Parents’ Weekend is fast approaching. This year, parents of students will come from all over the country on March 16-18 to meet with professors and make sure their kids are getting enough to eat. The hotels in Hillsdale are likely to be all booked up, but luckily, there are other options.
What some out-of-towners may not know is that Hillsdale is a small town and going ten minutes out of the way to the city of Jonesville isn’t much of a hike. If visitors don’t get first pick at staying in the Dow Center, all is not lost. With this guide, parents can find somewhere suitable to stay so they can focus on spending time with their kids.
Munro House Bed and Breakfast
Voted the National Bed & Breakfast Award “Best Near a College or University” according to Arrington’s Inn Traveler Book of Lists, the Munro House Bed and Breakfast is the oldest house in Hillsdale County and was used as a station in the Underground Railroad. Amenities include air conditioning, private baths, cable TV, massage and spa services, and free wireless internet. It’s a little on the smaller side with only seven rooms, so be sure to reserve your room early. Breakfast is offered every morning.
Dow Center
The Dow Hotel & Conference Center is by far the closest option to the college. This on-campus hotel offers an ideal location to keep parents close to students. Rooms provide a writing desk, a separate bathroom and vanity areas, free Wi-Fi, a Keurig coffee-maker, and cable TV. Additional amenities include automated wake-up calls, a nearby ATM, and free use of the Hillsdale College Sports Complex. The lobby areas are open for guests to enjoy, where complimentary coffee is provided.
Camping Spots
The John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center, owned by Hillsdale College and home to Hillsdale’s Shotgun Team and shooting clubs since 2008, has opened four RV and camper spaces on its grounds. Each space provides electrical and sewer abilities and access to restroom and shower facilities located in the nearby archery building. The Shooting Sports Education Center is located about five miles away from the college. Although none are currently open, cottages are in the fundraising stage and will likely be available in the future.
Hillsdale College Home Connection
The Hillsdale College Home Connection provides lodging in local homes. Many options are available with wide price ranges and amenities, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. Through the Hillsdale College Home Connection website, you can easily browse through the different lodging options and book your stay.
Rooms at Grayfield
This bed and breakfast and renovated 19th-century roadstop is located about ten minutes away from campus in Jonesville, Mich. The five guest bedrooms are spacious and set apart from the owner’s room and offer “contemporary comfort and casual elegance,” according to the Rooms at Grayfield website. Amenities include large bathrooms, flat-screen televisions, and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms boast views of the outdoor garden, which features a koi pond and clipped lawns. Breakfast is available privately at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. or later if arranged.
