One of the best ways to capture the flavor of a region is to stay in a historic hotel. In the 2004 directory of Historic Hotels of America, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, you can learn a bit about each of the 203 historically significant hotels, resorts, and inns.
In New England, those include the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, Vt., the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, and the Lenox in Boston. The Northeast has the highest number of locations in the guide, 41.
Each listing is accompanied by a photo, a description and history of the hotel, and rates and contact information. A foldout national map and state-by-state directory make travel planning easy.
As for credentials, the properties of the NTHHA must maintain their historic integrity, architecture, and ambience, and must be in a building that is at least 50 years old and either listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally for having historic significance.
Directory information at www.historichotels.org or, for a copy, send a check or money order for $4 to National Trust Historic Hotels of America, Box 320, Washington, DC 20055.
