Last weekend, my boyfriend and I took a staycation at The Duke Mansion in Charlotte, NC. Tucked away into one of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods in Myers Park, I had no idea such a beautiful Bed & Breakfast even existed in Uptown Charlotte until a few months ago when I decided to surprise Ed with a mini-vacation, and a vacation it certainly was. As soon as we turned into the driveway, all of the noise and bustle of the city immediately disappeared.
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The Duke Mansion is best known for being one of the most sought-after wedding destinations in Charlotte. With over 4 acres of lush gardens and grounds, it’s the perfect spot for an outdoor wedding or bridal shoot. Luckily for us, we happened to choose a quiet weekend – no weddings or photoshoots to be seen, so we took advantage of it and took as many photos as possible.
We stayed in The Dowd Suite, which was even more beautiful in person than in the photos. There are only twenty rooms in the mansion, but The Dowd Suite was an obvious choice. Stepping through the front door was like stepping into a different time. I thought, “If Scarlett O’Hara were a real person, she would approve of this room.” It was luxurious and perfectly comfortable at the same time.
This is only a portion of the suite. There’s another set of double-doors that also open up to the porch!
I loved waking up to breakfast in bed every morning. We did have the option of eating downstairs with other guests, but who wouldn’t rather stay in their pajamas?! We chose exactly what we wanted the night before and what time we wanted it at our door for the next morning. The staff was incredibly sweet and knowledgable. They made us feel right at home!
I still can’t get over this bathroom, I would love to have this exact tub in my first home! The plantation shutters open up to let in the most amazing natural light, especially in the morning.
Our favorite part of the mansion was the sleeping porch connected to our suite that overlooks the gardens. We spent a lot of our time here, and kept our bedroom doors open to let in the breeze from the porch. This is technically a shared porch with The King Porch Room, but we lucked out because the couple beside us barely used it, so we had it to ourselves for the majority of the weekend! It rained hard for a few hours the second night, so we cuddled up in a swinging chair with wine and watched the storm pass!
This is actually the back of the house, manicured to perfection! The Dowd Suite and King Porch Suite are located in the top right-hand corner.
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We ran from the gardens to the front of the house when we spotted the most beautiful rainbow that appeared after the storm. I’m so happy we got it on camera!
Neither of us were ready to leave when we handed in our key Sunday afternoon. The Duke Mansion was unbelievably beautiful and relaxing. If you live in Charlotte and are looking for the perfect staycation, look no further. If you’re planning a visit to Charlotte, consider staying here for a perfect southern getaway if you don’t want the hustle and bustle of uptown! You can even come for tours during the day if you can’t stay overnight.
A helpful tip when booking a room: book as far in advance as possible! It’s a popular Bed & Breakfast, so you’ll want to start looking at dates as soon as you decide to go. We’re already planning our next stay, I’d love to see The Duke Mansion during Christmas!
xo Jenna
