Saudi Arabia's New Tourism Play Trades Skyscrapers for Nature
Travel
A mountainous province the size of Austria is luring luxury hoteliers and intrepid travelers with its dramatic peaks and culture-packed valleys—a boon for the country's ambitious tourism goals.
Tucked between misty mountains in the Saudi Arabian Highlands is a vertiginous village built between verdant, 10,000-foot peaks.
A century-old outpost of the local Tihama Asir tribes, its clay and stone buildings have bright shutters and white-trimmed windows. Nobody lives here anymore, but every day the tribesmen and women—identifiable by their floral crowns and traditional mountain garb—come to sell wares like local honey made by the clans of the ridgelines.
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This Adorable North Carolina Town Quite Literally Puts The ‘Gem' In Hidden Gem
There's a lot to love about mountain towns—cozy lodging, gorgeous scenery, and endless opportunity for outdoor adventure, just to name a few. Towns in and around the Great Smoky Mountains have their own special brand of magic, and that's exactly what you'll find in Franklin, North Carolina. The town of just over 4,000 people in Western North Carolina is located about 20 miles north of more popular Highlands, but flies a bit under the radar. With beautiful natural surroundings, a historic downtown, interesting museums, and excellent restaurants, Franklin may be small but it has a lot going for it. Keep reading for our favorite things to do, places to eat, and places to stay in Franklin, North Carolina. What To Do In Franklin, North Carolina Walk Or Ride On The Little Tennessee River Greenway If you want to spend some time with nature but can't commit to a whole hike, get out on the Little Tennessee River Greenway, which runs alongside the Little Tennessee River through the heart of downtown for five miles. The paved trail is a great place for walkers, joggers, and bikers. It's also an official North Carolina Birding Trail, and offers numerous points of entry around town that are coupled with parks and playgrounds. 828-369-8488 Visit The Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum Franklin is known as the 'Gem Capital of the World' thanks to a long history of gem mining in the area. The hills in and around Franklin are filled with all kinds of precious gems and minerals, from quartz to garnet to rubies. You can learn all about the area's geological history and see some really cool gems at this small museum located downtown. 25 Phillips St., Franklin, NC 28734; 828-369-7831 Check Out The Scottish Tartans Museum Scottish Highland heritage is big in the area (hence the name of Franklin's neighboring town), and you can learn all about it at the Scottish Tartans Museum & Heritage Center. Open six days a week, the museum gives a crash course in traditional Scottish Highlands dress with tartans and kilts dating back the 17000s. After you've gotten a crash course in tartan history and design, head to the gift shop to pick out some Scottish dress to take home yourself. Pieces were both made in the Appalachian Mountains and shipped directly from Scotland. 86 E. Main St., Franklin, NC 28734; 828-524-7472 Hike Nearby Trails As the first officially recognized Appalachian Trail town, Franklin is no stranger to hikers passing through. The Appalachian Trail runs through the area, and the ever-popular Bartram Trail runs through the center of downtown after all. You can't throw a rock in Franklin without ending up on a trail, which means its super easy to lace up your boots and have an awesome adventure. Popular routes to check out include Wayah Bald, a short walk to a lookout tower, and Standing Indian Mountain, a 10-mile trek to the highest point along the Nantahala River. Mine For Gems At Mason Mountain Mine Experiencing gem mining firsthand at Mason Mountain Mine. Their native dirt pile, which sits atop Mason Mountain, is brought down to the water flume for people of all ages to sift through. Guest miners will have the chance to find all kinds of minerals, including sapphire, moonstone, smoky quartz, and ruby. After you've mined for goodies, take your findings into the gift shop to have them cut and made into jewelry. 5315 Bryson City Road, Franklin, NC 28734; 828-421-1457 Hear Live Music At Pickin' On The Square For three decades, locals have gathered at the Gazebo on the Square in downtown Franklin to hear live music. The free concert series occurs every second and fourth Saturday from May through October starting at 6 p.m. Each week features a different band, with genres represented ranging from bluegrass to Americana to country to rock to blues. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy a picnic of delicious food sold onsite by local vendors and food trucks. Go Shopping Downtown Spend time wandering the charming streets of downtown Franklin and popping into any shop that catches your eye. 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Currahee also offers meals from their onsite barbecue restaurant called Smokejack. 