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Other stories in "Hotels & motels"

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  In central Iowa, a gorgeous Arts and Crafts boutique hotel gets a second life.
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Inn retreats

If you don't like the weather, spend a weekend where everything is under one roof.

In winter, not everyone wants to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Many people would rather enjoy down comforters, hot toddies and a massage. Many people don't even want to look at snow and ice.

And that's possible at many inns and resorts. Some include a spa or dinner theater, others shops and restaurants, and a few offer a whole weekend's worth of entertainment under one roof.

In Duluth, the Fitger's complex includes a hotel, restaurants, Aveda day spa, shops, dinner theater, nightclub and a brewpub with live music. In Milwaukee, the InterContinental is connected to the Pabst Theater and Marcus Center, and concert and theater patrons never have to go outdoors.

In eastern Wisconsin, guests at the Osthoff Resort can sign up for classes at its large cooking school and services at its spa.

There's a place for every taste. Below are some of the best candidates for an under-one-roof vacation. If you can stay on weekdays, you'll save a bundle — and for weekends, reserve as early as possible.

InterContinental Hotel in Milwaukee: The former Wyndham at Milwaukee and Kilbourn avenues is connected to the ornate Pabst Theater and the modern Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. It includes Kil@wat restaurant and a fitness center with steam rooms and saunas. 414-276-8686.

For concerts and plays at the Pabst — Brandi Carlile, Jan. 21; Norah Jones, March 19; David Gray, March 20 — call 414-286-3663.

The Marcus Center presents touring Broadway shows — "Grease,'' Feb. 23-28 — and is the home of a  symphony, ballet, opera, theater and children's theater. Check 888-612-3500.

For more, see Milwaukee stories.

Fitgers in Duluth: There's lots to do in the old Fitger's brewery complex on Lake Superior. It houses Fitger's hotel, Shear Katz day spa, the Red Star Lounge nightclub and the Brewhouse Brewery and Grill, which often hosts live music.

It also has a coffeehouse, many shops specializing in outdoors clothes — Wintergreen, Jake's Lake Place, Trail Fitters — and a dinner theater.

The classy Midi Restaurant & Wine Bar, which serves a Mediterranean-Asian-continental menu, caters dinners for Change of Pace Productions, which presents musical comedies and mysteries in the adjoining theater.

From Jan. 22 to Feb. 14 in 2010, the show is the audience-participation murder mystery "The Last Dance of Dr. Disco.''

It also offers spa packages with Shear Katz Sundays through Wednesdays, and guests get 20 percent off massages the rest of the week. Call 888-348-4377. For more, see Under one roof in Duluth.

Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wis.  This large and luxurious resort in eastern Wisconsin town includes the Ecole de Cuisine culinary school and the Aspira Spa, both with an extensive menu of offerings.

There's also a pool, whirlpools, game room, fitness center, yoga room and two restaurants. Special events include the Old World Christmas Market in December, the Big Band Gala in March and Jazz on the Vine in May. 800-876-3399.

Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa. This gorgeous Arts and Crafts boutique hotel sits in a drab farm town 40 minutes northwest of Des Moines. Luckily, you don't need to leave the hotel, because it has a spa, bowling alley, steam room and sauna, restaurant and lounge.

Perhaps the most entertaining thing to do there is to tour the 40 rooms, each individually decorated to honor its namesakes: Louis Armstrong, who once stayed in the old hotel; furniture designer Gustav Stickley; designer William Morris; and many ethnic groups.

The hotel offers women's sleepovers, couples getaways and other packages. For more, see Perry's palace.

St. James Hotel in Red Wing, Minn.:  This 1875 hotel has 60 individually decorated rooms in old and new wings; many people prefer the older rooms. An inside court is lined with small shops, a spa and a coffeehouse.

There are two restaurants and live music on Friday nights at Jimmy's pub. Across the street, The Nortons Restaurant leaves excellent food and often hosts bands in its Lucky Cat Lounge.

The St. James offers many packages, 800-252-1875. For more, see Red Wing's antiques.

Archer House in Northfield, Minn.: This 1877 landmark on Division Street has 36 individually decorated rooms, some with two beds, and includes two restaurants under its roof and adjoining shops. 800-247-2235. 

Many shops and coffeehouses are within two blocks. Go to a free concert at St. Olaf College or lecture at Carleton College and make it a cheap getaway.

For more, see Scrappy Northfield.

Thayer’s Historic B&B in Annandale, Minn.: This renovated 1895 inn, less than an hour west of the Twin Cities, has 11 rooms and hosts murder-mystery dinners on many Saturdays. Proprietor Sharon Gammell also gives psychic readings and offers psychic awareness classes. 800-944-6595.

Hotel Sax/House of Blues, Chicago. This hotel and adjacent club in the Marina City complex on the Chicago River, also called the corncobs, allow hotel guests to take in a concert — heavy metal, hard rock, Celtic and pop as well as blues — or a weekend gospel brunch at the House of Blues.

There are also a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, wine bar and two lounges in the complex, and State Street is a few steps away.

A weekend in Ireland: In eastern Wisconsin, three sister inns include handsome Irish restaurants and pubs that host live music.  In Plymouth, 52 Stafford is an 1892 hotel renovated into a Irish inn with a beautiful restaurant and pub that features cherry millwork and Celtic-themed stained and etched glass.

In Green Bay, St. Brendan’s is a newly built boutique hotel on the Fox River in downtown Green Bay. On the edge of downtown Milwaukee, the County Clare has comfortable rooms above its sunny pub. Last updated on January 8, 2010