Our Five-Star stay at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC, with Michelin Guide dining, a relaxing spa, and time to slow down with family
Created in collaboration with Visit NC.*
A spacious balcony overlooking the lake, an afternoon at the spa, and a dinner we will never forget. Our stay at The Umstead Hotel and Spa was pure luxury and gave us so many reasons to slow down and enjoy exactly where we were.
We are beginning a new series covering luxury stays and slow travel in North Carolina, and this beautiful hotel in Cary was such a special place to begin. We visited with Scott’s parents, who are over visiting us from England, and we also brought Tank and Toffee (our two dogs) along. Getting to share this stay with family made it even more special, with time together to enjoy such a beautiful part of North Carolina.
The Umstead Hotel and Spa holds Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ratings for not only the hotel, also its restaurant Herons, and The Umstead Spa. This is one of 16 triple Five-Star properties in the entire world according to the Forbes Travel Guide, and here it is right in North Carolina. Herons is also Michelin Recommended, and after experiencing the care and attention to detail that went into our time here, we can completely understand why.
Superior Lake View Balcony King Rooms at The Umstead
We stayed in a Superior Lake View Balcony King room, and the balcony alone deserves a mention. It was huge, with plenty of space to sit outside and enjoy the view over the lake. Having that outdoor space made it so easy to settle in and give ourselves a little extra time to enjoy the room, the dogs loved it too.
Inside, everything was gorgeous and thoughtfully arranged. There were robes and slippers for getting comfortable, snacks for when we wanted something to nibble on, and all the little amenities that make a stay feel special. Scott’s mum said “You almost don’t want to leave to room” but they property offers so much to explore.
That became a theme throughout our trip. We kept finding places we wanted to linger, whether that was on our balcony, beside the pool, or over dinner. Giving ourselves time to enjoy them was a big part of what made this stay feel so relaxing.
Each evening, we returned to a room that was ready for us to settle in for the night. There were chocolates waiting and a crackling fireplace screensaver on the TV, making everything feel extra cozy.
We loved noticing the smaller touches, too. The team neatly gathered our phone charging cables with an Umstead cord clip and left an Umstead cleaning cloth for our glasses. That level of thoughtfulness made us feel so looked after. Even our phone cables were getting the Five-Star treatment!
The Umstead Spa in Cary NC
The spa was one of our favorite parts of the trip. During our visit, we experienced the facilities with day-pass access, spending time in the sauna and steam rooms, enjoying the whirlpool, and heading outside to the heated current pool.
Being out in the fresh air and warm water felt magical. We gave ourselves time to enjoy, disconnect and reset.
Ash had a massage, which made the whole experience even better. By the time we left, we felt like new people. It was exactly the type of afternoon we’d hoped for when we started talking about a trip focused on slowing down.
If the spa is on your wish list, arrange access and treatments directly with the hotel before your visit, as availability and access policies can vary.
Dining at Herons Restaurant in Cary, NC
We have never experienced a dinner quite like our evening at Herons.
Watching the team work felt like watching a dance. There was so much care in how each course arrived and how every dish was brought to life. We found ourselves paying attention to everything, right down to the plates it was all served on.
The food was beyond incredible, and the presentation gave us even more to appreciate. Herons works with North Carolina artisans, including potters, and the ceramics brought another connection to the state into the experience. We especially loved seeing Seagrove craftsmanship represented at the table, after just visiting the Seagrove area and meeting local potters this was extra special.
We chose the Wine Pairing alongside the Chef’s Tasting Menu, which felt like a journey through different wine regions as the evening went on. Each pour gave us something new to enjoy alongside the food, and we loved taking our time with the whole experience.
The team made the evening feel so personal, too. Ash has to eat gluten-free and is also vegetarian, and the staff took such thoughtful care with our dietary needs. Her meal felt every bit as special. Being so looked after meant so much to us. The flavors we experienced throughout our meal here were unforgettable. You can order à la carte, however, we would highly recommend the Chef’s Tasting Menu! Their menu is seasonal, offering the highest quality and freshest ingredients of each season.
Herons is a place we would plan an entire evening around. Give yourself time to enjoy the food, ask questions, and appreciate everything happening at the table.
