Destination Guide {Ritz Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee}

A couple of weeks ago I had the extreme pleasure of a girls getaway to the Ritz Carlton Reynolds on Lake Oconee! At a quick 90-minute drive from Atlanta, I’ve visited the property a number of times since it first opened in 2002! Honey’s dad used to have a house at Reynolds and a weekend with him always meant golf, spa and dinner at the Ritz. The property has grown in popularity over the years with guests from all over the Southeast and can’t wait to show you some of the reasons why!!

You will feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of life at this serene lakeside retreat. This is a destination I can recommend for families, extended families, couples getaways, girls weekends and guys golf trips! There is truly something for everyone.

At The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, resort guests are invited into a world of their own where deadlines are replaced by tee times and spa appointments, meals feature ingredients from local farmers, family bonding could be a hotel scavenger hunt or fireworks show, and a romantic, rustic barn can be the backdrop to your wedding day.

Accommodations

Calming, charming and filled with character, the accommodations capture the essence of a lakeside retreat. Rooms overlook gardens or Lake Oconee, and lake houses and cottages feature kitchens, outdoor spaces, living rooms and everything else needed for a group getaway.

Rooms

Resort rooms are beautifully furnished. This is a double queen room.

There are both resort view and lake view options, as pictured below. Our rooms were all in close proximity of each other, with both view options.

Executive Suite Room Tour

The executive suite is perfect for a family, with a luxurious bedroom and bathroom, and a living room sleeping area for the kids. The Club Suite includes access to the concierge lounge.

One of my favorite upgrades is the fireside suite, with your very own fire on your patio! This room has the option to upgrade to club level access.

2 Bedroom Cottage Room Tour

The 2 bedroom cottage is stunning, with golf course or lake views and plenty of room for everyone.

There is also a 3 bedroom cottage option for a larger family or group.

The Lake House

The Lake House is absolutely stunning, with four bedrooms on three stories. There is a large living room for gathering, as well as a private outdoor pool and entertaining area.

Club Lounge

The club lounge is just as lovely as the rooms themselves, with fabulous amenities and great views. At this time, the lounge is open only on weekends.

Amenities and Activities

A true vacation destination, this Georgia resort encourages guests to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with family, friends and themselves. Five championship golf courses offer 99 holes of play. In the summer, the lake hosts kayaking, standup paddleboarding and other watersports, while winter features ice skating and fireside s’mores.

Pool

The pool deck with infinity pool is great for enjoying your morning coffee while watching the sunrise or while hanging over the ledge with your favorite cocktail in hand. The pool stays heated year round and is ideal for relaxing, playing water games or simply taking in the view.  A new family pool will break ground soon and open for use next summer!

Beach

Stroll down to the lake and lounge around on the beach while you escape in a good book or take an afternoon nap. 

Non-motorized Lake Activities

There are a plethora of non-motorized lake activities that are sure to keep you entertained for hours.

  • Bicycles
  • Canoes
  • Single Kayaks
  • Tandem Kayaks
  • Stand Up Paddle Boards
  • Swimming
  • Playground

Motorized Lake Activities

In addition to the non-motorized activates, the resort offers a wide variety of motorized watercraft and water sport equipment. Boat captains are available so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride! We had the best afternoon out with ours!

  • Jet Ski
  • Center Console Fishing Boat
  • Tritoon Boat
  • Ski Boat
  • Wake Boat
  • Double Decker TriToon with Slide

Fishing

Fishing is the perfect activity for a lazy summer day on a lake vacation! You can fish from the bank, the docks or at The Pointe! You will catch bream, sunfish, catfish and bass. Fishing Rentals come with a pole, tackle and bait. A fishing guide service is also offered year-round.

Spa

Among the highlights of this Lake Oconee resort, the spa offers a nearly 30,000 sq.-ft. retreat with extensive relaxation facilities including saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools and an expanded ladies’ lounge. We all treated ourselves to massages or facials during our visit.

The indoor pool located inside the spa is ideal for swimming laps and offers a cozy ambience next to the poolside fireplace. Family swim time takes place in the indoor pool every day, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., which is wonderful in the cooler months!

Golf

Amid towering Georgia oak trees, flowering dogwoods, fragrant magnolias and the sparkling Lake Oconee, this resort near Atlanta offers a golf experience unlike any other. Designed by renowned architects Rees Jones, Tom Fazio, Bob Cupp and Jack Nicklaus, the five championship courses offer 99 holes of play, each using nature to challenge and inspire. In collaboration with TaylorMade, The Reynolds Kingdom of Golf offers custom club fittings, private instruction with the industry’s best and golf vacation. There are a number of golf packages available!

Hiking or Running Trails

Featuring beautiful scenery of Georgia’s Lake Country, trails around the resort are fully paved with moderate to extreme elevation changes. Explore miles trails at the lakeside resort by picking up a running map from our concierges to plan out the perfect distance for tomorrow’s run.

