Boutique Hotel in Colonial Lewes

Two elephants glare outward with unblinking eyes, standing on stout, locked knees. From dawn to dusk, they guard the lobby of Hotel Rodney with flared ears, flexed trunks, and sharp, ivory tusks. The hip-high creatures hail from Thailand, where a skilled woodworker whittled their frames from ancient trees. Upon close inspection, hundreds of concentric rings become visible on the animals, circling their concave backs. Much like the handsomely carved pachyderms, Hotel Rodney stands as stately relic of the past. Constructed in 1926, the hotel elevates its natural vintage character with trendy accents and global imports such as zebra-striped rugs and Scandinavian-style white couches.

In Executive and Deluxe rooms, refurbished antique dressers and nightstands preserve the building's historic character. Bathrooms with black marble tile, roomy showers, and wide mirrors provide ample space for hygienic routines, and extra-long double beds in Executive rooms offer spare space to stretch out legs and protean flippers. Deluxe rooms with queen beds are slightly larger than the Executive rooms, though both options overlook either 2nd Street or the rooftop garden. Patina sheen covers the original wooden floors of the hotel, which lead lodgers to the lobby's WiFi-equipped business center or on-site fitness room. At the 24-hour reception desk, guests can rent bicycles and pedal the steel stallions throughout Lewes's historic streets.

Lewes, Delaware: Colonial-Era Village on Scenic Delaware Bay

The quaint town of Lewes, Delaware was first settled by the Dutch in 1631 and embodies colonial America in its architecture, landscape, and attractions. The city plays host to Delaware's oldest standing building—a 17th-century home—as well as various restored 18th- and 19th-century residences. Located a few blocks from Hotel Rodney, Lewes Historical Society hosts walking and shuttle tours that meander around 13 preservation sites, including a one-room schoolhouse where children once practiced numbers on slates and passed notes on chunks of shale. Most tours take place in the summer and fall; travelers can also snag a detailed map from the chamber of commerce to embark on self-guided tours throughout the year.

One mile southwest of the hotel, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry sets sail from Cape Henlopen, embarking on a 17-mile excursion toward Cape May in lower New Jersey. During each 85-minute ride, passengers can take to the sun deck to spot historical lighthouses, dolphins, or seabirds. Back on land and 3 miles east of the hotel, a World War II observation tower rises in Cape Henlopen State Park. Hikers can summit the tower for panoramic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean coastline, or follow a 3-mile paved trail toward a historic military bunker that overlooks the water. About 3 miles west of the park, exhibits at the Zwaanendael Museum commemorate the area's Dutch, maritime, military, and social history.