America's Most Charming Inns

The White Hart Inn is an august structure located on the foothills of the Berkshires, enveloped by scenery that inspired Hudson River School painters. Rooms are well appointed in a clean, modern take on the traditional inn experience, with mostly white furniture, hardwood floors, and Carrera marble bathrooms. Opt for accommodation in the main building as opposed to the nearby Garden Rooms or Gideon Smith house, particularly the John Harney Suite on the third-floor for the best views of Salisbury village. Ask the concierge for tips on where to find Connecticut’s best antique shops, and be sure you feast on the British-inflected seasonal dishes at the hotel’s formal Dining Room and more casual Tap Room, both helmed by London transplant chef Annie Wayte.

Castle Hill Inn, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, stands sentinel on a hill overlooking Narragansett Bay and was once the summer home of a Harvard marine biologist, whose interest in East Asian art is still evident in the bronze and porcelain furnishings of the inn’s lobby. Besides the seven rooms in the main building, the property offers bright and family-friendly cottages on the sandy portion of the beach, as well as the more romantic Harbor Houses, steps away from a rocky enclave by the water that was the favorite spot of the hotel’s most famous guest, Grace Kelly (the staircase going down to the beach was built for her). The in-house spa utilizes Rhode Island–based luxury skincare brand Farmaesthetics, which sources most of its herbal ingredients from nearby farms. Dining is a similarly local affair, with an on-site garden that provides the kitchen with seasonal ingredients and fresh seafood caught right off Aquidneck Island. 

Located in the small hamlet of Warren, Vermont, The Pitcher Inn has provided lodging since the days of the Civil War. After a major makeover in 1997, the Relais & Chateaux property now boasts a fine-dining restaurant and carefully curated rooms and suites. The whimsical yet playful decor in each accommodation represents either a popular local activity or a point of Vermont heritage. (The Mallard room has a distinct duck hunter theme, with antique decoys and guns, camouflage pillows, and a life-size Canada goose hanging from the ceiling.) While most people flock to the Mad River Valley for ski season, activities like kayaking, hiking, or hot air balloon rides make it just as vacation-worthy in the summer.

A magnificent array of colors covers every part of this unique Southwestern inn, from its sunbaked adobe-style exterior to the vivid hand-laid tile mosaics in the bathrooms. The busy mix of patterns and works by local artists may be a bit much for some, but when in Santa Fe, inundation by eclectic folk art is part of the deal. All rooms come with wood-burning kiva fireplaces, and most rooms have deep soaking tubs. The Inn at Five Graces, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts partner, is located downtown, just steps away from an abundance of award-winning restaurants, art galleries, and Pueblo architecture.

The Inns of Aurora is not one charming property but five, situated on the banks of stunning Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of central New York. Each house, like sisters in a big-hearted family, has its own unique character: Federal-style Aurora Inn is the prim and proper one, delicately curated Zabriskie House is the newest member of the family, the Rowland House is decorated in a more eclectic, artsy style, and Wallcourt Hall, a former girls’ dormitory, borrows cues from the rest. Luxurious details are ubiquitous, from Frette linens to owner (and American Girl Doll founder) Pleasant Rowland’s private art collection on display. Their in-house restaurant, 1833 Kitchen & Bar, has veranda seating in the summer and a great selection of Finger Lakes wines to choose from.

No discussion of charming inns would be complete without a nod to Patrick O’Connell’s Virginia gem, just an hour’s drive from our nation’s capital. In 1978, O’Connell opened a country hotel in “Little” Washington, Virginia (population then: 158), as a love song to the culinary arts. Antique oil paintings of famous gastronomes bedeck the walls, and each of the inn’s 23 accommodations (a mix of rooms, suites, and stand-alone cottages), are named for American culinary pioneers. O’Connell soon established a reputation for impeccable service and witty cuisine; today, the inn’s restaurant offers a $315 per person tasting menu. Meanwhile, London set designer Joyce Evans turned heads with her approach to interior design. The inn’s dark blue exterior feels distinctly New England; step inside and it’s suddenly olde, with a surplus of baroque tapestries and English antiques. Almost four decades after he opened The Inn at Little Washington, O’Connell continues to delight and surprise. In a note to guests, he writes, “It’s felt like we’ve been hosting one continuous house party.” 

In 2008, Little St. Simons Island celebrated 100 years of “leaving well enough alone.” That is to say, the 11,000-acre island with seven miles of deserted beaches is nearly exactly as it was when Eagle Pencil Company owner Philip Berolzheimer purchased it in 1908. Berolzheimer originally intended to make pencils out of the island’s many red cedars, but soon decided it would be better if they stayed put in the atmospheric wilderness retreat. In 1979, his descendants chose to open the island for other travelers, allowing 32 guests to stay on the island at a time. Due to its intimate size and secluded nature, this property is an easy fit for buyouts (family reunion, anyone?) and begs for repeat visitors. The proprietors planted an organic garden on site in 2006 to stock the lodge’s kitchen. Trained naturalists lead kayaking, fishing, hiking, and birding excursions for guests of this all-inclusive small-scale resort. 

