This cheerful, colonial bed-and-breakfast in the Old City is as historic as a Philly overnight gets. After all, William Penn used to live next door (sadly, Penn's house has long since vanished, the lot now occupied by Welcome Park, a neat little plaza engraved with a massive map of Philadelphia's original street plan). 

The Federal-style house was built in 1769 by Thomas Bond, co-founder with Ben Franklin of Pennsylvania Hospital, the first public hospital in the country, where Dr. Bond practiced free of charge. A B&B since 1988, its dozen guest rooms are done in impeccable, authentic style with Chippendale period pieces, Oriental rugs, and pencil-post beds. 

Two rooms are suites with working fireplaces and sleeper-sofas in the sitting area: No. 201 (The Dr. Thomas Bond, Jr. room) with its canopy bed, and No. 301 (The Dr. Thomas Bond room), which can also be connected to the Sarah Venables room through an adjoining door.  In the interests of historic preservation, no pets, children younger than 10 or smoking are allowed.