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(Or, What is there to do?)

• Canoe Trip

• Golf Outing                 

• Horseback Riding

• Hunting Trip

• Bicycling Trip

• Winery Tours

• Old Threshers Reunion

• Family and Friends Reunion

• Honeymoon

• Church Retreat

• Small Business Seminar

• Crafter's Retreat

• Ghost Hunter's Get-Away

                 Canoe Trip idea:

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Golf Outing idea:

• Stay the night at the Mason House Inn.

• The Riverview Country Club in Keosauqua offers a choice of rounds.  The golf course is 9 holes, if you want 18 holes, go around twice.  Call them at (319) 293-3200 to make arrangements.  They also have a swimming pool and tennis courts.

• The Great River Road Golf Club in Nauvoo, Illinois also offers 9 hole and 18 hole options.  Call them at (800) 233-0060 to make arrangements.  Their web site is www.golfnauvoo.com .

• They both have golf cart rental.

• Lunch:  Pack a picnic lunch to take with you, or eat at one of the unique restaurants in the area.

• Supper:  We recommend Bonaparte's Retreat restaurant for a great steak dinner, or the Riverbend in Keosauqua for chicken or tacos.

• Stay a second night at the Mason House Inn, nice and quiet and comfortable.  Don't forget the delicious breakfast! 

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Horseback Riding Outing idea: 

• Stay at the Mason House Inn the night before to rest up.

• Spend an enjoyable day riding horses near Fairfield, just 30 minutes north of here.  See http://www.icelandichorsesmidwest.com/lessonsandtrailriding.htm for information or call Jennifer and Doug Hamilton at (641) 472-8422.

• Lunch:  Pack a picnic or eat at the restaurant of your choice

• Supper:  We recommend Bonaparte's Retreat restaurant for a great steak dinner, or the Riverbend in Keosauqua for soup and sandwiches.

• Stay a second night at the Mason House Inn in a nice comfy bed to ease your tired tailbone.

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Hunting Trip Outing idea:

• Stay at the Mason House Inn the night before.  (The house is nice and quiet so you can get to bed early, since you want to get up early.)

• Rise early and grab a take-it-with-you breakfast from the dining room.  (Give Joy advance notice so she can have fresh baked goodies and fresh coffee waiting for you.)

• There is public hunting areas just north of Bentonsport that is filled with deer and turkey just waiting for you to find them.

• Lunch:  Pack a sack lunch or eat at the restaurant of your choice.

• Supper:  We recommend Bonaparte's Retreat restaurant for a great steak dinner, or the Riverbend in Keosauqua for everything else.

• Stay a second or third night at the Mason House Inn to rest up from all your fun.

• Wives of hunters will enjoy staying at the Mason House, too.  Spend the day browsing the unique shops in Bentonsport, Bonaparte, and Cantril.  See which of you can bag the best catch!

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Bicycling Trip Outing idea:

• Stay at the Mason House Inn the night before to rest up and check your bike over.  (Ask Joy where you can safely store your bike inside the building.)

• Eat a nutritious and energy filled breakfast in our dining room while you plan your route.

• Ride your bike all over Van Buren County.  There are several good routes and lots to see.  Our local drivers are used to sharing the road with bicycles and Amish buggies, so it is safe and serene.

• Eat lunch at one of our local eateries in Keosauqua, Bonaparte, Farmington, Cantril, and Milton.

• Ride some more and arrive back at the Mason House Inn before dark.  Watch out for deer crossing the roads.

• Supper:  We recommend Bonaparte's Retreat restaurant for a great steak dinner, or the Riverbend in Keosauqua for delicious pizza.

• Stay a second and third night at the Mason House Inn to rest up for another day.

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Winery Tours idea:

• Stay the night at the Mason House Inn to get ready for your fun filled day.

• Eat a full country breakfast to energize you for a day of touring.

• Visit and tour the local wineries and sample great locally made wines.

• Eat lunch at one of our local eateries.

• Visit more wineries in Franklin and Lebanon, Iowa, and Nauvoo, Ill.

• For supper we recommend Bonaparte's Retreat for a great steak dinner with wine!

• Stay a second night at the Mason House Inn to rest up from all your fun.

Wineries we recommend:

Kaiser Home Winery

Located 7 miles west of Keosauqua on J40, then 1/2 mile north on Fir Ave.  Open by appointment: (319) 293-6154

Whispering Pines Winery

Whispering Pines Winery is a family owned business, located in scenic Van Buren County, just off J40, about 4 and a half miles west of Keosauqua, Iowa.
Visit our tasting room and let our knowledgeable, friendly staff serve you.  Come relax and enjoy the wine, beautiful vineyard, and secluded country wilderness.

18356  222nd St.,  Keosauqua, Iowa, 52565

Christian Herschler District Winery  

Sixth and Green
Franklin, IA 52625
PH: 319.835.9432
lorijarvis_l@hotmail.com
9-5 Thu.-Mon.
Pre-Civil War grounds offer a step back in time. Wines are made from 100-year-old recipes and aged in oak barrels.

Baxter's Vineyards - Illinois' Oldest Winery located in Historic Nauvoo, Illinois

Located in Baxter's Village, 11 blocks east of Hwy 96, going through the Nauvoo State Park on Parley Street.

Baxter's Vineyards/Winery

 www.nauvoowinery.com  Open daily Noon to 5pm.

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Midwest Old Threshers Reunion idea:

September 2 - 7, 2009  see www.oldthreshers.com

• Make prior arrangements with Joy to check in early at the Mason House Inn.

