After three nights in tropical mountain paradise, we were certainly sad to leave Montpelier. The happy news, though? Our honeymoon wasn’t over! After a short trip down the mountain and around the island, we arrived at Nisbet Plantation Beach Club.

John likes to do research, and Nisbet immediately popped up when we started to look at Nevis. And for good reason — it’s the Caribbean’s only historic plantation inn located directly on the beach, and the only hotel on Nevis directly on the beach. Nisbet has been awarded the AAA Four Diamond Award every year since 2007, and in 2012 they were named Conde Nast Traveler’s #1 Resort in the Caribbean. Their Trip Advisor reviews are also impressive, to say the least.

Nisbet bills itself as “not ultra fancy and opulent, just private, romantic, and personal.” John and I definitely found that to be an accurate description. All of Nisbet’s buildings are a buttery yellow color, giving the whole resort a warm and friendly feeling right from the start. We checked in at reception and picked up our complimentary drink (alarming in color but yummy – tasted like pineapple!), then were shown to our cottage.

The decor was comfortable and clean, and definitely had a Caribbean feel to it. We really liked the attached sunroom and patio just outside our front door, and used both every day.

36 cottages are sprinkled across Nisbet’s 30 acres, and though there wasn’t as much vegetation to break them up as at Montpelier, they still felt very private. Bonus: less vegetation meant better people watching!

We alternated between using the air conditioning and leaving the plantation shutters wide open — with Nevis’ constant breeze, both were great options! This was the view from our patio — as you can see, we were steps from the beach.

John and I really liked the flexibility of being so close to the beach — if we wanted, we could make four 30-minute trips in one day and not be inconvenienced in the least. We enjoyed exploring the coastline, and took full advantage of the resort’s snorkeling equipment and beachside hammocks.

I wouldn’t say Nisbet was a snorkeler’s paradise, since there weren’t any terribly impressive reefs, but we enjoyed paddling around :)

We did manage to tear ourselves away from the beach long enough to enjoy the other amenities Nisbet had to offer, including croquet (fun!), tennis, and the hot tub. Technically the hot tub was at the beach, too, since it was right at the water’s edge :) We saw the most perfect sunset from our hot tub perch one evening after everyone else had turned in to get ready for dinner!

Speaking of dinner… we greatly enjoyed all of our meals at Nisbet! We started each day with a stunning view and yummy food at Coconuts, which is right on the beach and next to the pool. There was fresh fruit, cereal, pastries, yogurt and more to choose from in addition to cooked-to-order items off the menu. I chose banana pancakes three out of four days :)

We opted to skip lunch most days in favor of afternoon tea, which was served on the terrace of the Great House from 4-5 each day. Tea consisted of individual pots of tea (we tried the highlighted special each day — lemongrass, basil, and honey and lemon) as well as scones, sandwiches, cookies, and cake. YUM! I was so sad to leave tea behind when we headed home. We also made a little cat friend at tea: Henry, Nisbet’s official greeter!

We ate dinner in the Great House three out of four nights. Each dinner was three courses, and there were generally three choices for your starter, four choices for your entree, and four choices for dessert. Each meal included an amuse bouche, as well. John had the “Taste of Nevis” option each night (including things like curry, snapper, and jerk chicken), and loved each one. The food was unpretentious, but delicious.

On the Thursday night of our stay, we joined our fellow guests as well as many visitors from other resorts for Nisbet’s weekly Caribbean Beach BBQ. The evening began with a cocktail party, then continued with a surf-and-turf style meal cooked to order, and concluded with dancing to a local band on the beach under the stars! In my mind, this was about as “traditional Caribbean” as Nevis got, and it was just the right amount for us!

Probably the thing that stuck out the most to us about Nisbet, though, was the staff. By our first breakfast (less than 24 hours after we had arrived), everyone from the hosts to the waiters to the owners seemed to know our names, and always greeted us with a warm smile. We saw many guests launch into long conversations with the staff, but there was no pressure to engage if you were looking for a quiet meal. This, I think, is the reason most guests return to Nisbet year after year — guests are truly treated as family. We actually rode to the water taxi on our last day with a couple that had been coming to Nisbet — not just Nevis, Nisbet — for 15 years, and aside from the gorgeous surroundings, they said that warmth was the reason.

