Visit The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa for Laid-Back Luxury at it’s Finest (4/4)

Visitors from around the country flock to the Mobile Bay area to experience the natural beauty, the decadent cuisine and the Southern hospitality the area has become famous for. Perched along Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast, and located on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, is the picturesque hamlet of Point Clear. While there are several places to stay in the area, the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa is by far the most luxurious. With beginnings that date back to 1847, this gracious retreat was once a 40-room, two-story hotel. Regarded as the “Queen of Southern Resorts” and commonly referred to as the “Grand,” this iconic hotel is now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection – a global collection of distinctive independent hotels carefully crafted to create lasting memories.

And memories you will make, as a stay at the Grand offers everything you could possibly imagine for an unforgettable visit. Known for its old-school Southern charm and sunset views over Mobile Bay, it is situated just south of downtown Fairhope on 550± acres of breathtaking natural beauty. Renovated from top-to-bottom several years ago, the Grand has been transformed from its much humbler beginnings into a modern sanctuary of golf, tennis, beach, pools and spa. From its 400+ guest rooms, meeting and conference spaces to its many amenities, everything has been meticulously upgraded to deliver experiences that are nothing short of spectacular.   

While much has changed, special care has been taken to retain the Grand traditions that its regular visitors have come to know and love. For instance, the cannon still fires every afternoon as a salute to the property’s history and in honor of past and present military, and the sun setting over Mobile Bay is still a sight to behold. For those interested in the resort’s storied past, the Grand even has a historian on staff who gives tours and shares the history of the property with guests. And no matter whether you are playing a game of golf or tennis, enjoying time lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun on the beach or relaxing in the 20,000± square foot spa, the Grand’s impeccable service, generous hospitality and warmth will make you feel right at home.

Accommodations

Boasting accommodations that are sumptuous, airy and well-appointed, you may decide to extend your stay – indefinitely. Each guest room and suite beautifully blends tranquility with laid-back charm, extending a stylish invitation to relax with new décor awash in elegant tones and touches to facilitate luxe living. Offering a choice of rooms, including a stay in the main lodge where accommodations offer an updated nod to the Grand’s historic roots and a prime location at the epicenter of the resort. Perhaps a spacious spa suite with a separate living area and balcony to enjoy the bayside’s vibrant energy is more your speed. Or splurge on a spacious executive suite situated as a cove of peaceful tranquility, harboring stunning bay and marina views — all feature rich woods, fresh fabrics and signature details, creating exquisite in-room experiences.

Places to Eat

The Grand is where culinary tradition meets new Southern innovation. Paying homage to the art of fine dining, talented chefs curate delectable breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that spotlight fabulous farm-to-table fare and the delicious cocktails that pair with these brilliant meals. Offering a wide variety of dining experiences, including in-room dining, there is a restaurant for every taste right on the property, including:

• Southern Roots – Modern Southern cuisine with breathtaking views overlooking Mobile Bay, Southern Roots combines a picturesque ambiance, exceptional signature service and Chef-driven menus focused on high quality, locally sourced and estate-grown farm-to-table fare to create a chic yet casual dining experience. At this upscale casual dining option, you can expect food that is soulful yet sophisticated and service that is indelible as well as gracious.

• 1847 – Great hotels always have a great bar to steal away to, and at the Grand it is 1847. Home to the beverage arts, with garden-to-glass crafted cocktails, local libations and signature wines by the glass, 1847 is the perfect setting for savoring house-made elixirs and enjoying quiet conversation in the easy company of new friends.

• Bayside Grill – A casual dining option with indoor and outdoor seating, Bayside Grill is one of the few restaurants in Fairhope located on the water. Delivering spectacular views of Mobile Bay, Bayside Grill serves dishes prepared with ingredients sourced from local farms and the Grand’s estate garden. Not only can you enjoy mouth-watering local fare, but while you are waiting for your meal, try your hand at a game of horseshoes, corn hole, bocce ball or one of the other games available on the property’s side lawn.

• Bucky’s Lounge – This signature lounge celebrates the iconic Bucky Miller, a time-honored associate of the Grand Hotel. Featuring an intimate piano bar, outdoor fire pits, tapas and specialty cocktails, Bucky’s Lounge is another easy favorite for on-property casual dining. With both indoor and outdoor seating and spectacular views of Mobile Bay, guests can enjoy the Grand’s breathtaking location while sipping on hand-crafted libations and munching on items from the Southern Small Plates menu.

