Blackberry Farm... but cheaper??
 

Trying to find someplace within easy reach of Atlanta for a quiet, romantic, lazy 4 day weekend the second weekend of September.

Found Blackberry Farm in the "100 Places" book. Bought into it hook line and sinker from their website. But my heart stopped when I saw the cost! I am sure it's worth it but I'd need to find a wealthier boyfriend.

Is there something along those lines that has activities but where we can laze around if we want and not feel guilty, beautiful setting etc but maybe with less activities, less renowned restaurant etc in the Smokies?

I'm going to keep looking because I think the location is a good one for us to get to from Atlanta and that we haven't done, plus not on the coast during hurricane season.

TIA!

I've not stayed here, but a friend loves it. About 2 hours from Atlanta - and lots to do in the area.

http://www.beechwoodinn.ws/

Here ya go Minooka........great place and be sure to visit Highlands also........


http://www.greystoneinn.com/

http://www.highlandsinn-nc.com/

Click on fine dining for good restaurants in Highlands but Greystone Inn is fantasic. There are 4 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence restaurants in Highlands. Have a great trip.

It's 2.5 hours from Atlanta.........closer that Blackberry but I promis you would love Blackberry. It's our favorite resort........

Driving time approximately 2.5 hours.

Take I-85 North (toward Greenville, SC)

To I 985 toward Gainesville, GA where it becomes GA 365

Continue on GA 365 as it changes to 441 North

Go through Tallulah Falls, Clayton and Mountain City to Dillard, GA

At the traffic light in Dillard take right onto GA 246 that becomes NC 106

(At this point you are about a beautiful 20 minute drive to Highlands)

Proceed up GA 246/NC 106 to you enter Highlands. At Main Street you will see the first traffic light
by the Exxon Station-take a right and proceed to next traffic light. Highlands Inn is on your left side.

Directions to Beechwood Inn - use Ike's directions but turn at the light in Clayton onto 76 East. Beechwood is just down the road.

Try dancingbearlodge.com This used to be Maple Leaf Lodge until it was purchased by the owners of Blackberry Farm and upgraded. I have not stayed there, but my a relative lives close by and has heard good things about it. I've driven through it and the grounds are lovely. It is also in Townsend and only about a mile from the National Park entrance on the "quiet side" of the Smokies.

Here's a place I forgot about that's nice and close to Atlanta but they don't have a restaurant now. I have no idea about food in and around Aiken, SC but I'm sure there's something. These folks own two great resorts in Upstate NY and one in NM..........


http://www.thewillcox.com/

Hmmm. The Willcox looks really nice, doesn't it. No idea what there is to do in Aiken however. However, The one time I was there I was driving through to Greenwood and had some rednecks in a truck drooling out there truck window at me. I was glad to jump the light and leave them behind. I guess I had some other view of Aiken.

Hey, Ike... a board search didn't yield anything on Aiken. Do you know anything about it? Is there anything to do but sip sweet tea (**gag**) and watch horses as their website suggests?

I'm off to see if they have a chamber of commerce site.

I will try to research it, but a couple of years ago I remember reading in Bon Appetit about a great restaurant in Aiken.

Hey Ragtop Girl,

Dancing Bear might be an interesting place. They have rooms that weekend and do offer a few activities including the hot air balloon ride AND they aren't anywhere as expensive as Blackberry Farm (**sigh** I'd still love to go there but so far no lottery winnings).

A couple of years ago on a special anniversary I told the DH that I wanted to go to Blackberry Farm and we could go flyfishing. He was all for it until I told him the price. Hot damn, you would have thought I had lost my mind!!

Aw! Darn him. It was a special anniversary and all!!

It really looks fabulous but apparently it keeps riffraff like me out. Let's see: 10 days in Spain or a long weekend in Tennessee.

There's not much to do in Aiken. The property looks very nice though. I've bookmarked it as an option - since I drive by what feel like almost weekly.

