Kiawah Island, SC – The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, one of the most anticipated resorts of the past two decades, opened its doors at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 20 th with a day of festivities for its registered guests which was climaxed with a fireworks display over the Atlantic Ocean at 10 p.m.

Owned and operated by Kiawah Island Golf Resort, The Sanctuary has been designed to reflect the style of a grand southern seaside mansion and is located along 10 miles of pristine beach only 30 minutes from Charleston. The 255-room, $125 million oceanfront resort features some of the largest and most luxurious guestrooms in America, including a spectacular 3,100-square-foot Presidential Suite. Ninety percent of the rooms have ocean views.

“We are excited to introduce America's newest luxury vacation experience,” says Prem Devadas, managing director of The Sanctuary. “The opening of The Sanctuary is the culmination of years of meticulous planning and design, as well as an uncompromising vision for excellence by our owner, William H. Goodwin.”

The nation's travel media has already acclaimed The Sanctuary, including Elite Traveler, which named it “Best New Resort.” Other publications that have had a sneak preview of the lavish interior rave: “If Kiawah's Ocean Golf Course is the jewel of the coast, The Sanctuary is now its crown,” says Travel + Leisure Golf; while the New York Daily News says, “Just 30 minutes from downtown Charleston, S.C, a vast, rambling pleasure ground has risen Venus-like from the sea, putting all rivals to shame.”

In addition to its luxury guestrooms, The Sanctuary has two oceanfront restaurants: the Ocean Room, featuring New American cuisine, and Jasmine Porch, which serves regional favorites. There is also a casual seaside grill, two bars, seven boutique shops, more than 18,000 square feet of meeting space, a luxurious nature-based spa, and wireless Internet access all the way onto the beach. The restaurants, shops and spa are open to the public.

The Sanctuary experience also includes access to the world-class amenities for which Kiawah has become renowned. This includes The Ocean Course (home of the 1991 Ryder Cup and one of five championship golf courses), two tennis clubs, and an extensive recreational and nature program. In November, some of the world's finest golfers will stay at The Sanctuary during the UBS Cup. In 2007, they will return when The Ocean Course hosts the 2007 Senior PGA Championship.

The Sanctuary has two historic, sister properties: The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA and The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN. The Jefferson is one of only 24 resorts, inns and hotels in North America to hold both the prestigious Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond awards. The Hermitage Hotel reopened in February 2003 after a $17 million restoration project, and garnered the AAA Five Diamond Award just eight month later.

“Despite its youth, we expect that The Sanctuary will be considered a grand hotel, much like The Jefferson and The Hermitage,” says Devadas. “We have created magnificent public spaces and amenities and that invite community interaction and togetherness, much like the grand hotels built at the turn of the century.”

Designed to look like a 19th century seaside mansion, The Sanctuary has a richly residential atmosphere and a sense of timelessness. The entrance driveway is lined with over 150 transplanted Live Oak trees over 50 feet high. Outside, the brick, slate and ironwork are all made with the same care and design that helped build Lowcountry manor houses 200 years ago. Inside, the lobby flooring uses hand-distressed walnut planks on top of an intricate sleeper system that gives and creaks slightly under foot, while grand staircases are flanked by 30-foot-high murals depicting Kiawah nature scenes. The collection of antiques and art is so extensive that, upon arriving, guests will receive a brochure highlighting various artifacts.

See the golf article for this month spotlighting the various courses of Kiawah Island. http://photoandtravel.com/golfandflyoct.html

Photo Credits:  Kiawah Island Golf Resort .

http://www.kiawahresort.com/index.html

 For reservations at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, call toll-free at (877) 683-1234 or visit online at www.thesanctuary.com Happy Traveling.