What: The Fearrington House Inn blends sophisticated luxury and country-chic atmosphere. A thoughtful combination of traditional touches (apples upon arrival; handmade truffles at turndown) and modern conveniences (heated towel racks and iPod docks) is obvious. So too is the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel’s goal of making your experience a personal one. Each of the 32 rooms has a unique character, ranging from a deluxe suite with butter-yellow walls and salmon-colored floral-print bed linens to the grand suite’s vaulted ceiling and cozy fireplace. And with access to inn rooms winding through the courtyard gardens, views of Fearrington Village’s Instagram-worthy landscape — including the black-and-white Belted Galloway cows — are just outside the window.
Where: Nested in the countryside on the outskirts of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, The Fearrington House Inn’s distinct cottage design wonderfully accentuates the setting. Though the Raleigh-Durham hotel is just a portion of the surrounding village made up of boutique shops, restaurants, a bookstore and, of course, thriving gardens and pastures.
When: The crisp fall air adds to the lush scenery around The Fearrington House Inn. Strolling through the grounds as the trees burst with magnificent crimsons and golds makes autumn a desirable time to visit the village, indeed. But if you needed another reason, Pumpkin Fest, which features an array of jack-o’-lanterns carved by the Fearrington gardeners, takes place at the neighboring Village Center on October 30. At the Four-Star Fearrington House Restaurant, executive chef Colin Bedford’s new fall menu only sweetens the season with autumnal gems such as butternut squash ravioli, sweet onion puree and spiced pumpkin with brown bread ice cream.
Why: Being pampered with country charm is only a part of the Fearrington experience. The Spa at Fearrington features treatments from Elemis, a top British spa and skincare company. Indulge in a deep-tissue massage, an Elemis musclease Aroma Wrap or a mani and pedi before heading to Haven, the village’s spa boutique that’s stocked with Molton Brown products from London and Yves Delorme soaps from France.
