The Grand Hotel first opened its doors in 1847 in Point Clear, Alabama, a short drive from the town of Fairhope. It was originally a two-story building with 40 rooms. Guests used to take steamboats across Mobile Bay to reach the hotel. The Army used the hotel as a training base during World War II. The hotel honors the military history with cannon firing, which takes place … [Read more...] about Southern Stays: The Grand Hotel
hotels
Southern Stays: The Sewanee Inn
Set on the stunning campus of Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, The Sewanee Inn is a stunning stone building that welcomes those visiting students and travelers going to The Caverns. The Episcopal college was founded in 1857 and sits on 13,000 acres along the Cumberland Plateau. The inn, built in 2014 on the site of a previous inn, takes its inspiration … [Read more...] about Southern Stays: The Sewanee Inn
Southern Stays: JW Marriott Hotel Savannah Plant Riverside District
This post contains affiliate links. In 2020, the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District opened on Savannah's River Street. Set in the former power plant building, local hotelier Richard Kessler had been working on this particular property for many years. He previously opened the Bohemian Hotel. The riverfront property is made up of three buildings and is a wildly … [Read more...] about Southern Stays: JW Marriott Hotel Savannah Plant Riverside District
Southern Stays: Highlander Mountain House
Highlands, North Carolina, is one of the most charming places in the High Country, with its nearby hikes, waterfalls, and fly fishing. Settled by the Scots-Irish on ancestral Cherokee land, it's also a great place for a weekend getaway with friends and a nice alternative to the crowds in the Smokies and Asheville. Highlander Mountain House fits right in, set in an over … [Read more...] about Southern Stays: Highlander Mountain House
Southern Stays: Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Contemporary Resort opened in 1971 as one of the original Disney hotels, alongside the Polynesian Resort and Fort Wilderness. It's set on the lagoon next to the Magic Kingdom. The AAA Four-Diamond Award hotel was designed by midcentury modern architect Donald Wexler, whose work is found in Palm Springs. It was even the site of a 1973 press conference with President … [Read more...] about Southern Stays: Disney’s Contemporary Resort
