Only a six-minute drive from the well-trafficked Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, the Umstead Hotel and Spa is the last thing you'd expect to discover, sited alongside the sort of leafy campus drive that typically skirts the suburban phenomenon known as the office park. And yet, a spa and resort it is””happily turning its back on the encircling roads to create a self-contained property that clearly yearns to keep close to its literal roots: The grounds were once part of the nearby William B. Umstead State Park, and the woodland theme is reflected in everything from the artwork adorning the walls, much of which takes its cues from the natural world, to the animal-centric, kid-friendly section of a well curated boutique, kitted out with stuffed raccoons and cooing toy birds””one of which is presented to every young guest. 

Have you heard of Cary, North Carolina? No? Well, neither had we until we found out its home to one of the most lavish new hotels to the open in the US. The Umstead Hotel and Spa is a privately owned 150-room boutique hotel sitting on 12 lakeside acres of land. The hotel is adjacent to Umstead State Park, and apart from sleek, streamlined bedrooms, one of the property's highlights is its stand-alone spa, which features a meditation court. To celebrate its opening, the hotel is offering oodles of package themed to every interest, from romance to dining, golf and spa. There are too many to list here, so call the hotel on (866) 877-4141 to find out more.