Historical, Eclectic Country Inn Renowned for Fine Dining

On the Apollo 15 mission to the moon in 1971, astronauts aboard the Endeavour sampled a succulent soup in zero gravity. Duncan Hines, the noted restaurant reviewer from Chicago, sampled the very same soup during his earthbound travels through Florida. The hearty blend of spinach, mushrooms, and 18 secret spices may have reminded both men of home. That rich brand of nostalgia is a constant at Chalet Suzanne, a 1930s relic renowned for an award-winning restaurant and a warm brand of hospitality.

As a welcome gesture, each of the Chalet Suzanne’s 26 rooms has a decanter of ruby-hued sherry awaiting guests upon arrival. The similarities between the individually decorated rooms end there, however. A full bed with a scrolled headboard and a cherry-wood vanity add elegance to the Banana room. Contrasting that, the Periwinkle room has a bucolic ambiance with floral-print linens, hanging decorative plates, and a rear picture window that peers out onto the property’s small-plane airstrip. Each stay includes a complimentary breakfast, which can feature scrambled eggs or swedish pancakes served with wild lingonberries.

The restaurant's triple-caramelized grapefruit and famous lobster newburg have helped it earn Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Award so many times that the magazine inducted the upscale eatery into its Hall of Fame.

Spread across 120 acres of south Florida real estate, Chalet Suzanne's grounds hold a spa, a pool, a lake, and an orange grove. Within a ceramics studio on the grounds, previous tenants have ornamented a wall with eclectic, autographed tiles. Head to the soup cannery for a tour of the processing plant, where Chalet Suzanne's famed Moon Soup is canned and launched directly into the sun.

Lake Wales, Florida: Quiet Hideaway between Tampa and Orlando

Idyllic landscapes with knolls and blue lakes surround Lake Wales. Disney World, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico can all be reached by car in less than 90 minutes. There's a wealth of local attractions, including 250 acres of public parks and museums. Designed by the Olmsted Brothers, Bok Tower Gardens is a world-renowned botanical preserve filled with vistas and tranquil flitting spots for humans, butterflies, and mothras alike. Even thrill-seekers can find pleasure just around the corner, as Chalet Suzanne is the taking-off and landing point for skydiving adventures, granting daredevils the chance to take in the scenic sweeps from high in the air.

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