188 W. Main St., Franklin, NC 28734; 828-349-BEER 100 Lakeside Dr., Franklin, NC 28734; 828-634-0078 Have A Glass At Slanted Window Tasting Station Try vineyard-to-bottle wine produced at nearby Senamore Vineyard and Farms in the Slanted Window Tasting Station, the vineyard's sister tasting room and restaurant in Franklin. We recommend ordering the Winemaker's Flight, a guided tasting of five wines, and pairing it with a charcuterie board or flatbread. It's the perfect way to spend an evening, especially if you visit on a Friday or Sunday evening when there's live music to soundtrack your experience. 587 Harrison Ave, Franklin NC 28734; 828-276-9463 Enjoy A Farm-To-Table Meal At Gracious Plates On Main For delicious food at any time of day, pay a visit to Gracious Plates on Main, which is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Franklin on Main Street. Working with local farmers and purveyors to source ingredients, the favorite restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, as well as brunch on the weekends. Lunch options range from sandwiches, salads, and plenty of fun shareables, while dinner trends a bit heartier with dishes like flat iron steak with garlic blue cheese mashed potatoes and sauteed salmon in a lemon Dijon sauce with seasoned orzo. 46 E Main Street Franklin, NC 28734; 828-369-2690 Get A Burger And Milkshake At Motor Company Grill If a burger and fries are calling your name, there's no better place to get the classic combo (and a milkshake to boot!) than Motor Company Grill. The 1950s themed downtown diner is a throwback in the best possible way—black-and-white checkered floors and red vinyl barstools included. The burgers at Motor Company are always fresh and hand-pressed, the fries are always piping hot, and the soda fountain menu includes banana splits, malt shakes, and even old-fashioned floats and sodas. 86 West Main Street, Franklin, NC 28734; 828-524-0099 Have Dinner At Caffé REL We've venture to bet that you've never had fine French cuisine served anywhere attached to a gas station, but that's exactly what you'll find at Caffe REL. The one-of-a-kind roadside restaurant is the creation of Chef Richard E. Long, who's classically trained in European cooking. Open since 2003, this iconic and unexpected spot is known for impressive dishes like Pork Osso Bucco, Opal Basil Shrimp, and Crawfish Cognac & Cream. 459 East Main Street, Franklin, NC 28734; 828-369-9446 Get A Coffee And Pastry At Bent Willow If you aren't in the mood for a slow morning, but also don't want to power your day with a granola bar, Bent Willow Bakeshop might be your perfect happy medium. Enter a historic family home that dates to 1922, and marvel at the gorgeous sweet and savory pastries that await. From Blackberry Cheesecake Danishes to buttery Paine Suisse to sugar-crusted Morning Buns, each treat is more impressive than the last. Pair a coffee drink from their espresso bar, and you've got a match made in heaven. 473 East Palmer Street, Franklin, NC 28734; 828-634-7699 Where To Stay In Franklin, North Carolina Stay At A Local Bed And Breakfast Bed and breakfasts are the ideal stay for a small-town getaway. Not only will your innkeepers make sure you receive the highest hospitality and feel perfectly pampered, but they'll be able to give you the best recommendations for lesser-known gems in town. In Franklin, check out McTernan Manor (five suites in a historic 1888 home) or Franklin Terrace Bed and Breakfast, an 1887 Antebellum home that reopened as a gracious B&B, complete with spacious porches and homecooked daily breakfasts, in 2015. 1689 Old Murphy Road, Franklin, NC 28734; 828-342-8237 159 Harrison Ave, Franklin, NC 28734; 828-369-8888 Spend The Night In A Covered Wagon Nestled in a serene valley surrounded by the Smoky Mountains, Rose Creek Campgrounds and Cabins is the place to stay if you're all about being surrounded by nature. In addition to RV sites, tent sites, and cabins, guests can also choose to camp like cowboys by staying in a covered wagon. The converted wagons feature twin bunkbeds, a king bed, air conditioning and heat, and electricity. An outdoor grill, picnic tables, and nearby renovated bathhouse provide all the amenities you need for a full camping experience. 140 Terrace Ridge Drive, Franklin, NC 28734; 252-286-2008Editor's Note Editor's Note: Hurricane Helene has impacted the South. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we encourage readers to stay informed about travel disruptions and road closures. Learn how you can help support our neighbors the original article on Southern Living Solve the daily Crossword
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This is what it's like to stay at Quercus, the best resort you haven't heard of yet. Before I arrived at Quercus, a resort in the 129-person town of Gay, Georgia, I thought I had a decent idea of what I could expect. I was prepared to compare it to other high-end Southern properties—The Swags and the Old Edwards Inns of the world. I figured it would be thoughtful and well-executed, somewhere I'd feel comfortable recommending even to the most discerning of travelers. While those initial assumptions were accurate, it's difficult, if not impossible, to juxtapose Quercus with any other resort in the South. Yes, the standalone cabins are reminiscent of those at North Carolina's Cataloochee Ranch, and the focus on nourishing guests with farm-fresh ingredients is akin to the ethos of Tennessee's Blackberry Farm. The quality of the linens, the surprise-and-delight moments (like a Hatch sound machine beside the bed), and the number of