As travelers begin thinking about summer getaways and the country prepares for America’s 250th, historic hotels offer a meaningful way to experience a destination beyond the typical beach weekend, golf trip, or city escape. These properties invite guests to stay somewhere with a story, where original architecture, preserved gathering spaces, and layered local history add depth to the trip.
Saint John’s Resort | Plymouth, Michigan
Set on the former grounds of a 1940s Catholic seminary just outside Detroit, Saint John’s Resort blends golf, dining, wine, and history in a setting filled with architectural character. Original stained glass, vaulted ceilings, cloistered courtyards, and a former crypt turned candlelit wine grotto give the property a distinct sense of place. Today, travelers can pair a round on The Cardinal, the resort’s championship golf course, with a stay rooted in Michigan history.
The Guesthouses at Southernmost Beach Resort | Key West, Florida
Located in the heart of Old Town Key West, The Guesthouses at Southernmost Beach Resort offer a more intimate way to experience one of Florida’s most storied destinations. The Avalon Guesthouse dates back to 1885 and has lived many lives, including serving as an early island hospital, a boys’ schoolhouse, and a military stronghold during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Guests can spend the day exploring Duval Street, the Southernmost Point, and the island’s literary and maritime history, then return to a stay just as colorful and memorable as Key West.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club | Cape Cod, Massachusetts
On Cape Cod, The Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club brings history into the classic New England summer getaway. Once the Nickerson family’s late-1800s summer home, the Historic Hotels of America property gives travelers a deeper story behind the stay with a guest lecture series, specialty letter writing stations, historic cocktails, and much more for this milestone. Guests can still explore the Cape Cod Rail Trail, beach days, golf, and relaxed coastal dining, all anchored by a mansion with deep ties to the region’s Gilded Age past.