If you’re looking for a friendly but private honeymoon with all the perks of a Caribbean beach vacation and none of the drawbacks, I can’t recommend Nisbet Plantation highly enough. Be sure to check out more info on their website, and feel free to ask any questions in the comments!

Tell me: What was your number one criteria for your honeymoon? Location? History? Activities? Food? I’d love to hear!

Seven months and a few days after our wedding, John and I set off on our longest trip together to date. Our honeymoon destination? Nevis — a tiny island in the Caribbean that neither of us could pronounce (for the record: KNEE-viss), that no one we talked to had ever heard of, and that I thought sounded a bit like a skin condition. Despite this somewhat uncertain beginning, the end result was clear: Best. Decision. Ever.

John and I split our week away between two resorts on the island: Montpelier Plantation and Nisbet Plantation. Montpelier, and, actually, Nevis, had originally caught our eye in a post from our friend Meredith Perdue. If Meredith, a bonafide globe trotter, was describing her experience there like this (“It was, without a doubt, the most memorable (and delicious!) dining experience I’ve ever had”), we knew Montpelier was worth a second look.

Of course, Montpelier has plenty to recommend it aside from a personal recommendation. It’s a member of Relais & Chateaux, a distinction given only to the most charming and exceptional properties around the world, and has received AAA’s Four Diamond award.

Despite such high expectations going in, we were not disappointed. From the minute we pulled into the property and caught sight of the massive tree outside reception that grounds the whole property, we were a bit in awe. Luxury, seclusion, attention to detail, intimacy — all perfect descriptors for Montpelier.

Meredith Perdue

There are just 19 rooms on Montpelier’s 30 acres, and all are nestled into lush vegetation, making any neighbors seem very far away indeed.

Our room had a gorgeous view out over the water, and we enjoyed sitting on our back porch and watching the sun set before heading to dinner every night.

The room itself was beautiful, with dark wood floors and furnishings, airy white walls, and a high peaked ceiling.

Montpelier definitely has a European air to it (and, in fact, many of our fellow visitors lived overseas), and everything is permeated with a quiet sophistication. This is not loud and raucous Caribbean, it’s rest and relaxation Caribbean. Aside from one other couple who appeared to be about our age, the guests were definitely a good twenty years older than us, so if you’re hoping to find other honeymooners to pal around with, Montpelier might not be your place.

The quiet suited John and I just fine, though! We ate breakfast on the terrace every morning with a beautiful view of Mount Nevis, the large mountain in the middle of the island. This was our walk to breakfast:

Just beautiful! We kept busy (if you can call it busy…) by lounging by the pool (SO gorgeous!)…

…venturing down to Montpelier’s private beach (it was pristine, and we had it to ourselves the entire three hours we were there!)…

…and hiking nearby Saddle Hill with Ziggy, the yellow lab belonging to one of Montpelier’s owners.

We also loved just walking around the property, delighting in the gorgeous flowers, the cavorting goats (they’re all over Nevis!), and the plentiful hammocks.

With only three nights at Montpelier, we knew we wanted to take advantage of every dining opportunity possible (see Meredith’s review above), so we stayed on property for all of our meals. The first night we actually had the incredible experience of dining in the Mill Privee, a 300 year-old sugar mill that’s been preserved for modern use.

From Montpelier’s website

The Mill serves a prix fixe menu of five courses, and though some of the selections were things I never would have picked out myself, they were all delicious. Our favorite was the fish course, which was a pan-seared salmon wrapped with spinach over a shitake mushroom ragout and cilantro foam. We were dining by candlight with just two other couples, and it’s a night we will not soon forget. Here’s a peek at the Mill from the outside:

Meredith Perdue

The next two nights we ate at Restaurant 750, on the terrace of the main house, and we also ate lunch each day at Indigo, the casual poolside restaurant. Each meal was as delicious as the one before it! Because it’s so expensive to bring things over from the U.S. and because Nevis is so naturally abundant, everything possible, from fruits to fish, is sourced from the local environment. Aside from tasting great, that meant we got to try lots of local specialties, like yellow watermelon!

