We’ve all been asked to pick between the mountains and the beach. It’s an age-old question that is not only frustrating, but makes picking your next travel destination a lot harder than it needs to be. Well, we’ve got you covered. From hiking trails to waterfalls, North Carolina doesn’t make you choose – it has it all. Now we can help you with the easier part and give you a curated selection of boutique hotels that will make you want to keep coming back.
The Graylyn Estate (Winston-Salem)
| Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 85 • Airport: Smith-Reynolds Airport | Amenities: • Fitness center • Outdoor swimming pool • Room service • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
Nestled in small-town Winston-Salem, The Graylyn Estate is stunning with its French Normandy-style architecture. What used to be home to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco executive is now a 55-acre property with 86 guestrooms that all tell a different story. The current interior pays homage to what used to be. Every second of your stay you will be treated by butlers under grand archways and gilded finishes, giving you the ultimate experience of luxury.
Dreamers by DW (Wilmington)
| Key Points: • Website • 3 Stars • Rooms: 5 • Airport: Wilmington International Airport | Amenities: • Free WiFi • Complimentary Breakfast • Pet-friendly • Free Parking |
Like its namesake, this hotel is for the dreamers. In this 130-year-old mansion, different textures are seamlessly woven into the atmosphere, from powder pink sofas to mink faux mohair velvet beds. With in-room massages and morning yoga, you’ll feel cozy, enveloped in this cozy corner of Wilmington. But this hotel won’t let you forget that you’re just a couple beats from the ocean, curating epic excursions to fulfill your desires.
The Foundry Hotel (Asheville)
| Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 87 • Airport: Asheville Regional Airport | Amenities: • Free WiFi • Fitness center • Room service • Free Parking • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
Known as the “Land of the Sky,” The Foundry brings justice to its home, Asheville. The Appalachians are only a few miles from the hotel, making the view from every window eye-catching. With curated cocktails and authentic Appalachian soul food, the feature restaurant Benne on Eagle honors the African American culinary traditions of the region. The Foundry is a great getaway for those wanting a mix of adventure and relaxation.
The Burrus House Inn (Manteo)
| Key Points: • Website • 3 Stars • Rooms: 9 • Airport: Dare County Regional Airport | Amenities: • Spa • Free WiFi • Free breakfast • Free Parking |
After watching Outer Banks on Netflix, we were dying to get our own feel of the OBX lifestyle — the Burrus House Inn is the perfect place to do that. The coastal Italian decor is a breath of fresh air. Enjoy a sunrise on the beach with complimentary kayaks and paddleboards, then watch the sunset with complimentary wine and charcuterie.
Flat Mountain Farm (Highlands)
| Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • 2 Cabins • Airport: On-site helicopter pad and Asheville Regional Airport | Amenities: • Hot tub • Spa • Pet-friendly • Free Parking • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
Two miles from Highlands is a 28-acre micro-resort with two antique log cabins ready for guests. Now this may scare some of you, but Flat Mountain Farm is the epitome of quiet, intimate luxury. If you want to take a second away from city living, whether with family or friends, a private hot-tub, pond and Scandinavian-style barn is waiting. Every aspect of the reimagined space will give you a five-star welcome, especially after you hire that chef for a meal by the waterfall.
Lakeview at Fontana (Fontana Lake)
| Key Points: • Website • 3 Stars • Rooms: 15 • Airport: McGhee Tyson Airport | Amenities: • Free WiFi • Outdoor swimming pool • Spa • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
Located on a hillside, Lakeview at Fontana lives up to its name, overseeing the stunning Fontana Lake. This hotel’s natural finish makes you feel like you’re in a Mediterranean village and offers soaking cabanas that will clear your mind and soul. The live-edge wood will leave you feeling rejuvenated. This is perfect for a girl’s getaway or a romantic weekend.
The Longleaf Hotel (Raleigh)
| Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 56 • Airport: Raleigh-Durham International Airport | Amenities: • Free WiFi • Bar • Pet-friendly • Free Parking • 2 Bars & Restaurants |
The mid-century modern interior of the Longleaf Hotel resides in North Carolina’s capital. The hotel was a travel lodge in the 1960s and still hosts aspects of its heritage, from the starshine breeze blocks to a caramel terrazzo-topped bar counter. The Longleaf Lounge features world-class wines and cocktails, ideal for socializing surrounded by crimson velvet and pendant lights that set the mood.
The Inn on Biltmore Estate (Asheville)
| Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 210 • Airport: Asheville Regional Airport | Amenities: • Fitness center • Outdoor swimming pool • Spa • Free Parking • 7 Bars & Restaurants |
Built in the late 1900s, The Inn on Biltmore Estate will take you back in time. Located on the 8,000-acre estate, you will be surrounded by Chateauesque architecture and the definition of the Gilded Age. With overwhelming Blue Ridge Mountain views and world-renowned gardens, The Inn will submerge you into luxury and make you think you’re sitting in the European countryside.
21c Museum Hotel (Durham)
| Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 125 • Airport: Horace Williams Airport | Amenities: • Fitness center • Room service • Spa • Free Parking • 1 Bar & Restaurant |
This unconventional hotel makes contemporary art a part of everyday life. There are seven installations with artwork in elevators and stairwells — each room is defined by the pieces of work it showcases. You’ll also have access to the best local food from on-site restaurant, the Counting House, inspired by old European techniques that add a small twist.
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