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Traveling during the holidays with family and friends is becoming as much a tradition as fruitcake, eggnog and brightly wrapped gifts. If you're looking for somewhere new to celebrate, consider these prized holiday getaways that cater to physicians and their families.



Gaylord Opryland

Nashville, Tennessee

Why you'll love it: it's a fountain of youth.

Tens of thousands of white lights sparkle under the dome of Gaylord Opryland's enchanted forest, featuring rivers and waterfalls, lush tropical plants and palms. Nestled throughout: an abundance of delightful holiday decorations. The ambience will stir your spirit, as will the spectacular ice sculptures, nightly medieval Yule Log lighting, and the world's largest nativity display. Gaylord Springs® Golf Links, and its new Golf Institute, is the region's most extraordinary golf facility. Relâche, a luxurious, innovative fitness center and spa that opened in July, boasts posh accommodations and unsurpassed service and complements the epic beauty of the property's world-famous atriums. http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordopryland/



Monmouth Plantation

Natchez, Mississippi

Why you'll love it: nostalgia and romance.

Recognized as one of the world's most romantic resorts, Monmouth Plantation is exceptionally magical during the holiday season, when the plantation's 26 acres of moss-draped oaks, lush green woods, winding paths and formal gardens sparkle with white "diamonds." High Tea is celebrated Saturdays in December in the mansion filled with nostalgic Christmas decorations. Carolers entertain guests prior to five-course gourmet dinners beneath romantic gaslight chandeliers. Even though the resort's 30 luxurious rooms and suites boasts period antiques embracing yesteryear, the Riches, who lovingly restored Monmouth decades ago, provide guests with every imaginable modern comfort. www.monmouthplantation.com



The Breakers

Palm Beach, Florida

Why you'll love it: unrivaled pampering.

Chances are you'll be so mesmerized by this luxury oceanfront resort's beauty and hospitality that you'll almost forgot its prized amenity: the clear Caribbean-like waters of the Atlantic, in a south Florida locale where emerald, sapphire, and amethyst hues roil. The jewel of the east coast, The Breakers is a multi-faceted, self-contained premium resort where you don't have to step a sandal off the property. The most recent transformation of its 15-year, $250 million revitalization plan includes 20 new luxury beach bungalows for daytime rental. The property's eight distinct restaurants, championship golf, luxury spa, water sports, on-site shopping and array of activities represent just what the doctor ordered. www.thebreakers.com



Grand Hotel Marriott Resort

Point Clear, Alabama

Why you'll love it: peace and tranquility.

Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa reopened in splendor on April 1, and in addition to 200 luxurious guest rooms at the "Queen of Southern Resort," its north beach, world-class spa, two rejuvenated golf courses, marina and afternoon high tea are now available to guests. Plans are on track to reopen meeting rooms and the grand dining room by Thanksgiving. The Grand's premier pool, designed to resemble a sprawling oak-shaded lagoon, features fountains and waterfalls and a fanciful spiral slide. The quiet indoor pool lures refuge-seeking lap swimmers. www.marriottgrand.com



The Peabody

Memphis, Tennessee


Why you'll love it: rich tradition.

The ceremony of the famous Peabody Marching Ducks began in the 1930s when Peabody general manager Frank Schutt, an avid sportsman, and his buddy, Chip Barwick, returned empty-handed from a weekend hunting trip in Arkansas. After imbibing too much Tennessee whiskey, they played a prank by placing live ducks used as decoys—three English call ducks—in the fountain in the hotel's Grand Lobby. Last year, the Italian Renaissance Revival historic hotel, built in 1869, completed a multi-million, three-year restoration project involving all 464 guestrooms and suites, historic meeting rooms and public spaces like the famous Grand Lobby and rooftop Skyway, which houses the famed Duck Palace. The full-service luxury hotel features award-winning restaurants, bars and eateries, The Peabody Athletic club, a Grecian-style indoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool spa, Gould's Day Spa & Salon, Lansky's clothier, and The Lucky Duck gift shop. www.peabodymemphis.com



Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Virginia


Why you'll love it: time travel at its best.

Picture this: dressed in a frock coat, cravat and embroidered waistcoat, Thomas Jefferson portrayer Bill Barker strolls the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg, politely tipping his tri-corner hat to passersby en route to a rally. On the grounds of the Governor's Palace, he shares his reflections on events that occurred in 1774, two years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Many visitors rent period costumes to fully embrace the era, which also highlights healthcare trends in the late 18th century. At Christmastime, Colonial Williamsburg is illuminated with historic recreations and festivities, painting a streetscape that would make Norman Rockwell proud. www.cwf.org



Blackberry Farm

Walland, Tennessee


Why you'll love it: a chance to roam 4,200 acres.

A haven for hikers and fly fishermen, Blackberry Farm, considered the "Ritz Carlton in the woods," has been celebrated worldwide for its southern hospitality, gourmet dining and abundant recreational opportunities, thanks to Mrs. Florida Lasier of Chicago, who snagged her silk stockings on a wild blackberry bramble while exploring the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills in 1940. She established Blackberry Farm, which has been lovingly nurtured into a highly awarded yet intimate luxury hotel that lures guests who aspire to escape the modern-day frenzy and slip into a "Blackberry state of mind." www.blackberryfarm.com



The Inn at Harbour Town

Sea Pines, South Carolina


Why you'll love it: unbridled service.

Want a milkshake in the middle of the night? No problem at The Inn at Harbour Town, where a personal butler is assigned to each room, and attention to detail is paramount. The British staff delivers service with an accent on excellence. The luxurious inn features 60 European-style guest rooms, an impressive library, lounge and terrace overlooking the Sea Pines Racquet Club and the first tee of Harbour Town Golf Links. Guests enjoy preferred golf tee times, complementary court time at the Sea Pines Racquet Club, and the use of three resort swimming pools (Plantation Club pool is heated from Thanksgiving to New Year's). www.seapines.com

Grove Park Inn Resort

Asheville, North Carolina

Why you'll love it: spectacular spa in a majestic mountain setting.

The Grove Park Inn Resort, one of the South's most venerable and famous grand resorts, was built by E.W. Grove, a St. Louis entrepreneur who made millions in the 1890s peddling an elixir called Grove's Tasteless Chill. Now the resort is perhaps best known for The Spa, $44 million, subterranean 40,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2001. The 510-room resort features an 18-hole Donald Ross golf course and Sports Complex with three indoor tennis courts. During the holidays, view the world-famous Gingerbread House display. www.groveparkinn.com



Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Why you'll love it: enjoy once-forbidden pleasures.

In the winter of 1910, the ultra rich arriving at the Jekyll Island Club by private rail cars and gleaming yachts were transported by horse-drawn carriage to a riverfront colony of luxurious cottage residences encircling a sumptuous Victorian clubhouse, recognizable from afar by its famed turret. Located on a secluded Georgia barrier island known for its hunting and fishing terrain and mild winter climate, in the early 1900s, Munsey's Magazine called the Jekyll Island Club "the richest, the most exclusive, and most inaccessible club in the world." Today, travelers can enjoy the once-forbidden pleasures of Jekyll Island and receive the same attentive service. www.jekyllclub.com



ie.
November 2006