Planning A Trip To Greensboro Ritz-Carlton

Planning Your Trip

A weekend getaway at this lakefront resort near Atlanta could take you on a different path each day. Playing one (or all) five championship golf courses, kayaking, antiques-shopping or an afternoon at the spa require advanced planning when it comes to what to pack for your visit.

What to Pack

If you are an antique lover, try not to miss nearby gems such as the Greensboro Antique Mall and Madison Markets. Many dealers will arrange white-glove shipments within the continental U.S., so no need to leave an impeccable folk art cabinet or French still-life painting behind. You will, however, want to know your optimum dimensions in advance if you plan on hunting down anything of size, so be sure to take measurements of key rooms or existing pieces in advance to bring along on your treasure hunt.

Weekend Getaway

Immerse yourself in the history and charm of Georgia’s Lake Country, whose pristine small towns brim with rich culture, tempting cuisine and modern diversions.

Dress for ease and comfort: lightweight layers, and comfortable walking shoes. Expect a few hot days in summer; in winter, evening temperatures can dip below freezing.

Bring running shoes and your usual workout gear for exercising in the hotel or outdoors. For outdoor adventures, items such as casual dri-fit active wear like shorts, leggings, T-shirts and sneakers are best. And don’t forget a bathing suit — head for a dip in the infinity pool or the indoor spa pool, or enjoy some time playing in the lake and along the beach.

Pack a roomy tote bag, backpack or purse to carry the essentials, from your phone and wallet to a bottle of water and a camera, during the day.

Outdoor Adventure

The Lake Oconee area abounds with opportunities to enjoy nature, from hiking and biking to adventure tubing, boating, personal watercraft and fishing.

Take along hiking boots or sturdy running shoes for hiking or jogging on the surrounding area’s many wooded trails.

Planning a water adventure? Pack waterproof shoes that don’t slide off easily. You can rent Jet Skis, a Tritoon Double Decker boat with a slide, and Wake Boats from Young Harris Watersports. Or you can take things a little slower and cruise around the lake on a stand-up paddleboard or kayak.

Whether you’ll be playing tennis, canoeing or touring Lake Oconee in a Wooden Hacker-Craft Boat, sunscreen is essential. If you plan on tubing or riding a Jet Ski, consider hats and sunglasses specially designed to withstand the speed. A dry bag will keep tech essentials, wallets and keys safe from the water.

Golf Getaway

In preparation for your golf getaway, there are a few items that are must-packs in order to achieve greatness on the greens.

Golf bags — skip the hassle of carrying your clubs on the plane and have them shipped in advance to the resort. You can also rent clubs and shoes from the golf course.

Gear — aside from your favorite clubs and balls, performance-enhancing extras like custom gloves and a GPS-enabled golf watch will come in handy when you are searching for your ball on the fairways.

Year-round, sunscreen, golf shades and visors are a must while hitting the greens. Don’t forget to stop by the Golf Shop for any last-minute items such as a ball marker, golf towel or a cigar to celebrate your hole-in-one.

What To Reserve

Tee Times

Roughly an hour’s drive west of Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters Tournament, championship golf is part of the landscape of Lake Oconee. The resort’s five courses — The Landing, The Preserve, The National, The Oconee and Great Waters — range from wide, relaxing fairways to some of the most artistically designed, challenging layouts in the U.S. Set amid Lake Oconee’s expansive vistas and spectacular scenery, the courses were designed by legendary golf architects, including Jack Nicklaus and Rees Jones. To schedule a tee time at any of the courses, please call (706) 467-7135.

Outdoor Excursions

Reservations are not required for many of the resort’s on-site activities, from stand-up paddle boards to kayaks and biking. For a half-day, guided fishing expedition for one to four people, you will need your fishing license and a reservation with the resort just one day in advance. You will also want to book motorized watercraft and watersports in advance with Young Harris Watersports or Oconee Classic Boats, especially for holiday weekends. Discover the art of clay shooting with a private guide through the 20-station course at Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds. Relax at the end of a long day while remaining in the great outdoors with a private lakeside Fireside Flavors Experience around your personal fire globe; call the guest relations team at (706) 467-7135 to reserve.

Children's Activities

The resort offers a wealth of seasonal activities for little ones, and you will want to reserve your spot in advance to start building the anticipation at home. Fall brings the Great Pumpkin Festival and “spooktacular” rides aboard the resort’s favorite Linger Longer Express train. In winter, look forward to ice skating, Breakfast with Santa and gingerbread workshops, among other holiday delights. During summer, enjoy the Ritz Kids Lake Adventures program, a dip in the Family Pool or playing in the Ritz Kids Arcade. All year long, enjoy complimentary 10-minute rides aboard the Linger Longer Express, which lets little ones see the resort’s most scenic areas daily from a one-of-a-kind locomotive experience.

