Six Best Weekend Getaways from Atlanta

Before 2004, the 38,000 acres that comprise Serenbe (a fusion of the words “serenity” and “be”) were mostly rural farmland. Today, they are the setting of a New Urban village, complete with residences, shops, restaurants, a farm, a stable, and a luxury bed-and-breakfast known as the Inn at Serenbe (from $240 per night). Choose a room in the historic main house, or opt for a rented loft along the main drag. During your visit, be sure to wander the 15 miles of trails, pausing to snack on the edible landscaping that includes blueberry bushes and plum trees. Take a gentle trail ride around the grounds, or experience reflexology at the Spa. For lunch, pop into the Blue Eyed Daisy for an egg salad sandwich and a freshly baked chocolate-chip cookie. For dinner, try the Farmhouse Restaurant, known for Southern farm-to-table cooking served in the same historic 1905 building where the main inn is located. On Saturdays, the bustling Farmer’s Market is not to be missed, complete with cold-pressed juices, handmade jewelry, and organic produce.

Waynesville, North Carolina

(3-hour drive from Atlanta)

Deep in the North Carolina Smoky Mountains, two tall peaks stand side by side, like two soldiers who refuse to be separated. So close are these peaks, the gap between them isn’t deep enough to be called a pass, and locals have taken to calling it a “swag.” And in this swag lies a country inn that recently joined the prestigious Relais & Châteaux ranks; it, too, is called, appropriately, the Swag (from $575 per night). Upon arrival, guests are offered personalized hiking sticks and a booklet of trail options: The shortest trails are three miles long with less than 700 feet of elevation change, while the most ambitious is almost nine miles long with an elevation change of approximately 2,300 feet. Since the Swag borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is hardly a car or manmade object to be seen during these hikes, and the Swag’s chef will pack your lunch in an insulated thermal backpack to enjoy picnic-style. Be sure to check out downtown Waynesville during your trip; located in the valley—about a 30-minute downhill drive from the Swag—it’s home to charming antique shops, Southern restaurants, and lively breweries.