Touring the U.S. needn"t mean rock-filled campgrounds and smelly motels. You can cover the country in style if you"ve a taste for comfort, a wallet to match, and Julie Fenster"s guide to 179 of America"s grand and historic hotels. Spread among 42 states, these hotels are in peak condition following decades of financial boom, a resurgence in appreciation for times past, and some careful restorations. But Fenster doesn"t classify just any old hotel "grand." A hotel needs to be more than merely historic, and it needn"t be expensive. What it does need is a touch of inspiration. Fenster explains that the era of the grand hotel came into being in 1827, offering the privacy of your room and the social options of lobbies and lounges. A grand hotel was someone"s brain child, and no expense was spared. By tracking down these relics of an earlier time, Fenster offers us a taste of history as well as a touch of lodging class. Just as a sumptuous buffet spread doesn"t mean you have to gobble everything in sight, so access to hundreds of fine hotels doesn"t necessitate a major road trip. You can sample The Mayfair in St. Louis, or The Driskill in Austin, as your fancy has it. From the Camden Harbor Inn of Camden, Maine (built in 1874 for steamship passengers) to San Diego"s Horton Grand (with more than a century of remarkable history under her belt), the country is full of hotels with individuality and character. Whether you"re off for a holiday or out on business, it"s always nice to have the option of grandeur. --Stephanie Gold