I am just itching to go to Dancing Bear Lodge. If anyone has been there please reply. I live in Tennessee and have spent two wonderful but expensive weekends - for birthdays and anniversary - at Blackberry but it has just gotten too expensive for what it is. The last time we were there everything was fine except for the dinner service. The wait staff was slow and somewhat inexperienced. For that price everything should be perfect. I hope that Dancing Bear will fill a niche in Townsend for nice lodging near the park. While it is not cheap, it is no where near the cost of Blackberry.

Here's some info on Aiken, SC I dug up.......Click on restaurants et al links.........

http://www.sciway.net/city/aiken.html

http://www.aiken-explorer.com/

http://www.goaiken.com/

Amanda's looks nice..........

http://www.aikenchamber.net/

Uuummmm....Linda's Bistro looks nice also. The Garrett's own The Willcox and The Point, Lake Placid Lodge in Upstate NY and Inn of Five Graces in SF, NM......I have stayed at all three and promise you will love The Willcox.

http://www.lindasbistro-aiken.com/

And Aiken Brewing Co. looks good also.

http://www.aiken-explorer.com/ad-aiken-brewing-co.htm

I sent the info on Dancing Bear to the BF so we'll see what transpires. I think it would be great for 4 days. Don't think I could do more time there though.

As for Aiken, the place looks charming but I just don't think there'd be anything to really do for 4 days. I've bookmarked it in case we are looking for a 1 night stop over.

I was not overly impressed by Blackberry Farm. It really is very far out in the boondocks! Gatlinberg can be a zoo, but I would go nuts there for more than 1 day. Have you considered going to South Carolina instead? There is a SC State Resort near Strom Thurmond Lake, which is nice, and even has a golf course. Nearby is the Abbeville Opera House which has a wonderful theatre.
Amicalola State Park in the Georgia mountains has a very pleasant lodge and is very close. You can buy apples just down the road at Burts Pumpkin Farm. Ssouth of Macon, Georgia Veterans State Park on Lake Blackshear has a wonderful resort and their restaurant is very good. You are not far from Andersonville if history interests you.
We like to bike and Chattanooga has some great bike paths, wonderful art galleries and museums, the aquarium, a very nice brewpub and lots of other very nice restaurants and you can stop in Elijay on the way home and pick up apples.
Jekyll Island is about a 5 hour drive and the water will still be warm. They have wonderful bikepaths as well. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is a must see, even if you don't stay there, and walking thru the Historic District is a who's who of America's old money families.

Thanks hotzim. I'll keep those in mind. But getting away mostly means getting out of GA.

The bf has lived here for a very long time and even I've been down to Jekyll Island. Wouldn't want to chance it during prime hurricane season. The other things sound like good sunday drives. We really want some place to park it, relax, read, hike. We won't be doing the dollywood/gatinberg route. I'm thinking we'll make reservations at dancing bear and we have time to change our mind for now. maybe one day blackberry farm.

What about the Inn at the Biltmore? I took my wife for a "landmark" birthday last month. Compared to Blackberry, the Inn is a steal!!!! The Inn is on a beautiful setting and the Biltmore is a one-of-a-kind place to visit. We enjoyed it so much, we're sending my in-laws for a long weekend in October.

Again, it is expensive, and it's the most I've paid for a hotel on any continent! We had a great time!Asheville would be about 5 hours, maybe a bit more from Atlanta.

yeah, escaping Atlanta...Asheville or Greenville in addition to the suggestions for Cashiers/Highlands.

I've been to Ashville but it was my first choice. Want to stay at the Grovepark Inn. However, BF has been there lots of times.

We'll keep checking. As for now, we are going to reserve a room at Dancing Bear.

The Highland Lake Inn is another great getaway just outside Asheville. It's frequently booked up all summer with parents delivering and picking children up from camps in the area.

They grow most of their own produce, make cheese, grind the wheat for their pancakes . . . at least, they did when we stayed there. They've been mentioned recently in Southern Living, so you might have a reservation problem. They keep chickens, goats, etc. It's a darling place, not terribly exclusive or expensive although the restaurant can get a bit pricey at times. Worth it, though!