• Spend the day enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  (An easy 45 minute drive, north on Hwy 218.)

• Spend the night at the Mason House Inn to rest up for more fun the next day.

• Eat a hearty breakfast in the dining room and tell the other guests all about your experience.

• Spend another day at the Old Threshers Reunion.

• Spend a second night at the Mason House Inn.

• Repeat as necessary.

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Family and Friends Reunion idea:

• Reserve the whole House for your group.  (Special group rates available.)

• Meet at the Mason House for a kick-off appetizers 'meet and greet' time.

• Then you can either go to the restaurant of your choice or we can put on a Buffet Supper for your group.  (Be sure to let Joy know if you want the supper and ask for rates.)

• Use the Dining Room for a Game Night before spending the night in a comfortable bed.

• Eat a hearty breakfast to prepare for your day of fun.

• As a group, go hiking, biking, canoeing, picnicking, or just relax and get to know each other again.

• Reserve the Riverside Park Shelter House and have a cookout.  (Call the Greef Store to reserve the Shelter House: (319) 592-3579)

• Use the Parlor to play a Murder Mystery game, or have a sing-along or a Talent Show.

• Spend a second night to recuperate from all your fun.

• Repeat as necessary to make your Reunion a success!

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Wedding and Honeymoon idea:

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Church Retreat idea:

• Reserve the whole House for your group.  That way you can insure your privacy and not have to compete with other people not in your group.  (Group rates available.)

• Meet at the Mason House and enjoy a Hymn Sing before supper.

• For supper you can either go to the restaurant of your choice, or make prior arrangement with Joy to serve a Buffet.

• Meet in the Parlor again for more Hymn singing and a devotion and some fellowship time.

• Spend a quiet night at the Mason House Inn to prepare for a busy day.

• Eat a hearty breakfast and then meet in the Parlor for the day's itinerary.

• You can use either the Parlor or the Dining Room for your Retreat Program.  There are plenty of quiet places to go in town and in the House for prayer and small group devotions or Bible Studies.

• Eat lunch and supper at one of our unique restaurants, or plan a picnic in the Shelter House.

• Spend the rest of the day in your Retreat plans.

• Spend another night at the Mason House Inn and have more Hymn singing or maybe a small service in our Parlor in the morning, before or after another delicious breakfast.

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Small Business Seminars idea:

• Reserve the whole House for your group.  That way you can insure your privacy and not have to compete with other people not in your group. (Group rates available.)

• Meet at the Mason House for pre-seminar instructions and then eat supper at one of our unique restaurants.

• Meet back at the Mason House for an evening of fun and fellowship.

• Spend the night in a comfortable bed to rest up for the next day's activities.

• After a hearty breakfast, you may use our Parlor or Dining Room for your Seminar activities.

• Break for lunch.  Visit one of our quaint restaurants or ask Joy to set up a Soup / Salad/ Sandwich buffet.  (Make prior arrangements with Joy for this.)

• More Seminar activities.  There are many quiet places in town for small group activities.

• Break for supper.  Enjoy one of our unique restaurants or ask Joy to set up a dinner buffet.  (Again make prior arrangements for this.)

• Meet back in our Parlor or Dining Room for more lecture or activities.

• Spend a second night at the Mason House Inn to rest up from all your fun.

• Enjoy a delicious breakfast and have your wrap-up, or a second day of activities.

• Repeat as necessary to make your small group seminar a success!

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Crafters Retreat idea:

• Get your friends together for a Crafter's weekend at the Mason House Inn.

• Our Dining Room is a great place to spread out your scrap booking or quilting projects.

• Book Clubs, Knitting and Crocheting Clubs, and small handcrafts find our Parlor to be big enough yet a cozy place to work and chat.

• Meet at the Mason House for pre-retreat instructions and then eat supper at one of our unique restaurants.

• Meet back at the Mason House for an evening of fun and fellowship.

• Spend the night in a comfortable bed to rest up for the next day's activities.

• After a hearty breakfast, you may use our Parlor or Dining Room for your Retreat activities.

• Break for lunch.  Visit one of our quaint restaurants or ask Joy to set up a Soup / Salad/ Sandwich buffet.  (Make prior arrangements with Joy for this.)

• More crafting activities.  (Or take a break and visit our charming stores filled with crafting ideas.)

• Break for supper.  Enjoy one of our unique restaurants or ask Joy to set up a dinner buffet.  (Again make prior arrangements for this.)

• Meet back in our Parlor or Dining Room for more activities.

• Spend a second night at the Mason House Inn to rest up from all your fun.

• Enjoy a delicious breakfast and have your wrap-up, or a second day of activities.

• Repeat as necessary to make your get-together a success!

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Ghost Hunters Get-Away idea:

• Get your friends together for a Ghostly good weekend of ghost hunting fun.

• Reserve the whole main house so you won't be interrupted by non-ghost-hunters.

• Arrive at the Mason House Inn between 3pm and 8pm and set up your equipment.  Don't forget to bring your digital cameras, digital voice recorders, night vision cameras, and infra-red cameras, and lots of caffeine to drink so you can stay up all night long. 

• Eat Supper at one of our tasty restaurants or bring munchies with you.

• After dark, explore the second floor of the Inn to see if you can find any friendly ghosts.

• Stay up all night to watch the cameras, do EVPs, and collect evidence.  Take a nap if you have to in one of our comfortable beds.  In fact, we recommend it.

• In the morning, Joy will fix you a delicious breakfast to perk you up for the rest of the day.

• Evaluate your evidence and let Chuck and Joy know if you find anything really interesting.

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If you have any other vacation ideas, let me know!

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