The Jack Warner at NorthRiver

Eleven miles north of Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, the Jack Warner at NorthRiver is a boutique hotel set in a wooded lot just inland from Lake Tuscaloosa. Each of the property's 55 rooms, spread across three floors, features different antique decor, and standard rooms come with coffee makers, flat-screen TVs with cable and walk-in showers. Some suites have microwaves and minifridges, Jacuzzis or balconies. While most travelers loved the charming atmosphere and friendly staff, a few recent guests warned that the walls are thin and the guest rooms – especially the pillows and mattresses – could use an update. Outside the rooms, the property showcases the collected art of Jack Warner, the hotel's namesake and founder of the area's development. The resort offers a complimentary daily continental breakfast (served in an authentic wood paneled apothecary originally built in the 1850s), a tea room, a single-computer business center and a small fitness center. Though the hotel itself has limited amenities, the neighboring NorthRiver Yacht Club boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool, fitness center, 18-hole golf course and a restaurant, which guests can enjoy if they purchase a package.