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Stratford Hall- Stratford, VA
Admittedly, Georgian mansions can be a bit too austere for me- a bit too much all brick business. However, that is not that case at Stratford Hall, which is both symmetrical and stylish, although a bit problematic with scale.
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Belle Grove- Middletown, VA
Built in 1794 from limestone quarried on the property, Belle Grove is one of the best preserved examples of Federal Style architecture in the United States. The manor incorporates several design features personally suggested by Thomas Jefferson, including the Palladian concepts of symmetry, proportion, balance, and use of columns.
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Inn at Vaucluse Spring- Stephens City, VA
The Inn at Vaucluse Spring is more of a compound than a hotel, consisting of 7 buildings scattered across an idyllic piece of land, with a crystal clear spring and mountain views. Rest assured, it's a Kennedy's on the Cape compound situation, rather than the Waco variety.
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Auberge Du Vieux-Port- Montreal, QC
Auberge Du Vieux-Port in Montreal is housed in two 19th Century warehouses along the river in Montreal. There apparently are very quaint rooms at the hotel, with original stone walls, but we did not get one. Although we did had a lovely view of the river, our room itself was underwhelming, and left us questioning our hotel decision, despite the cozy common areas and attached bar.
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St. Patrick’s Basilica- Montreal, QC
Montreal has no shortage of historic churches. St. Patrick's is a bit quieter than other top tourist destinations, but no less lovely. While Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours in Old Montreal was traditionally home to the French Speaking Catholics in the city, it became overwhelmed with the large influx of Irish immigrants around 1817. Although the Irish initially found refuge at the Church of the Recollets, as their numbers swelled, it became clear they needed their own church.
