Ready Your Pencils: Get Schooled in Travel at the South's Graduate Hotel Locations
Wherever we travel, there's always one thing that's certain: We need a place to stay. Some enjoy couch surfing, others enjoy hopping between Airbnbs, and the posh among us might venture a stay at an establishment with a concierge, complimentary cocktail hour, and in-house sommelier. But whether you're in a sleeping bag on a stranger's couch or luxuriating in sateen weave 600-thread-count sheets with room service, when's the last time your accommodations invited you into a story? The Graduate Hotels, founded by UT alum Ben Weprin, do just that. Each property is thoroughly researched before the design and build commence, inspired by a local university and the town in which it's located. "The narratives that the design tells in each of our properties is an integral part of the Graduate experience and creates an emotional connection for our guests to the destination for years to follow," Weprin says. "Whether you're an alum, dropping off your kid, or just stopping by on a road trip, we aim to build something that generates a strong sense of nostalgia that is relatable for every type of traveler." From drinks under fuchsia umbrellas at the Graduate Hotel Nashville on the Dolly-Parton themed rooftop bar to basketball lore at the Graduate Hotel Chapel Hill and Peyton Manning's Western watering hole at the Graduate Hotel Knoxville, come step into each of the 10 stories at these Graduate Hotel locations across the South.
Graduate Annapolis
Drawing inspiration from the neighboring U.S. Naval Academy, St. John's College, and the Chesapeake Bay, the Graduate Annapolis sits squarely in the arts district. The décor, which features accents of Chesapeake blue crabs, madras plaid, and nautical motifs, will instantly transport you to a life on the bay from the comfort of your plush, navy room punctuated with bold patterns. And when you do get out to explore, downtown is a pleasant evening stroll away, and the arts district overflows with creatives, galleries, entertainment, and restaurants for a night around town.
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Graduate Athens
Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and down the street from the University of Georgia (go, Dawgs!), this Graduate hotel drips with all the signature Southern charm, and stepping into the lobby feels like stepping into Grandma's living room. That is, assuming that Gram loved mustard-yellow high-backed leather banquettes and funky patterns. (Though, seeing all the chintz makes us believe this isn't too far off the mark.) The hotel occupies the Foundry, which was once a blacksmiths' workshop that saw the production of the UGA Arch and Double-Barreled Cannon. Now, it calls itself "the South's living room." Come on over!
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Graduate Chapel Hill
Here, you can take your shot on the replica basketball court and relive those heart-racing 17 seconds at the 1982 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. Fans and visitors alike will appreciate the replica scoreboard in the lobby, along with the other quirky design elements: funky wall paper, mismatched prints, and a hanging model airplane. North Carolina was, after all, "First in Flight." Orville and Wilbur Wright took their first flight in Outer Banks. Sports isn't, however, the only thing that gets the spotlight around here. There's plenty of homage to Neoclassical architecture—think Old Well lamps, Oak Leaf sconces, bold plaids, and blues. But, of course, it's all finished by reclaimed basketball court flooring.
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Graduate Charlottesville
Located on the historic main street, the Graduate Charlottesville gives visitors easy access to the Rotunda and the Lawn. It's also right by a part of the neighborhood known as The Corner, which brims with local restaurants, vibrant galleries, and fun shops. And, when you're ready for a relaxing afternoon or evening, come back to the Trophy Room for a drink at the colorful bar or grab a coffee at Poindexter with Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.
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Graduate Columbia
This Graduate location occupies the historic Black House, which was constructed in 1910. The lucky ones will snag one of the three rooms that maintain the original architecture, which evokes the bygone Southern manor. As you walk into the lobby, your heels will clack against the black-and-white checkered floors, which somehow manage to complement the lavender check-in desk and elegant floral wallpaper. Throughout the property, you'll find splashes of yellow in a nod to South Carolina's state symbols, all of which are some shade of the color. And in the rooms, guests can appreciate the devil in the details. From the "Oot Oot" bedside lamps to the USC Gamecocks splashed, Cubism-style, onto the headboards, every touch brings you a piece of South Carolina and USC history and tradition.
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Graduate Fayetteville
Step into the wild interior of the Graduate Fayetteville and you'll find yourself surrounded by painted brick and punchy patterns that remind you that you're in Razorback country. Reclaimed wood, found furniture, and plenty of plaid complete the look at this adventurous location at the base of the Ozark mountains.
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Graduate Knoxville
Enter the lobby and be greeted by the staff who appear to be riding along in a cheerful orange and white motorboat. It's a little nod to the Vol Navy, and the sense of fun and adventure carries through the bright orange chevron floors and wood-paneled walls that make you feel like you've walked into a ship. Where you really want to take a gander, though, is Saloon 16, the hotel's Western watering hole run in partnership with Peyton Manning. Hit the jukebox and cozy up to the vintage reclaimed bar for a drink or two among friends.
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Graduate Nashville
Get ready for a spunky, spirited stay in Nashville's Midtown neighborhood complete with an animatronic karaoke bar and country-music-star service. You can rent the hotel's restored white 1990s Cadillac limousine and cruise around Music City in style, before crashing in the "funky, floral jewel box," which is everything mismatched but somehow still a coherent opulence that Dolly would approve of. Though you could spend all day walking around and all night on the Honky Tonk Highway, you may want to head up to the Dolly-inspired rooftop bar instead. White Limozeen is the place to be if you want to sip cocktails under hot-pink fringed umbrellas in a color palette Wes Anderson would be proud of.
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Graduate Oxford
This one's for the literary types. Vintage reads are stacked sky-high at the lobby bar—grab a tome and drink for one perfect afternoon before heading to The Coop, the on-site restaurant that is at once elegant and industrial, mixed with some old-fashioned charm. But if you want something that's more relaxed, Cabin 82 is like stepping right up to Mom's front porch for a hot biscuit. (It's not really Mom's porch, but you can get the biscuit!)
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Graduate Richmond
The seasonal rooftop bar, Byrd House, serves concessions with a spin (hello, Graduate Smashburger), plus cocktails (we'll take that frosé) that you can sip while enjoying the view, before taking a dip in the pool. The interior is a cross of preppy meets mid-century (think vinyl seating and all the cable knit details your heart desires) meets a burst of history—the décor is inspired by Arthur Ashe, local tennis legend and the only African American man to have won at Wimbledon.