Sponsored by Southern Hotel

Just a short drive down the road, a delightful weekend getaway awaits.

Covington is an accessible escape from major cities like New Orleans or Baton Rouge without the long commute required by further destinations. Locals here have been making the trek to charming Covington, Louisiana, to walk its streets, browse its shops and stay in the classically stylish Southern Hotel.

Originally constructed in 1907, Southern Hotel Covington is a family-owned boutique hotel nestled in the heart of downtown Covington. Back then, residents from New Orleans and surrounding areas traveled there by train to find respite in the healing Abita Springs waters and restore their health at the original Southern Hotel.

Over the years, the building’s purpose changed and eventually it was left vacant. After carefully bringing the luxurious hotel back life, its current owners reopened the property in 2014, 107 years after its first overnight guest.

“And with that, the Southern Hotel kind of sparked the renaissance of downtown Covington,” Danielle Papania, Director of Sales, says. “In the 12 years we’ve been open, we’ve watched our downtown area blossom and thrive.”

Southern Hotel Covington serves as a community hub known to locals as “Covington’s living room,” featuring regular live music and piano performances. The hotel serves as an anchor for the walkable town of Covington offering both visitors and locals comfort, communion, creativity and culture.

The Southern Hotel Covington features guest rooms and suites filled with light and airy charm, local art and modern comforts in a distinctively Southern style. Guests can also book elegant multi-room suites in the adjacent Garden House, appointed in the same graceful style as the rest of the Southern Hotel’s personality.

Southern Hotel Covington’s on-site amenities include the Gloriette dining room, the Cypress Bar craft cocktail bar, local art displays, a dip pool and an ethereal courtyard.

Danielle tells anyone thinking of making the trip, “There’s plenty to do without leaving the building, but we have such a great town, there’s also so much to do by just walking around.”

Her local suggestions are to take in the walkable town of Covington, enjoy its local culinary scene, bike down the Tammany Trace trails, or canoe your way along the Bogue Fayala River.

Beyond leisure guests, the Southern Hotel Covington offers meeting spaces suitable for small groups up to large corporate retreats. In addition to on-site weddings, Southern Hotel offers its Greenwood property, a four-acre venue featuring 100-year-old oak trees for larger celebrations.

This holiday season, Southern Hotel’s planned events include a family night before Thanksgiving. This event, complete with dinner and live music, gives visiting or local family time with each other instead of in the kitchen. Holiday teas and a New Year’s Eve party are also on the Southern Hotel’s calendar.

“So many people tell us their favorite thing about the hotel is, when they come here, time slows down,” Danielle says. “It really is like stepping back in time and just appreciating the simple things in life.”