If you’re looking for a sophisticated, stylish getaway with a European flair for rest and relaxation, Montpelier Plantation is a perfect pick. It was easy to see why many of our fellow guests were on their third, fourth, or fifth trip back to the property! The staff is warm and knowledgeable, and clearly takes great pride in what they do. As they should – Montpelier is an amazing place to honeymoon, and one John and I would both heartily recommend!

For more details on Montpelier, be sure to check out their website. I’d be happy to answer any questions in the comments about Montpelier or Nevis, as well!

Finally, be sure to check back this afternoon for the scoop on Nisbet! In the meantime, I’d love to hear — where did you honeymoon, or where are you planning to honeymoon?

All photos are my own except where noted!

Hi, friends! I’m back with more from our Virginia minimoon. (Check out last week’s post on the Jefferson in DC here!) After an hour or so spent exploring Luray Caverns (have y’all been??), which is about halfway between DC and Charlottesville, we arrived at our lodgings for the evening – the Clifton Inn!

Prior to our visit, I had heard many wonderful things about the Clifton Inn from several friends. In fact, my buddy Meredith actually texted me earlier this summer while she was staying at the Inn, suggesting that John and I look into it if we hadn’t finalized our minimoon plans. Little did she know that we had already made arrangements for our September stay! (You can read her excellent review here!)

Happily, all of the hype turned out to be well-deserved. This was our first time visiting Charlottesville, and we now can’t imagine staying anywhere else!

We arrived around 6pm in drizzling rain — not the best conditions, but they did make the Inn look even warmer, cozier, and more welcoming in contrast! I loved that Clifton doesn’t really have a traditional check-in center, just two wooden desks tucked into the parlor next to the front door. With only 17 rooms and suites, they don’t exactly need to be worrying about a flood of guests, and I loved how homey and casual this made things feel!

A little bit of history: the property that the Clifton Inn sits on was originally owned by Thomas Mann Randolph, a governer of Virginia, member of the US Congress, and son-in-law of Thomas Jefferson. The original 2400 acres changed hands and were sold off over the years, until the current owners purchased the remaining 95 acres in 1983. It opened as a bed and breakfast in 1985 with five rooms. Outbuildings on the property were restored over several years, and a restaurant was opened in 1991.

The main room of the Inn, where we stayed, now houses just three guest rooms (I believe) in addition to the dining room, parlor, living room, and main hallway/entry. It really does feel like you’re in someone’s (very nice) house, in the best way possible. We were given a brief tour of the house, including the available-24-hours-a-day cookie jar in the kitchen (!), before being shown to our room. We stayed in the Monticello suite, and it was lovely! I apparently didn’t take any photos of our room, so here’s a little collage from the Clifton site:

We absolutely adored the sitting room, and the bed was also extremely comfortable. While I loved the design of the bathroom (and the water pressure in the shower, and the darling claw foot tub!), it was a bit on the small side. I think that has to be my only drawback to the entire property, though, so I’d still say they’re doing pretty well!

Moving on to food! It was our GREAT pleasure to dine at the Chef’s Counter that night. And it was a pleasure, indeed: in fact, I would rank that meal as the coolest dining experience of my life. To start, here was our view for the evening:

Yes, at the Chef’s Counter, you are literally sitting in the kitchen!! There were three chefs at work that evening, and we chatted with them throughout our meal, asking them any question we could think up. They were all delightful! The Clifton’s menu is made up of small plates, and they recommend guests order four, which includes one sweet course. We followed their recommendation, and here’s just a small peek at some of the deliciousness we sampled!

