What's New: An Online Update for Frommer's The Carolinas & Georgia

North Carolina

Asheville

An unusual and very appealing venue for live jazz and blues performances is Tressas, 28 Broadway (tel. 828/254-7072; www.tressasdowntownjazzandblues.com), which maintains two floors of napery-covered tables, a façade and an interior vaguely influenced by the 19th century art nouveau movement, a vintage (i.e. antique and elaborately ornate) bar area that many visitors find delightful. There's a higher percentage of sofas and easy chairs upstairs, and another bar, so your comfort level here might depend on how aggressively you search for a spot and the floor you like most.

With 24,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space and three golf courses nearby, it's little wonder that the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 1 Thomas Wolfe Plaza (tel. 828/252-8211, fax 828/236-9616; www.renaissancehotels.com), has become a corporate favorite so quickly. This hotel has all the amenities one could ask for, including a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, and a lounge. If you're looking for a cozy hotel, this isn't the place for you. However, it is perfect for short stays or conferences.

Blowing Rock

The Southwest meets the Southeast at Canyons, Highway 321 (tel. 828/295-3466; www.canyons.br.com), a restaurant specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine. There is a great view of the mountains, which is especially breathtaking at sunset. Noted for its live entertainment--bands from all over come to play here--their karaoke night is also a favorite among locals. Sunday Jazz brunch is one of the busiest meals of the week. People munch on eggs Taos and seafood omelet while listening to the soothing sounds of Southern-infused jazz. Chimichangas, enchiladas, and tacos are the most popular foods, but the restaurant has burgers, chicken fingers, garden burgers, and wild turkey as well. Restaurateur Bart Conway's experience shines in every aspect of the restaurant, making it ideal for the whole family.

South Carolina

Myrtle Beach

A New York-style steakhouse has been generating plenty of buzz in the South lately. New York Prime, 405 28th Avenue North (tel. 843/448-8018, www.newyorkprime.com) has created a sophisticated Big Apple feel, without losing the comforts and hospitality of the South. The staff is friendly and well-trained and the menu has something for most palates. After you've had your fill of the oysters on the half shell, dive into the center cut filet and a giant baked potato. All the meat is cooked to the diner's preference. The restaurant also has an excellent wine list, carrying bottles from all over the world.

Bluffton

If you blended the hospitality and comfort of a bed and breakfast and the luxury of a high quality resort, you would get The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, 476 Mount Pelia Road (tel. 843/706-6500; www.palmettobluffresort.com). This new complex has 50 cottages and cottage suites and 5 village homes, all with pine floors, high vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, screened verandas, and home theater systems. The three restaurants provide a varied cuisine. Massages, high cotton body therapies, facials, manicures, and pedicures are all available at the on-site spa. The May River Golf Course is 7,171 yards of golfer heaven. The Inn also offers a variety of other activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, and trolley tours, nature walks with a naturalist, and archeological walks and lectures.

Charleston

The pink exterior of the Marriott Residence Inn, 5035 International Blvd. (tel. 843/266-3434; www.marriott.com), sets it apart from the other hotels in close vicinity to the Charleston Airport. With a lounge, known as the Hearth Room, that looks like it came out of a ski resort and a board room with bright orange and red chairs, this hotel has a style all its own. The rooms are all suites, complete with kitchens and comfortable furniture. A fitness center, outdoor pool, and a restaurant are all located on site.

Daniel Island

In the mood for some great Italian food? Head over to Sienna, 901 Island Park Drive (tel. 843/881-8820; www.siennadining.com). Chef Ken Vedrinski has created a modern Italian menu, using his grandmother's old Italian recipes. The mixing of old world and new world is the motif throughout the whole restaurant. The design of the restaurant reflects Old World Italian style through brick archways and the Wine Cave. Urban fabrics and designs make the place more modern, as does the copper tile wall behind the bar. The dining room showcases bamboo flooring, a dropped ceiling, and an open-air kitchen. The copper tiles, along with silver ones, are utilized in the kitchen. Sculptures and other artwork can be seen throughout the restaurant. We recommend the braised veal cheek stuffed shells in a porcini broth and the mostachioli with a broccoli sauce. The bar makes this place a good place to hang out after dark as well.

Georgia

Madison

Nestled in Madison, is a restored 1905, white, Greek-revival house now serving as the ultimate bed and breakfast. If you want a relaxing weekend away from the hustle of city life, Madison Oaks Inn & Gardens, 766 East Avenue (tel. 706/343-9990; www.madisonoaksinn.com), is the place is for you. Owners Dianne and Roger Simmons rent out four exquisite rooms, all with a period feel. After a communal gourmet breakfast in the dining hall, one can explore the city of Madison, best known for escaping the destruction of General Sherman's march. The pool, hammock, and beautiful gardens await your return. The Inn does not accept children.

Atlanta

Southern food and a unique and eclectic atmosphere combine to create one of the coolest dining experiences to hit Atlanta in years: Two. Urban Licks, 820 Ralph McGill Boulevard (tel. 404/522-4622; www.twourbanlicks.com). When you step out of your car there is a beautiful garden lit by sparkling fountains. Inside, however, fire is the theme that runs through the restaurant. In the very middle of the restaurant, acting as a centerpiece, is a floor-to-ceiling (14 ft tall) wood-fire rotisserie. The stainless steel wine wall, housing 42 barrels of wine, is yet another spectacle in this ultra-modern restaurant. Executive chef and part owner Scott Serpas is a South Louisiana boy with a unique style and a gift for the culinary arts. Menu items include hot frog legs, chile seared tuna, seafood gumbo, and roasted chicken pumpkin enchiladas.

For more on Atlanta, read our recently published Online Update for Frommer's Atlanta.

Savannah

Located only minutes away from the City Market is a new luxury hotel. Doubletree Hotel Historic Savannah, 411 West Bay Street (tel. 912/790-7000; www.historicsavannah.doubletree.com), is the picture of elegance. The rooms all have high ceilings trimmed in crown moldings. Four poster mahogany beds and wool carpets add to the sophisticated and aged feel of the place. The bedrooms are spacious, each with a TV, coffee maker, and a sofa bed. The hotel will arrange sightseeing tours and encourage guests to work out in the fitness center or to take a dip in the pool. Suites and executive rooms are also available.

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