snobs in the Northeast?</p>