For all of you who voted on my travel guide IG poll, this one’s for you!

After our Charleston wedding last November, my ~husband~ and I took a scenic drive through the Great Smoky Mountains and arrived at the most magical place for our mini moon. You would honestly never suspect anything spectacular winding through miles of farmland in East Tennessee, but alas, the address was correct. We arrived at Blackberry Farm, and it was stunning.

After meeting with the very sweet concierge and going over our schedule of activities and map of the property, we (and our bags) were whisked away via golf cart to our cozy room in the main house. We felt like we were living in the pages of Garden and Gun magazine. Every detail was perfect, from the pimiento cheese welcome snacks to the heated tile floors in the bathroom-I could already tell that we’d have a tough time leaving at the end of the week.

Dining

That night we had an amazing first meal in the Main House dining room, The Dogwood. This is where we’d also have our breakfasts and lunches, and let me tell you, every single meal was unreal. You’ll have to make reservations for dinner here, but The Dogwood is pretty laid back and casual. When you go for breakfast, GET THE BACON! That is all you need to know. Oh, and also make sure you reserve a spot for Sunday Brunch.

The other incredibly delicious on-property restaurant is called The Barn. And my goodness, if the Michelin Guide ever came to the south, this place would be at the top of the list. The Barn is Blackberry Farm’s fine dining experience housed in a turn of the century bank-style barn. This James Beard Award-winning restaurant offers multi-course menus that focus on Appalachian ingredients from around the region as well as farm products harvested just a few feet from the front door. Each course is more spectacular than the last, and the service staff is top-notch. This place is a must at Blackberry Farm, so be sure to make your reservations a month ahead of your stay. I wish we could have eaten here every night!

Things to Do and See

There are dozens of perfectly curated activities at Blackberry Farm. It can be overwhelming to choose what you want to do! We opted for the Culinary Cooking Demonstration, massages, and Clays Course for John. We also took our personal golf cart to tour the Farmstead (where we met a LOT of cute animals) and went offsite to the Blackberry Farm Brewery (about 20 minutes away). The pool house and hot tub were also great spots to relax after a long day of adventuring. There is truly something for everyone!

Things to Note

You may be surprised to find out that all of your meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages are included in your room rate! The only extras are any beer, wine, cocktails you order with your meals or at the bar.

Be sure to reserve your dinners at The Barn about a month in advance, as it books up quickly. As mentioned, all meals are included, but there is an option to do a chef’s tasting menu for an additional fee. Totally worth it!

Finally, the staff is absolutely amazing at Blackberry Farm. Each person we encountered wished us congratulations on our wedding and knew our names by the end of our visit. Nothing is too big or too small of an ask for them! With John still recovering from knee surgery, walking far distances was pretty difficult, so we always had a golf cart or someone to drive us around the property if needed.