While travel options abound, you might be surprised to find some truly unique and spectacular staycation options right around the corner. From treehouses and historic mansions to modern hotels and cultural communities, these Atlanta spaces might be as significant and fresh as a trip across the country.
AC Hotel
One of the newest additions to the list of beloved Atlanta hotels, the AC Hotel Atlanta Buckhead at Phipps Plaza opened its doors in 2016. The cutting-edge hotel chain is known for its minimalist-modern decor and European elegance. This fresh lodging experience is known for its emphasis on design, art and technology with co-working spaces, a new take on “room service” (they have replaced it with in-room snacking and evening tapas plates), and integrated lounging areas for work, play and more. What makes this location desirable is one special activity: shopping. Located alongside Phipps Plaza (at Peachtree and Wieuca), the 166-room modern space is a hop and skip from the newly renovated Simon Mall known for high-end stores such as Valentino, Gucci and Jeffrey as well as restaurants like the Tavern and Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse.
3600 Wieuca Road NE, Atlanta. 470-231-3030, achotels.marriott.com.
Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental name enjoys a five-star reputation for luxury worldwide, but the Atlanta locale steals the heart of anyone with a penchant for Southern charm and Buckhead affluence. Hidden just a few feet back from Peachtree Road, it’s in the center of this uptown shopping and dining district, with the privacy to still feel like you’ve escaped the hustle and bustle. The Mandarin is also walking distance to both Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square and features its own private garden.
3376 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-995-7500, www.mandarinoriental.com/atlanta/.
Twelve Oaks
If the name and structure look familiar, it's because this home was Margaret Mitchell's inspiration for the iconic plantations in "Gone With the Wind." So if you're itching to go back in time, downtown Covington is just 38 minutes away and houses this 11,000-square-foot antebellum mansion, built in 1836, that will bring you to another era (no hoop skirts necessary). Completely modernized, this eight-room Southern beauty features Wi-Fi, iPhone docks, flat-panel TVs, remote-control fireplaces and other luxury amenities. From the wraparound porch and grounds to the rain showers en-suite, the relaxing oasis is not only a Top 10 inns in the U.S. winner as chosen by Bedandbreakfast.com, It also looks just like "Ashley's Home." Rates start at $199 depending on the room chosen and date.
2176 Monticello St. S.W., Covington. 770-385-4005, thetwelveoaks.com.
Serenbe
If you have yet to experience Serenbe, you’re in for a treat. Located south of Atlanta in the city of Chattahoochee Hills, Serenbe is an urban community development with an inn, extensive grounds, restaurants, residential neighborhoods, a 25-acre organic farm and more. The inn offers 27 guest rooms on the grounds plus access to some unique lodging in the surrounding community. There’s always a lot going on and it’s the perfect place to stay for a one-of-a-kind performance at Serenbe Playhouse where the outdoors is the stage.
10950 Hutcheson Ferry Road, Chattahoochee Hills. 770-463-2610, serenbe.com, serenbeinn.com .
Alpaca Treehouse
An authentic treehouse staycation has become all the rage in recent years, and Atlanta has quite a few of these secluded beauties. While the now-legendary Buckhead Treehouse has stolen the hearts of vacationers around the country, it’s booked up nearly six months in advance, making it an impossible spur of the moment booking. But lucky for East Atlanta, there’s another spectacular spot to dream way up in the trees about. The Alpaca Treehouse in Bamboo Forest has been constructed using a mix of antique house materials and luxurious amenities. The contrast is beautiful: marble bath and memory foam beds, nestled inside the branches of this bamboo forest. And the name isn’t just for show — the cedar-smelling space is situated in an alpaca habitat. At $350 per night, for lodging and alpaca sightings, it’s almost a steal.
East Atlanta, airbnb.com/rooms/13245035.
Georgian Terrace
Since 1911, the Georgian Terrace has been an iconic gem in Midtown, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The floor-to-ceiling windows, marble floors and opulent chandeliers have only been enhanced over the past 100 years by beautiful modern updates in rooms, suites and throughout — blending the old with the new and charming effortless style. There are two elements of this notable locale that make it particularly staycation-worthy. First, many of the oversized suites, which feature sitting areas, kitchens and cozy amenities, make it spacious enough to house the entire family. The second is its proximity to the cultural delights of Midtown, namely the Fox Theatre, which is directly across the street. There’s also a wide range of restaurants in walking distance. Staying here puts you in good company: Noteworthy guests include Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding, Walt Disney, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley and Rudolph Valentino, to name a few. The rates start around $190 a night and increase by suite and date.
659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-651-2316, thegeorgianterrace.com.
Ormewood Glass House
If you’ve driven through Ormewood Park following what will be the future southside extension to the Beltline Trail, you might have seen a sheen of glass peeking out through the trees. Behind the curtain of leaves is this marvel of architecture designed and built by Mary Clare DeReuil and Carlos Tardio.
Spending the night in the Glass House is like living in the pages of Architectural Digest. Every angle, corridor and vista of this Modern Glass Treehouse have the sleek look of steel and crisp airy lightness of glass. With two bedrooms, a kitchen and four outdoor terraces, this Berne Street domicile has everything you’d need for a memorable weekend away. $500 a night for the entire house.
865 Berne St. S.E., Atlanta. airbnb.com/rooms/224977.
About the Author
