Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to
Sure, you could stay just anywhere — at a roadside pull-in, a high-rise downtowner, a college-town chain. And then there are the Great Hotels, for which the phrase “place to
Sure, you could stay just anywhere — at a roadside pull-in, a high-rise downtowner, a college-town chain. And then there are the Great Hotels, for which the phrase “place to
Sure, you could stay just anywhere — at a roadside pull-in, a high-rise downtowner, a college-town chain. And then there are the Great Hotels, for which the phrase “place to stay” doesn’t even apply. Appreciate these places as destinations in their own right, where the lodging itself — and the service and the grounds and the decor and the dining — is the reason for a reservation. North Carolina is endowed with any number of posh palaces, charming inns, luxury lodges, and historic hotels, each of whose identity lies in its personality. Reservations, please, because sentimental as they seem, don’t look for a Vacancy sign. At these stylish accommodations, count on nary a neon light in sight.
The Lobby
A hotel lobby says far more than “welcome.” Decor and furnishings, lighting and flowers; sleek luxury, soaring spaciousness, or quiet hush: These rooms represent more than a reservation. They also set the expectation for an experience you’ll remember with a sigh and a smile for months — even years — hence. “We’re glad you’re here,” a lobby proclaims. “We’re here for you.”
Photograph by Tim Robison. photograph by Tim Robison
With stone walls inscribed with quotations, two fireplaces as large as elevators, and seating for privacy or socializing, this lobby projects warmth and majesty.
Photograph by John Gessner. photograph by John Gessner
With clean lines and cozy, dark niches, the Umstead’s sophisticated lobby showcases fine artwork and flower arrangements that qualify as masterpieces, as well.
Photograph by Charles Harris. photograph by Charles Harris
A world away yet surrounded by renowned universities, the formal elegance of this hushed lobby leads to hallways lined with pictorial histories of the magnates and philanthropists behind the setting.
Photograph by Tim Robison. photograph by Tim Robison
For more than a century, travelers have trod the wooden floors of this historic lobby, which boasts dark panels, imported rugs, and Dove ice-dream bars behind the desk.
Photograph by Stacey Van Berkel. photograph by Stacey Van Berkel
Refined elegance in a baronial mansion setting sends a message from the grand lobby: Linger here. A window to the world lends perspective as you decide your next move. Or no move at all.
Photograph by Chris Hannant. photograph by Chris Hannant
Flaky buttermilk drop biscuits, creamy potato and sausage casserole, and soul-warming chicken and cabbage soup were among your favorite recipes in January. Find out what else made the list.
When demand for tobacco and cotton diminished, this one-square-mile Halifax County town followed suit. Now, one couple is revitalizing Littleton into a lively location once more.
Each year, Our State celebrates the very best in North Carolina craftsmanship with the Made in NC Awards. Meet the talented artisans who won top honors in 2022 — and watch them at work.