- April, 2010 (1)
- February, 2010 (2)
- December, 2009 (1)
- November, 2009 (1)
Travel
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Apr 1
2010
Spring Breakaway
Spring-cleaning isn’t just for houses anymore: After all, who doesn’t have a mind that could use a little de-cluttering? Give yourself a break and head to one of the South’s most relaxing spas and resorts. Once you try it, you’ll want to make sprucing yourself up an annual event.
BY RACHEL LETCHER
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORTLake Austin Spa Resort Austin, Texas
Venture out west for a relaxing vacation at this 25,000- square-foot lakeside hideaway, where you’ll enjoy a medley of Asian- and Texan-inspired treatments. Start out with a gentle acupuncture session to help you feel more balanced and renewed. Need to de-stress? Cupping treatment is an ancient technique using glass cups with mild suction to untangle knots while adding circulation to achy or fatigued muscles. Once you’ve loosened up, explore some of the spa’s other unique offerings, like Zumba dance classes, meditation seminars, water yoga, boat cruising or even hydrobiking. With a wide array of treatments and activities, the resort offers something for everyone.
• For more information call 800.847.5637 or visit lakeaustin.com.Farmhouse Spa at Blackberry Farm Walland, Tennessee
Nestled in the Smoky Mountain foothills, Blackberry Farm’s Farmhouse Spa offers a perfect getaway for nature lovers. In addition to enjoying the beautiful backdrop, you can indulge in spa treatments in your personal cottage or in the Farmhouse Spa, which was recently renovated to add a seven-headed Vichy shower and heated tile floors. There you’ll find a wide variety of detoxifying and hydrating treatments, or you can enjoy the spa’s signature Blackberry Mist, which gently exfoliates your skin as the scents of blackberry and vanilla relax your mind. And if for some reason you tire from total relaxation, you can always sign up for a Yogassage session with one-on-one instruction from a yoga instructor and massage therapist.
• For more information call 865.984.8166 or visit blackberryfarm.com.The Sanctuary Spa at Kiawah Island Golf Resort Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Let the sound of crashing ocean waves soothe away stress as you enjoy Lowcountry-inspired treatments in this charming South Carolina setting. Try the indulgent Southern Hospitality Facial, which features a scalp massage and foot treatment, or detoxify with the Seaweed Body Retreat, which moisturizes while firming the skin.
Afterwards head into the great outdoors for a round of golf, a kayaking adventure in the Atlantic, or an afternoon of discovering South Carolina’s wildlife.
• For more information call 843.768.2121 or visit kiawahresort.com.Lakeview at Fontana Resort & Spa Bryson City, NC
Retreat to this rustic, yet chic getaway, just three hours outside of Atlanta, for breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains and Fontana Lake, as well as natural spa treatments that are sure to please. Give yourself a natural glow with a pomegranate body polish, or de-stress with a green tea detox, which flushes out excess water and improves skin tone.
Then try the spa’s signature hot towel massage, which incorporates hot towels steeped in aromatic herbs and spices. For those adventure-seekers, the resort has opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and more. But be sure to set your Tivo to record your favorite shows before you leave home: Guest rooms are television- free.
• For more information call 800.742.6492 or visit lakeviewatfontana.com.The WaterColor Inn & Resort’s InnSpa Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Headed to the beach for a belated spring break? After you burn out on sun and sand, why not take a moment to pamper yourself at WaterColor Inn & Resort’s InnSpa? Enjoy the spa’s beachhouse atmosphere with a rejuvenating WaterColor wellbeing massage, or schedule a private in-room service, like the refreshing pineapple papaya brushstrokes body treatment. Perfect for a ladies’ weekend, the spa is conveniently located near shopping, the beach and great restaurants like the resort’s own Fish Out of Water.
• For more information call 850.534.5000 or visit watercolorresort.com.can’t get away?
Steal a moment of resort-worthy relaxation right here in Birmingham.The Aveda Institute
Energize, revive and refresh for $60 or less at the Aveda Institute at the Galleria. The new school (Aveda’s largest state-of-the-art facilities in the country) offers salon-quality facial, hair and makeup treatments at pocketbook-friendly prices. Right now, the Institute is offering a facial, manicure and pedicure package for just $46, and the staff plans to add massages to the menu soon.
