SOUTHERN LIVING WITH A TWIST 

It’s a great day at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa. It’s only been a week or two since we packed up a few overnight bags and headed out for a road trip to Clear Point, Alabama. A few years ago I was invited to a travel writer luncheon with the Historic Hotels of America (HHA). During this amazing event I had the opportunity to meet with so many amazing hotels under the HHA umbrella and The Grand was in attendance and discussed with us their upcoming million dollar renovations. Since I’m a southern girl from Georgia I was truly intrigued to learn about the area, its history and have the opportunity to be amongst the first travel writers to get a sneak peek at their latest multi-million dollar renovations.

AMBIANCE

Two years passed and The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa is finally ready to make its grand reveal. The Grand is beautifully located in Clear Point, Alabama which is approximately 5 hours away from the area in Georgia where I live. I was excited when I finally received the email stating that they were finally done with the upgrades and they wanted to host my family and I for a few days. Once I had everything settled the family and I set out for another great road trip. I honestly had no expectations of what the Grand would look like or what sort of renovations had taken place on the property, however the moment that we drove unto the road that leads to the beautiful gates of The Grand I was in complete and utter AWE.

The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa was and still remains one of the most beautiful hotels that I have eve seen. The ambiance was in a nutshell GRAND! As I made my way to the reservation desk I was immediately greeted from the amazing staff. Just think about the amazing service that we all love when we visit Chick-Fil-A. Imagine that service quadrupled. The staff was so welcoming and attentive to every person staying at The Grand’s needs. The check in process was a breeze. There was a small line before it was my turn but their was an amazing young lady standing out front welcoming and chatting with everyone once they reached the point of being next in line to check in. She was very observant and the guest all waited patiently as they chatted with her before it was their turn to speak with the front desk representative.

THE SPA BUILDING

Guess who was excited to stay in their newest building? ME! We had the opportunity to stay in the SPA Building which translates as “Heaven on Earth”. The moment that we drove around the circular driveway into our building we were indeed for a surprise once we walked into the building.

The Spa Building immediately gives off an inviting relaxation. I was in awe at the open floor plans that featured both a one king or two queen bed option complete with elegant decor, custom headboards, and thoughtful lighting elements. Flat-screen television, luxurious baths and signature spa amenities accompany these rooms.

The Grand wasted no expense with the details that they added to the Spa Building. I took a look at each floor and each one immediately gave off an elegant yet chic vibe once you stepped foot off of the elevator. The moment that my keycard touched my door I knew that my family and I were in for a treat. We were immediately greeted with a hall space beautifully decorated that lead into the living/sitting area. I love that although the room had two queen beds we still also had an additional option of a pull out sofa which works in your favor if you have kids or are expecting an extra guest.

The living area was beautifully decorated with every detail that you would find in a modern day southern home. The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa Spa Building was decorated with the Autograph Collection. Upon further research on the Autograph Collection I learned that there are four principles utilized when deciding the unique design per property.

COLLECTION PRINCIPLES

 

The bedroom area houses two queen beds along with a smart flat screen smart television conveniently located on the wall in a great location that was perfect for viewing from either bed. The comfort that you feel while enjoying their comfortable queen beds is definitely one that you must experience because words can not explain the peaceful rest that I received during my stay.

Aside from the fabulous room I was completely in love with the patio which just so happened to be equipped with two rocking chairs (my favorite since childhood) plus an amazing view. I think that its safe to say that everything about the Grand thus far was perfect and amazing. My youngest son and I definitely took full advantage of the rocking chairs and view. Although our visit was only over a weekend we made sure to inhale the entire experience.

I can truly appreciate the history of the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa. Once the family was settled in I headed down to visit with the hotel’s historian Susan. The wealth of knowledge that she has needs to be captured in a book so that generations that come after her and continue to narrate the history in the exact profound story telling way as she does. To read more about the history and learn about a daily event that takes place to educate visitors on the Grand’s history click here.

GRAND BATHROOM

As I previously stated the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa spared no expenses when it came to their latest renovations and nothing stands out like an amazing beautifully designed bathroom. Perhaps I’m a bit different from my fellow travel writers but for my a beautiful shower and bathing area is pure heaven to me. It could partially be because that’s my safe haven when it comes to ideas. A steaming hot shower mixed with a little prayer and meditation opens the channels of my creative side of my brain and all of my ideas just flow. The design, architecture and every detail spoke “GRAND” down to the monogrammed luxury soap. Trust me “It’s All About The Details”!

FINE DINING 

The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa dining is nothing short of elegant, family friendly and 5 star. On our first evening once we settled in and prepared for dinner we headed to the on site Southern Roots. Special thanks to the hotel for reserving our space for all meals. Rumor has it that the Southern Roots Restaurant fills up very fast so it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you make reservations early. The moment that we entered the restaurant I immediately understood why reservations were needed. Southern Roots is definitely the type of restaurant that you should wear a dinner jacket and/or a chic dress. The ambiance of the restaurant is very elegant yet still family friendly.

I would not suggest dining at the Southern Roots if you have children that are picky eaters. There isn’t a kids menu however the staff is more than happy to provide smaller plate options off the menu for your little ones. In my case I have a 11 & 15-year-old so the menu worked in our favor. We definitely enjoyed chatting with the staff and enjoying the delicious meals that were created for us during our stay.

As you can see Southern Roots treated us like royalty. The family truly had an amazing time. The resort is beautiful and lively in the daylight yet peaceful and beautiful at night. As we headed back to our room the kids stopped to play a quick game of crochet, bean bag toss and horse shoes.

Shortly after we took a long stroll on the boardwalk as we headed back to our room. There is nothing like a southern breeze to set the mood for an amazing nights rest. Farewell to Day 1 and welcome Day 2.

Look out for our next post as our #GRANDMOMENTS Adventure continues.

THANK YOU GRAND!

Disclosure:  The family and I was invited as part of the media to tour the newly renovated resort, all thoughts and opinions are my own