Fodor's Expert Review Blackberry Farm

Sprawled over more than 4,200 acres with fantastic views of the Smoky Mountains, this rustic estate, complete with red barn, hides a luxurious country retreat with refined service. Rooms in the main house, a striking edifice of Tennessee fieldstone, have divine featherbeds and are turned out with elegant furnishings. If you decide to splurge and stay in one of the outlying cottages or guest houses, you'll get additional touches like vaulted ceilings and verandas. Rocking chairs are waiting for you to ease back with a favorite beverage, while fantastic meals in the resort's two dining rooms feature ingredients from the farm's gardens and animals, with dishes that give a nod to both Southern classics and innovative new preparations. The wine cellar has more than 150,000 bottles. A wealth of outdoor activities and the on-site spa provide options for recreation as well as relaxation. There's also a brewery. Two- to four-night minimum stays are required. Blackberry Farm has opened a sister resort, Blackberry Mountain, nearby.