5 Reasons Why Blackberry Farm in Tennessee Is Your New Favorite Resort
Written by Susan Block
Photos by beall + thomas photography
Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Eastern Tennessee, Blackberry Farm boasts much more than it’s own farm. It’s a full-fledged resort with 68-spacious cottages, two restaurants, its own creamery, bakery, brewery, wellness center and endless other features.
Golf carts are included with each suite, which really comes in handy when driving across the 4200-acre property. One quickly discovers there are as many activities as there are rolling hills.
1. Food
A great meal is at the heart of the entire experience at Blackberry Farm. The resort has its own butcher, baker, cheese maker and chocolatier. It’s farm-to-table dining and many of the ingredients are grown on the grounds, just feet away from the two restaurants.
Fine dining takes place in the Barn (a James Beard Award winner), and a more casual dining is at the Dogwood, in the main house. Guests are served three delicious meals each day with dishes like homemade biscuits and jam and sweet tea brined fried chicken.
2. Brewery
Yes, Blackberry Farm has its own brewery! Beer isn’t packaged in basic bottles here. Instead, the liquid gold comes in champagne bottles. You can order a glass of beer or simply get a bottle for the table in the same way you would do with wine. The different flavors come from native wild yeasts harvested from across Blackberry Farm’s 4,200 acres.
3. Hike and Yoga in the Deep Healing Woods
Take a walk into the woods and up to a platform where instructors hold yoga and meditation classes. Guests can take advantage of Blackberry Farm’s ample forest paths and trails that were developed to impart the remarkable benefits of forest bathing. This program is based on studies from Japan that show spending time among the trees does everything from accelerate healing to aid in reducing stress.
4. Endless Activities
There’s always something to do at the Farm. Since health and wellness are a major part of the program at the resort, there’s something for everyone, at every age. On any given day, one might want to go fly-fishing in the stream that runs through the property or try wakeboarding, paintball, shooting, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking or horseback riding. There’s also a full gym with cutting-edge classes running through out the day and a beautiful spa to relax afterward.
5. Shopping
Let’s just say the buyers here are very good. Some of the products are brought into the resort, while others are from the farm. There are three different stores and they are all quite different with beautiful jewelry from local artists, chic clothes, imports from Italy and tasty items from the Farm to bring back home.
Vintage shopping is also just minutes away in Walland, Tennessee. A number of shops sit along the main road just down the street from Blackberry Farm. It may be worth a stop on your way home so yourself an extra hour before heading out. Places like the Rivermill Antique Mall have interesting items to sift through. After all, a little retail therapy may help ease the pain of having to leave the low-key luxury of Blackberry Farm behind.
You can find Blackberry Farms at www.blackberryfarm.com or by calling at 800.648.2348. Enjoy your vacation!
