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Fairmont Banff Springs- Banff, AB
Some hotels are so fabulous, they are destinations in themselves. Unique properties with outstanding architecture and character, that you would happily travel to the ends of the earth to explore. Fairmont Banff Springs is one of these properties; fortunately, it is also located in one of the most beautiful parks on the planet, which provides even more incentive to book a stay. Banff Springs is a product of the golden age of railroad travel, one of several luxury hotels constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway across the Rocky and Selkirk Mountains to increase ridership numbers on western routes. Hopeful to draw European tourists to Canada, CPR’s general manager William Cornelius…
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Annapolis Architecture Gallery
Annapolis, Maryland is an impossibly quaint old city. Situated at the mouth of the Severn River, on the Chesapeake Bay, it is both the state capital and home of the United States Naval Academy. European settlement of the area dates back to 1649; centuries of organic growth has produced a wonderfully eclectic, somewhat haphazard collection of architectural styles. Compact and cobbled, the historic district is immensely photogenic. Visit in the spring or summer for the best experience, and be sure to get out on the water.
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Lyndhurst- Tarrytown, NY
Lyndhurst is an absolute architectural dream. Plucked straight out of the English countryside, it is without question one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States. Former home of universally detested Robber Baron Jay Gould, the estate offered a retreat for the already isolated tycoon. While he may have had no friends, he did have a ridiculous amount of money, which allowed him to purchase one of the finest houses in all the land, and fill it with beautiful objects. Originally built as a country villa in 1838 by renown architect Alexander Jackson Davis for former New York City mayor William Paulding, its Gothic Revival style…
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New Hope, PA
New Hope is so impossibly quaint, it pulls off being somewhat of a tourist trap. Despite crowding, parking problems, and overpriced antique shops, it still manages to charm. It’s a walkable town, with art galleries, craft breweries, and canalside restaurants. Full of interesting architecture, it is the type of town where you can see the past, and almost feel like you were there. Originally part of a King’s Grant given to William Penn, the area was first settled by non-natives around 1700. Given its prime location on the west bank of the Delaware River, 35 miles north of Philadelphia, it was soon home to several mills. In 1722, Old York…
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Rhinecliff Hotel- Rhinecliff, NY
If you love trains, you will love The Rhinecliff Hotel. If not, you should probably stay in Rhinebeck; but you would totally be missing out. Impossibly quaint and perched on the shores of the Hudson, all rooms have river views and balconies, allowing you to watch both trains and ships, which is fitting, as it was built to serve both ferry and rail passengers. Located just a few miles from Rhinebeck, the subdued Queen Anne style hotel was constructed in 1854 by architect George Veitch to serve the Rhinecliff-Kingston Ferry Terminal, as well as the Hudson River Railroad. It is a simple Victorian, with a gabled roof, and second story…