• For more information call 205.769.3500 or visit avedainstitutesbb.com.Richard Joseph SalonSpa
Visit Richard Joseph’s English Village or Inverness location for a unique spa experience that includes complimentary fresh fruit and pastries before 11 a.m. or lunch from 11 to 3 p.m. with your SalonSpa service. Enjoy an Aveda Hydrotherm Treatment (a massage while you lay on warm, water-filled cushions) or Elemental Nature Facial for Self-Renewal, which includes a foot and scalp treatment, for the ultimate experience in pampering and relaxation.
• For more information call 205.871.6001 or visit richardjosephsalonspa.com.
Ross Bridge
Take a mini-vacation to the Spa at Ross Bridge, where you can enjoy a facial, massage, body treatment or salon service at a Four Diamond Resort. With steam rooms and quiet rooms to calm your senses, you’ll leave the stresses of everyday life far behind—if only for an hour or two. Try a body exfoliation for a pre-summer glow that will suit any body type.
• For more information call 205.949.3041 or visit sparossbridge.com.Smart Skin Med Spa
Do your face a favor and visit Smart Skin Med Spa in Crestline for high-quality facial services like skin tightening, microdermabrasion, acne treatments and more. Try out the ultimate trio special—perfect for spring and summer—which includes an ultrasonic massage, microdermabrasion, skin rejuvenation jet peel, micro massage and paraffin hand treatment.
• For more information call 205.871.8707 or visit smartskinmedspa.com.
by Abigail Millwood
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Feb 1
2010By George, We've Got It!
This President’s Day, celebrate our Founding Father with a trip to Alabama’s own Washington museum.
BY SARAH CAMPBELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSEPH DE SCIOSE
From Birmingham, it’s more than 700 miles to Mount Vernon, home of the nation’s largest collection of George Washington artifacts. But it’s just a 40-minute drive to the country’s second-largest collection of Founding Father material: the Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington, located in Columbiana. If you haven’t heard of Shelby County’s George Washington museum before, you’re not alone. Even though the venue has received international visitors, Alabamians are usually shocked to discover this local, yet national, museum in their backyard.
A central Alabama museum honoring the prominent Virginian may seem several states out of place, but the bulk of the museum’s holdings actually come from Charlotte Smith Weaver, a sixth great-granddaughter of Martha Washington who lived in Chelsea. (George and Martha never had children together, but Martha did have two with her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis.) When Weaver decided to pare down the number of family heirlooms in her possession, she contacted Mount Vernon first. Though interested, at that point in the fiscal year, the estate could only afford to buy two of George’s personal letters; and so, in 1980, Weaver sold a third of her inherited collection to Columbiana banker and history buff Karl Harrison.
Karl founded the museum two years later in the conference room of Columbiana’s library. But by 1989 he was out of space, storing furniture belonging to George’s half-brother Augustine—items he’d purchased that year at a Kentucky estate sale—upstairs at the First National Bank of Riverchase. It was 11 years before the museum moved into a new building big enough to finally display all its artifacts at once—more than 1,000 pieces of Washington memorabilia that span more than a century and a half, from the 1710 will of Colonel Daniel Parke (the grandfather of Martha Washington’s first husband) to a tintype of a military-clad Robert E. Lee, made eight days after the surrender at Appomattox. Besides a few letter facsimiles, all objects are originals.
With holdings in Washington artwork, ceramics, furniture and personal items, the museum’s collections contain something for everyone. Interested in objects that offer insight into the Founding Father’s daily life? A button worn by our First President, several of his survey instruments, and a letter supposedly containing a lock of his hair are all on display. Curious about Mount Vernon? Marvel at the color sketch of its grounds, drawn in 1787 by Samuel Vaughn, or examine a snippet of George’s coffin lining, removed when his remains were reburied in a new tomb on the estate in 1831.
Other perennial favorites are Martha Washington’s squat red prayer book and her letter box. Though Martha burned the correspondence between them after George’s death, you can find letters from John Adams, James Madison, John C. Calhoun and James Monroe displayed in other museum cases. In the next room, a table has been set with Minton porcelain, part of a 207-piece set from the estate of Augustine Washington. Nearby is a tea set from the Lewis family (as in explorer Meriwether Lewis) and more heirlooms from the Lee family; both can trace their lineage to Washington.
