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Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary
We enjoyed a sneak peek at a new North Carolina hotel that is raising the bar for upscale accommodations and dining in the "Triangle" region of Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham. The Umstead Hotel and Spa is targeted at the luxury traveler searching for the best in southern hospitality. You'll first notice the public areas' custom furnishings, artwork that includes a Dale Chihuly crystal sculpture and a host of understated amenities and appointments throughout. Located just off I-40 and less than ten minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the Umstead includes 150 large rooms and suites (our "standard" room measured more than 500 square feet), all equipped with huge flat screen HDTVs and wireless Internet access, luxurious baths and just about every room amenity you can think of. The spa has a comprehensive list of treatments and includes a meditation courtyard. Judging by our meal, the on-site restaurant, Herons, will soon be recognized as one of the region's best tables. Our salt-brined pork loin with black-eyed peas and silver-queen corn succotash was superb. Many good wines are available by the glass, including some surprisingly fine North Carolina labels from Childress and Shelton. The grounds include terraced gardens, lakeside paths and a heated pool with very nice cabanas. Doubles from about $300; suites from about $420. 100 Woodland Pond, Cary. Tel: 866-877-4141. Fax: 919-447-4100. www.theumstead.com.
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