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Mountain Lake Lodge sits on a 2,600-acre nature preserve in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, offering a unique blend of historic charm and outdoor adventure. Known as the iconic filming location of Dirty Dancing, the Lodge features over 22 miles of private hiking trails, a relaxing spa, immersive nature center, and a creative art studio. Guests can enjoy curated activities like guided tours, archery tag, and wildlife encounters. Experience the stunning views and elevated mountain living that make Mountain Lake Lodge an elegant Appalachian getaway
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The tradition of Afternoon Tea at The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, has deep roots in the hotel’s historic role in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protected the right of women to vote. In 1920, with nearly all of the states evenly split over the pending ratification of the 19th Amendment, only North Carolina and Tennessee were undecided. That summer, The Hermitage Hotel was the epicenter of an embattled mix of suffragists and anti-suffragists, as well as legislators and lobbyists, in the weeks leading up to the vote on ratification. The complexity of this political moment was captured during teatime at The Hermitage Hotel: in August 1920, a large tea event was organized by the anti-suffrage campaigners on the mezzanine level. The anti-suffrage activists wore red roses. To show their opposing political stance, suffragists wore yellow roses. Today, the hotel organizes a Yellow Rose Tea in the iconic Grand Lobby and Veranda every August, paying tribute to the Women’s Suffrage Movement.
Chicago, Illinois
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In 1893, Bertha Honoré Palmer, wife of businessman Potter Palmer, directed the pastry chef at Palmer House®, A Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, to create a unique confection to be served at the World’s Columbian Exposition that year. A socialite and philanthropist, Palmer served as President of the Board of Lady Managers for the exposition. Upon receiving Palmer’s request, Joseph Sehl, the hotel’s pastry chef, invented the original chocolate brownie: a dense, glazed chocolate square, with a consistency somewhere between fudge and cake, topped with sugary walnuts. A few years later, the first reference to the “brownie” in the United States appeared in an 1898 Sears Roebuck Catalog that was published in Chicago. The original Palmer House Brownie recipe has existed for more than a century, and it remains one of the hotel’s—and the nation’s—most popular desserts.
John Rutledge House Inn (1763)
Charleston, South Carolina
| | She-Crab Soup appears on many restaurant menus in Charleston, South Carolina, but the very first bowl was served at the historic John Rutledge House Inn. In the 1920s, Charleston’s former mayor, Robert Goodwyn Rhett, resided at what is now the historic John Rutledge House Inn. The mayor was expecting a visit from former U.S. President William Howard Taft during his tour of Charleston. Wanting to do something special for President Taft, Mayor Rhett asked his butler to “dress up” his typical crab soup. His presidential variation featured orange crab eggs, giving the soup its signature bright orange color and delicious flavor. Thus, She-Crab Soup was born, with its continuing legacy as practically a rite of passage for all Charleston foodies. | | |
Exclusive Sneak Peek: Historic Hotels Worldwide Top 25 Culinary Heritage and Traditions List
Historic Hotels Worldwide® will announce The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide Culinary Heritage and Traditions list on September 24th. Discover & Explore readers get a sneak peek of two hotels being featured on this list featuring worldwide historic hotels known for their culinary heritage and preservation of culinary history.
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Boen Gård (1813)
Tveit, Norway
| Located on land once part of a royal estate and the favorite 16th-century fishing retreat of King Christian II of Denmark and Norway, Boen Gård has evolved from a successful 19th-century homestead to a pastoral retreat and beautiful manor. The historic hotel’s beloved culinary tradition is Norwegian Wild Salmon sourced from the nearby Tovdal River. While the salmon can be enjoyed in many ways at the hotel, it is the centerpiece of a special menu first served to King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway when he visited Boen Gård on July 21, 1891. Today's guests can enjoy a modern take on the historic menu, which includes salmon with sauce genevoise; sausages, truffle and smoked reindeer tongue; saddle of lamb with olives; lobster salad; and the same wine pairings that Oscar II enjoyed at his meal. The dinner is available year-round, but requires a booking made at least four weeks in advance and a minimum of four guests to enjoy it. | |  | |
Hotel Moskva (1908)
Belgrade, Serbia
| A celebrated landmark in downtown Belgrade, the Hotel Moskva is one of the most important historical gems in Serbia’s capital city. The Moskva Pastry Shop is where Belgrade’s favorite sweets have been made for decades. A must-have is the “Moskva Schnitt,” a refreshing fruit cake made with almonds, cherries, pineapple, and homemade cream. Created in 1974 by Pastry Chef Anica Dzepina and a Belgrade favorite for over four decades, the original recipe is still used today. In fact, Moskva's Pastry Shop makes upwards of 20 tons of Moskva Schnitt a year. In addition, the hotel boasts Restaurant Tchaikovsky, an elegant, modern restaurant with a renowned menu consisting of national and international cuisine. The superb culinary team prepares diverse gastronomic bravuras from perfect simple bites to show-stopping cooking performances. | | | This Month's Featured Nonprofit Partners | | Discover & Explore is a service mark of Historic Hotels of America. © Copyright 2025 Historic Hotels of America® and Historic Hotels Worldwide®. All rights reserved. | | | | |
