A Complete Retreat
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation
By Marci Miller
Located just 75 miles east of Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation is the perfect place for a quick getaway from the city. At roughly an hour and a half, the drive is very manageable.
The Lodge features 251-rooms on the shores of Lake Oconee, the second largest lake in Georgia. As you drive in you take in the greenery which includes one of the six golf courses on the property. Guests will marvel at the elaborate wooden bridge that crosses a stream running to the lake. During the hot summer months, guests are greeted at the valet upon arrival with ice cold bottles of Ritz Water, perfect to beat the heat. Once inside the Lodge lives up to its name. The lobby offers distinguished dark wood paneled walls with a cathedral ceiling featuring exposed wooden beams. The expansive lobby provides plenty of comfortable seating areas for meeting and a wonderful outdoor patio looking directly upon the lake.
The rooms are spacious and come with furnishings that you would expect from Ritz-Carlton. The beds feature Egyptian cotton linens, feather duvets and goose down pillows. The bathrooms feature an abundance of granite and marble with large tub and counter area. Most rooms have patio doors that offer great views of the lake, pool area and manicured grounds. We could see there was a lot of activity outside our doors and couldn’t wait to check out the rest of the resort. 
Our first stop was for lunch at Gaby’s By The Lake. This lakeside restaurant and bar features casual fare and cocktails throughout the day. It has the envious distinction of being the highest grossing restaurant in the entire Ritz-Carlton resort family. Guests are seated at the water’s edge and can enjoy a lovely sunset each evening. We started off with an order of the popular BBQ Pork Nachos which is one of Gaby’s most popular dishes. The pork is slow-roasted in an outdoor cooker and literally melted in your mouth. Although not on the menu, our waiter recommended we get an order of sweet potato fries. They were crisp and seasoned just right. Other favorites on the menu include a Truffle Chicken Salad Croissant, Smoked Turkey Wrap, the Half Pound Black Angus Burger and Maine Lobster Grilled Cheese. Towards the end of the meal we were visited by the restaurant manager who promised to bring us a plate of his signature spaghetti and meatballs. The recipe goes back to his grandmother; a native of Sicily. We highly recommend ordering it during your stay.
Guests can work off a great meal at Gaby’s through various activities offered on the resort lake. We tried renting a canoe which is a great way to take in the finger lake Ocoee. The canoe rents for $25 per hour. Some of the other lake activities at the hotel include kayaking, waterskiing, wake-boarding, knee boarding, tubing, pontoon boat rentals, Jet Ski rentals and fishing. Guests can also rent bicycles and there are various hiking trails.
The heated waterfront hotel pool is a popular spot among guests. It was packed with all types including families, couples, business associates and groups on get-away weekends. The pool has a lagoon-like feel with an infinity edge and more great lake views. The pool area spoils you as there are plenty of attendants on hand ready to help you with your every need.
The 26,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa features beauty, body and wellness treatments provided by licensed massage therapists. The Spa is adjacent to the hotel and has 19 private treatment rooms, one couples spa suite, 4 wet treatment rooms- including one hydrotherapy room, ladies and gentlemen’s relaxation areas with lockers
and changing facilities, indoor lap pool, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, cold plunge and wellness center with movement studio for Pilates and Yoga, fitness classes, relaxation terrace, full-service salon and spa boutique. I tried the 50 minute Gemstone Therapy Massage. It is a special blend of semi-precious oils and balms added to the traditional hot stone massage. It felt wonderful and was so relaxing.
The formal restaurant on the property is the Georgia’s Bistro, which specializes in casual, contemporary cuisine with a distinctive Georgian influence. The menu features simple, clean dishes using seasonally fresh, high-quality ingredients. There is an extensive wine list and signature desserts prepared daily by the pastry chef. The herbs used in many of the dishes at the Georgia Bistro and other restaurants on the property are taken from the lodges own herb garden. After dinner quests are invited to gather around and make s’mores by the hotel campfire.
Try to save time during your stay for a Segway Tour of the property. Tours are provided by the resort’s own Segway expert, Segway Dave. He was originally a Segway employee but he became so popular at the resort through his demonstrations that he now works for the Ritz Carlton full time. The tours allow guests to see the beautiful sights of Reynolds Plantation. The 90-minute guided tour was definitely the highlight of our trip and we were given a very interesting history lesson about the property and how it developed over the years. We saw the six separate lakeside cottages and a Presidential House with four master suites overlooking the 18th green of the Oconee Club Course. Whenever we zoomed by, guests stopped and waved and it definitely brought a smile to everyone’s face. If you are looking for a unique experience, make sure to check out the Segway Tours.
Overall it is hard to find a more relaxing and rewarding vacation so close to Atlanta. Many have heard about The Ritz-Carlton Lodge but haven’t made it out to the resort. After a stay here you will wonder what took you so long.
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