THE PEDIGREE: Built in the Regency style by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife, Abby, who oversaw the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg, the inn was modeled after a Virginia country estate and opened to guests in 1937.

POSH PARTICULARS: During the building process, Rockefeller stated, "I shall not be happy … until I feel the most possible has been made of each room as regards comfort, convenience, and charm." Rest assured, the inn delivers. Beds in the 62 guest rooms feature Garnier Thiebaut linens, and Floris of London toiletries sit on porcelain trays in the marble baths. Fresh flowers are a nice touch. It rains one day during my stay, but the staff has thought of everything -- an umbrella hangs in the closet, just in case.

SPLENDID SPA: Though thoroughly modern, the spa's signature treatments are rooted in history. When designing the programs, the staff researched five centuries of wellness practices that reflect Colonial, African, and American Indian cultures. I opt for the 19th-century experience. The two-hour treatment starts with a tea bath steeped with lavender and sage, followed by a powder exfoliation. The gentle herbal powder made from lavender buds, rose petals, and essential oils gently smooths the skin.

I would have been happy stopping there, but then I am wrapped in tea-soaked linens and cocooned in a hot wrap. While I marinate, I enjoy a scalp massage, which is followed by an hour-long hot stone massage. Any one of these components is worth booking an appointment, but when you layer them together, it's an indulgence you won't soon forget.

The fitness rooms are equally impressive. Each cardio machine comes with its own television and earphones. The classes offered range from yoga to the Indian Clubs workout, where wielding weighted clubs that look like bowling pins promises sculpted arms and a good aerobic workout.