8. The Inn at Little Washington in Virginia
Sometimes, true luxury comes not from grandeur, but from intimacy and care. Tucked at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this charming inn is proof that indulgence lies in the details. I wasn’t the least bit surprised to learn that Patrick O’Connell—self-taught chef and visionary—converted a former garage into what would become Virginia’s only three-star Michelin restaurant back in 1978. With its playful décor and cozy, storybook setting, the inn feels like a well-kept secret—one so special, you almost hesitate to tell anyone else about it.