City: Williamsburg, VA

Category: Accommodations

Telephone: (757) 229-1775, (877) 565-1775

Address: 710 South Henry St.

Description: A five-minute walk from the Historic Area, the Newport House is a reproduction from a 1756 design by colonial architect Peter Harrison, whose buildings spanned the British empire from America to India and who was the architect of the Williamsburg Statehouse rebuilding in 1749. The building is furnished entirely with English and American period antiques and reproductions—even guests’ blankets are historically authentic. Each air-conditioned bedroom has a private bathroom and contains two four-poster canopy beds (an extra-long queen-size and a single). Breakfast is based on 18th-century recipes and includes Rhode Island johnnycakes, a 1650s bread, scuppernong jelly, baked goodies, and more. Pancakes and waffles are served with honey from the owners’ own beehive, and fresh berries and apples—when in season—come straight from the property’s garden. The morning meal is also usually accompanied by a historical lecture from host John Fitzhugh Millar. He is a former museum director and captain of a full-rigged ship, as well as author and publisher of many books of history. His wife, Cathy Millar, is a registered nurse whose hobbies include gardening, needlework, and making reproduction 18th-century clothing. On Tuesdays at 8 p.m., you may participate in colonial country dancing in the ballroom of the house. Beginners are welcome to join in or watch during these occasions. A harpsichord is available for guests’ enjoyment, and with a few days’ advance notice guests may rent colonial clothing either for their entire stay or for dinner at one of the colonial taverns. Newport House accepts no pets and is a nonsmoking house. With advance notice, it may be possible for your hosts to pick you up at Williamsburg’s train/bus station or at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. Although credit cards cannot be used for payment, they can be used to hold a reservation.