David and I love traveling to new places in North Carolina, so we have rounded up some of favorite travel spots around the land of the pines. We have linked some of our favorite hotels by region: Coastal Plains, Piedmont, and the Mountains and are sharing the top 10 unique hotels in NC today. This article will feature a variety of property types, whether it is a bed and breakfast, traditional hotel, or a resort style property. Follow along with all my North Carolina adventures here.
Top 10 Unique Hotels in NC
Eastern NC Hotels
I was born and raised in eastern North Carolina, and am particularly fond of the region. Here are a couple of our favorite spots that are perfect for an overnight getaways.
Beaufort Hotel – Beaufort
The Beaufort Hotel is one of the most beautiful places we’ve stayed! We loved the amenities and I still daydream about that bathroom. It’s a sustainable property located right on Taylor’s Creek and has a delicious restaurant on site. It’s perfect any season–we went in late February and had a delightful time. Check out our full weekend travel guide here.
The O’Neil – Kinston
For my Christmas gift a few years ago, David took me to Kinston to stay at the O’Neil and to explore and dine at Chef and the Farmer. The O’Neil is in the former Farmers & Merchants Bank right in the heart of downtown Kinston. The interior is still a gorgeous lobby with the most ornate ceiling while the former vault houses Mother Earth Brewing beer and coffee in the mornings. Check out our travel guide here.
Central North Carolina Hotels
I’ve called central North Carolina home for over 10 years now and I love all that the Triangle has to offer. Recently, I’ve been spending more time in Greensboro and Winston-Salem, which are also really fun cities with awesome history, food, and things to do. I’m going to break these up a little bit by regions within the region to make it a bit easier.
The Triangle
21c Hotel – Durham
Photos by GloryRoze Photography
Durham is such a hip, foodie city and always has something cool happening. I am completely obsessed with 21c Museum Hotel in Durham. It is located in the most happening part of town and the art gallery, restaurant, and bank vault make it such an eclectic hotel perfect for visiting the Bull City. See my full review of 21c here and our ultimate Durham date night here.
The Carolina Inn – Chapel Hill
Photos by GloryRoze Photography
Chapel Hill is such a beautiful, southern town and the Carolina Inn embodies the southern hospitality that I love so much about the town. It’s the perfect place for a staycation–we didn’t leave the property for our overnight stay and just enjoyed being there and relaxing. If you choose to venture out or make a weekend out of it, there is plenty to do in walking distance. Check out our experience here.
Fearrington House Inn – Pittsboro
Photos by Tammy Torres Photography
I could get lost at Fearrington Village and not be mad about it. There is so much to offer in this community in Pittsboro but it’s close enough to Pittsboro to explore the community there. Fearrington House Inn has amazing dining options, afternoon tea, and I love sitting and overlooking the farm. Check out my experiences here and here.
The Triad
The Graylyn Estate – Winston-Salem
Photos by GloryRoze Photography
Winston-Salem is such a cool spot and has some of my favorite restaurants and art district in the state. Our stay at the Graylyn Estate was such an amazing one and I highly recommend it. It’s super easy to get lost on this property and spend time exploring the historic space. Here is another travel guide from a recent holiday adventure.
The Proximity Hotel | O. Henry Hotel – Greensboro
Photos by Tammy Torres Photography
It’s hard to pick a favorite between these two sister hotels in Greensboro. The Proximity is a beautiful, energy efficient hotel with loft style bedrooms with Print Works Bistro, a European style restaurant. The O.Henry Hotel is an elegant hotel with afternoon tea, evening jazz hours, and Green Valley Grill, a Mediterranean flavored restaurant. There is also transportation to take you between the two hotels, so you can stay at one, and dine at the other hotel’s restaurant, which is one of my favorite moves.
Western North Carolina Hotels
It wasn’t until my 20s that I started spending more time in the western part of the state, and I must say that David and I have really enjoyed exploring the area. I’ve loved seeing the waterfalls, finding the elk, and taking in the gorgeous views.
Hampton Inn Shelton Vineyards – Dobson
If you’re going on a wine tour in Surry County, be sure to stay at the Hampton Inn Shelton Vineyards. There is a shuttle that takes you down to Shelton Vineyards and is the only Hampton Inn that has its own wine bar stocked full of western North Carolina wines.
Lakeview at Fontana – Bryson City
David and I took an anniversary trip to Lakeview at Fontana for a spa getaway. We relaxed, we explored Bryson City, and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. We highly recommend a stay here, especially with a tree top soak and a spa day. The hotel also has breakfast every morning and a happy hour each evening. You won’t regret it!
The Mast Farm Inn – Valle Crucis
After years of it being on my wish list, we finally stayed at the Mast Farm Inn and I haven’t stopped daydreaming about it since. It’s the perfect home base for a weekend in Valle Crucis, whether you want to spend time in Blowing Rock or Boone, or opt for a relaxing weekend on the property. You can’t go wrong with a stay here! It’s important to call out that the Mast Farm log cabin, which is available for bookings, is the oldest inhabitable log cabin in North Carolina, and the family namesake for the property.
Check out My Love Letter to North Carolina and my North Carolina Bucket List.
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I would love to stay in so many of these places! That view from the bathtub at Lakeview at Fontana has me sold! And the new public house & hotel in blowing rock looks absolutely charming!! graylyn estate has always been on my list, but i’ve only walked the grounds and haven’t made it inside yet!!