Blackberry Farm

Blackberry Farm may well be the most delightful place on the Eastern seaboard. Nestled at the foothills of the Tennessee Smokies, it includes the best parts of American hospitality. Picture this: 4200 acres of wildflower-strewn land, 44 rooms of feather beds and English country antiques. Then add a regime of iced tea picnics, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, and fireside dining. Staying here is like being the guest of an extremely rich plantation owner, only you don't have to kiss up to the host. It's enough to make the sourest Yankee smile.

The best rooms are in the Cottage Suites, separate from the Main House, with whirlpool tubs and fireplaces to boot. And of course you can get any spa treatment delivered to your door at any time. For those of you who do manage to drag yourselves out of doors, there's the pool (open in the summer), the trails, the ponds, and the tennis courts (Outdoor activities continue well through the mild Tennessee winters.) The point, of course, is to work up an appetite for the star attraction at Blackberry — the food.

No matter how hard you resist, every one gets on a three-meal eating plan, plus extras. You couldn't starve if you tried: from breakfast in bed to lunch (including, but not restricted to new potato salad, beef tenderloin, deep fried corn on the cob, and two kinds of pie) to the four course dinner. Blackberry Farm has been winning raves for the last eleven years for its unpretentious and yummy foothills food — pecan-crusted trout, pickled fresh water prawns and grits. Plus Blackberry Farm has one of the best wine cellars in the southeast with over 60,000 bottles to satisfy any wine enthusiast. No amount of hiking and swimming will work off the amount you will eat and drink. So for goodness sake, bring baggy clothes. (It's not a place to strut in Gucci, anyway.) You will put on a few pounds at Blackberry for sure, but every one of them will be worth it.

How to get there: Blackberry Farm is a 25-minute drive from Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport.

Booking Details: Blackberry Farm requires additional information from guests to ensure the best stay possible. As such, reservations can only be confirmed through our customer service team. Rates begin at 1045 USD per night.