"What does it feel like to arrive here?Kiawah Island is just a 21-mile drive southwest of downtown Charleston, yet it feels worlds away. Drive through rural John’s Island, beneath tunnels of gnarled live oaks, across the marsh, pausing briefly at the island’s gatehouse, then continue along four more miles of winding road to reach The Sanctuary. Bellhops dressed in classic knickers and argyle socks sprint to help with your luggage, their sunshiny dispositions adding to the sensation that you’ve landed somewhere special. Inside, a soaring lobby frames views to the ocean beyond. In the wings of your peripheral vision, sweeping staircases curve past two-story murals based on actual Kiawah landscapes, shimmering with coastal light. What's the backstory on the island?This sea island is named for the Kiawah Indians who lived here when Charleston’s original settlers arrived in 1670. Subsequent centuries saw pirates and plantations come and go, before vacation development began in earnest in the 1970s, always with an ethic of conservation. Now over 30 miles of smooth paved bike trails snake through maritime forest, past freshwater and salt-marsh enclaves. The Sanctuary is the only hotel on Kiawah’s 10-mile stretch of beach. There are 10,000 uncrowded acres in which to get lost (in the best sense of the word). Importantly: Tell us all about the rooms.Design-wise, The Sanctuary straddles modern and traditional. On the one hand, you’ve got state-of-the-art construction built in 2004 to withstand the occasional hurricane (thick walls, solid windows, no ambient noise). On the other hand, old-school design touches give the hotel warmth and softness: floral drapes, mahogany bed frames, Victorian picture hangers, and soft yellow hues. Our oceanfront King had a private balcony, interior plantation shutters dividing bed from bath, and British toiletries blended with citrus oils, lavender, pine, and musk. A fluffy featherbed made for a cloud-like sleep. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?Wi-Fi is free and strong. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?Kiawah takes its dining very seriously, and although the food here isn't cheap, it's truly excellent. The 21-day wet-aged filet mignon at the Ocean Room, served with both au poivre and Béarnaise, just might be the best steak you ever have. A smoked trout caviar starter was as fun as it was beautiful: tiny little orange orbs sourced from the Puget Sound, with delicate ivory spoons and a line-up of creams and crumbles to layer on corn-based mini-pancakes. Asparagus? Perfectly blanched. Truffle fries? Indulgent. And nothing beats shrimp and lobster bites poached in artisanal local ale, served with a quenelle of cognac cream, presented by a waiter donning a pheasant-feathered bow tie. On Sunday morning, enjoy an alfresco brunch on the porch of the Jasmine Porch with bottomless mimosas. How was the service? The level of luxury here is a step up from anything you’ll find on the peninsula. Service is attentive but not fawning, from the genuinely rosy clerk at check-in, to the bike shop manager who made sure to guide us toward a route with the wind at our backs, to the pool attendant who tucked our towels into the corners of a lounge chair with swift precision. What type of travelers will you find here?Guests run the gamut, from New Englanders on vacation to local families celebrating special occasions. What about the neighborhood? What else will you find here?The residential neighborhoods and five championship golf courses that are nearby the hotel are designed to blend into the natural landscape; when you drive or bike or walk around, mother nature remains front and center. You might see alligators, owls, and egrets. Any other hotel features worth noting?The spa is otherworldly, with herbal tea blends, warming towels weighted by heated grain, and treatments with lavender and other fragrant oils. Spa guests have all-day access to the mineral pool, steam room, dry sauna, private rain showers, relaxation room, and more. Bottom line: Why are we staying here? From edible orchids floating in mimosas, to impromptu encounters with bald eagles, to shafts of sunlight illuminating the salt spray of a 10-mile beach, there's no resort quite like The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island." - Allston McCrady