These days the museum is looked after by Bonnie Atchison, a retired high school teacher who was friends with the Harrisons for 40 years. “Every year Mr. Karl—I always called him that—came to my Honors English class to talk about Shakespeare,” she remembers, “and his wife Mildred and I were in the Daughters of the American Revolution together.” Bonnie began serving as curator of the collection in 2004 after her second retirement (this time from the South Shelby County Chamber of Commerce). It was a perfect fit; she had even had the grandchildren of Charlotte Smith Weaver in her class. “I taught English, speech and drama, so I’ve always loved to read. And George Washington has been my hero my whole life,” she says.
The Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington is open weekdays from 10-3, with guided tours offered Wednesday-Friday. Admission is free.
by Abigail Millwood
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Feb 1
2010Majestic Monteagle
Escape to this Tennessee retreat high above it all.
BY LOYD MCINTOSH | PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTEAGLE INN
Spring break: For many undergrads, it’s a time to run wild along the beaches of Mexico. But for those couples and families seeking a more low-key respite, the Monteagle Inn in Tennessee is one place that fits the bill. Set atop Monteagle Mountain, the 13-room bed-and-breakfast is a relaxing haven just minutes from the campus of the University of the South (also known as Sewanee), one of the Southeast’s most historic and beautiful small colleges. Resembling an English manor with its red brick exterior, hunter green trim and six stately gables, the Monteagle Inn is almost fortress-like, protecting visitors from the stresses of the world. Originally built as a private home in 1940, the structure has had some additions through the years. In 2004, Jim and Donna Harmon transformed it into the stunning inn it is today.
A dazzling array of foliage lines the grounds, while herbs such as lavender, rosemary and thyme provide a unique and fragrant welcome to visitors. “We wanted to plant the herb gardens at the entrance so that people’s first experience with us would be something pleasant,” Jim says. Many of the herbs and
vegetables grown in the inn’s gardens are incorporated in breakfast specialties, such as the breakfast quesadilla with corn pudding. (This must-try dish features free-range scrambled eggs tucked inside a spinach tortilla with fresh herbs
and a side of white kernel corn pudding with a hint of cilantro, cumin and lime.)
The Monteagle Inn’s grounds offer guests plenty of room to relax outdoors. Add in a glass or bottle of wine from the inn’s collection—one of the largest in the Southeast with more than 3,000 bottles on hand—and the perfect weekend in the Appalachians begins to take shape. Several times a year, the inn hosts five-course wine dinners, allowing experienced wine enthusiasts and newbies alike the opportunity to sample some of the world’s finest wines with accompanying food from the inn’s kitchen. Of course, you don’t have to wait until mealtime to pop a cork: Enjoy a bottle of Sancerre while gently swaying in one of three hammocks under a stately oak tree on the corner of the estate, sip on a glass of Caymus while reading a book from the inn’s library, or enjoy a glass of Alliance Chiraz while browsing through one of the inn’s two organic gardens as the sun sets in a fiery display of red and orange over the mountain.
Inside, the inn is bright and colorful, but never busy, incorporating antique and period-style furnishings with an occasional modernist touch (like glass bowl sinks, some of which are handmade originals by local artists). Plush sofas, antique tables, bookcases and period art invite visitors to relax in the living room, where you can enjoy an evening in front of the inn’s beautiful fireplace or a view of the courtyard through the large windows and French doors leading out onto the patio. Guest rooms offer a balance of old and new, with some rooms, such as the Honeymoon Suite, housing a flat-screen TV along with an enormous king-size, four-poster bed that requires a wood stool to climb atop in the evening. (And yes, workaholics, Wi-Fi is available throughout the inn.)
All four seasons are spectacular on Monteagle Mountain, with cooler temperatures than the lower altitudes in the summer and plenty of beautiful color as the seasons change in autumn. So whichever season you travel in, the Monteagle Inn is sure to offer a restful retreat—crazy college-kid free.
