Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook - Staycation
Every now and then, you need a moment to relax and unwind from the busy-ness that life brings! This past weekend two of my friends and I had the best staycation at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook, and we had so much fun that I had to write about it! It was so refreshing to have a weekend out of the house because my husband and I always say we are going to have a relaxing weekend, but end up cleaning and running errands instead. To me, a staycation is like a little holiday. It's like a vacation, but you do not have to travel far. This was my very first staycation (much needed), and I can't wait to plan my next!
About the Hotel
First of all, the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook, Autograph Collection is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen, and I am lucky enough for it to be less than 8 minutes from my house. They offer a boutique luxury hotel lifestyle experience. It is the perfect getaway spot for people near and far. It is a very luxurious hotel, and the staff is exceptional. The architecture and lavishly extravagant decor is really captivating. Every time I come to this hotel I get total "Alice in Wonder Land" vibe; it is very unique and beautiful. This is one of the top places people block off hotel rooms at in Birmingham! Not only is the hotel one of a kind, there are numerous activities to do, including wine blending!
Wine Blending
The Grand Bohemian offers a special wine blending class, and it is seriously a blast. I really enjoyed it because it could be a fun, romantic date, a team building class, or a fun girls' day activity. The experience is one of a kind, and you become an expert wine blender. At least that is what I felt like after several sips of wine...
When you walk in the wine blending class, you have all of your glasses set up and ready to go. They also have delicious small bites displayed beautifully. This experience is seriously unique, and I have never done anything like this before. It is the second stand-alone hotel in the U.S. to offer educational wine blending classes.. how cool is that B'ham?!
While you are sipping on different wines from all of the country, you get the opportunity to learn wine tasting tips and tricks, background info about the hotel, and learn how to create your very own blend of wine. I love my wine, and I thought I was a pro at picking out flavors in different wines. But, after this class, I feel so much more informed about what I am drinking!
It is an absolute plus that this class is informative, but the big thing for me is the experience. And I give it an A+. It was the perfect way to spend my Saturday with some of my favorite girls. They make it so much fun. Not only did we get to pick what we wanted our wine to taste like and watch them blend it, we also got to cork our own bottle! How cool is that? There's more...
Before we arrived at our class, we each sent in a name and picture for the label of our uniquely blended wine. This would be the perfect bottle to keep and drink on an anniversary with your significant other or a special gift to a loved one. This picture is from me and Clinton's 1 year anniversary trip to Jamaica, so we plan to share it on our 2 year anniversary! What a special treat! They also have cooking classes, a wonderful restaurant/ bar and, a spa!
The Room
You guys know I love good decor and the aesthetics of each room is amazing. The bold colors and oversized bed frames are so beautiful. You can sense a total garden-inspired vibe throughout the hotel and it continuous into the gorgeous rooms. I love how spacious all of the rooms are. You walk in, and it feels very open. The bathroom is large and has beautiful marble counter tops. I also slept like a baby because the beds are extremely comfortable.
The hospitality that we were given was first class, to say the least. We arrived to a tasty bottle of wine, charcuterie board, and the sweetest thank you note! We are so appreciative of our delightful stay at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook! I can not wait for our next stay.
Brunch
Habitat Feed and Social is such an artsy rooftop/indoor restaurant. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner! This is a restaurant I come to a lot and I love the atmosphere and overall vibe. This weekend we indulged in the buffet brunch and it is the best in Birmingham. There is an abundant amount of options to choose from and they are all equally yummy. The restaurant is stunning. Every part of the roof top restaurant is completely different. Another really cool part of the roof top is the bar. Not just because it's beautiful, but because of the uniquely crafted cocktails and their overall presentation. Such a treat!
Overall Experience
I have traveled a fair amount, and it can be pretty stressful sometimes. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this weekend getaway is the small amount of planning that had to be done to have a super fun/relaxing weekend! Everything you need is in this hotel or within walking distance. They have wonderful food, activities, great adult beverages, a pool, and it is in the heart of a fun city! It was also such a great experience because I got to spend it with two amazing girls who love to experience new food and stay local while doing so! If you have any questions about this hotel, please let me know! It is time to start planning your staycation!