Situated at 5,000 feet, just outside Asheville, The Swag has the distinction of being the highest inn in Eastern America. The Appalachian vista justifies the trip. The Swag offers panoramic views of four mountain ranges: the Great Smokies, the Plott Balsams, the Richland Balsams, and the Black Mountains. It also shares a split-rail fence with Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This idyllic property is named for the dip between the two mountain crests on which it sits, but it could just as easily be named for its little extras. There are rustic touches aplenty at this all-inclusive mountain inn—wood-burning fireplaces, buildings made of hand-hewn logs, handmade quilts, and rocking chairs. 

Social grace runs through the bones of this historic, 19th-century Martha’s Vineyard inn, located in Edgartown, once a private home-cum-boarding-house-cum-inn that welcomed American royalty (including JFK) under its roof. Although the 17-room Hob Knob Hotel changed hands and received a minor refresh in 2015, management has kept more than just the name and rich heritage intact: Frosty pitchers of lemonade can still be enjoyed on the wraparound porch, and afternoon tea, with fresh scones and local preserves, shouldn’t be missed. After an organic full farm breakfast, grab a beach cruiser and explore the island’s bike paths or arrange for a jaunt on the 27-foot namesake whaler. If you happen to catch a fish, the kitchen will be happy to grill it. 

The inn at SingleThread Farms takes its inspiration from Japanese ryokans and the concept of omotenashi, a sense of selflessness and attention to detail that defines Japanese hospitality. Rooms are modern, sparse in their design but luxe in their amenities: heated floors, soaking tubs, Pliny the Elder beer in the fridge. And an English, Sonoma, or Japanese breakfast is included. The restaurant, worth a trip in and of itself, customizes its seasonal, Japanese-influenced nightly menus to each guest. A farm 10 minutes away determines much of what will be offered each night; guest winemakers make custom wine on the property to be had by the glass. No request is too small—owners Kyle and Katina Connaughton take great pride in making guests feel like they’re being welcomed into an extension of the couple’s home. 

Situated in California’s Russian River Valley just a stone’s throw from more than 400 wineries, Farmhouse Inn is a can’t-miss retreat for wine lovers. Its 25 rooms and suites are decorated in a rustic-chic style (sliding barn doors, exposed beams, painted wood), many of them featuring two-sided fireplaces or outdoor terraces. A small army of staff—six concierges and four bellmen—is there to attend to guests’ every need, and the Michelin-starred restaurant serves the best of what Sonoma’s farms have to offer.

Twin Farms, Vermont’s best-known luxury escape, is a cozy all-inclusive inn with 10 freestanding cottages and luxurious suites, many of which include fireplaces, woodburning stoves, and/or giant soaking tubs. Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners customized to each guest, plus a nightly cocktail hour, are included in the stay, and the staff works hard to make sure guests have everything they need—from fly fishing or skiing equipment to morning yoga or a spa treatment with Tata Harper products.

Offering all the character of a storied New England inn, Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts partner, has a Cape Cod-reminiscent facade framed by the inn’s Shakespeare Garden. On 58 acres of manicured woodlands just two hours from NYC, Mayflower offers entertainment to suit any interest, from hiking to cocktail-making classes to poetry yoga in the Shakespeare Garden. Their pièce de résistance is, of course, the spa, which features pools, hot tubs, massages, facials, and the most idyllic floor-to-ceiling windows you’ve ever seen.
 

If it’s not an escape without ocean breezes and tropical temperatures, then Holualoa Inn, on Hawaii’s big island, might be your dream spot. Its accommodations (including six rooms and suites, one cottage, and one newly renovated stand-alone barn) are situated on a lush 30-acre property on Mount Hualalai amidst Kona coffee and fruit trees. The resort prides itself on the individual attention afforded to guests: staff is happy to set you up with a helicopter ride over coffee country and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a snorkeling outing, or a star-watching adventure during your stay. If you’re looking for a more restorative experience, relax by the pool, soak in the hot tub, or enjoy a massage or private yoga classes.

A Maryland retreat perfect for the D.C. crowd looking for a driving-distance escape, Inn at Perry Cabin, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts partner, boasts 19th-century charm set along the Miles River. Golfers will delight in their 18-hole course in full view of the Chesapeake, while those interested in a more pampered retreat can languish in one of the Spa at Perry Cabin’s seven treatment rooms. Book a waterview suite at Inn at Perry Cabin—it’s cozily appointed with a fireplace, a terrace overlooking the river, and a large soaking tub.

Perched on  the bluffs of Big Sur overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Post Ranch Inn, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts partner, has 39 guest rooms for a luxurious and highly personalized inn experience. Among those personalized touches are private yoga and meditation sessions or guided hikes, all meant to ground guests while exposing them to Big Sur’s exquisite natural beauty. As for accommodations at this gorgeous inn by the Pacific Ocean, guests can choose from mountain view or ocean view suites, or book one of their two private houses.

Magnolia Springs is the most luxurious bed and breakfast in Alabama, just nine miles from Orange Beach on the Gulf Shores. Nestled within Alabama’s coastal enclave, this magnificent house was built in 1897 and has been designated an Alabama State Landmark. It was lovingly restored in 1997 to open as an inn, so that visitors near and far could experience this slice of history firsthand. When booking a few nights at this five-room inn, reserve the Harding Suite, an open-concept two-room suite on the second floor.