Find great dining and hiking tips in our February/March issue on newsstands now!
by Abigail Millwood
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Dec 31
2009Unexpected Island Honeymoons
Skip the traditional wedding destinations and start your life together at one of these lovely offshore retreats.
BY LARRY BLEIBERG
There’s something undeniably romantic about an island. Cut off from the rest of the world, it promises seclusion
and privacy. What better place to start a marriage? These five islands offer a perfect honeymoon escape with plenty to do—but not too much. You’ll want to reserve most of your time for each other.
ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA
Mention the Florida Keys, and everyone thinks of Key West. You don’t want to go there. We love margaritas and crazy crowds as much as anyone. But your honeymoon should be about the two of you—not dozens of new drinking buddies.
Here’s the solution: Head south, but stop before the end of the Overseas Highway. The islands of Islamorada feel like the Caribbean, and the most comfortable time to visit is November through April. The Moorings (themooringsvillage.com), a former coconut plantation, offers a collection of 18 cottages and homes carefully positioned for privacy. For extra solitude, book the Treehouse, a spacious cottage at the back of the property. During the day, you can kayak, windsurf or watch dolphins at play. But you’ll probably end up on the beach, sipping a drink and lounging in a palm-shaded hammock.
SALT SPRING ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Canada’s Gulf Islands, located north of Victoria, British Columbia, offer the perfect mix of comfort and adventure. On Salt Spring Island, you can picnic on freshly baked bread and organic cheese, search for orcas on a whale-watching trip
or kayak the serpentine shore. Base your honeymoon at the 18-room Hastings House (hastingshouse.com). Open April through early November, it offers stunning harbor views, romantic cottages and a breakfast hamper delivered to your doorstep every morning.
Salt Spring is also an ideal place to shop for memorable décor for your new home. The island is known throughout Canada as an artist colony, and whether you prefer blown glass, ceramics or Native American carvings, you'll find it here.
Pick up a studio tour map from the information center in the village of Ganges, and browse to your heart’s content.
CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA
A Southern California honeymoon doesn’t have to mean glitz, glamour and endless traffic jams. Just 22 miles from Los Angeles, the wild (and wildly beautiful) Catalina Island entices daytrippers for snorkeling, hiking and sightseeing. You’ll do that, of course, but when the last ferry leaves, you get to stay on this storied piece of real estate.
Year-round, snuggle down at The Inn on Mt. Ada (innonmtada.com), high above Avalon harbor. Nearly the entire island once belonged to William Wrigley Jr., and this was his home. For a splurge, book the Grand Suite, once the Wrigleys’ bedroom. During the day, there’s the beach and hiking on the new cross-island trail. At night, visit the Art Deco theater and a handful of nightclubs. They’re fun, but we bet you’ll want to spend most of your time at the inn on the hill.
NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS
There’s a reason New Englanders flock to this tiny island near Cape Cod. It offers high-end style and modern comfort in a charming 19th- century package. You’ll marvel at the too-perfect vistas: lighthouses, church steeples and yachts nodding in the harbor breeze. Twenty-six miles of bike paths make it easy to pedal your way around the scenery.
From spring through late fall, book a room at the White Elephant (whiteelephanthotel.com), an eclectic collection of guest rooms, suites and cottages, many with fireplaces and water views. Take a walking tour over the cobblestone streets, and, of course, leave time to shop for local art, maritime books and the preppiest of clothes at Murray's Toggery Shop.
CUMBERLAND ISLAND, GEORGIA
You don’t have to go far away to get away from it all. Cumberland Island may be Georgia’s largest barrier island, but it’s one of the least vis- ited. Why else would Carolyn Bessette and John F. Kennedy Jr. have chosen this spot to get mar- ried in 1996? Their secret, paparazzi-free nup- tials were held at the island’s historic First African Baptist Church.
Stay where the wedding party did: the gra- cious Greyfield Inn (greyfieldinn.com), a former Carnegie family mansion open year-round. You’ll find rockers, antiques and a library, but no telephones or TVs in the rooms. When you’re not relaxing, take a guided nature hike and explore the Cumberland Island National Seashore, with its stands of palmettos and live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Then stroll 16 miles of white-sand beaches, where you’ll find wild horses—and little else. Ah, paradise ...
by Abigail Millwood
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