In addition to the courses we ordered, we were brought little treats throughout the night — just bites of things they were preparing for other guests, or samples of things they thought we might like! For example, we mentioned that John loves anything pickled, and so one of the chefs made him a whole plate of pickled things to try as he was packing up for the night. So nice!!

Everything was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Also, it was so neat to hear about how they source food, and their commitment to local farms and resources. For example, the AMAZING treat below (on the rock — yes, a real rock) is sprouts and greens gathered from just outside the kitchen door and presented together with lettuce mousse and cocoa dust. Blew my mind!! In addition, the chefs forage their own mushrooms a few miles away, along Skyline Drive!

If you visit the Clifton Inn, be sure to request a seat at the Chef’s Counter — it serves the same menu as and is no more expensive than the restaurant, and is available on a first come, first served basis!

The delicious food continued in the morning, with breakfast on the back porch. The continental breakfast is included, and on this morning, it included overnight oats with stone fruits and berries, and an assortment of muffins, breads, and pastries. Yum!

After breakfast, we had a little time to walk around the property, and despite the rain, everything was picturesque. I’m just sad we didn’t get a chance to swim in the pool!

Ah, well, I’ll just count it as extra motivation to make a return trip oh so soon. I can’t recommend the Clifton Inn highly enough for a romantic getaway or a wedding celebration. Be sure to check out more information about both on their website!

Tell me: Have you ever stayed at the Clifton Inn? Did you adore it as much as I did??

While it’s true that I can’t divulge any more wedding details quite yet, I wanted to take a minute to tell you about two stops on our minimoon! (John and I drove up to Connecticut for our wedding, and afterward, we drove back down to North Carolina. We stretched out the trip, stopping one night in DC, one night in Charlottesville, and one night in Richmond. We’re planning to take a longer trip, hopefully to St. Lucia or France, this coming spring!)

After a wedding the night before, a brunch that morning, and then a 7+ hour drive, we were both ready for some R&R by the time we arrived at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC. Thankfully, that’s just what was in store for us! After extricating our bags from the back of my (jam-packed) SUV, we quickly checked in and were escorted up to our room. The Jefferson bills itself as Washington’s “second most prestigious address,” and even on the quick trip up to our room, the quiet luxury that permeates the property was evident. Everything is done in plush neutrals — black, gray, white, cream, gold — and calls to mind a more elegant era. The Jefferson did have a different feel than some of the other Relais & Chateaux properties that we’ve been lucky enough to stay at — I wouldn’t necessarily call it relaxed — but everything seemed fitting to its city location.

Being the history buffs that we are, John and I also enjoyed that The Jefferson keeps a collection of original documents signed by TJ himself in their foyer! There’s also this beautiful marble on the floor, meant to recall UVA’s Rotunda:

When we arrived at our room, we were temporarily distracted from the beautiful furnishings by a surprise gift waiting for us — chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne! Turns out my younger sister had called ahead to place the order as a special gift — so sweet!! Considering I still often think of her as being about twelve, John and I were bowled over.

But eventually we did recover, and had a chance to quickly check out our lodging for the night before heading off to dinner. It was beautiful! To give you a feel for the style, our room looked pretty similar to this:

A few more of our snaps, including one of us geeking out over the in-mirror bathroom television (so cool!):

Fun fact: The Jefferson actually purifies and bottles its own water on site in beautiful glass vessels (you can spot one in the right-hand photo above). I should also mention that our room had a separate tub and shower, which John considers one of the hallmarks of a luxurious hotel experience. Both were exquisite, with excellent water pressure in the shower (something high on my priority list!).

Before we knew it, it was time to head to dinner! We had reservations at DC Coast, an award-winning restaurant a few blocks over from The Jefferson.

DC Coast’s menu is inspired by America’s coastal regions — mid-Atlantic, Gulf Coast, and West Coast/Pacific Rim — which made me slightly nervous, since I’m not the biggest seafood fan. But I needn’t have worried, because everything we ate was delicious! Interestingly enough, my favorite part of the meal was not anything I ordered, but a surprise amuse bouche from the chef, with farro, chanterelle mushrooms, lobster, and asparagus. I almost licked the bowl clean, it was that good.

