The Roaming BoomersHistoric Hotels of America on our Boomer Bucket List
Growing up in Michigan, I’ll never forget the irrepressible sense of awe when I first set my eyes upon Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel.
The island is only approachable by ferry, no cars are allowed on the island, and the sound of horses clip-clopping around the paved streets is easily recalled in my memory. Â But the jewel in the crown of the magnificent island is most certainly the Grand Hotel.
Opened in 1887, the Grand Hotel features the world’s longest front porch and has hosted a seemingly infinite list of the world’s dignitaries, rich, and famous.
But to top it all off, in 1980, the film Somewhere In Time was filmed at the Grand Hotel, starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer, and the magic and allure of this place was forever etched into my soul.
When I left home for college, and started to do a bit of traveling, I quickly learned that there were other hotels that also possessed this same magical allure, but offered it in very different flavors.
Wham! Â I’m hooked on historic hotels!
A few years ago, we learned of an organization called the Historic Hotels of America®.  A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation®, Historic Hotels of America® identifies quality hotels that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture and ambiance. Historic Hotels of America preserves the authenticity of America’s most prominent lodging addresses and offer visitors a remarkable travel experience to savor, celebrate and share. Member hotels are promoted nationally and internationally to those who prefer historic settings for their leisure and business travel.
Sweet! Â There’s over 600 hotels on this list for us to explore!
In no particular order, here are 10 historic hotels on our bucket list:
10 Historic Hotels of America on The Roaming Boomers® Bucket List
- The Broadmoor – Colorado Springs, Colorado
- The Plaza – New York, New York
- The Greenbriar– White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
- The Queen Mary – Los Angeles, California
- The Awahnee – Yosemite National Park
- Jekyll Island Club Hotel -Â Â Jekyll Island, Georgia
- Omni Mount Washington Resort – Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
- Oheka Castle – Huntington, New York
- The Grove Park Inn and Spa – Asheville, North Carolina
- The Buccaneer – St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Honestly, this list doesn’t begin to touch the historic hotels and resorts we’d love to visit. Â However, it a great place to start.
How about you? Â Do you have a favorite historic hotel? Â Is there a historic hotel you’d love to visit?
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Thanks for listing some historic hotels in which is very helpful and informative as well. I would love to visit those places soon.
I’m the owner of a 17 room/suite historic inn in Coronado, CA, the 1906 Lodge at Coronado Beach. We cater to fellow boomers with a calm and elegant property. While I adore several of the historic hotels on your list, there are many smaller properties such as mine where personalized service and no crowds make for a more relaxing getaway.
I might also note that the amount of work required to be included on the National Register is considerable, and you need to hire a qualified consultant or attorney, something that many small business owners cannot afford. I encourage folks to search online for historic properties and then go to the large review sites for a well rounded perspective of the guest experience.
Sue,
Thanks for raising your hand and making us aware of your property. We went to your website, https://www.1906lodge.com/, and it looks stunning!
We’ve been small business owners for decades and completely understand your sentiment.
We love Coronado. Who knows, we’re due for another trip to your neck of the woods, perhaps we can make a visit. Until then, I hope a good many people find this link and check out your beautiful property.
Thanks again for the comment and we look forward to interacting with you for years to come. 🙂
Folks from Arizona seem to love Coronado and we love hosting them! Come see us in June before the midsummer crowds. The beach is as beautiful as ever and we’ve got several new restaurants in town to enjoy. Free Sunday Concerts in the Park start May 27th.
We’re headed to Sedona in July. Any travel tips for us?
Sue,
There’s no way we could get your way before perhaps the fall. We’ve done a LOT in Sedona. Here’s a link: https://theroamingboomers.mystagingwebsite.com/tag/sedona/
The Wentworth Inn in Jackson, NH,is a beautiful old hotel in a perfect New England, White Mountain setting.
Hi Judy,
We’re not familiar with that one, but we’ll check it out. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your favorite historic hotel. :yes:
You should visit the Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada: https://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/
I would add The Hotel Del Coronado, it is amazing and has such an interesting history too.
Marcia,
We agree about the Hotel del Coronado. The only reason it wasn’t on our list is that we’ve been there several times. 🙂