What: The historic Pfister Hotel combines Victorian charm with modern-day luxury. The Milwaukee hotel’s original nine-story building and attached newer tower make up the property, which houses WELL Spa + Salon. The contemporary cocktail lounge, Blu, delivers potent drinks such as the Blu Heat martini and raspberry ginger mojito along with views of Lake Michigan.

Where: With a location three blocks from Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee, The Pfister Hotel is an Old World sanctuary in the bustle of Wisconsin’s largest city. Nearby you’ll find the Milwaukee Art Museum, galleries and shopping in the Third Ward, and the site of the popular Summerfest music festival, as well as the Frontier Airlines Convention Center.

When: The Pfister Hotel has been a Milwaukee tradition since its opening in 1893. The 23-story tower of guest rooms was added in 1963, and a 2008 renovation of the original building made the rooms feel contemporary while preserving the traditional crown moldings and large windows.

Why:

You might be surprised to find a hotel that combines history and cutting-edge technology in Milwaukee, but The Pfister has both.

Guests can browse the hotel’s extensive private collection of Victorian art that goes along with the building’s preserved turn-of-the-century design. But you won’t miss modern amenities—rooms and public areas have Wi-Fi, guest rooms come with 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and iPads are available to use in the café. In Well Spa, a communal locker room is traded for personal spa suites, where everything from the lighting to the music can be customized. The hotel’s pool is rare in Milwaukee, but the stunning views of the skyline from the lounge chairs are even rarer.