Another highlight of the meal was the white wine we had with our entrees, a pinot blanc that the manager selected for us. We loved the taste (very fresh, almost like apples), but thought it was especially sweet that he had chosen it in part because it’s one of the only wines that’s bottled with a glass cork, which he thought would make a special souvenir from our vacation. Awww!!

One other thing I have to mention about our time at DC Coast is the playlist. Almost as soon as we arrived in DC, John and I started reminiscing about our memories from our time spent there (he attended George Washington University our freshman year of college, and I visited him several times). Music was a big part of his life at that point (and so, mine, too), and the playlist on the night we visited included all of our favorite artists from that time in our lives: the Postal Service, Arcade Fire, the Shins, Death Cab for Cutie… mind you, these are songs from about seven years ago now, so it’s not like they’re hip and current! In addition, the playlist included swing and big band songs, which I obviously can’t get enough of. Who besides us would have thought those paired perfectly?? The manager of DC Coast, apparently! I can’t guarantee you’ll have the same serendipitous music experience if you visit, but I think it does speak to the care DC Coast extends to everything they do.

Being surburbanites in our daily lives, we greatly enjoyed being able to walk to and from The Jefferson, and we were happy to be greeted by this lovely facade on our way back:

The next morning, we were excited to head to breakfast at The Greenhouse, one of The Jefferson’s three dining spaces. It’s actually the first thing you see when you enter through the front doors, and makes quite an impression! That beautiful skylight is also original to the building, which we thought was very neat.

The Greenhouse is such a lovely, refreshing spot to start your morning! The food was delicious, too. Our fellow diners did seem to be businesspeople (maybe politicians?), which made me wonder if the clientele is different on the weekend. (We visited on a Sunday night/Monday morning.)

One the funniest parts of our brief stay? When the hostess brought over a plush little stool for my handbag to sit on. It was an entirely lovely gesture, but John and I just about died laughing (I guess we’re not used to such luxury?), and referred to the footstool throughout the rest of our trip :)

Footstools or no footstools, I’d highly recommend The Jefferson to couples planning a romantic trip to DC. Its serene, chic environment perfectly embodied grown-up luxury, and we loved being in the center of the city. (In fact, before we picked up our car, we walked just a few blocks over to peek at the White House!) And if you do stay at The Jefferson, you absolutely must visit DC Coast for a meal.

Huge thanks to these spots for their gracious hosting! I’ll be back with our stay at the Clifton Inn next week!

With Emily off on her mini-moon (Congrats Mr. and Mrs. THOMAS!),  what better time to give you a little mental vacation at your desk to start the week?  Y’all know we’re in the thick of making a [gorgeous, stunning, amazing, phenomenal] fifth anniversary issue happen, right? And y’all know we work hard around these parts, right? I couldn’t have asked for better timing with my recent visit to The Umstead Hotel and Spa right here in our neck of the woods in Cary, NC! Oh, what a delightful overnight visit we enjoyed and such fabulous Southern hospitality!

The Umstead Hotel and Spa was conceived and built with the muses of Art and Nature. These inspirations paired with impeccable, sincere service make for an exquisite hideaway that will comfort and rejuvenate. Everything – from the naturally landscaped grounds to the central Chihuly glass sculpture, the locally sourced cuisine to the botanically infused Umstead Spa products – is designed to stir the senses and inspire. And inspire it did!

From the sweet peach tea that greeted us in the lobby to the friendly staff to the warm natural elegance of the décor, it was right up my alley. And they know how to treat every guest like family, y’all! When we walked into our gorgeous lake-view suite, we were overwhelmed with the size of the room (so perfect for the wedding party to get ready or just for a couple to relax in) and then I squealed when I saw what was waiting on the desk…

A box of hand-crafted artisan chocolates and a lavender eye pillow with a luxurious bath soak. They gift this to all of their brides as well. What a treat! But, the best part for me was the adorable little stuffed bird that accompanied the luxurious treats with a note to Grace. Oh my stars, how thoughtful! Naturally, it is now one of her favorite toys.