• Grand Hall – Enter into the Grand Hall and start your day surrounded by an elegant ambiance with views of the sunlight shimmering on Mobile Bay. Boasting a classic breakfast menu that utilizes seasonal and local items, the restaurant’s breakfast menu is accented by hand-crafted bread and breakfast pastries that are baked in-house each morning. And if you happen to visit on a weekend, be sure not to miss the Grand Hall’s luxurious Sunday brunch. With a brass band and bay views, it is a favorite among guests and locals alike.

• Jubilee Poolside Grill – Dine by the pool at the Jubilee Poolside Grill and enjoy fresh menu items featuring local ingredients, as well as a wide variety of thirst-quenching libations – perfect for time spent out in the warm sun. Casual, comfortable and convenient from your poolside chaise, Jubilee offers an open-air setting with a rooftop that provides respite from the sun while allowing guests to enjoy the welcomed bay breeze.

• Local Market – Too busy for a sit-down meal? Check out Local Market. This all-day hot spot starts the day with barista-inspired drinks, pastries and the world’s best coffee cake, and then shifts to on-the-go specialties for lunch and light dinner.

• Lakewood Clubhouse – Serving a delicious menu of 19th-hole favorites, the Lakewood Clubhouse will make you feel right at home. From its relaxed overlook on the course, it is the perfect spot to unwind after a day on the links. Featuring flat-screen televisions, a cozy fireplace and a wonderful menu, including the traditional club sandwich, daily pitch and putt special, as well as a superb selection of drafts, bottles and cocktails, it is a hole-in-one! Oh, and do not forget to have your scorecards tallied at the bar.

• Sweetwater Cafe – A great casual dining spot for lunch and dinner, the Sweetwater Cafe offers a club setting with a beautiful view of the Grand’s feature pool, 40-acre lake and tennis courts. Featuring a wood-fired stone pizza oven, you can enjoy a selection of daily soup, entrée and pizza specials. Or the seasonal, all-day menu features a nice selection of appetizers, salads, pizzas, burgers and sandwiches. For dinner, Sweetwater offers a fine dining experience in a casual atmosphere with a great dinner menu, complementing wine selection and an array of signature cocktails. Lots of high-def TV screens make sure you do not miss a touchdown, homerun or hole-in-one.

Things to Do

• Golf – The Lakewood Club at the Grand Hotel offers 36 holes of golf that represent the rich history and natural beauty of the area and resort. A proud member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, both courses offer rolling fairways, tightly mown greens, spring-fed lakes, meandering streams and stands of mature trees making each both beautiful and challenging. The Dogwood Course, renovated in 2018, is a par 72 course that ranges from 4,539 to 7,202 yards of rolling fairways and impeccably groomed greens – the very definition of destination golf. The Azalea Course, also recently renovated in the last couple of years, is a meticulously maintained 7,104 yards, 18-hole, par 72 course that wanders through pines, magnolias, and ancient oaks. With both celebrating the game in all its glory, you cannot go wrong with either choice – or better yet, play both and decide which is your favorite.

• Spa – Bathed in the charm and beauty of the South and serenaded by the timeless rhythm of the sea, The Spa at the Grand Hotel invites you to enter into a world of gracious hospitality and luxurious service. Featuring 20,000 square feet of elegant tranquility, it is a place of pampering and renewal, centered on a devotion to holistic health and wellness. Beauty is nourished both inside and out, with the sounds, the scents and the sensations providing an intoxicating pathway to total well-being. Relax, revitalize and rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit by allowing yourself to drift gently for an hour, a day or a week as you are taken on the ultimate journey to renewed energy, joy and health.   

• Activities – When you are not on one of the famed golf courses or pampering yourself in the spa, give some of the other fun activities available at the Grand a try. With its dynamic coastal location, there are excursions and activities for every taste and pace. Active guests can set sail for deep-sea fishing, play tennis or try stand-up paddleboarding. Others can indulge in gentler pursuits such as horseshoes, poolside relaxation and unwinding in the posh seclusion of the spa. Beyond the Grand’s grounds, explore the eminently pedestrian-friendly Fairhope, recognized as one of the most charming small towns in America, with its own French Quarter and numerous intriguing businesses and boutiques.

A Few New Listings this Week