Thoreau Suite: A winter sanctuary steps from downtown

My experience with the lovely Thoreau Suite was during a rough patch of snowy weather one December — Christmas in the Ozarks can be unpredictable that way.

Wanting to get some snow shots downtown — but being quite the chicken on icy roads — I decided to stay at Cliff Cottage Inn, so that I could catch the Eureka Springs downtown in full winter splendor. My photo equipment can be heavy, and my aches and pains can be many. From Cliff Cottage Inn’s central location, I wouldn’t have to circumnavigate my heavy equipment down the snowy roads.

Never having been in the Thoreau suite before, I didn’t know what to expect. But all the suites I had seen so far at the Cliff Cottage Inn had been excellent, so I expected no less, and I was not disappointed.

A rustic welcome

Entering the suite, you are greeted by a warm interior. A small couch sits in the living room’s center accompanied by a glass top table atop an Indian print rug. Appropriate to the suite’s namesake, the wall decorations and prints exhibited a rustic theme replete with images of bear and moose along with flowers and landscapes. And a lone horseshoe, to bring luck to the guests.

Arriving only hours before the storm hit, windshield icing up as I was parking, I hauled what equipment I had brought up to the suite. Expecting to get some lovely shots of the city’s unique downtown area covered in white the next morning. Temperatures were expected down into the lower teens with blowing winds to contend with. I brought a sturdy tripod that I figured could also be used as a staff to steady myself as I walked in the icy circumstances expected. I had learned long ago that a sturdy tripod could be a great help in traversing difficult terrain and conditions.

Anticipating breakfast

I was already looking forward to breakfast in the morning. Not sure why but breakfast always seems better when brought on a tray. Looking at the menu I could see it was going to be the southwestern breakfast casserole and English muffin — which I tried before and was delicious. Plus with a stuffed Roma tomato on the side, with fresh avocado slices, salsa and a generous dab of sour cream, it began the day right. A cup of coffee (or two or three) and I would be ready for the blizzard awaiting without. It was so convenient being near downtown. Just steps to Main Street. And yet away from the hustle and bustle that is close by on busy weekends.

Settling in for the storm

A quaint bedroom off to the side equipped with a dresser caught the light from the window overlooking Armstrong St. and downtown rooftops. Gazing out I was amazed at how quickly the snow was coming down even as temperature outside plunged rapidly. But it was warm and cozy within the confines of the suite. From the couch I could see the small balcony attached with the cliff face looming right outside — disappearing into the snow though only an arm’s length from the railing. Small curios and ceramic art pieces decorating the cliff wall faded into white along with the natural moss and lingering vestiges of vegetation trying to survive the Ozark winter. After I put in some water on to boil for tea and settled down on the couch, I checked the weather channel to see if there were any updates. The wind outside emphasizing the accuracy of the forecast’s severity. Sipping my tea, I looked forward to the next day’s photographic possibilities.

Winter wonderland morning

Waking the next morning I gazed out the window to see roughly a foot of snow covering the town! Temperatures were quite cold outside but it was quite toasty here in my little sanctuary from the storm. Putting on coffee I readied myself for the tasty breakfast which was coming soon. A touch of the southwest in the middle of the Ozark winter.

After the hearty breakfast, I grabbed a camera and zoom lens, donning a thick coat and hiking boots, I ventured into the snow covered cityscape. Trekking about a half mile, getting wonderful dozens of images of the ice and snow before the cold winds drove me back to the friendly warm glow of the Cliff Cottage suite which would shelter me and provide much needed relief from the blowing winds. With a hot tub to take a long soak in, and coffee to sip on, I wondered what my poor relatives are doing this season.

As far as Christmas getaways in Arkansas go, this one was hard to beat.

Christmas in the Ozarks: Why Eureka Springs Comes Alive in December

I happened to visit during a snowstorm, but Christmas in Eureka Springs is worth planning around. The town transforms every December — strings of Christmas lights draped along the Victorian storefronts, a Christmas parade winding through the historic downtown, and a warmth in the air that has nothing to do with temperature. It’s no wonder Eureka Springs ranks among the best Christmas towns in Arkansas. There are plenty of things to do in Eureka Springs in December beyond photography: trolley rides through the illuminated streets, holiday shopping in the quirky galleries, and live music at venues like Chelsea’s. For anyone looking for winter getaways in Arkansas — or a romantic retreat from the cold — Cliff Cottage puts you in the center of it all, with a warm suite and a hot breakfast waiting when you come back in from the cold.