They had even set up an adorable crib for Grace in the room with the best view in house! This, plus many other touches during our stay, were sure signs of a property that truly embodies what it means to be gracious and giving. Being surrounded by those two qualities on your big day is truly priceless.

We had our sweet nanny Susan babysit Grace in the room (Susan said Grace’s smile was a mile wide when she saw the giant bath she’d be playing in that night) while we enjoyed a phenomenal six-course meal at The Umstead’s signature restaurant, Heron’s.

As a Florida girl who grew up on the water, the heron has long been one of my favorite birds. Tall and graceful, we’d sit out as a family and watch them careful wade in the water in search of the best fish to eat.

I could write a book about our meal, but to avoid making you all salivate on your keyboards, here are just a few highlights: heirloom tomatoes with parmesan ice cream (!!) and bacon (!!!)… OK, need I say more? The food was divine!

One of my favorite things about Heron’s is that they have a resident culinary farmer who cultivates and gathers produce from local farms for the chefs to use. I would love to meet her and follow her for a day. What a lovely job to have!

I now see why so many friends have enjoyed anniversaries and life celebrations here. There were at least three couples in the dining area with us that were there for anniversaries. The food is amazing, the service perfection and the atmosphere is ultra-romantic with warm golden lighting and old jazz standards cooing softly as people dine.

I could also see why people travel in to have weddings here. It’s truly a hidden gem. We were 15 minutes from my house and I felt like we were across an ocean at a secluded retreat. Ari and I will definitely be back next year to celebrate 7 years of marriage.

After an indulgent and delightful meal talking about our marriage and the blessings of the past year with Grace, we settled in to sleep in the plush bed. A+ for comfort, y’all! I felt like we were at home.

The next morning, after some fun time playing around with Gracie in her “fort” – i.e. the covers – we went to the gym (another A+ from the former personal trainer gym rat here!).

Post-gym, I had the pleasure of enjoying a massage at the spa. Let me rephrase that… the spaaaaaaaahhhhhh. Oh, it was so good! Ari and Grace headed off to the gorgeous pool for some daddy/daughter swim time while I drifted off into a state of spaaaahhh bliss.

I’ve had the pleasure of touring and enjoying a lot of spas over the years through the hospitality industry. (Yes, major job perk.) The Umstead is my new happy place. With natural stone and beautiful furnishings, streaming natural light in the gigantic showers and steam room area and dozens of treatment rooms, the spa is something out of a dream and quite huge. I had no idea something like this existed in the South, much less 15 minutes from my house. I sipped on hibiscus tea, munched on spa snacks and took some much-needed deep breaths. It was lovely. As a bride, I’d be on cloud nine to spend my pre-wedding hours here. In fact, I saw a bridal party getting a tour of the spa while I was there and they were positively giddy! Most definitely a recipe for zero wedding day stress!

After the spa, I reunited with the cutest 9-month-old on the planet in her little cute bathing suit and her handsome daddy and took a quick tour of the property. Besides the 12 acres of gorgeous wooded land and natural surroundings, including a beautiful ceremony lawn that overlooks the lake, the property boasts some of the most beautiful ballrooms I’ve ever seen! I’m such a fan of outdoor ceremonies, but I have to say I’d have a hard time choosing at The Umstead.

The ballrooms are beautifully decorated (even the carpet, y’all!) and the golden fabric-paneled walls had me swooning. The hallways are decked with local artwork and the ceilings are taller than oaks. Any combination of outdoor beauty and ballroom elegance would make for an unforgettable beginning to married life.

After our inspiring property tour, we [sadly] packed up to head home. We’ll be back for a visit soon again, for sure! Huge thanks to the gracious Umstead staff for hosting us!

I’d love to hear from our local brides. Have you visited The Umstead? What did you love most?