Romantic Luxury Inns of the
Southeast
Page 3 of 3
Sundy House Inn - Delray Beach, Fla.
Owned by newspaper magnate Tom Worrell, who also runs the gay-friendly El
Monte Sagrado resort in Taos, N.M., this historic compound is worth a
visit just to try dinner at the incredible De la Tierra Restaurant. Here
you can sample such globally inspired treats as baked stuffed baby conch
with plantain salad and habanero-pepper tartar sauce, followed by ancho-cinnamon
pork tenderloin with sweet corn, Manchego cheese, onion chutney, and baby
corn. Dining is on a deck overlooking the property's koi ponds and lush
tropical gardens. The gardens are a botanist's dream, abloom with unusual
flora, including fruits, herbs, and spices used in the restaurants. Tours
of the gardens are available.
 One thing this 1902 inn offers its overnight guests is plenty of leg room
- most of the accommodations here are huge, including several one- and
two-bedroom apartments with laundry facilities and fully stocked kitchens;
you could easily spend a week or more in these units. For the ultimate in
pampering, opt for the fabulous Honeymoon Cottage, which is outfitted with
a Jacuzzi tub, fireplace, flat-screen plasma TV, DVD player, and VCR. The
grounds include an all-natural swimming pool, where you might find
yourself treading water alongside rare tropical fish.
Although the inn lies about 10 blocks inland, the stroll to the beach
along Atlantic Avenue, which is lined with cool music clubs and hip
restaurants, couldn't be more enjoyable. This once down-and-out community
between Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale has truly turned things around, and
the Sundy House Inn has been a big part of the area's success.
Wentworth Mansion - Charleston, S.C.
One of the great architectural landmarks of Charleston's fabled Gilded
Age, the Wentworth was built in the 1880s in the Second Empire style.
Throughout the interior, you can admire Tiffany stained glass, marble
mantels, elaborate crystal chandeliers, and intricate mahogany, oak, and
walnut woodwork original to the house. The 21 rooms continue the plush
theme, with comfy king-size beds, museum-quality antiques, and - in most
cases - whirlpool tubs. Some rooms have patios, and most have gas
fireplaces.
Guests enjoy an expansive Continental breakfast. And if you're keen on
sampling a fine dinner, plan to eat in the renowned Circa 1886 Restaurant,
which has long been acclaimed for its innovative old-meets-new regional
American cuisine. You might feast on spicy grilled shrimp over fried green
tomatoes, followed by free-range capon stuffed with a mousse of black
truffle and Maine lobster and served alongside lentil fricassee,
parmesan-pineapple Mornay sauce, and French tarragon.
Andrew Collins is the
author of Fodor's Gay Guide to the USA and as well as numerous other
guidebooks.
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The Hunk