Spa Appointments

Immerse yourself in a true Southern gem: a pampering spa experience inspired by the region’s indigenous plans. For the ultimate local treatment, try the Relaxation Massage, an aromatherapy massage that uses a blend of essential oils to melt away tension to help you unwind and de-stress. Visit the Gents’ Den for a shave and a haircut accompanied by complimentary bourbon tastings and your choice of sports or other TV entertainment. Or enjoy an expert pedicure in the nail treatment room or simply a rejuvenating dip in the indoor pool. Call the spa team at (706) 467-7185 to reserve your next spa treatment.

Itineraries

A weekend at this Georgia resort may seem like enough time, but these carefully designed itineraries can help you make the most of your getaway. Created by the resort’s Ladies and Gentlemen, experts on offerings both on the property and nearby, itineraries provide the perfect balance between exploration and relaxation.

Family Vacation Fun

Lake Oconee and its surrounding evergreen forests are ideal for family fun, no matter whether you prefer pastimes like fishing and hiking or more high-energy hijinks like riding personal watercraft or going trap shooting. Quaint nearby towns and historic monuments inspire reflection about Georgia’s past, while modern eateries, bakeries and breweries offer delectable tastes of the here and now, and experiences your family will remember long into the future.

Day 1

Morning

Georgia’s on My Mind. Get an honest start at the coffee shop, offering freshly brewed coffee, delicious pastries, and grab-and-go food.

Afternoon

Whatever Floats Your Boat. Tour Lake Oconee in a piloted Double-Decker Tri-Toon boat rental, equipped with a slide. While exploring the lake, keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles or great blue heron, or make a splash for yourself by enjoying the slide from the upper deck.

Evening

Prime Cuts. Order a finely marbled, wet-aged 1855 Black Angus filet or rib-eye at Linger Longer Steakhouse — and save room for decadent desserts.

Day 2

Morning

A Sweet Start. Your day in nearby Eatonton begins with breakfast at Sweet Kneads Bakery & Café. Choose from the shop’s wide selection of freshly baked muffins and brownies, savory quiches or hearty breakfast sandwiches.

The Wheel Deal. Get revved up by the collection of more than 100 vintage automobiles at Memory Lane Classic Cars Museum — everything from early-model roadsters to vintage muscle cars, as well as motorcycles and memorabilia.

Afternoon

Written in History. Delve into the stories — biographical as well as literary — of Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker, Southern Gothic pioneer Flannery O’Connor and folktale forefather Joel Chandler Harris, the subjects of a permanent exhibit at the Georgia Writers Museum.

Eagle Eye. Marvel at the ingenuity of the native inhabitants of middle Georgia, who nearly 2,000 years ago gathered literally tons of small stones to create a 100-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall bird at what’s now known as the Rock Eagle Effigy Mound. The best vantage point is from the stone tower, constructed as a Civilian Conservation Corps project during the Great Depression.

Evening

Cooking With Love. A must-stop for true Southern cuisine and hospitality is Yesterday Café, located in historic Downtown Greensboro. Known as a favorite local hangout, their menu is a true testament to the term “Southern Cooking.”

Melt Away the Day. Back at home base at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, gather at the nightly campfire, where guests toast marshmallows to create ooey-gooey signature s’mores.

Day 3

Morning

Well Trained. Board the Linger Longer Express, an eco-efficient mini locomotive that tours the most scenic areas of the resort.

Play the Kings and Queens of Clubs. Test your mettle on The Oconee course, which has been described as “mind-game golf” because of its challenging setups and numerous water hazards.

Afternoon

Table Topics. Reserve an afternoon for the kids with Ritz Kids Lake Adventures — and one for the parents at The Spa. Arrive at least a half-hour before your scheduled Deep Muscle Massage at The Spa to allow ample time to relax in the sauna, steam rooms or whirlpool tubs. Your tension will begin to melt away before your treatment even begins.

It’s a Snap. Reunite to capture a magnificent memento — a stunning family portrait by the Photography Concierge — during the “golden hour” just before sundown.

Evening

Over the Moon. Enjoy dinner and drinks at The Silver Moon, known for its upscale comfort food and warm Southern charm. Be sure to try offerings from the raw bar if you’re there on a weekend.

Day 4

Morning

Reel Love. Join your fellow morning anglers on the dock or the banks of Lake Oconee, which has an estimated 433 pounds of fish per acre — nearly double that of what’s found in other regional lakes. Close to shore you are likely to catch sunfish, catfish, bream or bass.

