I'm looking for a victorian B&B, complete with a turret, a clawfoot tub, and wrap-around-porch somewhere within a 5 hour drive from Chicago. I've heard of a few: The Hutchinson Mansion Inn in Michigan City, IN.
Chenoweth House in Monroe, WI. The Hancock House in Dubuque, IA. The Viroqua Heritage Inn (Boyle House) in Viroqua, WI. If you know anything about these places, or the towns they are in (what to do, etc), please let me know your thoughts. Also, feel free to recommend another one. Thank you for your help!

If you are planning to spend more than 1 day in Monroe, WI, it's not worth your time...it's a very small town, w/ a quaint town square, but that's it.
Have you looked into Galena B&B's...they have so many, I'm sure one would fit your description & so much more to do there. Dubuque is a nice old town, w/ more to do than Monroe. Lake Michigan on the WI or MI side would also have many towns w/ B&Bs that would work.
If you want to drive a bit further, go up to Bayfield, WI & stay at the Old Rittenhouse Inn...it's the perfect B&B for your description & delicious meals are served, Bayfield is on Lake Superior...very, beautiful, very quaint, but may not be worth your long drive if you only plan to stay at Bayfield.

I totally agree with the previous poster's comments about the Old Rittenhouse in Bayfield, WI. It is a neat place to stay and the meals in the restaurant are wonderful!! Only problem is the fact that it is more than 5 hours from Chicago. I would say it is about 7-8 hours from there. There are lots of people from the Chicago Area who stay there.

Thanks for the info! I'm going to look them up. If they sound wonderful, I'll make the long trip. Thanks!

Not in the location that you mentioned, but only 150 miles (3 hours WITH traffic) from Chicago is one of my favorite areas, Saugatuck, Michigan. It is an area right on Lake Michigan. This is a huge resort area for small inns with activities like antiqueing and visiting lighthouses, and touring wineries. Many, many, victorian inns like you are looking for. I personally stayed at and enjoyed the Twin Gables guesthouse. I have heard good things about the Kingsley House in Fennville (10 miles from Saugatuck) and the Great Escape Inns which is 3 or 4 B&Bs owned by the same person in the countryside all within 30 miles of the Saugatuck, Fennville, south Haven area. The The Grand Escape Inns have theme parties sometimes where the guests at all 3 inns mingle. go to www.laketolake.com and check out the B&Bs in the southwest Michigan area.

If you really want WI, IN, or IA, I have some other suggestions. Keep in mind I haven't stayed at these but have recs and they are onm my "to do" list. In Iowa, try Mont REst (www.montrest.com), it looks fabulous, old victorian guesthouse with jacuzzi rooms in Bellevue, Iowa on Mississippi River about 200miles from Chicago. In WI, I have brochures on the White Rose bed and breakfast. It is old and victorian, but is in the VERY touristy wisconsin dells which some people hate. Personally I think it would be nice and at the dells, I would be touring wineries and riding bikes through scenic countryside. The dells can be done without waterparks and minigolf! In Indiana, there is the Old Carriage House Inn in shipshewana. This area is amish country just on the other side of South Bend and probably about 3 1/2 hours away, should be some neat things to do. Have fun and let us know what you pick!

Does anyone know of a "quaint" B&B in the Door County area of Wisconsin.

I've been in about 50 B&B's all over the states you mentioned. Best experience so far has been in Mendon Michigan. 1873 vintage stagecoach inn and it is not to be believed. Right on the St. Joe River where you can canoe. In short driving distance of a huge amount of golf, skiing, lakes, you name it. The place is magical. The breakfast you are served is at 9am and we were so amused by the host's stories of Africa, that most of us did not leave the huge downstairs sitting room until about noon. The hosts are South African and the wine tasting and conversation is tops. The food at the Inn is countered by a place called Bistro Rio which is a short walk down the street. The food there is done by an international chef hiding out in Amish country for some peace of mind. We could not believe the kick back to another era. They won't tell you where Elvis stayed or which room that Wilson was in but you should see the pictures of what Mendon used to be. You will get more authentic quality surroundings than any other place I have ever been. If you stay in the main inn and not in the luxury Creekside Inn behind the original, you may have trouble plugging in your curling iron. BUT you will be so busy looking at what is in your room that you will have no time to curl your hair. GAMES everywhere and hoops, and rocking ponies and 19th century toys. I can't wait to go back in October for the leaves and outdoor African dinner. They will arrange Thresher dinners on Saturday with the Amish at times also. Much, much more than a restoration- I thought I was time warped. Stay in the Barn room #8- there is an antique radio with the insides motified to play Alfred Hitchcock books on tape.

Oh, I forgot to mention that it is almost exactly 2-1/2 hours from the SouthWest suburbs of Chicago. Take 80-90. Door County and much of Wisconsin and Galena B&B's, are TRYING to be what this already is. History happened in this Mendon Inn and you can feel it. One of the downstairs rooms is huge with canopy over the bed and sitting room of its own. Some rooms are more restored than others but this place is the real thing throughout. It will be a lifetime's work just trying to restore most of the windows.

Thanks for all the ideas! We've decided on The Hancock House in Dubuque. I've been to Dubuque - loved it - and it turns out I had taken pictures of The Hancock House, not knowing it was a B&B! It has all that I'm looking for, including great views.

I'm thinking about Saugatuck for another trip, since I've heard great things about it.

Tricia - As for Door County, the White Lace Inn looks beautiful. They have a website, www.whitelaceinn.com. I'd like to stay there if I go to Door County some day.