One Oak Farm and Seasonal Dining at The Umstead
During our stay, we also had the opportunity to take an exclusive tour of One Oak Farm, where produce and ingredients are grown specifically for the hotel’s kitchens.
The farm is less than a mile from The Umstead Hotel and Spa, and its seasonal harvest helps shape the menus. Seeing where ingredients are grown brought another layer to our experience at Herons. We could connect what was happening on the farm with the care we had seen on our plates.
It was such a lovely way to experience North Carolina through food. The produce, the pottery, and the people involved all gave us a stronger sense of the place we were visiting.
Our farm tour was specially arranged as part of our visit, so speak with the hotel about any opportunities that may be available during your stay.
The Umstead Bar and Lounge and Seasonal Cocktails
We also ate at The Bar & Lounge, and it’s absolutely worth making time for during your stay. Our order included incredible hand-rolled sushi and tuna tartare along with steamed buns and the Togarashi Fries, seasoned with a Japanese spice blend and served with cilantro-lime aioli. Those fries deserve a mention of their own!
We loved having somewhere right at the hotel where we could settle in and enjoy such delicious food together.
For dessert, we had the gluten-free brownie sundae, made with praline ice cream, brownie, candied hazelnuts, chocolate, and Chantilly cream. Having a dessert like that for Ash to enjoy was such a treat, and it was a perfect way to finish the meal.
Between the food and our time enjoying fall cocktails out on the patio, The Bar & Lounge was another lovely part of our stay. We could take our time over a meal and enjoy the evening together, with our room just a short walk away.
A Dog Friendly Hotel Stay at The Umstead
The Umstead Hotel and Spa made our dogs, Tank and Toffee, feel so welcome. The team brought beds, bowls, and Umstead treats for them, which was such a thoughtful touch.
There’s even an enclosed dog park on the property called DogWoods. The name is as adorable as the park, we loved having a dedicated space for them to be able to run around off-leash, during our stay.
Being able to bring the dogs made the experience even more special for us. They could get comfortable in the room and join us for time outside, all while we enjoyed the property together.
Let the hotel know you’re traveling with dogs when booking so the team can confirm pet arrangements and the current fee.
The Umstead Walking Trails and Outdoor Pool
The hotel’s grounds are stunning. There are walking paths to explore and a lovely walk around the lake, giving us plenty of opportunities to get outside without going far from our room.
We loved being able to head out for a little stroll and take in the property at our own pace. With the lake and trees around us, it was easy to spend time outdoors.
The hotel’s outdoor pool was heated during our October stay, so we got to enjoy a swim, too. It was such a treat to have pool time as part of a fall getaway. If swimming is a priority for your trip, check the seasonal pool schedule with the hotel when booking.
Biking in William B. Umstead State Park
We finished our trip with a visit to nearby William B. Umstead State Park, using the hotel’s complimentary bikes and shuttle service arranged for us and the bicycles.
The team took care of getting us there, and we spent time riding the park’s designated bike trails. Being out among the trees, especially during the Fall foliage was such a lovely way to end the stay. We could take our time, enjoy being in nature, and carry that slower pace into our final day.
Ask the concierge about bicycle availability and shuttle arrangements ahead of your visit or upon arrival so you can plan your own time on the trails.
Planning a Luxury Getaway in North Carolina
What we loved about The Umstead Hotel and Spa was how much there was to enjoy at a gentle pace. We could spend an afternoon at the spa, make an evening of dinner, or take the dogs out for a walk around the grounds, and have down time in our room as the perfect place to getaway and rest.
For us, this was such a beautiful introduction to luxury and slow travel in North Carolina. Sharing this visit with Scott’s parents made it a particularly lovely memory from their time in North Carolina, and being able to bring our dogs with is exactly how we like to travel. We left feeling rested, cared for, and so grateful for the experience. We’re still talking about Herons, and we’d happily spend another afternoon in that spa.
The Umstead Hotel and Spa is located at 100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary, NC 27513. Visit theumstead.com to explore rooms and plan your stay.
*Our visit was sponsored by Visit NC. Thanks so much for sponsoring our work. As always, all opinions, stories, and recommendations shared here are entirely our own.