Things to do / Travel Guide
If you're planning a visit to Georgia and South Carolina be prepared to be shocked by Atlanta. This is no longer the Atlanta of "Gone with the Wind," but the New York of the South. You could spend an entire vacation just floating from one five-star hotel to another. The city also includes quite a number of upscale neighborhoods where you'll find fine dining and shopping.
The fun doesn't stop outside Atlanta's city limits. Georgia is home to the famed Golden Isles; Savannah is a truly great Southern city, with lots in the line of luxury; Charleston is often called the Paris of the South, and for good reason; and Hilton Head, last but not least, needs no introduction.
Luxury in Atlanta
While you could spend a vacation hotel hopping, two that really stand out for their luxuriousness are the Four Seasons Hotel, and the Intercontinental Buckhead. Whether you're there for relaxation and touring or on a business trip, you can bet on having a good time at either of these places. Both, for starters, are excellently situated. The Four Seasons is right off Peachtree Street, which boasts many of Atlanta's elder buildings, and is one of the city's most important centers of commerce. The Intercontinental is in Buckhead, surrounded by upscale neighborhoods and more business centers. An added perk of Buckhead for visitors, is its proximity to great nightlife and shopping options.
The Four Seasons is the ultimate in luxury and service in Atlanta. The décor is in excellent taste; an updated version of the classic grand hotel. Great columns and a European-styled interior greet you in the lobby, and every room is done out in dark, calming colors. The highlight of your stay might be the spa; a very calming experience.
Dining is no problem for the pampered crowd at the Four Seasons, who can boast Park 75 as its flagship eatery. At this classically-adorned restaurant, you'll feast on hot seared Hudson Valley foie gras, goat cheese and herb ravioli, grilled pompano filets, and more. The extensive wine list consists primarily of American favorites. For dessert, ask for the peanut brittle, which is second to none, or any of the house sorbets.
During your stay in Atlanta, there's a good chance that at some point you'll make it over to Buckhead for shopping or dining or what have you. The Intercontinental Buckhead is the best in this area to lay your head, with an opulent lobby, fine rooms and suites, and classy service. For dinner, the Chops and Lobster Bar can't be beat for the best in seafood.
Just outside Buckhead, to the north, is the acclaimed Bacchanalia. Factoring in taste, portion size, ambiance, and service, this just may be the best restaurant south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Its situation in a warehouse might confuse people, but if you're familiar with the Meatpacking District in New York, or West Fulton Market in Chicago, you'll understand. If you want creative, envelope-pushing food, this is the place for you. Make sure to try the lightly-roasted guld red snapper, the kobe beef short ribs with spoon bread (a Southern favorite), braised collard greens (another Southern favorite), or the venison carpaccio (just plain good).
Luxury on the Golden Isles
Do you want to get out of the big city and enjoy a resort experience of larger than life proportions? It depends what you're looking for, of course, but if having your own butler, and feeling as though you have the whole country club to yourself, then you should probably check into The Lodge at Sea Island. Reside in what could be an English manor, breakfast on apple-smoked bacon or malted Belgian waffles, spend your day on the Seaside or the Plantation golf courses – the best on the island, and finish up your day lounging around with a cigar or in a deep-soak bath.
When evening comes, it's off to dinner. The dining on the island is heaven. Would you like oak brined scallops or oak-brined pheasant; roasted chestnut agnolotti (for starters) and a coconut ride pudding (for enders)? You might decide to check out the acclaimed Colt and Alison, a steak restaurant, where you can get a filet mignon au poivre, of ten ounces, prepared tableside as you watch.
Luxury in Charleston
All you need to know is the following: stay at the French Quarter Inn, and dine at Robert's. Charleston is a nice-sized city, and isn't called the Paris of the South for nothing, but this advice will just make experiencing it in the lap of luxury that much easier. The French Quarter Inn is located in the center of the historic district; a window into age-old service and luxury. All complimentary, treat yourself at check in to champagne and lady fingers, in the afternoon to wine and cheese, in the evening to freshly-baked cookies, and in the morning to a gourmet continental breakfast.
True luxury always revolves around food, doesn't it? Food and ambiance. Robert, at his eponymous restaurant, not only supervises the kitchen, but also sings, every night, for his patrons. Listen to him belt out his Broadway tunes, admire the artwork he himself has created on the walls, and feast on such specialties as steamed grouper or roasted beef tenderloin.
Luxury on Hilton Head
Hilton Head has served as a national capital of luxury for more than 50 years. Stay at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort for the island's best in accommodations, spa services, and golf courses. How's this for unexpected luxury – you get your own Playstation in your room! Should you grow tired of golf…
Hilton Head is like one big golf course. Play with the masters at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, play through the recreated ruins of an old plantation at the Barefoot Resort and Golf Love Course, wave to the ships on the Intracoastal Waterway (just don't expect to get your ball back) on the Resort Course of the Grande Dunes Golf Club. These are just a few of the many courses available.
The whole region of Georgia and the South Carolina coast is a playground for those who expect a little pampering on their vacations. Atlanta figures highly, as an international city that boasts all the luxuries you should expect from one, while the Golden Isles is in a class unto itself. Savannah and Charleston are great Southern cities, with lots to offer the discerning traveler, and Hilton Head is geared to those who expect a lot of pampering on their vacations, making luxury a way of life. You worry about packing and preparing for your vacation in the region – let the butler worry about the rest once you get there.
Luxury Vacation Ideas in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, South Carolina, Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia
Luxury-Vacations
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