cozy reading corners are equivalent to those associated with five-star resorts, like Montage Palmetto Bluff or Sea Island. I could even argue that there are elements to the wellness offerings that feel on brand for Miraval Austin. But the truth is, Quercus is unprecedented in identity and presentation. It's a unique concept, one helmed by Chiara Visconti di Modrone and her husband Angelos Pervanas, who are deeply passionate about their roles as stewards of the land and developing a restorative retreat that blends 'traditional ranch culture and Southern hospitality with a European flair.' Together with chef Ryan Smith and Kara Hidinger, owners of Staplehouse, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Atlanta, they've built an all-inclusive resort that left me with a newfound understanding of my health, a deeper appreciation of a good night's sleep, and the realization that there's a difference between relaxation and restoration (though I experienced both during my two-night stay). Located about an hour south of Hartsfield-Jackson, the 3,800-acre property—filled with pecan groves, pastures, forests, and lakes—is rooted in Visconti di Modrone's family history. The land was purchased by her parents, an Italian duke and duchess, in the late 1970s. For the last few decades, it's served as a hunting reserve, a working farm, and a cattle and horse ranch. It wasn't until the pandemic, when Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas began discussing regenerative farming with Hidinger and Smith, that this idea of an overnight retreat began to form. Opened in the fall of 2024, 'the World of Quercus,' composed of four guest cabins, a biodynamic vegetable garden, a farm-to-table restaurant, a restored farmhouse, and endless ways to enjoy the outdoors, is the type of destination that has the ability to shift into whatever type of retreat you need. Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas hope that their guests leave feeling 'nurtured and re-energized, both physically and mentally,' and they've provided multiple ways to achieve that goal. Whether you book a one-on-one holistic wellness consultation with Visconti di Modrone (who also founded the company Intuitas Integrative Wellness), indulge in an in-suite massage, test your hand-eye coordination at a nearby sporting clay course, or enjoy a leisurely lunch on your oversized porch swing prepared fresh by Smith himself, it's impossible to drive away from the property in the same headspace as when you arrived. Read on for my full review of The four residential-style guest cabins, or 'suites,' are impeccably designed for a restful getaway, and touches include circadian lighting, organic mattresses, and wood-burning stoves. Guests can explore the expansive property on foot or by all-terrain golf cart; a ride through the pecan grove at golden hour is a must. Food takes center stage at Quercus, with a dining program steered by chef Ryan Smith and kitchen stocked by the sustainably farmed Rooms With 'Quercus' being the Latin name for 'oak,' it's no surprise to learn that the four guest cabins, ranging from one to two bedrooms, share a nature-inspired naming system. Cypress, Ember, Naya, and Sylva are all designed by Tammy Connor, but there's a shared throughline of bespoke elegance and sheer comfort, accented by books, artwork, and other furnishings and heirlooms owned by the Visconti di Modrone family (some pieces even date back to the Crusades). The cabins are as spacious as they come. Each one is tucked into its own little private nook on the property, which guests access via an all-terrain golf cart; you're basically staying in your own home-away-from-home, as clichéd as the phrase may be. There's an outdoor fireplace and indoor wood-burning stove in the living room with all the necessary materials and tools to light them, a wraparound porch, a kitchenette and dining area, a powder room, a master bedroom outfitted with blackout curtains, and an ensuite bathroom with a soaking tub and a walk-in shower. Every inch of the space, from the organic mattresses to the cupboards stocked with homemade snacks and a selection of herbal teas, anticipates the needs of the guests. The coffee maker comes with detailed instructions, the bath towels are plentiful, and you even get a little pouch of sunscreen and lip balm you can take with you at the end of your stay. There's no TV, but you won't miss it. If you do need to check in with the outside world, there's strong WiFi at your disposal. Food and Drink When asked about their vision for Quercus, Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas mentioned creating a 'high-level culinary experience that nurtures the body.' Chef Smith and Hidinger have brought that idea to fruition, developing an innovative food and beverage program that leverages local ingredients and the fruits of the garden to fuel guests throughout their stay. All meals are included in the nightly rate, and there are a variety of ways to enjoy the delicacies prepared by Smith and his team. Breakfast can be hand-delivered to your suite, and you can opt for a picnic lunch for on-the-go convenience. Don't expect standard eggs-and-bacon or sandwich-and-an-apple combinations, though. Whatever is growing in the garden inspires Smith's menus. And, given the limited number of guests on property