Sherrie Hansen, innkeeper at Blue Belle Inn Bed and Breakfast, says her inn draws visitors because of the laid-back atmosphere of St. Ansgar, Iowa, the town she calls home. The quaint country store, a cottage tea house and Victorian antique shops are among the local stops that help the hours pass by. It's a town with no stop lights, no malls and no major tourist attractions -- and Hansen says that's a good thing. "One of the best features of the area is its quiet, pastoral nature," she said. "There's not a lot to do, but there are lots of sprawling maple trees and porch swings and flower gardens to look at as you stroll through the town. It's a taste of a bygone era."

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