Lobby Fireplace
Big Cypress Lodge
BIG CYPRESS LODGE
For an experience like none other, book a room at the Big Cypress Lodge. Situated between the hustle of downtown Memphis and the splendor of the Mississippi River, the hotel is a 300 feet high gleaming glass pyramid. Originally built in 1991 when it was the sports arena for the University of Memphis men’s basketball program and the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, took the space over in 2015 and opened the 103-room hotel. And unlike most hotels, the best views here are from the interior rooms, the screened balconies of which overlook the 535,000 square-foot Bass Pro Shops store on the ground floor. Imagine an indoor forest, complete with ponds (and aquariums) featuring 600,000 gallons of water, along with 36 varietals of fish, several waterfowl types, and even alligators. Nestled into corners of this water-filled wonderland are departments of the Bass Pro Shop store. Cross the bridge on the lower level and enter Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill for breakfast, lunch or drinks. Here, tropical fish swim in an enormous tank and a bowling alley takes on an underwater feel, complete with floating trophy fish and shark-shaped ball returns. Hop aboard the Sky High Ride—the tallest free-standing elevator in the U.S. The 28-story glass elevator takes you through the pyramid and up into The Lookout restaurant, where you can enjoy signature dishes like the Wild Game Sausage Charcuterie plate and the White River Catfish plate before stepping out onto the (see- through) outdoor platform 300 feet above Memphis, with spectacular 360-degree views of the city. And while the amenities at Big Cypress are jaw-dropping, it’s the rooms that steal the show. (big-cypress.com)
THE KIMPTON SHANE HOTEL
The Kimpton Shane Hotel opened in Midtown Atlanta in 2022 and quickly established itself as a must-book for out-of- town guests and local foodies alike. With 230 sophisticated guest rooms, including 18 suites and one Presidential Suite, and over 6,600 square feet of flexible meetings and events space on the hotel’s second floor, the Kimpton Shane is a great spot for an easily drivable weekend getaway or business trip. It’s also a dining destination with two dining hotspots located inside the hotel: cocktail lounge, Aveline, and New American restaurant, Hartley Kitchen & Cocktails. Make plans for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner here and tuck in for some southern home away from home cooking with a twist. Start your day with a decadent order of Johnny Cake Pancakes with blueberry-lemon compote and honey butter. For lunch, indulge in the Fried Chicken Sandwich—a buttermilk fired chicken breast, butter lettuce, tomato, pickles, and chipotle ranch on a brioche bun served with fries. And before enjoying one of Executive Chef Mark Alba’s signature dinner entrees, start with some southern small plates like Pimento Cheese with pickled red onions and house spiced saltines, BBQ shrimp with grilled sourdough and green onions, or Smoked and Fried Chicken Drumettes. At the end of the day, enjoy one of the hotel’s luxurious guest rooms. With stunning views of Atlanta and chic, modern design, these rooms are as spacious as they are sophisticated. In fact, the entire hotel is a dictionary definition of form meets function. Inspired by the artistic attitude of the Midtown neighborhood, designer Kellie Sirna and her team at Studio 11 Design chose natural materials and a neutral color palette to create a backdrop that highlights the property’s artful, sculptural furniture and lighting. And because Midtown is known as Atlanta’s “Heart of the Arts,” there’s plenty of fabulous, local art all around the hotel. (shanehotelatlanta.com)
PURSELL FARMS
Spread across 3,200 acres in the rolling foothills of Central Alabama, Pursell Farms delivers a full-service resort experience in a relaxed luxury setting. From the world’s only research and demonstration golf course, FarmLinks, to the ORVIS Shooting Grounds and the chef-driven dinners overlooking the scenic countryside, it’s a place to engage in a weekend of sport or simply sit back and savor its abundant Southern charms. Pursell Farms’ CEO and Co-Founder, David Pursell, planted the earliest seeds of the resort in 2003 when he realized his vision of a golf course where golf superintendents could see “first-hand” the innovative agronomy technologies his company, Pursell Technologies, had developed. He sold the business just a few years later but kept the family farm, shifting focus to something that comes naturally to the accomplished businessman, artist, and father of six: Hospitality. Along with Parker Lodge—the majestic 14,000 square-foot lodge that housed the more than 10,000 golf and agronomy professionals that visited the farm—two fully restored historic homes on the property Hamilton Place (1852) and The ORVIS FarmHouse (1830) also welcomed overnight guests, transporting them to a bygone era with their grand porches and gracious details. Next came a collection of cabins and cottages of varying sizes, all with direct access to the eighteen-hole, championship Hurdzan-Fry golf course. The completion of the forty-room, country-styled Inn in 2018 opened lodging to more couples and families, offering luxuriously appointed rooms, two on-site restaurants, a bocce court, and an outdoor pool with prime views of the surrounding green and meadow. No matter where you rest your head, you’ll do so with a full belly. (pursellfarms.com)