WHAT'S MAKING NEWS: Until The Umstead Hotel and Spa opened in January, accommodations in the Raleigh area were limited to national chains and a few bed-and-breakfasts. The Umstead, located just outside Raleigh in the town of Cary, has changed all that as the state's first hotel included in The Leading Hotels of the World.

THE ATMOSPHERE: Situated on 12 wooded acres overlooking a tree-lined lake, the 150-room hotel incorporates elements of nature at every turn -- but it is far from rustic. Inside, the décor is sleek and minimal with polished limestone floors and lots of natural light. Walls paneled with rich anegre wood and a nature-inspired palette of greens, browns, and creams keep the atmosphere warm and soothing.

"I wanted the interiors to reflect the area and pick up on where the hotel is," says owner Ann Goodnight. "The phrase we kept coming back to was 'understated elegance.' We wanted to convey the culture and vegetation of North Carolina."

ONLY AT THE UMSTEAD: Original art, each piece selected or commissioned by Goodnight, abounds throughout. Nearly every wall is accented by nature photography, colorful paintings, and sculpture by contemporary national and regional artists, including renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. "I was trying to go more contemporary. Some of the paintings are very atmospheric," says Goodnight.

THE FOOD: At Herons restaurant, which overlooks the terrace and lake, executive chef Phil Evans incorporates local, often organic, ingredients and herbs from the hotel's own garden into the American contemporary cuisine. Spa-inspired menu selections, such as Meyer lemon seared scallops with baby spinach and fennel broth, are flavorful and healthful. If you must work while you dine, try one of the laptop-friendly entrées -- such as a grilled cheese with brioche, local tomatoes, and Gruyère -- which are designed to be easy to eat.

NOT TO MISS: Afternoon tea. But don't expect a quick cup of tea and a few cookies. Allow at least an hour to linger over this three-course indulgence featuring your choice of teas, miniature sandwiches, scones, and decadent pastries.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Spacious guest rooms and suites are decorated in a calming palette of vanilla and celadon, with bathrooms featuring anegre wood, granite, and limestone. Be sure to reserve a lakeview room or suite, where you can look out onto the lake, pool, and terrace from your private balcony.

POSH PARTICULARS: Despite its focus on natural elements, The Umstead is not lacking in technology, with wireless Internet access indoors and out, as well as widescreen plasma televisions and iPod docking stations in each guest room. In the fitness center, each cardio machine has its own entertainment system with a 15-inch television and DVD/CD/MP3 player. Modern advances take on a different form at the spa, where organic and biodegradable products, nontoxic candles, and recycled packaging make the treatments easy on you and the environment.

THE SPA: Even at 14,000 square feet, the two-story spa feels cozy and welcoming. While you wait, sip hot tea on a chaise in front of a fire, take a dip in the whirlpool, or enjoy the sauna or steam room. In addition to a custom massage, I tried a Babassu Sugar Scrub, in which warm water from a Vichy shower cascaded over me while a scrub of organic sugar mixed with oil from the Brazilian babassu palm was massaged into my skin. Relaxed and invigorated, I ended my stay already pondering which treatments I'd choose next time.