Hotel Emeline, Ashley River Road earn national attention

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Charleston is racking up the accolades this month.

Hotel Emeline earned a pretty big nod from Travel + Leisure’s “It List 2021: Our Editors’ Picks of the Best New Hotels in the World.”

The 16th annual list spotlights 73 revamped properties in 29 countries that opened their doors for the first time last year. The list is compiled by T+L editors and writers.

The downtown Charleston hotel opened July 1 and Travel + Leisure said it is the “little things that make the hotel memorable.” That includes the welcome punch, the classic soul, bookcases, art, complimentary beach cruisers and turntables in bedrooms.

Guests also enjoy roasted coffee by Second State Coffee and country ham biscuits and kombucha from Clerks Coffee Co., one of two on-site restaurants. The other is Frannie & the Fox, an Italian wood-fired eatery that serves seafood, pizzas and cocktails.

“In a city with excellent hotels by the dozen, Emeline rises above by considering its guests every moment — the epitome of hospitality.”

Ashley River Road was recently named South Carolina’s most scenic drive by Big 7 Travel.

The global travel site ranked the 50 Most Scenic Road Trips in the US. The road was ranked for its scenery and sights of interest, like the iconic road’s 11.5-mile stretch of oak tree canopies, drapes of Spanish moss and historic homes, including Drayton Hall, Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

Input also was gathered from social media and hashtags to find the most scenic drives.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ashley River Road is thought to be one of the state’s oldest roads still in use.