Get Away

by Christine Koubek Flynn

Heralded for its Beaux Arts design, Roman columns, marble lobby, balustrade roof and gilded ceiling trim, Roanoke’s Liberty Trust Hotel occupies a circa-1909 bank building that’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The boutique hotel opened in March 2022 with 54 guest rooms, each appointed with a tufted leatherette headboard, built-in desk and a walk-in shower with striking geometric tile work. Deluxe king and corner double queen rooms offer gorgeous city and mountain views. Added perks include luxury bed and bath linens, Molton Brown bath products, a high-definition TV, mini refrigerator, Nespresso machine with complimentary beverages and a FitnessOnDemand app for in-room workouts. (Yoga mats and resistance bands are available at the front desk.)

Hotel restaurant The Vault serves up breakfast, dinner, international wines and local craft beers. Don’t miss the khachapuri, a decadent Georgian cheese bread, and the artisanal selection of hand-carved hams, including prestigious Iberico de Bellota from Spain, as well as locally sourced Etzler Country Ham, cured 20 miles north of Roanoke. Gratis coffee and tea from local roaster Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea are available in the lobby.

Outdoorsy types will appreciate the proximity to Roanoke’s Greenways trail network, including the 1.7-mile Mill Mountain trail, which offers expansive city and Blue Ridge views. The hotel is an easy walk to restaurants, shops and the Roanoke Pinball Museum—and one block from the Amtrak station. (Bring earplugs if you’re a sensitive sleeper.)

Rates begin at $149. A Pet Lover’s Package (room rates vary) includes dog treats and bowls for use during your stay. A refundable $75 incidental deposit is due at check-in. Nearby hotel parking is $8 per night. Liberty Trust Hotel, 101 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke, Virginia, 540-299-5100, libertytrusthotel.com

Opened in October, The Quoin (pronounced “coin”) is Wilmington, Delaware’s first luxury boutique hotel and home to the city’s first rooftop bar. The trendy property is housed in a historic Victorian Romanesque brownstone that was once the Security Trust & Safe Deposit Co., with decor that mixes Victorianera design influences, natural woods and earthy greens.

The 24 guest rooms and suites feature Shaker-style furnishings, elegantly tiled bathrooms and luxury linens and robes, as well as high-end REVO speakers, a 52-inch flat-screen TV, a Lavazza coffee/espresso machine and a minibar stocked with gourmet goodies. The spacious king suite and deluxe king rooms have a cozy sofa sitting area and either large arched windows or floor-toceiling windows. Rooms with two queen beds are also available.

Taste your way around Wilmington’s thriving restaurant scene, beginning in the hotel proper. Dine on wood-fired, Ligurian Coast-inspired fare in The Quoin Restaurant, sip craft cocktails at Simmer Down—an opulent lounge in a space formerly known as “The Money Room,” where furs, gold bars and other valuables were once stored—or relax by the fire in the lobby cafe and bar. Head down the street for classic, fine dining at self-proclaimed “meat kingdom” Bardea Steak, which Vogue named one of the most anticipated restaurants in 2022. (Sister restaurant Bardea Food & Drink is a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist.)

Garden lovers can enjoy seasonal displays at nearby Longwood Gardens, where a “Winter Wonder” exhibit through March will be followed by “Spring Blooms” in April. Or, book a ticket for the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library’s “Wine Through Winterthur: Sip Among the Daffodils” event, held annually in April. Hotel rates begin at $375. Valet parking is $40 per night. The Quoin, 519 N. Market St., Wilmington, Delaware, 302-446-5600, thequoinhotel.com

Traveling from D.C. to downtown Manhattan just got easier—and faster— thanks to Tailwind Air’s 75- to 85-minute seaplane jaunts to the Big Apple. Flights depart from Jet Aviation near Dulles International Airport and splash down near New York Skyport, Manhattan’s dedicated seaplane base, located at the eastern end of 23rd Street along the East River, often with spectacular skyline views upon final approach.

Launched in 2014, Tailwind maintains a fleet of eight-seater turboprop Cessna Grand Caravans equipped with navigation, communication and safety features comparable to commercial aircraft. All planes are capable of landing on water or land, and are flown with two pilots. While the carrier’s fleet is new (most of the planes are less than five years old), seaplane travel is not. The Manhattan Skyport opened in 1936 and has been hosting seaplane travel for decades. Tailwind also offers routes to other coastal destinations in New York and New England, including Boston, East Hampton, Montauk and Provincetown.

No TSA check-in required. Check-in cutoff is 10 minutes prior to departure. Service resumes March 21, 2023, and is available Sunday through Friday, with flights up to three times daily. Rates begin at $395. See website for luggage and parking details. Discounted prepaid commuter books of 10, 20 and 50 tickets available. Tailwind Air, 212-328-9145, flytailwind.com