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Two area bed and breakfast establishments will be opening their doors for a special event March 16 to give visitors the chance to experience the beauty that the St. Croix River Valley has to offer.

High Woods Bed and Breakfast and The Cottage Bed and Breakfast, both located in Taylors Falls, are two of the stops in the sixth annual Chocolate March, sponsored by Inns of the Valley.

High Woods is owned and run by Mike and Mary Jo Mandell. It is situated in the bluffs overlooking the river, high above Wild Mountain Road.

The couple has lived in the home for 12 years, but once their four children were grown and moved out, they decided it was time for a change. They remodeled the downstairs area into a bed and breakfast eight years ago, naming the three guest rooms after their children.

Each guest room has a private bath and access to a shared living room area with a gas fireplace and spacious kitchen/dining room. The walls of glass that line the shared areas overlook 10 acres of woods.

In the formal dining area upstairs, where guest breakfasts are served, a telescope is sighted on a large eagle's nest in a large pine halfway down the slope. Mike said it is used by the majestic birds each year, and proudly shares a photo of a mother eagle and a nestful of eaglets.

Guests can utilize a grill on the large deck, or just relax in the hot tub and enjoy the scenery.

The B & B is open year-round, where guests enjoy the river views in the summer, leaves changing in the fall and access to tubing and skiing at nearby Wild Mountain in the winter.

For the Chocolate March, Mary Jo will be offering homemade toffee bars, brownies and nut goodie bars, along with an array of beverages.

Taking Herberg Rd. off of Hwy. 8 takes visitors to The Cottage, located at the end of Fox Glen Dr. The Cottage also overlooks the river valley, offering fantastic views in the summer and "thousands of colors in the fall," according to owner Larry Collins, who runs the inn along with his wife, Eleanore.

The duo opened their B & B in 1990 and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

"The people coming here have been so nice. We have made some life long friends," Eleanore said.

The Cottage offers one guest suite, originally built as a maid's quarters off an attached breezeway from the Collins home. The suite shares only the entrance with the main home, offering complete privacy to guests.

The downstairs area has a cozy living room and dining area, where breakfast is brought in and served between 8 and 10 a.m., according to guests' wishes. "That's the only intrusion we make, otherwise they are given complete privacy," Larry said.

Upstairs are the bedroom and bath, giving guests a birds-eye view of the river and valley below.

Mary Jo will be making a three-chocolate fudge, chocolate balls and a special mint chocolate in honor of St. Patrick's Day (March 17) for the Chocolate March.

The Chocolate March started March 2 with bed and breakfasts in the River Falls and Hudson area and continues through March 30. High Woods and The Cottage will be open for tours during their open houses as part of the Chocolate March Sunday, March 16, along with Summit Inn in Center City, Pleasant Lake in Osceola and St. Croix River Inn in Osceola.

Tickets are $21 in advance or $25 at the door, with part of the proceeds going to Second Harvest Food Shelf.

For more information, go to: www.innsofthevalley.com.

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