Austin Street Retreat, Fredericksburg, Texas

Tucked only a block from Main Street and minutes from Fredericksburg's shopping district, this B&B is actually a compound of five historic homes. Owned by a Chicago couple and managed by a local reservation service, these stylish retreats have created a new standard for area properties. The luxurious whirlpool tub for two found in each structure is your tip-off that hedonistic luxuries are emphasized here.

From the outside, you might wonder how Annie's Cabin could be one of the top guest houses in Fredericksburg, requiring reservations months in advance. The answer comes as soon as you walk in the room: over-the-top decadence, handcrafted for honeymooners. With smoky-rose-colored walls in the bedroom, the cabin is dominated by a king-size bed made from a fence reconfigured by a craftsman Cupid to resemble hearts and arrows; it's covered with a thick layer of linens, a tapestry duvet, and a sumptuous pile of pillows.

In Kristen's Cabin, a king-size iron bed overlooks a fireplace in the front bedroom. An Italian tapestry sofa and chair complete the look, and a painting of the owner's grandmother in her wedding dress lends a romantic air. Connected to the bedroom by a Saltillo-tiled hallway is the bath, its focal point a whirlpool on a limestone pedestal. The bars on the windows are there because the room served as a cell in 1885 when the town jail burned. Outside, a private flagstone courtyard with a three-tiered fountain offers a quiet, private retreat.

Eli's Cabin is less frilly, starting with the cast iron mantle saved from a Philadelphia mansion. A pencil-post bed, Mexican tin mirror, and a staghorn chandelier add a Southwestern touch. This cabin also has a private courtyard with a double hammock.

The oldest structure of the five is Maria's Cabin, a log cabin built in 1867. Its two bedrooms preserve its historic flavor with plank floors, twig furniture, chinked log walls, and historic paintings, but pamper visitors with extras the pioneers never enjoyed: two queen-size beds with down comforters and a whirlpool bath.

But none of the other getaways shares the aged elegance of El Jefe (The Boss). Decorated in 1900s Southwestern style, this two-story cottage has beamed ceilings and appointments that range from frayed sombreros to well-worn leather chairs to antique suitcases. Upstairs, the whirlpool bath overlooks the complex through French doors.

Location: 231 W. Main St., Fredericksburg

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