Coyote Blues Village Bed & Breakfast

On 30 wooded and grassy acres in South Dakotas Black Hills, a stay at the Coyote Blues Village B&B is akin to spending a night or two in a cozy private home. The owners are from Switzerland and there's a bit of Swiss flair to a stay here. Interiors have a homey charm, but are bright and airy, with beautiful stone and hardwood floors, large windows providing plenty of natural light, and lots of antique furniture. Crafty knick knacks and a few artsy details add a good dose of color to interiors, and the fireplace offers a particularly nice spot to curl up with a book or magazine. Guests are encouraged to use the communal spaces, including the living room -- which has a large flat-screen TV -- as well as the open kitchen and the dining room, where breakfast is served when it's too cold for the patio. The house is surrounded by tall pine trees, with beautiful views of the hills, and the majority of guests here are couples. 

The bed-and-breakfast is set back on a winding gravel road, surrounded by tall pine trees, off US-385. It's definitely a secluded area, and the bulk of things to see and do relate to nature and being outdoors. There are restaurants within driving distance, many about 20 minutes away in Hill City, but the bed-and-breakfast is removed from busy areas; Rapid City is a 40-minute drive from the Coyote Blues. The location is convenient for visiting the national parks and other attractions -- Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial are both a 35-minute drive from the property. Wind Cave National Park and the Jewel Cave National Monument are an hour's drive, and Badlands National Park and Custer State Park are an hour-and-a-half drive. Budget about an hour to reach the Rapid City Regional Airport by car.

The 10 themed rooms, including one suite, range from the small and economical Pine View rooms to the large African and Mediterranean Rooms, which feature private decks with patio furniture and outdoor hot tubs. Room decor is homey, including antique furniture and quilts or floral bedspreads, with theme-related artwork, like a tapestry with a cross in the Celtic Room. Each room has its own bathroom, which come with stall showers and either limited counter space or large vanities depending on the booking. Larger rooms have mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs, and the European Antique Suite is particularly spacious, with two bedrooms and a massive patio with a hot tub. The rooms don’t have air-conditioning, but the area is so quiet that guests can leave their windows open.

The hosts serve a Swiss-style breakfast each morning on the large deck when whether permits, or in the dining room on colder morning. The meal includes platters of meats and cheeses, as well as hot egg dishes and freshly-baked bread served family style. Three- or four-course dinners can be requested in the off season, and the bed-and-breakfast can also cater weddings and other group events. Drinks and snacks available for guests. A large recreation room has table tennis and an electric piano. Wi-Fi is free, but service can be spotty.