Dear [fname],

Enjoy a quiet getaway with our Fall Soltice special.

A $50 Hermann Hill gift certificate awaits guests who book a multiple-night, mid-week stay between now and December 22, the last day of fall. Think of it as our "I can't believe the October date I wanted was already booked" special.

Hermann Hill gift certificates never expire, so there are lots of ways to use your reward. You could give someone on your list a very special Christmas present, or you could lock in 2010 rates for "Same Time Next Year" reservation. As with all specials, the Hermann Hill guarantee means you'll automatically receive a gift certificate, no matter when you made your qualifying reservation. NOTE: this offer cannot be combined with last-minute discounts.

Hermann Hill gift certificates get rave reviews.

Nearly 40 percent of our guests use a gift certificate to pay for all or part of their stay. Children give them to parents for a little R&R. Parents give them to children who need a break from busy lives. Offices give them as wedding gifts. Spouses give them to one another for special occasions.

"The best gift we've ever received" is a remark we hear time and again.

For every $200 worth of Hermann Hill gift certificates you purchase this holiday season, we'll include a $20 voucher to the Hermann Hill gift shop, which can be redeemed for anything from a Hermann Hill mug to a bottle of one of our signature sauces. Purchase $400 worth of gift certificates and we'll include two $20 vouchers. NOTE: This offer is retroactive to October 1, 2010.

Earn rewards toward your next Hermann Hill getaway.

Starting this month, your Hermann Hill reservation will include a reminder of the number of room nights you need to earn a frequent stay reward. Here’s how the program works: After you've stayed 10 nights with us, you'll receive a gift certificate equal to 10 percent of what you spent. For most guests that means their eleventh night is free.

Meet Connie Drake-Jones

Connie, who began working at Hermann Hill in 2001, is one of the Inn's greatest multitaskers. You may find her checking in guests, tending the Chapel herb garden, bartending at a wedding reception, faux painting walls, or conducting a cooking class.

A world traveler, Connie often spends part of the year in Spain and England. In a former life, she was a smoke jumper who rapelled from helicopters to fight forest fires on the West Coast. She's looking forward to attending her 35th firefighter reunion next week in in Seattle. Connie's three daughters live in Seattle, Dubai, and Cape Girardeau.

Last month's "threads" winners are already planning their next Hermann Hill getaway.

Justin & Rebekah write . . .We've been coming to Hermann Hill twice a year for the last three years. As each trip nears we literally count the days. We arrive as stressed out, overworked parents of three and leave feeling youthful, blessed and relaxed.

Our first stop is always lunch at Wings-a-Blazin’. We love their "chicken lips" too much to try anywhere new. We walked around town and visited all the little antique shops. That night we had a romantic dinner at Vintage Restaurant, but turned down dessert because we knew Terry would be stopping by the room later with his world-famous homemade cookies.

We slept in the next morning and enjoyed a great breakfast on our private patio—the view was amazing. Before leaving, we wrote a journal entry and looked back to see what we had written three years ago during our first visit to Hermann Hill. We can't wait to come back to our little piece of heaven.

Keith & Erin write . . . We arrived in town early to enjoy the "Mom and Pop" atmosphere at Rivertown Restaurant. We recommend Maggie's famous pork tenderloin sandwich, but make sure to bring your appetite! We grilled steaks on our Cottage deck that evening. When night fell and the temperature dropped, we climbed into the hot tub, where all our worries from home were quickly forgotten.

We spent the next day touring wineries.We thought Hermannhof had the best overall atmosphere. Stone Hill had the most historic feel, the best views and a fantastic cellar tour. We liked the scenic drive to Adam Puchta and really enjoyed their white wines. After a stop at Swiss Meats (be sure to try the pepperjack brats), we returned to the cottage where we watched the sunset light up the beautiful fall trees. It was hard to fit everything in, so we're definitely coming back next year—same time, same place.

Read the full text of these and other winning entries. 

Why not treat yourselves to some quiet time together before the holiday rush? Call 573-486-4455 today to plan a relaxing Hermann Hill getaway.

Your innkeepers,