To quote Isadore Sharp, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, “Luxury, by definition, means something that appears to be the best of whatever it represents. It’s a word that raises people’s expectations, whether talking about clothing for women or locations for people to live.”
Personally, I’ve always associated luxury travel with five-star hotels, sailing on private yachts, dining at Michelin-star restaurants and flying First Class with a glass of champaign in one hand and a plate of caviar in the other. But overall, there no longer seems to be one standard definition to help determine what is or is not luxury. No longer can something be considered luxury just based on cost, slick marketing campaigns, or wanton desires.
Many magazines target themselves as luxury publications. I’ve heard that applied to Washington Magazine, and while I initially disagreed with the description, I finally think I “get it.” The luxuries that we enjoy are not always about sparkling diamonds, high-priced cars and secluded villas. We each define luxury in our own way. For a person in the city, luxury may be escaping to the beach or the lake to relax and breathe in the clean, fresh air. For the country person, it might be a weekend in the big city enjoying a visit to a museum and a romantic diner at a fine restaurant. Luxury doesn’t have to be something huge and expensive; ultimate delight could come in the form of a refreshingly delicious ice cream cone on a hot summer day.
For those seeking the real luxuries in life, Washington is a great place to live or visit. Here you will find the bright lights of the city with amazing art galleries, concert halls and gourmet eateries existing right alongside scenic mountains, rivers and ocean shorelines. Here you can get your adventurous heart pounding on a whitewater rafting trip, or calm you cares at a soothing spa. Washington may not be Beverly Hills or Milan, but when you add it all up, one definition remains – Washington is a very luxurious state.
