Alpine romance at the Chalet Inn & Suites in Whittier
When you’re looking for a tranquil getaway — just the two of you — consider the Chalet Inn, an Alpine retreat a mere 15 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stashed in its own 22-acre private forest, the Chalet offers walking trails, hammocks for two hidden among the trees and fire pits by the pond.
The suites, decorated with quaint Jenny Lind furnishings, offer roomy Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, steam showers for two and kitchenettes.
The Chalet Inn, 285 Lone Oak Drive, Whittier, N.C. 1-800-789-8024, chaletinn.com , @TheChaletInn.
Southport on the Cape Fear River
A quaint seaport village, a selection of historic homes transformed into intimate bed-and-breakfasts, and restaurants boasting water views all add up to an ideal location when love is in the air. Southport dips into the mouth of the Cape Fear River, a few miles from the Atlantic, so you’ll find plenty of waterfront activities. When you’re done exploring the maritime forest and the historic downtown with its centuries-old live oaks shrouded in Spanish moss, plan a day trip to explore Bald Head and Fort Fisher barrier islands. They’re only a 30-minute ferry ride away.
Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, 4433 Long Beach Road, Southport, N.C. 910-457-6964, southport-nc.com , @southportnc.
The Inner Banks Inn, Edenton
Whether you choose to stay in the brick-clad Victorian mansion with its gracious wraparound porch, the Pack House, an elegantly converted tobacco barn, or the Tillie Bond Cottage (it’s pet-friendly), the Inner Banks Inn will leave you infatuated with the vintage charms of historic Edenton. Also known as the “South’s prettiest small town,” this waterfront village, steeped in Colonial history, was incorporated in 1722, and the 1767 courthouse is still used for court proceedings.
After a day of sightseeing, spend some time at the Spa Studio, but circle back to the Table, the inn’s fine dining restaurant housed in a converted carriage house on the property.
Inner Banks Inn, 103 E. Albemarle St., Edenton, N.C. 252-482-3641, innerbanksinn.com , @InnerBanksInn.
