Francophiles looking for a generous serving of Paris with their New York experience will love the new Paris Weekend in New York package from Sofitel New York, the stylish Midtown Manhattan hotel with a decidedly French accent.
Stroll the grounds of Napa Valley's Meadowood on a sunny morning, and you'd be hard-pressed to remember what year it is. A pristine green croquet lawn whispers of men and women in crisp whites, and it doesn't take too much imagination to envision the lords and ladies of Downton Abbey gamboling about.
A visit to the Grand Del Mar begins at the turn off from Carmel Valley Road. Sheltered by a line of Eucalyptus trees, the private two-lane drive feels like a road from another time. A grassy meadow stretches on one side and to the other, a rolling hill slopes down to a manicured green, part of the 18 hole, par-72 golf course designed by Tom Fazio.
Juliette's bright smile lights up our arrival at Cap Juluca, a resort that's been on our wish list for too many years. My husband and I haven't been here before, yet she greets us by name and escorts us through the domed archway decorated with exotic Moroccan lanterns. We emerge to the open-air lobby where we are instantly mesmerized by the powder sand crescent beach with brilliant turquoise water that we've always seen in photographs.
Looking out at the peaceful bay in this quiet, picturesque setting, it's hard to imagine the dramatic, weatherbeaten scenes of Winslow Homer's paintings.
Decked out in our chef jackets bearing the embroidered words Fearrington House, our group of seven arrives in the kitchen at five-star Fearrington House Restaurant ready to cook seafood. (It's pronounced FAIR-ring-ton.)
It was raining and I couldn't have been happier. Arriving at the Merrion Hotel, I had visions of crackling fireplaces and trays of scones with jam and lemon curd delivered to my door.
For the devotee, the golf get-away is a hallowed tradition. But how it is approached can evolve -- which is how I found myself at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay just in time for sunset over the Pacific.
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay has unveiled a new driving experience which takes advantage of the resort's stunning coastal location and its access to some of northern California's most breathtaking scenery.
The glory of America's Gilded age can still be experienced at one of the world's quintessential resort destinations: The Breakers in Palm Beach. Early 20th century tycoons including Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan came to revive and hobnob with Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Astors. We decide to follow in their footsteps, if only for a weekend getaway!
The pristine white tub was calling me: I couldn't resist an end of the day soak. Tossing aside a fluffy robe, I sank into steaming water, a whimsical rubber ducky already lost in a deep sea of suds. Instead of the flat-screen TV, I watched flames from the gas fireplace dance and reflect on marble.
The Lanesborough, a St. Regis Hotel, captures the grace of the Regency period. Ideally located in elegant Knightsbridge, the residence is minutes away from the exclusive shopping of Harrods and Sloane Street.
The pitch-black room floods with light when I flip open the shutters. Stepping onto the balcony, I spot surfers catching waves in the Pacific. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifts up from the terrace below. It's my first morning at L'Auberge Del Mar, a getaway north of San Diego on the California coast.
The scene was one that could only be California: two pale New Yorkers fresh off the plane and a convertible with the top down. As I placed the car into gear, it was official: not only had we arrived in sunny San Diego, but we were about to check into the one hotel that has brought sophistication and sex appeal to the Gaslamp Quarter.
Looking for a beach getaway with the WOW factor? High rise and high style, ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in the exclusive enclave of Bal Harbour, Florida delivers the ultimate "room with a view".
