19th century romantic hotels
Few Victorian hotels have retained their romance and beauty while inspiring admiration like California’s Del Coronado Hotel, Michigan’s Mackinac Island Grand, and Georgia’s Jekyll Island Club Hotel—each relatively similar, each unique.
Located on the western edge of San Diego Bay, Del Coronado is a Coronado Island landmark whose enchanting grounds cover more than 30 acres of beautiful oceanfront property. And, starting this month, look out for a giant gold ribbon tied around the hotel’s signature red tower to celebrate its 125th anniversary.
Built in 1888, the hotel is a Victorian-era castle. When built, Del Coronado was the largest building in the United States outside of New York City to be electrically lit. Thomas Edison himself arrived to take charge of the presentation of his creation of incandescent lamps.
Called “The Del” by locals, the hotel has a rich history and is home to presidents, princes and Hollywood legends. Author L. Frank Baum called “The Del” home while he was writing “The Wizard of Oz,” basing his Emerald City designs on the hotel.
The Hotel Del Coronado is often used as a backdrop for film and television productions. Although the movie was shot on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, many who have read the book say that “The Del” was the inspiration for the classic romance film.Somewhere in time” starring christopher reeve and jane seymour,.
Mackinac Island is branded “America’s Summer Spot,” but it’s the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, built in 1887, that really lives up to “Grand.” If Del Coronado is a Victorian-era castle, the Grand Hotel is a Victorian-era palace. Construction took just four months and has withstood the seasons for more than 125 years.
The 385-room Grand is entitled to the world’s longest terrace. At 660 feet long, the porch runs the full length of the building and during the summer pre-dinner cocktails are served on the porch. In fact, this hotel is great in every way. Even its location, high above the rest of Mackinac Island, offers a great view.
Arriving on Mackinac Island by ferry, visitors find themselves in a different time and place. Because motorized vehicles are prohibited, horse-drawn carriages await passengers as they disembark. The clip clop of the horses predominates. Like the Del Coronado, the Grand Hotel has also been visited by world-renowned presidents and artists.
The hotel received movie fame when the 1980 movie “Somewhere in Time” was shot here. Thought about the movie Christopher Reeve arrived at the wheel of a sports car, this thanks to the Hollywood script. “Somewhere in Time” is considered by many to be a romantic cult classic.
Unlike Mackinac Island, motorized vehicles are allowed on Jekyll Island, but the island abounds with unspoiled natural wonders including beautiful oak trees draped in Spanish moss.
While the Victorian-style club hotel, built in 1888, offers plenty of charm, exploring the outdoors offers the delight of the beach and maritime forest. The island’s beaches and forest are protected from widespread expansion by the state of Georgia.
Jekyll Island was first developed in the late 1800s by America’s top millionaires who wanted a place of their own for winter seclusion. During World War II, the island was closed by the Federal Government for security reasons. After the War, the descendants of the first millionaire families were no longer interested in returning.
In recent times, the club has been restored to its previous style, showcasing glass windows with LED art and ornate woodwork. Not a palace, not a castle, it is the beautiful tower that is famous here. Victorian appeal dominates the public areas of the Jekyll Island Hotel Club, a place once reserved for only America’s wealthiest.
Don’t let any of these 19th century hotels give the impression that they are dated. The leisurely pace of the past meets the conveniences of the present to make a visit to any of these hotels a memorable one, whether staying overnight or simply dining, visitors are guaranteed exceptional accommodations. For the most romantic, staying in one of these hotels is like living a fairy tale.