Williamsburg Inn

Character and identity

Opened in 1937 by John D. Rockefeller Jr. as Colonial Williamsburg was being restored, the Inn sits across from the Revolutionary City but breaks from the colonial vernacular: this is Regency-style architecture, with columns, iron railings and a portico entrance, conceived as a country residence rather than a hotel. The lobby unfolds as a sprawling living room of sitting areas, Audubon prints and Rockefeller-donated urns. Sixty-two suites in custard and pale blue carry damask Queen Anne sofas and carved wooden tables. Dining runs from the fine-dining Rockefeller Room to the Terrace Room, Social Terrace and Goodwin Room, with a 20,000-square-foot spa and the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club at the back terrace.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets this place apart is the combination of Rockefeller-funded historical authenticity and staff who, despite the "highfalutin' garb", keep things genuinely warm. Book it if you're doing Colonial Williamsburg properly and want the preferred-access perks; families should request a larger post-2001 suite, and golfers should pair the stay with a Golden Horseshoe tee time.