Jefferson Hotel in Richmond & The Ulmstead in Raleigh, NC

I just stayed in the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. This is a beautiful historic hotel that is the sister hotel to the Sanctuary in Kiaweh. The hotel has all the usual amenities including a spa, pool and fitness center. The upper and lower lobby are very grand and elegant. The restaurant was very good and so was the nearby Bookbinders seafood restaurant.

In Raleigh, or rather in Cary, which is a suburb of Raleigh, NC. The Ulmstead Hotel is wonderful in every way. It looks out on a small lake (or big pond) with a fountain in the middle, has a pool, spa, excellent restaurant and the rooms are very spacious. It was built and decorated by the richest family in Raleigh and you can see the care they put into every detail, from the fabrics on the furniture to the rugs and special woods. It has a contemporary but luxury feeling (not minimalist). I hated to leave.