Bike Rentals

Explore the area with the family on an adult mountain bikes and children bikes, with or without training wheels.  Cruise around the lakeside resort on eight-miles of trails, offering a variety of hills and curves for all levels.  Complimentary bike rentals within the Resort Fee.

Tennis

Spend an energetic day playing tennis at the Reynolds Lake Club Tennis Center operated by Peter Burwash International (PBI). There are two stadium-size and six championship-size, lighted and tournament-ready courts. Six of the courts are Har-Tru Hydro Courts and four are traditional hard courts. The tennis center offers private instruction, daily clinics and a state-of-the-art Playmate Ball machine when you need a partner. The Lake Club Tennis Center offers demo racquets complimentary and a full service pro shop for all your tennis needs.

Sporting Grounds

The hills and forests surrounding Sandy Creek Barn present a countryside with almost limitless possibilities for adventure.  Woven into 100 acres of beautiful countryside, the pristine grounds feature an unmatched multifaceted selection of shooting challenges and sporting endeavors.

Evening S’mores

The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee is pleased to have your family join our complimentary s’mores celebration each evening by the rustic, lodge campfire.

Ritz Kids Study Buddy Program

With the flexibility of working and learning from anywhere, students can mix education and fun at the lake this school year. While parents ‘work from home’ in the privacy of their guestroom, Lake House or Cottage, students can participate in the Ritz Kids Study Buddy Program, which
is fully customizable.
A dedicated counselor will connect before arrival to learn about the digital learning schedule and build a personal syllabus for the kids. The Ritz Kids Study Buddy will ensure the virtual class schedule is followed with mentorship and assistance, while enriching experiences like harvesting in
the Chef’s Garden or fishing in the lake are sprinkled in for a break from digital learning. “Recess” and screen breaks will also include a selection of outdoor programs to choose from such as:

  • Amazing Nature: Kids will embark on a nature walk around the resort where they will see many animal wood carvings. Along the way, they’ll learn about the creative innovations of nature and how they’ve inspired things humans use every day.
  • What Good is a Tree: This program will teach kids about the importance of trees to our everyday lives. They’ll participate in an educational outdoor scavenger hunt collecting leaves from different trees ending in a fun game of leaf bingo.
  • Additionally, a hub for recreation will feature arcade and lawn games, as well as age appropriate arts and crafts. In order to tackle the school day with their counselor, kids will receive a personalized tackle box upon arrival with a variety of school supplies, molding clay, cards and more, based on age level.

Pricing:
Full Day: $135 per child from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. including lunch
Half Day: $110 per child from either 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m.

Dining

Dining at this Lake Oconee, GA resort is strongly tied to its surroundings. Southern-inspired dishes feature ingredients cultivated by local farmers.

The Coffee Shop

This counter-service coffee shop offers freshly brewed coffee, delicious pastries, grab-and-go food and assorted retail items.

Georgia’s

Offerings from regional farmers and food artisans are used to craft local fare with a strong southern influence. The restaurant’s relaxed setting is perfect for family gatherings. We enjoyed both breakfast and dinner here during our stay!

Gaby’s by the Lake

A relaxed, poolside setting with casual fare including pizzas, salads, sandwiches and grilled dishes. The view of Lake Oconee is one of the resort’s best, and our lunch here was exceptional!

The Barrel Room

An evening destination offering fireside tables, billiards, live music and a lakeside view. The menu features craft cocktails, wines and a wide selection of appetizers and was perfect for a casual arrival night dinner to catch up with friends!

Linger Longer Steakhouse

A refreshed design has elevated the steakhouse to feel like being in a private lakeside home; with the new menu featuring prime cuts of meat, tableside carvings, and a selection of new savory delights. Our meal here was just wonderful and, if you have kids in your group, they will adore the cotton candy dessert! Mine sure did when they were little.

Chimnea Dining

Sunset provides an engaging backdrop for a romantic, luxurious and memorable dining experience lakeside. Bask in the glow of your personal chiminea bonfire while relaxing in Adirondack chairs. Enjoy a private dinner with various menus to choose from, in addition to chilled champagne, assorted truffles and chocolate-covered strawberries.

All in all, we had an incredible time at this beautiful resort. They did a lovely job with health and safety measures, while keeping the full experience. The outdoor nature of the resort lends itself to social distancing and lots of fresh air.

Just for booking this resort with me, I provide exclusive amentities at the best available rate, including: upgrades when available, daily breakfast for 2, a $100 resort credit, early check in / late check out and complimentary wifi. Not to mention, you’re supporting my small business. <3

As a Virtuoso affiliated travel adviser, I have global connections with the best hotels, cruise lines, airlines and tour companies, and I secure exclusive amenities for my luxury clients.  I have recently refocused my travel business primarily on Disney destinations, but am always happy to book and consult on destinations I have personally visited, as well as other Virtuoso resorts and all major cruise lines. Contact me to learn more and start designing your dream vacation today!

DIXIE DELIGHTS DELIVERED

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