Photo courtesy of Hilton New Orleans Riverside
In a Pickle
Pickleball—a highly sociable hybrid of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong—now ranks as the fastest-growing sport in America with no signs of slowing down. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, it’s grown an average of nearly 160 percent over the last three years, and hotels around the Southeast are noticing. The Boca Raton, in the Florida city of the same name, underwent a staggering $200 million renovation last year and offers weekly clinics and private lessons on HydroGrid courts that stay cooler than conventional courts. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina, features 24 pickleball courts fully lit for evening play, and resort guests can learn from the best with lessons led by a top 10 world pickleball pro. At Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina, guests can meet and mingle with fellow pickleball enthusiasts at themed social events or get the kids involved at junior camps. Even the weather won’t delay your game at Hilton New Orleans Riverside, where three indoor, concrete courts allow you to play rain or shine.
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Dress to Impress
Got a special event coming up in Nashville? Hotel Fraye’s new package, Dressed to the Fraye, simplifies the classic conundrum of what to wear by offering a digital closet filled with rentable shimmery dresses and glittering jumpsuits from the Showroom, a local designer clothing rental company. After booking a room, make your picks from the selection online—curated exclusively for Fraye guests—and the pieces will be in your closet upon arrival, along with a bottle of bubbly. Centrally located in the heart of Midtown, the 200-room hotel makes an ideal post-event home base, with chic art and decor, gorgeous skyline views, and a buzzy rooftop bar.
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The Royal Treatment
Three presidential suites that dazzle
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club | Surfside, Florida
Three modern, airy floors with four bedrooms make up this 7,200-square-foot stunner. The rooftop pool and terrace provide a spectacular spot to watch the sunset over the turquoise water, and two dining areas with a gourmet kitchen offer ample space for entertaining.
Photo courtesy of The Windsor Court
Windsor Court | New Orleans
Fresh off a $2 million renovation, the 22nd-floor penthouse features a private library, English-style garden, steam showers plus freestanding tub, and a sumptuous living room outfitted with a baby grand piano and gas fireplace.
Photo courtesy of the St. Regis Atlanta
St. Regis Atlanta
This posh two-bedroom pad wows with floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms, showcasing its prime location in the heart of Buckhead. The plush media room, massive master closet, personal gym with a Peloton, and round-the-clock butler service make it extra inviting.
This article appears in the Fall 2023 issue of Southbound.