Afternoon

Foot Patrol. A stroll through downtown Greensboro leads you past historic homes, churches and other points of interest, including the Old Gaol, with 2-foot-thick granite walls and a trapdoor and gallows in situ. Swing by the Oconee Brewing Co. and quaff one of the local craft beers. The brewery operates in a renovated cotton mill warehouse.

Evening

Escape to Little Italy. For dinner, head to Da Corrado Ristorante, a family-owned Italian restaurant where pasta is the star of the show. The dishes are based on the owner’s mother’s authentic Italian recipes, passed down for generations. If you’re lucky, you may get to enjoy the sounds of Italian singers.

Day 5

Morning

Paddle Your Wares. Enjoy the water and get a cardio workout, too, with a ride in one of the resort’s kayaks.

Afternoon

Play a Round. Take the family to play a round of golf at The Preserve. Bob Cupp and Fuzzy Zoeller designed this entire course with a more forgiving layout, making it suitable for players of all levels and ages.

Evening

Gather Together. Guests in the resort’s Cottages by the Lake and Lake House have the opportunity to enhance their stay with a private culinary experience from the comfort of their guestroom. These culinary experiences bring the comfort of home to your Cottage or Lake House so you can gather together and create new memories at the lake. Wrap up the meal with — what else? — more s’mores.

The Perfect Weekend

The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, located an hour or so outside of Atlanta, is a dream destination, a place where outdoor recreation and rejuvenation combine across hundreds of miles of scenic shoreline and thousands of acres of forested hillsides. Golfers flock to the region for its impressive selection of courses — 99 holes designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Bob Cupp — as well as private instruction from PGA professionals and custom-fit clubs built on-site.

Day 1

Morning

Find Tranquility. The five miles of on-site hiking and biking trails wind through Georgia pine trees and grassy meadows. Morning is the best time to take a walk or go for a run, while catching a glimpse of the many species of birds who call this serene spot home.

Afternoon

Hit the Mark. At Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds, amateur and experienced marksmen alike can test their mettle at the 20-station sporting clays course and was created in the style of a golf course. The variety of stations keeps shooters challenged with a diverse mixture of shot selections and instructors are available for lessons.

Unwind. Indulge in The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee’s decadent 27, 600-square-foot spa with a classic massage like deep tissue or stress relief.

Evening

The Perfect Meal. Take in gorgeous Oconee golf course vistas while dining on a classic American meal at Linger Longer Steakhouse. The restaurant specializes in Black Angus steak, served alongside other delicacies like 24-hour Braised Pork Belly and Maine Lobster Bisque. Make sure to save room for the signature Chocolate Soufflé.

Gather Round. After dinner, make your way to the Barrel Room to continue the evening festivities. Taste a variety of personal select bourbons, play a game of pool or tuck away into a cozy table by the fireplace.

Day 2

Morning

Swing Classes. Start the day with a private golf lesson with a pro at The Reynolds Kingdom of Golf Presented by TaylorMade. The one-on-one sessions include digital swing evaluation and analysis, as well as plenty of time on the course to determine a plan designed to dramatically improve your play. Don’t forget to get your caffeine fix in the resort’s Coffee Shop, located in the lobby.

Midday

Par Excellence. Apply your newfound skills with a round on Great Waters, the 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Great Waters wends first through evergreen parkland corridors, then through spectacular lakefront coves and vistas. It’s no surprise it has been named one of the state’s best courses, second only to Augusta National.

Afternoon

Local Flavor. Scrawl your name on the chalkboard wall — that’s how to ensure you’ve been added to the guest list at the Silver Moon, a bustling bar and grill that’s a local favorite for its exceptional, hearty pub fare, such as crispy fish and chips, as well as Southern favorites like shrimp and grits.

Souvenir Shopping. Pay a visit to the Greensboro Antique Mall, located in the historic Big Store building dating back to 1860, when it was the largest retailer between Atlanta and Augusta. The 11,000-square-foot space is stuffed to the gills with high-quality antiques, collectibles and décor, from more than 50 dealers.

Make Waves. Navigate a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard through Lake Oconee’s pristine water. If you’d prefer to pick up the pace, opt for exhilarating wakeboarding or water-skiing adventures. You can always dial back the intensity and relax on Classic Boat Tour aboard a wooden Hacker-Craft Boat.

Evening

Private Dining. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee’s Fireside Flavors Dining Experience takes you and your partner to the lakeshore for a private picnic. Sip wine while unwinding in Adirondack chairs, and warm your toes in front of your personal fire globe.

Sweet Ending. Head over to the resort’s fire pit in time for s’mores, where our Adventure Leaders help you construct the ooey-gooey treat, and share the history of the tradition and its timeless ingredients.

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