Westglow Resort & Spa

Westglow Resort & Spa occupies a 42-acre estate that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The estate was built in 1917 as the home of local painter and writer Elliott Daingerfield, and includes the Greek Revival-style manor house -- The Mansion -- filled with his original furnishings and artwork. After changing hands in 1978 and becoming a wellness retreat, the property shifted again in 2006 and underwent restorations and renovations that transformed it into today's Relais & Chateau property. The atmosphere is serene and elegant throughout, and the emphasis is still on wellness and relaxation. Interiors are handsome, with gorgeous patterned area rugs and luxe details like a grand piano. There are rocking chairs on the front porch with mountain views, flower patches on expansive lawns, a small white gazebo, a charming vegetable and herb garden, and tennis courts lined with neatly kept shrubs. Guests are a mix of couples and friends, and the crowd here tends to be older. 

Westglow Resort & Spa is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which stretch out in all directions from the property and are visible from all guest rooms. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is about a five-minute drive from the hotel. The restaurants, coffeeshops, and boutiques of Blowing Rock are just five minutes away by car. Grandfather Mountain State Park -- a popular hiking spot -- is a 20-minute drive away, and the town of Banner Elk, with restaurants and shops, is a 35-minute drive. Asheville is just under two hours away by car and the closest major airport is in Charlotte, about two hours away.

There are six guest rooms in The Mansion, each individually decorated in a classic, elegant style. Decor includes wooden bed frames or two-poster beds, some with romantic fabric canopies, plus subtly printed carpeting and drapes and framed prints in creative configurations. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, Sferra linens, mountain views (varying from John's River Gorge to Grandfather Mountain), air-conditioning, safes, robes and slippers, Wi-Fi, and work desks. Some bathrooms have freestanding clawfoot tubs and all include premium Molton Brown bath products. There are also two separate units across the street, which border Pisgah National Forest. The Fleur de Lis Lodge -- a modern house with gray siding -- can sleep up to eight guests, with four bedrooms (including two master suites), three-and-a-half bathrooms, two decks, a high-end kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and a four-car garage. The Lodge has three modern suites, all with fireplaces, including the Tree Top Suite with a lofted king bedroom, a queen bedroom, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen. The look throughout these units is similarly sharp and sophisticated, though it is more modern and contemporary than rooms in the Manor House.

The hotel's high-end holistic spa is bright and clean, with a soothing aquamarine palette and plenty of natural light streaming through large windows. It offers a variety of services, ranging from Swedish massages to Ultimate Vichy services and acupuncture. It also includes a salon for beauty treatments. Rowland's restaurant in The Mansion is a popular fine dining establishment that's open to the public and serves Southern-influenced New American cuisine for breakfast and dinner, with mountain views and a fireplace. Dinner options include fresh seafood and game meats, while the breakfast (free for all-inclusive and bed-and-breakfast guests) features decadent dishes such as Bananas Foster French Toast. There's also an extensive wine list with rare international and North Carolina wines. The spa dinner menu offers healthy, lighter fare.The modern fitness center is spacious for such a small property. It's a bright and clean room with windows letting in natural light and wellness options include guided hikes and morning walks, yoga classes, and tennis sessions. There's a sizable indoor pool in an aquamarine-colored room with windows overlooking the grounds, as well as an adjacent hot tub and a small cafe area with tables and chairs where guests can have tea and coffee. A room just off the pool has comfy lounge chairs and a big, white couch facing floor-to-ceiling windows. Customized wedding packages are available, from small group occasions to elaborate destination weddings for over 100 people. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.