Travel Guide

In the 1990s, after a trip to the Chattahoochee Hills countryside, an Atlanta couple purchased a ninety-acre farm and 1905 farmhouse on a whim. Today, they've restored that farmhouse into the elegant seven-room Serenbe Inn (serenbeinn.com, rooms from $130 per night). From the farm-house, you can stroll by a five-acre organic farm, past a tranquil lake, and into the charming, pedestrian-focused community. Or, for a true rural experience, wander the miles of trails through farmland filled with animals including bunnies, goats, pigs, and even llamas. And after a day spent breathing the fresh country air, enjoying the inn's luxuries--a secluded pool, fragrant gardens, and croquet lawn--is the perfect way to unwind. Included in your stay is a full country breakfast each morning, but you'll want to try the inn's restaurant, The Farmhouse, for an elegant evening meal or Sunday lunch. Using local ingredients, the a la carte menu is full of savory dishes like a tender baked chicken in a lemon-onion butter sauce or fresh squash souffle. Chef and co-owner Marie Nygren has created a dining room experience that feels more like having dinner in an old Southern home than in a restaurant. And while your cozy room waits upstairs, you'll want to linger over one of the rich desserts or a glass of wine to enjoy the hum of quiet conversation as the evening slowly winds down in true Southern fashon. --Sarah Crosland