NOTTOWAY RESORT

John Hampden Randolph built this house in 1859 after amassing a considerable fortune growing and trading cotton in the northern United States. Built in ten years by Henry Howard, one of New Orleans' greatest architects, the house was able to meet the needs of a sugarcane plantation of more than 2,000 acres. Randolph, a resolutely modern man, even had a small power plant installed that allowed the entire house to be lit with gas lamps and to have hot water at the tap. This man of progress was also a man of love, and the frieze of magnolias in plaster lace decorating the cornice of the ballroom ceiling is a delicate attention to the mistress of the house whose favorite flower it was. Randolph, who had eleven children including eight daughters to marry, had thought big and luxurious and this ballroom impressed potential suitors. All of the rooms are connected by a system of bells with different tones, corresponding to an intricate code for regulating life on the plantation. Although Nottoway is very touristy, you will not be disappointed by the visit. And while you're there, take the opportunity to discover its restaurant, The Mansion, which offers fine Creole-inspired cuisine and a well-stocked wine cellar. Accommodation is also available on the property (about 15 rooms and suites), a member of the Historic Hotels of America network.