The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee
"Give us the big picture.On the shores of Lake Oconee, some 80 miles east of Atlanta, the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, offers an easy escape from city life. The main resort overlooks 30 miles of shoreline with a small beach, floating hammocks, and a dock with stand-up paddle boards and kayaks. Tall Georgia pines frame rolling lawns, and fire pits crackle at dusk. This is a place that makes you want to put your phone in the safe and unplug for a while. Who stays here?Couples, golfers, families, even celebrities. (In 2010, Carrie Underwood bought out the resort for her wedding to pro hockey player Mike Fisher.) We want to hear all about the rooms.Accommodations vary widely, from 463-square-foot standard rooms to a 5,404-square-foot Lake House, including brand new Fireside Rooms with personal fire pits. I would opt for an Executive Suite on the fifth-floor club level with a balcony overlooking the lake. The living area has a pullout couch and a half bathroom with a free-standing soaking tub, while the bedroom is outfitted with Egyptian-cotton linens and goose-down pillows. Around the corner, the Club Lounge offers everything from early-morning breakfasts to late-evening nightcaps, plus a dedicated concierge. Any fun facts worth sharing?The land on which the resort sits was once the family hunting retreat of Mercer Reynolds Sr. (Reynolds was the inventor of solidified cottonseed oil.) Animal-print throw pillows in the rooms nod to the area’s hunting-plantation past—a thoughtful touch. Now, about room service...Yup, you read the room-service menu right: You can have a six-ounce Black Angus 1855 filet with garlic and herb whipped potatoes and wild mushroom gravy ($38) delivered directly to your room. Polish it off with Mary Beth’s Heath Bar Custard, from the recipe box of Chef Sean Thomas’ grandmother. What else can we do at the hotel?Worth a trip in itself, the resort’s sprawling spa overlooks the lake and offers everything from a simple men’s shave to a full-body scrub utilizing Georgia red clay. Try the Golf Ball Massage, which incorporates a heated golf ball much like a hot stone to loosen tight muscles. Regardless of whether you book a treatment, your resort fee gives you access to the whirlpool, steam room, dry sauna, and cold plunge pool. The Spa Studio offers a full menu of group fitness classes, which are included in your resort fee. On sunny days, the pool deck is the place to be—so show up early to reserve a lounge chair. The zero-edge pool overlooks the lake, which has a boathouse filled with jet skis, kayaks, even a double-decker pontoon with a slide. You can also rent a fishing pole, tackle, and bait to try to catch bass and bream. The resort offers access to five championship golf courses with 99 holes of play between them. A golf concierge can arrange your tee time and also provide complimentary transportation to and from the links. You can also play tennis at nearby Reynolds Lake Oconee Tennis Center (the resort fee includes one hour of tennis, plus loaner racquets and balls). From the playground to the tree swings to the tiny locomotive that gives children rides around the resort, it’s clear this place caters to families. The Ritz-Kids Camp hosts daily activities for the small set, and nightly s’more roasts are a resort tradition. The resort has three full-service restaurants. Gaby’s by the Lake serves lobster grilled cheese and fried-catfish tacos by the water. Georgia’s offers lovely dining on its fireplace terrace. (Try the bacon-wrapped meatloaf or shrimp and grits.) The resort’s fine-dining restaurant, Linger Longer Steakhouse, is known for its certified black angus steaks and views of the golf course. Final thoughts?No wonder Carrie Underwood held her wedding here—this is a special place. Golf, spa, swim, or simply lie in the sun; no matter how you fill your days, you’ll no doubt leave refreshed." - Allison Weiss Entrekin
