Things to do / Travel Guide
Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland is a water-bound region, and in the many luxurious resorts and other lodgings you get a full dose of maritime excellence. With the salty sea air ever present, round the islands and peninsulas of the Chesapeake Bay in a white-sheened yacht; dock a few minutes from your resort oozing with Southern hospitality and offering the best of Southern cuisine. In this region you can live like gentry, and with the sea on one side and gentle farmland on the other, you deserve to be treated the lord and lady of the manor.
Luxurious Accommodation in Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland
Williamsburg, Virginia, is blessed with a good amount of options for the lover of luxury. Within and nearby this historic city there are upscale inns, hotels, and a fantastic resort. You'll forget that the primary reason people visit this city is for the history - for all the luxury and pampering there is to take in and experience.
A trip to Williamsburg warrants a stay at Williamsburg Inn or nearby Providence Hall. Your first impression of the inn will be dominated by the view upon reaching the premises: this white neoclassical offering, shaded by a forest of trees and graced by a lovely pond, is probably the closest many will ever get to the White House. It's affirmed as Williamsburg's crown jewel. The rooms and suites play to a classical theme, but they've been polished with a modern finish. The spa is deservedly award-winning, and outside you have a choice of on-premises golf and clay tennis courts. You've never played croquet? There's no better place to learn than here.
Another Williamsburg option is the Kingsmill Resort and Spa. This establishment is marked by excellence in nearly every category. The premises, the rooms, the service, the resort, and the spa facilities all shine, literally and figuratively. The rooms are so clean you'll have a hard time believing you aren't the first to ever sleep there. Best of all, you get access to Kingsmill Marina, where you can tie up your yacht for your stay at the resort or rent one as a fun daytime activity.
Richmond is another Southern city loaded with historical accommodation choices. A favorite for visitors, at the height of genteel fashion, is the Jefferson Hotel. Built in 1895, it stands out with its distinctive Arabesque clock tower, arched entrances, and central staircase reminiscent of “Gone with the Wind.” This is Richmond's pride and joy, and the staff will not only wait on you hand and foot, but also direct you to the best rooms, and tell you where to find the best food and the best entertainment in town.
Down on Cape Hatteras there are a number of resorts and high-class inns for you to feast over. One of the best is the Inn on Pamlico Sound, where service is impeccable. This is so much more than a bed and breakfast. To make the stay that much more special and luxurious, stay in nothing less than the premium sound-front kings, where rooms come with a balcony overlooking the sound, Jacuzzi, magnolia king-size bed, a comfy couch, and vaulted ceilings. The design and décor are distinctly Southern and maritime. The complimentary breakfasts come in three courses - fruit, muffin, and hot dish. The establishment's restaurant serves dinner, with home-style, high-quality entrées that are not to be missed. This being the Cape, there are plenty of boating opportunities to take advantage of, so that you can have a deluxe water-filled luxurious vacation.
Luxurious Dining in Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland
From Maryland to North Carolina and back again, you'll be overwhelmed by the fantastic and classy accommodations and excellent cuisine. It's all centered around a salty, maritime, yet Southern atmosphere - just perfect for the patron who loves high living.
Richmond boasts a proud Southern heritage, and this plays out in a strong gourmet cuisine and the flourishing of a number of high-quality restaurants. One of the best, on the premises of the Jefferson Hotel, is Lemaire, which practices the culinary art as an attempt to reproduce the fine cooking that America's third president appreciated. As such, the items on the menu are French with Southern accents - or Southern with French accents - with light wine sauces, fresh produce from the region's farms, and fresh herbs. Try such masterpieces as the red wine-braised bison short ribs prepared with fennel, cola sauce, and other spices.
If you're staying at the Jefferson, another Richmond specialty is the Sunday afternoon champagne brunch, where the chef prepares differently-themed foods every week. The brunch is particularly famous for its spoonbread.
The port city of Norfolk is another city boasting fine restaurants. Nationally-renowned is Clubsoda, a modern-cuisine offering at the center of the city's nascent nightlife scene. Expect seafood, meats, and poultry, all prepared in a variety of methods. Also come for the extensive wine list, while the cocktails are also fantastic.
On Maryland's coast you'll find some excellent restaurants in St. Michaels. Probably the best, with a special sea ambiance, is 208 Talbot, an American-style seafood and steakhouse. This is soul food made luxurious, with Continental influences alongside the Southern. Are you looking for excellent friend green tomatoes on your trip to this region south of the Mason-Dixon? Look no further. For the entrée try the sautéed calves liver served with Spanish onion jam, fingerling potatoes, and applewood bacon. The wine list specializes in the best California wines, among others.
Luxurious Activities in Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland
While in Richmond you might want to pepper your stay with evenings at some of the city's top cultural spots. There's the Byrd Theater, an opulent movie house with huge chandeliers, an organ, and relief wall designs; as well as Richmond's landmark theater, the Mosque, built at the height of 1920s lavishness, and replete with Saracen-noted beauty.
Luxury Vacation Ideas in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, North Carolina's Outer Banks
Luxury-Vacations
Colonial Williamsburg - Virginia
North Carolina's Outer Banks
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