at any given time, it feels as if he's whipped up your own personal gourmet spread, all made with any dietary restrictions in mind. You can also choose to take meals or grab an afternoon cocktail inside The Main Cottage, a restored farmhouse complete with a charming library and porch, that sits next to Uberto, Quercus' 30-seat farm-to-table restaurant named after Visconti di Modrone's late father. Uberto's multi-course tasting menus are devised by Smith and offered exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays. The exact makeup of the meal is dynamic, but it's clear Smith has perfected the art of impressing his guests both visually and gustatorily. One dinner at Uberto is included in your stay; other dinners, while not as extravagant, are equally entertaining (and delicious). The signature chef-guided hotpot experience, which I cannot recommend enough, is the perfect introduction to the type of inventive, ingredient-forward cuisine Quercus is adamant on serving. On the night of my arrival, Smith and Hidinger welcomed me to my suite, armed with platters of rice, kimchi, broth, and greens and other vegetables. Activities and Experiences The type of individualized service you can expect from the culinary side of things is also reflected in other areas of the Quercus experience. Ahead of your arrival, you'll receive an email asking you to share your preferences for your itinerary. Available activities include guided fishing or kayaking on the Flint River, an educational tour of the on-site biodynamic farm, rucking (hiking around the property with a weighted backpack), clay shooting, and liberty training with horses. I opted for the latter two, spending one morning maneuvering through the courses at neighboring Big Red Oak Plantation and an afternoon learning the ins and outs of bonding with horses. The activity that had the biggest impact on me, however, was my consultation with Visconti di Modrone. After losing her brother to cancer and her parents soon after, she immersed herself in the world of nutrition and preventative health. The journey led her to develop The Visconti Method, a 12-week program to 'empower women living with the fear of cancer.' She and I spoke about my own health concerns and goals, and we touched on food and sleep and the role they play in wellness, particularly for women. As a travel writer on the road multiple times a month, I find it difficult to eat in-season and prioritize sleep all the time, but with her approachable, actionable advice, I left our session feeling empowered and excited to review my personalized health plan she developed. The Spa Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas are looking forward to 'creating a wellness program that aligns with [their] ways of living off the land,' with plans to begin construction on a separate spa—featuring a sauna, cold plunge, and massage rooms—this coming fall. For now, guests have the option to book an in-suite massage or private yoga session. Accessibility and Sustainability The Main Cottage and Uberto are wheelchair accessible, but the completion of the ADA-compliant suite has been delayed. Sustainability and eco-conscious efforts play a significant role at Quercus. The property mostly uses solar power, and Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas shared with Travel + Leisure, 'all aspects of growing our food and livestock, including compost production, minimizing plastic, and food preparation (where, for example, every component of the plant is used),' are sustainably-minded as well. Family-friendly Offerings Quercus is a 16-and-up property. While there are no teen-specific activities, the team can certainly help design an itinerary that keeps younger guests entertained. Location The small town of Gay is located 3 miles east of the Flint River and about 53 miles south of downtown Atlanta. Outside of Quercus, its main attraction is Towerhouse Farm Brewery, a taproom and biergarten that's just a short walk from the resort. How to Get the Most Value All meals and snacks, beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in the suites, and certain activities and gratuities are included in the rate. Check-in is only available Thursday through Sunday, with a minimum stay of one night and a maximum stay of four nights. Keep in mind, Quercus is closed during the summer months, from the beginning of June until early September. Nightly rates at Quercus are $1,350 per person. Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Solve the daily Crossword
Bloomberg
a day ago
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Saudi Arabia's New Tourism Play Trades Skyscrapers for Nature
Pursuits Travel A mountainous province the size of Austria is luring luxury hoteliers and intrepid travelers with its dramatic peaks and culture-packed valleys—a boon for the country's ambitious tourism goals. Tucked between misty mountains in the Saudi Arabian Highlands is a vertiginous village built between verdant, 10,000-foot peaks. A century-old outpost of the local Tihama Asir tribes, its clay and stone buildings have bright shutters and white-trimmed windows. Nobody lives here anymore, but every day the tribesmen and women—identifiable by their floral crowns and traditional mountain garb—come to sell wares like local honey made by the clans of the ridgelines.
