Travel Souths Best The South's Best Resorts 2018 By Valerie Fraser Luesse Valerie Fraser Luesse Senior Travel Editor Valerie Fraser Luesse has been associated with Southern Living and its affiliates since 1988 or, as she puts it, "I predate voicemail." After a decade in corporate communications, she moved to Southern Living Editorial as creative development director in 2001 and was later a senior writer in the travel department. Valerie left the magazine to freelance for a while (Valerie hated freelancing) and returned in 2016. Since then, she has had many adventures in storytelling, online and on the road.The Alabama native lives in Birmingham and writes novels on the side, including Under the Bayou Moon, The Key to Everything, Almost Home, and Missing Isaac. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Southerners want a resort to offer much more than a place to sleep. We're after total escape. And pampering. And serious ambiance. We want to forget that we ever had a job or a mortgage or even a to-do list. A great resort is a destination unto itself, though we'd also like an ocean view or maybe a mountain vista when we step onto that private balcony. The best resorts in the South run the gamut from old-school elegance at places like Blackberry Farm and The Greenbrier to the rustic seclusion of Little Palm Island. It doesn't matter whether a resort is known for white tablecloth dining (jacket required, guys) or beachside picnics (flip-flops optional). What matters is that they do what they do better than anybody else—and that you don't have a care in the world from the moment you check in. 01 of 11 See The Winners 02 of 11 1. Blackberry Farm Helen Norman Walland, Tennessee Blackberry Farm emanates hospitality, from its farm-to-table offerings to the porches on guest cottages. blackberryfarm.com 03 of 11 2. Montage Palmetto Bluff Courtesy of Montage Palmetto Bluff Bluffton, South Carolina Guests can kayak on Lowcountry marshes in front of balconied guesthouses overlooking mossdraped oak trees. montagehotels.com/palmettobluff 04 of 11 3. Lake Austin Spa Resort Courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort Austin, Texas You'll forget that bustling Austin is only 40 minutes away. Splurge on a hot tub cottage for even more relaxation and stargazing. lakeaustin.com 05 of 11 4. The Cloister Peter Frank Edwards/Redux Sea Island, Georgia Once a retreat for Presidents and business tycoons, the historic Cloister remains a bastion of old-school luxury. seaisland.com 06 of 11 5. Rancho Loma Art Meripol Talpa, Texas For those serious about going off the grid, it offers luxe Texas ranch living in a contemporary-style five-bedroom house. rancholoma.com 07 of 11 6. Rancho Pillow Courtesy of Ranchpillow.com Round Top, Texas Part Texas farmhouse and part Pee-wee's Playhouse, this retreat suits Round Top's creative community. ranchopillow.com 08 of 11 7. The Greenbrier Photo: Ball and Albanese White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia A true grande dame of American resorts, it has been welcoming guests since 1778. greenbrier.com 09 of 11 8. Big Cedar Lodge Art Meripol Ridgedale, Missouri This cabin-style property is perched above Table Rock Lake in the Ozark Mountains. Activities here include paddleboarding, bass fishing, and waterskiing. bigcedar.com 10 of 11 9. Little Palm Island Resort & Spa Chris M. Rogers Little Torch Key, Florida Little Palm offers guests 30 oceanfront suites, and azure water views abound. littlepalmisland.com 11 of 11 10. Primland Robbie Caponetto Meadows of Dan, Virginia Wake up in the Blue Ridge Mountains in one of Primland's Tree Houses. Take stargazing to a new level at the resort's high-altitude observatory. primland.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit