Embrace the Joy of Missing Out in Georgia
The best vacations aren’t always about ticking off a milelong to-do list. This year, consider a getaway that will let you linger over a second cup of coffee, read an entire book on the beach, or lose track of time watching the sun dip behind the mountains. Whether you prefer truly rustic escapes surrounded by nature, luxury retreats with every convenience, or somewhere in between, discover some of Georgia’s best places to get away from it all.
Tip: we’ve ranked our list for you, in order from most rugged to most refined.
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Discover Your Ranch-Style Sanctuary
Immerse Yourself in a Nature-Filled Island Escape
Escape to Georgia’s Lake Country
Rejuvenate at Scenic Pine Mountain
Discover Your Ranch-Style Sanctuary
Just outside Lyons, Wild Mustang Ranch offers a different kind of therapy – wide-open skies, rolling pastures, and the quiet company of rescued mustangs to help you recharge. You’ll be greeted by the soft rustle of grass and distant whinnies – an invitation to slow down and breathe deeply in rural Georgia.
Settle into the ranch’s quiet guest houses, where everything you need is nearby, like a handy kitchen, soft couches, and the surrounding beauty of nature just outside. Once you arrive, there’s little reason to leave, except to stock up on food. Try The Market on Church in nearby Vidalia for delicacies like locally sourced beef and seasonally harvested produce. On the edge of town, Tappas serves up hearty sammies piled high with roast beef, pastrami, turkey, and bacon. Dine inside or eat alfresco on the front porch patio amid pots of draping greenery and strings of shimmering lights.
Each day, wake up to birdsong and the whisper of the wind. This is a place to pause, slow down, and take it all in. Wi-Fi is available, but you probably won’t need it because you’ll be deep into a good book, stargazing from the porch, or trying something new, like horsemanship classes or Golf on the Ranch. Enjoy a leisurely experience with golf lessons along with special visits from inquisitive, attention-seeking equines.
Immerse Yourself in a Nature-Filled Island Escape
Reachable only by boat for a limited number of guests, The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island is a truly secluded island getaway experience. And while it may be located on a small barrier island, this location packs a punch with all-inclusive amenities, abundant natural beauty, and simple-yet-stunning lodging.
Want marsh views? Opt for a room in the Cedar House to see sweeping vistas of the coastal salt marshes as you sip iced tea and sway on a cushioned porch swing. Prefer privacy? Reserve a room at the charming, two-bedroom Michael Cottage, where you can listen and watch for local critters on an expansive deck beneath centuries-old oaks with thick tresses of Spanish moss. No matter which accommodations you choose, you’ll find ways to slow down, admire the scenery, and appreciate the moment.
Your accommodations aren’t the only place with jaw-dropping panoramas. Explore Little St. Simons Island’s undeveloped beaches and verdant old-growth forests on self- or naturalist-guided tours included with your stay. Imagine paddling along winding tidal creeks surrounded by tall marsh grasses as you watch pods of breaching dolphins. Or, bike along miles of beach with crashing waves and calling shorebirds as the soundtrack. At different times of the year, you can participate in special programs like birding events around annual migrations or wildflower-spotting activities; the island is home to rare perennials like swamp rosemallow, loved for its fluttering pink blooms.
Mealtimes at the lodge do more than satisfy hunger – here you’ll experience tantalizing feasts sourced from the on-site garden. Tip: ask about taking a tour with its gardener to learn more about your dinner’s ingredients. Savor delectable oysters harvested from Eagle Creek during the September through April oyster season, drizzle golden honey on handcrafted cheeses sourced from local farmers, and taste hints of citrus and herbs snipped from the garden.
Escape to Georgia’s Lake Country
Nestled on 100 acres, The Farmhouse Inn in Madison offers a gently unplugged escape not quite off the beaten path – where peacocks strut, fireflies glimmer, and a Dutch baby pancake doused in blackberry syrup is waiting for you in the morning.
Here, you can wake to the hum of bees, feel the sun warm your skin, smell flowers, and kick back in a sweet wooden rocker. Make time to meet the furry local residents, from grazing horses, cows, and goats to feathered friends like chickens, turkeys, and ducks. Or, meander along one of the inn’s three walking paths, hugged by wild grass and trees for a peaceful walk, before launching a kayak on the pond.
Whether you’re a solo traveler, in a couple, or a big family group, the inn has a place for you. Pick the accessible Americana Room for its picturesque views of the verdant garden and a red-brick courtyard strewn with fairy lights. Or, opt for the two-bedroom Hillside Cottage, where you can laze on the front porch with your furry best friend (it’s the inn’s only pet-friendly option). The five-bedroom Farmhouse is fully equipped for a family or friend group of 12, boasting farm-chic furnishings and a big, welcoming kitchen.
Before your day begins, fuel up with a complimentary garden-to-table breakfast. You’ll relish the fluffy omelettes (the eggs were laid right here!), crispy bacon, and blueberry-laden French toast. Not only are these meals homemade by the inn’s chef, but they also use ingredients from a network of local farmers and the inn’s thriving garden.
Rejuvenate at Scenic Pine Mountain
If you’d rather kick back with some frills, Callaway Resort & Gardens offers all kinds of relaxing fun, like spa treatments, private flower gardens, and rambling trails. The resort is as expansive as it is accommodating, too, sprawled across the Appalachian foothills in Pine Mountain.
In spring, the air is perfumed with thousands of azaleas – pink, red, lavender, and white – spilling across the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl in full color. Stroll wide and welcoming paths surrounded by blooms, or quietly reflect on a bench amid the subtle fragrance of the Thornhill Hydrangea Garden. Then, step inside the glass-enclosed warmth of the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center to appreciate lush greenery, the faint burble of a waterfall, and fluttering butterflies.
Choose to bike or hike past rushing streams and reflective ponds, over bridges, and through shady stands of pine along the Discovery Bike Trail, keeping your eyes peeled for turtles and herons along the 10 tranquil miles. Tip: you can rent wheels from the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center or bring your own.
Between nature excursions, book pampering body and skin treatments at The Spa at Callaway Gardens. Bask in the warmth of the Himalayan Salt Room, try a tension-melting Swedish massage, or feel your skin moisturized and rejuvenated with an organic facial. No matter which you pick, you’ll feel relaxed and ready for more.
Nestled in the woods, Callaway’s cozy cottages and spacious villas are more than just a place to rest your head; they’re a place to recharge and spend time with loved ones. Embrace the no-agenda getaway with low-key hangouts in your home away from home – like snuggling up on plush couches for movie night or reminiscing over hot cocoa and wine in your private patio space.
Unwind in Luxury at Lookout Mountain
Perched atop Lookout Mountain, Cloudland at McLemore Resort, Curio by Hilton promises mountainous panoramas and amenities like golfing, fine dining, and a luxuriant spa.
This golfer’s paradise features two 18-hole courses, a six-hole short course, a putting green, and a driving range. Of these, the most acclaimed is the challenging Highlands Course. Its design – created by masterminds Bill Bergin and Rees Jones – boasts astounding cliff-edge holes.
Even if you’re not a golfer, there are many ways to unwind with North Georgia’s rugged mountains as the backdrop. Throw on a buttery-soft robe and head to Selah Spa to lounge in a eucalyptus-scented steam room, followed by a grounding essential-oil wrap or cleansing hydrotherapy ritual. Then, trade the spa for wide-open skies – sip wine on Skyside’s open-air deck for big views of the mountains from all sides. As dusk deepens, step into Auld Alliance for French and Scottish flavors fused together in dishes like toasted brioche topped with escargot and parsley butter, or a foie gras-style haggis.
For even more mountain views, head to nearby Cloudland Canyon State Park: saddle up on a bike or lace up your hiking boots for paths that carve through dense forests and along cliffside terrain, leading to Instagrammable overlooks just begging to be shared. Each season brings its own beauty in Georgia’s mountainscape, from vibrant summer greens to ruddy crimsons and golds.
