Favorite Weekend Getaway in Georgia
This time last week we were packing our bags to head to our favorite weekend getaway spot: Barnsley Resort. If you aren’t familiar, Barnsley is a North Georgia resort that sits on more than 3,000 acres and takes you back in time. The historic southern estate brings people together in a way that’s only getting harder in today’s fast-paced environment. When you drive down the gravel path and into the resort’s row of cottages you feel like you’ve stepped back in time – people gather around fire pits, instead of flat screens. It’s been our favorite spot for years – whether it’s a weekend for two, or we have all three kids in tow.
In our 10 years together this was the first Valentine’s Day we’ve gone BIG. We were invited to enjoy Barnsley’s Valentine’s Day package which included a 2-night stay, chilled champagne waiting in our room, breakfast for two each morning and a four-course dinner in the beautiful Rice House. In addition, we enjoyed a $200 resort credit. Barnsley has special packages available like this often, so definitely get on their mailing list and follow them on Instagram to be in the know. We love to spend Mother’s Day and Father’s Day here. We’re also looking to do a big Thanksgiving this year with both sides of our family! It will be my husband’s 40th that same week, so seems like the perfect place to celebrate with the ones he loves most.
Stay in their Cozy Inn or a Private Cottage
When we lived in the city of Atlanta (you know, ITP), we were actually members at Barnsley. My husband loves the golf course so much he preferred the 1-hour drive to play 18 holes than a crowded in-town course. I often tagged along and we’d make a weekend out of his golf games. We’ve stayed in probably 5-6 different cottages over the years. They are all so enchanting, each time I see a new one I’m like, “Ohhhh, this is my favorite!” And something new for us OG Barnsley goers is their Inn. The same attention to detail and cozy-level is carried throughout their 55 rooms which means you can’t go wrong no matter where you stay! I’m into movie comparisons, so I’ll just say the inn feels like you’ve stepped into Pine Tree, Vermont alongside Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. It’s warm, cozy and inviting – it’s home.
Back to our recent trip! Our first night we enjoyed dinner at Woodlands Grill and then came back and sat around the fireplace inside. It was a bit chilly and I loved having this inside option!
The rooms are beautiful. From the comfy beds to the bath tubs. I love a good Miami swanky hotel every now and then – but Barnsley sets the perfect scene to relax. The spaces are the definition of warmth – there’s really no other way to describe it – you have to see it for yourself!
Re-Connect without Distractions
This was our first trip without our children since Crichton (six months) was born. We’ve always prioritized our marriage with weekly date nights and occasional overnights but with my pregnancy and a newborn – it had been awhile since we enjoyed 48 hours of uninterrupted bliss. As much as Barnsley is kid-friendly, it’s also the perfect romantic getaway to reconnect. We enjoyed long, slow meals – YOU GUYS, the four-course dinner at the Rice House was To.Die.For – and sipped hot coffee in the mornings. Like actual hot coffee. Not lukewarm, twice re-heated, sips between temper tantrums. We walked the grounds exploring the ruins and farm, sat by the fire on the main lawn before dinners and enjoyed eachother’s company in a way that is difficult with three children and Kelly’s 3,000 unread emails at home.
We also made new friends. And this is one of my favorite parts about Barnsley. The atmosphere truly encourages you to slow down and “look up”. You don’t see folks buried in their phones…. you see connections. One night, we sat by the fire for more than an hour and talked to a recently retired couple from Tennessee. We were complete strangers and shared great conversation and a healthy amount of laughs! The next night we laughed alongside fellow young parents and commiserated over the hardships of raising “Threenagers.”
Back to dinner at The Rice House! I’m embarrassed to say in all my years coming to Barnsley this is the first time I’ve eaten there!
There are two main restaurant options at Barnsley. The Woodlands Grill, which overlooks the golf course and has a great bar. We usually find ourselves here probably because A. golf course and B. bar. They have a great breakfast menu and incredible buffet in the mornings.
The Rice House is located in a 19th century farmhouse and creates a beautiful “garden to table” experience. Our Valentine’s Meal was one of the best I’ve had in my life and we’ll now always reserve at least one dinner at the Rice House during our stays! Chef Lebas (who leads the culinary team at Barnsley) and hails from Marseilles, France checked on us during our meal and I totally fan-girled over him after the dishes he served up.
The Beer Garden is their casual option and is situated in the middle of the resort, surrounded by trees draped with twinkling lights! Kelly loves the southern-style snacks they offer like pimento cheese and pickles. They serve more than 30 craft beers and we always find ourselves sitting around the fire pit multiple times a day!
Golf, Horseback Ride and Enjoy Nature
Not to brag or anything but my husband is kind of a good golfer. If I was a better listener I could tell you his handicap, but all I know is – he’s good. All that to say – Barnsley is one of his favorite courses. It’s the reason we started coming here and so even on a romantic getaway, we always fit in some time for him to play! I drove the cart and sipped mimosas, while he played a quick 18.
We always make a point to walk down to the farm, especially if the kids are with us! The farm is situated in the back of the property and they have a ton of animals. We like to feed the goats and chat with the horses. They offer horseback riding which is a great way to see the property from a different perspective.
The resort offers so much more than we could squeeze in during our two-day stay….they have a wonderful spa, shooting grounds, a pool (in the summer months!), walking trails and more. I snuck in a run before we left around the property and on the trails and it had me itching to get our next visit on the calendar.
Thank you for having us Barnsley. You are a true gem!