Sprawled along the May River outside of Bluffton, the luxe resort Montage Palmetto Bluff has amenities aplenty, from golf to spa to shopping. Be sure to book a riverview cotttage. To do: Tops on any honeymooner’s list should be the “seersucker & pearls” picnic and pedal experience, in which the staff packs up osetra caviar with the works, oysters, and shrimp cocktail, along with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, and sends you off on bikes with a trail map to find the ideal picnic spot. palmettobluff.com/stay
Upstate Auberge
Professional cyclist George Hincapie opened the 13-room Hotel Domestique as an homage to the old-world auberges he called home during his travels in Europe. Just outside of Travelers Rest, this chic cedar-flanked lodge feels like the country estate of a stylish friend. To do: Saddle up on a Scott road bike to explore one of Hincapie’s favorite routes before unwinding in the hot tub to soak up the Blue Ridge mountainscape. hoteldomestique.com
Downtown Digs
A Champagne lounge that pours Dom Perignon by the glass, a rooftop pool with private cabanas, and sumptuous suites with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Marion Square clear to the shipping channel? Check, check, and check. The Hotel Bennett has its romance game down pat. To do: Base yourself here to explore the heart of the Holy City or stay in for a “Camellia’s Classic” massage at the spa and dinner at lauded in-house restaurant Gabrielle. hotelbennett.com
Off the Grid
Ready to disconnect? The Greyfield Inn has you covered. At the sole hotel on Georgia’s Cumberland Island —accessible only by ferry—wild horses outnumber humans and cell service is sketchy at best. The structure was built in 1900 for the Carnegie family and converted in the 1970s to an elegant 15-room inn. To do: Settle in (tip: book the corner master suite), ditch the devices, and commune with nature. greyfieldinn.com
Mountain Eclectic
Cozy is the operative word at Highlander Mountain House in Highlands, North Carolina. Originally built in 1885 for a Charleston sea captain, the 18-room inn is full of architectural elements like exposed timber
framing and stone fireplaces juxtaposed with eclectic furnishings, including Morris & Co. wallpaper, vintage portraits, and a wall of Victoria-era taxidermy for a quirky English country vibe. To do: Choose your mountain adventure, from super scenic hikes to waterfall picnics. highlandermountainhouse.com
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