Venerable Southern Inn in Savannah's Historic District

Spanish moss hangs from the trees shadowing the cobblestone streets in Savannah's historic district. Here, 18th- and 19th-century buildings share space with quiet parkland and old cemeteries filled with crumbling marble cherubs and darkened headstones. Built in 1876, Dresser Palmer House stands on a street lined with old-fashioned townhouses. A wide wooden porch with light-green arches wraps around the front of the double-gallery mansion exuding southern charm.

Tucked away in rooms with names such as the Flannery O'Connor, Conrad Aiken, Wisteria, and Confederate Jasmine, you'll find yourself surrounded by antique furnishings. All rooms are different—some feature exposed brick walls, others fireplaces and claw-foot bathtubs, but they all have modern, private bathrooms and an elegant ambiance. In the Flannery O'Connor room, light pours in from the windows onto finely carved wooden furniture and romantic floral prints. An impressive four-poster bed anchors the Conrad Aiken room, and a brick wall lies behind the beds in the Confederate Jasmine room.

At Dresser Palmer's friendly evening socials, staff members serve a complimentary glass of wine and light hors d'oeuvres. In the morning, you won’t be able to resist the lavish breakfast in the Victorian dining room, which has included items such as pear, pecan, and sausage quiche as well as peaches-and-cream french toast. Outside, a stroll along red brick paths winds past wisteria bushes, trickling fountains, and a statue memorializing Jimmy Carter's favorite peanut.

Savannah, Georgia: Cobblestone Streets and Well-Preserved Historical Mansions

Founded in 1733 as Georgia's first city, Savannah retains much of its original layout, including its 22 famous public squares, or trustee lots, many of which contain a historical landmark or two. The outline of Savannah's remarkably well-preserved historic district conforms to the city's boundaries before the Civil War. In addition to its multitude of antebellum homes and Regency-style mansions, the district has been declared the most haunted area in America by the American Institute of Parapsychology. Guided ghost tours of the city's spookiest spots, such as the allegedly haunted Colonial Park Cemetery, provide chills along with a chance to delve into Savannah's rich and colorful history.

A few blocks from Dresser Palmer are the green landscapes, wide boulevards, and ornate fountain of 30-acre Forsyth Park, the city’s oldest park. After a visit to the Parisian-inspired park, you can head to bustling City Market, where four blocks of warehouses have been converted into quaint shops, restaurants, and boutiques.

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