2 Best Hotels in Essex, Hartford and the Connecticut River Valley

A magnificent copper beech tree shades this 1890 inn, set on 7 acres of Connecticut River Valley woodlands. The venerable landmark has a sophisticated—even grand—appearance, with rooms and suites split between the main house and what was once a turn-of-the-20th-century carriage house. All guest rooms are dressed with fine fabrics and furnishings, as well as fireplaces, radiant-heat flooring, and whirlpool baths; some have soaring post-and-beam ceilings.

Two-plus centuries of catering to changing tastes at what's billed as one of America's oldest continuously operating inns has resulted in a kaleidoscope of decor—some Colonial, a bit of Federal, a little Victorian—with just as many modern touches as necessary to meet present-day expectations. Although many of the rooms in "the Gris," as it's affectionately known, feel a bit worn, the point here is more to soak up history than to feel pampered. Chefs at the restaurant prepare country-style American fare, and there's a Tap Room—built in 1738 as a schoolhouse—that's fun for after-dinner drinks.