Hotels for the holidays

A luxurious weekend away from home at Thanksgiving means a turkey roasted to perfection, a beautifully decorated table, and a relaxing--not hectic--holiday. This year, treat yourself at one of our favorite hotels and resorts. Here are some of the special packages offered for the holidays.

* The Grand Hotel: One Grand Blvd., Point Clear, AL 36564. A peaceful bayside resort overlooking Mobile Bay, the hotel offers dancing, fishing, horseback riding, and children's activities. The Thanksgiving Package is available from November 17-27 and is $216 per night per couple with a four-night minimum stay. It includes breakfast and dinner daily, and unlimited golf and tennis. Call (334) 928-9201 or 1-800-544-9933.

* Nottoway Plantation: P.O. Box 160, White Castle, LA 70788. A combination of Italianate and Greek Revival styles, Nottoway is the largest plantation still standing in the South. It dates to 1849 and includes 13 guest-rooms decorated with antiques. The rates are $125-$250 per night and include a tour of the mansion and its 64 rooms, a bottle of sherry in the room, a wake-up breakfast (sweet potato muffins, juice, and coffee) brought to your room, and a plantation breakfast. Call (504) 545-2730.

* The Jefferson: Franklin & Adams Streets, Richmond, VA 23220. This historic hotel is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. The elegant setting features a Carrara marble statue of Thomas Jefferson and a grand staircase that leads down to the lobby under The Rotunda, a graceful dome of colorful stained glass. Room rates for the Thanksgiving weekend are $105-$180 per night. Chef Mark Langenfeld plans an exquisite menu for the Thanksgiving Day brunch and five-course seated dinner in Lemaire, the dining room named for President Jefferson's White House maitre d'hotel. Call (804) 788-8000 or 1-800-424-8014.

* Lake Lanier Islands Hilton Resort: 7000 Holiday Road, Lake Lanier Islands, GA 30518. A heated outdoor pool, lighted tennis courts, bicycle and horseback riding are just some of the amenities you'll enjoy at Lake Lanier Islands Hilton. The $79 per night rate is based on two people in the room and includes breakfast. A traditional Thanksgiving Day feast is planned. Or try the Golf Package for $82 per person--it includes unlimited golf and use of a cart. Call (404) 945-8787 or 1-800-768-5253.

* The Greenbrier: White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986. The white-columned Georgian landmark is sheer elegance tucked away in the mountains. The bold colors of Carlton Varney designs are draped against a backdrop of dignified history. The resort has been drawing guests for more than 200 years and offers golf, tennis, and horseback riding. The three-night minimum package includes breakfast and dinner each day, culinary demonstrations, wine tasting, seminars, children's programs, and a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for $408 per couple per night. Call (304) 536-1110 or 1-800-624-6070.

* The Inn at Perry Cabin: 308 Watkins Lane, St. Michaels, MD 21663. This secluded 19th-century country house hotel slumbers in a beautiful cove off the Chesapeake Bay. The atmosphere is relaxing and luxurious--an ideal setting for any occasion. Rates are $175-$525 per night and include full breakfast, traditional afternoon tea for two, and access to an exercise room, indoor pool, and croquet lawn. The concierge can arrange golf, yachting, fishing, horseback riding, and surrey rides through St. Michaels. Chef Mark Salter offers the traditional Thanksgiving fare with a few nontraditional dishes, such as Smoked Swordfish With Sauted Arugula for lunch and Tenderloin of Veal With Black Olive Potatoes for dinner. Call (410) 745-2200 or 1-800-722-2949.

* Callaway Gardens: Pine Mountain, GA 31622. A Thanksgiving spent in this Southern country resort in the middle of a beautiful garden will not soon be forgotten. The Fantasy In Lights Bed & Breakfast Package includes accommodations in Callaway Gardens Inn; breakfast daily for two in the Plantation Room, Country Kitchen, or Champions; use of the Callaway Fitness Center; commemorative holiday ornament; day admission to Callaway Gardens; and night admission to Fantasy In Lights for $125 per night, per couple. The package is available November 20-December 31. Call 1-800-282-8181.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 1995
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