Sterling Inn & Spa

For decades newlyweds and romantics have flocked to Niagara Falls for memorable getaways. These days they are sequestering themselves behind the doors of the Sterling Inn & Spa, the only boutique hotel to grace this epic region. Built in 1928 and once the home to Bordens Dairy, it was eventually converted into a nightclub and restaurant during the 1980s, and is now part of the Preferred Boutique portfolio and part of the Preferred Hotel Group. Its transition into a hotel started in 2005 with original architectural elements, such as the exposed ceiling beams and three-story milk-bottle entrance, incorporated into the new design. The result is a hybrid hotel combining the best of a luxury resort with the intimacy of a fine inn. Rooms tend to be spacious and thoughtfully appointed with oversize beds, roaring fireplaces, wet bars, and ample-size bathrooms equipped with raining shower heads and body jets. Suites offer not one, but two rooms with sitting areas and plush bedrooms.