Victorian Bed and Breakfast on Historic Town Square

Presiding over Courthouse Square in historical downtown Washington, The Fitzpatrick Hotel transports lodgers to the stately elegance of small-town Georgia life at the turn of the 20th century. Originally constructed in 1899 and restored in 2004, the Victorian-style bed-and-breakfast faces the street with a rose and terra cotta exterior accented by stained-glass windows, wrought-iron balconies, and delicate scroll moldings. Inside, a warm, honey palette graces the long, narrow entrance hall, where antique velvet sofas and ornate wooden arches hark back to fin de siècle glories.

The three-story hotel’s 17 suites lend themselves to intimate and relaxing overnight stays as well as high-octane games of hide-and-seek. Quaint linens swath beds in Deluxe Standard rooms, and solid Victorian furnishings keep vigilant watch over the chambers. Private bathrooms—some with antique, clawfoot tubs—augment modern amenities such as wireless Internet service and satellite TV. A complimentary continental breakfast imparts a sense of southern hospitality. For $20, customers can upgrade to a Deluxe Front, while $30 upgrades customers to a Deluxe Tower room, and $50 upgrades guests to a suite.

Washington, Georgia: A Civil War City with Small-Town Charm

Nestled among Washington’s stately Victorian and colonial homes trimming narrow, tree-lined streets, The Fitzpatrick Hotel situates itself in the center of a town rich in American history. Located roughly 50 miles from larger cities such as Athens and Augusta, this intimate, antebellum community nurtures a small-town charm amid a dramatic backdrop of historical attractions.

The Callaway Plantation, located 6.5 miles west of the hotel, is a restored and fully furnished complex maintaining many of its original 1785 assets. The grounds now operate as a living museum designed to depict life as it was lived in the South through several familial generations from the late 18th century to the early 1900s. Homes, barns, outbuildings, and a cemetery dot the compound’s 56 acres, which abut a 3,000-acre cotton plantation. The focal point of the estate remains the virtually unaltered Great Manor house, a Greek Revival–style mansion furnished with period furniture, 150-year-old doors, and a self-contained brick kitchen. A hewn log cabin is the oldest building on The Callaway Plantation and contains original domestic and agricultural tools, primitive furniture, and a large fireplace.

A leisurely 10-minute stroll from The Fitzpatrick past casual eateries and a Presbyterian church brings travelers to Robert Toombs House, once home to one of Washington's most powerful and notorious characters. As a state legislator, U.S. congressman, and senator in the late 1830s through 1860s, Toombs, an ardent secessionist, helped drive Georgia out of the Union on the eve of the Civil War. Visitors can tour Toombs’s two-story colonial home and sprawling grounds after viewing a short film recounting the life and turbulent times of its former owner.