As you ride down U.S. 15-501 in rural Chatham County in North
Carolina, it may be hard for you to believe that one of the top five-star
hotels in the U.S. calls this part of the rural South home.
When you come upon the entrance of Fearrington Village and
spot some adorable and rare Belted Galloway cows and goats in the pasture, you may wonder:
What am I going to do out here?
Well, I’ve got news for you. Once you check into the
Fearrington House Inn in Fearrington Village, you relax and soak up all that
this sophisticated country inn has to offer and you may never want to
leave.
Fearrington House Inn is only eight
miles from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is only four miles
from the historic town of Pittsboro with quaint shops. So, in reality, you really aren’t far from
anywhere when you check in here. It’s just that this inn makes you feel as if
you have escaped to life at a slower pace.
With its quaint gardens and beautiful interiors, Fearrington
House Inn is part of the well-respected Relais&Chateaux membership, with
its strict standards on hospitality and gourmet cuisine.
Relais&Chateaux, founded in Europe, represents 520
charming properties in 60 countries. Inns in this membership tend to be small,
luxurious, and family-owned and make you feel as if you are staying in
someone’s home.
These properties are top of the line. With inn rooms at the Fearrington House Inn starting at $325 and suites starting at $545, stays are not inexpensive, but this inn is certainly worthy of special occasions for those who like to splurge now and
then on travels. All rates include a gourmet breakfast and afternoon tea.
It’s not the type of property where valets and a doorman swoop
down on you upon arrival. That’s what I love about it. It is more understated,
European elegance, but first-class all the way.
There is not a big hotel lobby, but rather small living rooms for guests
to relax and have a cup of complimentary coffee.
Check-in is in a small office with a simple sign. Your host
will walk you to your room, or if you are in one of the annex buildings, as we
were, you will follow the host in your car while he rides in his golf cart.
Our Suite
There are 32 rooms and suites at Fearrington House Inn, all
individually decorated. The inn recently went through a room renovation with
new bedding and fabric updates. It was lovely before with a more French
provincial look, but I like this new look even more.
Now, let’s talk special occasion. It’s the little things
where this hotel completely shines. Will and I stayed here for his birthday and
our anniversary, which are about a month apart from each other.
With kids, it’s hard for us to get away
without them so we came in between the two events for two nights. Every staff member we encountered wished Will
a “Happy Birthday.” We had champagne on arrival in our living room, courtesy of
the general manager and some culinary treats made by Chef Colin Bedford and his
staff.
The bathroom in our suite was divine. There were robes,
heated towels, luxurious bath amenities, basically all the amenities you would
expect in a five-star property.
The inn provides turn-down with slippers, truffles and port.
I think it’s the perfect way to end an evening before slipping into luxurious
Egyptian cotton sheets.
Afternoon Tea
Complimentary afternoon tea is served in the main farmhouse
each afternoon for inn guests only. It’s quite gourmet and very good. My only
complaint is that each tray has only one item of each tea cuisine, so it’s hard
for those individuals like me who don’t like to share. It’s perfect, though,
for that afternoon pick-me-up.
Gourmet Breakfast
The inn offers room service for its guests at a price per
entrée, but a gourmet breakfast in the Farmhouse dining room is included as
part of your stay. This breakfast is amazing, and you have a full menu to
choose from daily.
It is a formal setting, but you don’t have to be formal in
the morning. Staff at the Fearrington House Inn wants you to relax and enjoy
your vacation. It’s OK to go to breakfast in resort casual attire with little
makeup and your wet hair in a clip.
You are so full from breakfast that you will want to skip
lunch, but you shouldn’t. The Fearrington Village offers great lunch options at
the Goat, a cafe, coffee and wine shop, and the Granary, an upscale, casual
eatery with farm-to-table cuisine.
The Fearrington House Restaurant
You cannot stay at the inn and not have dinner at the main restaurant. It is the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the U.S. to be Green-Certified
and to have been ranked a top 10 restaurant in America.
The menu changes seasonally, and once a dish leaves the menu,
it never comes back, as Chef Colin Bedford and his team are constantly creating
new entrees.
It is impressive, and restaurants like this are why the
Relais&Chateaux properties have such culinary accolades. Whether you are
spending the night at the inn or not, you must dine at the Fearrington House
Restaurant. It has remained a favorite of mine since its opening while I was in
college.
The Spa at Fearrington
The spa in Fearrington Village is a day spa. It has a very
shabby-chic vibe about it with pedicures taking place in a tin foot tub. The
spa uses Elemis, a leading British luxury spa and skin-care company, for its
products. Nail colors are provided by
Essie.
I had a classic pedicure and a massage during my stay. I
loved the spa, and it was the best pedicure I have ever experienced. I will
certainly drive back over to the Fearrington spa to have another one. The spa
is located about 45 minutes from Raleigh, so if you have lunch in the village
and a spa treatment, then, in my opinion, that makes a great day excursion.
There are also some adorable shops in the village, so
Fearrington Village is a great place to explore.
Other Hotel Amenities
Fearrington Village also has bike and walking trails. The inn
offers complimentary bicycles for guests to use during their stay. Guests can also have access to a fitness
center and the use of an outdoor swimming pool at the Fearrington Swim and
Croquet Club. Guests just have to present a room key to use the
facilities.
Fearrington House Inn is pet and kid-friendly; however, I
think it is best suited for romantic giveaways since it's so close to my hometown.
Disclosure: Opinions about my hotel stays are my own.
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