Travel 11 Incredible Farm Resorts For Your Next Country Escape Relax among the South's picturesque landscapes. By Southern Living Editors Updated on April 5, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Robbie Caponetto Some vacations are busy: You try to pack in every available activity with very little time to relax. Others are about spending time with your family and friends and catching up in a place that's new to all of you. The most enjoyable vacations, however, combine the best of all worlds while offering fun activities and plenty of relaxation amid beautiful, tranquil scenery. What better place to do that than a real, working farm? These farm resorts are ideal for country escapes. They prioritize disconnecting with the hustle-and-bustle of daily life and can help you spend quality time in nature, reconnecting with the landscape and the serenity that can be found there. A farm resort is always a good time, especially one that has a pool, zipline, or spa. Sign us up. 01 of 11 Blackberry Farm Helen Norman Walland, Tennessee There's good reason this luxury Smoky Mountains oasis has racked up countless accolades, including being named one of the winners for Southern Living's South's Best Resorts. Located just 40 minutes outside of Knoxville, the serene grounds of Blackberry Farm play host to cycling, farmstead field school, paddle sports, and many other fun pastimes. Muscles feeling it the next day? Why, you deserve a healing herbs and flowers massage in the onsite spa. Relaxation just doesn't get more total than this. 02 of 11 Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm Courtesy Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm Millboro, Virginia Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm proves far more than simply an idyllic setting to uncork a bottle of wine. Billed as a "country getaway set on a 3,300 acre farm in the mountains," the farm is a fresh-air getaway in rolling Blue Ridge scenery where you can navigate winding trails by foot or bike (the lodge provides bikes and helmets) or explore three miles of private river access for canoeing, swimming, and more. Digs range from rooms in the main lodge to hand-hewn log cabins with stone fireplaces, but you likely won't be spending much time indoors between water-time and checking out constellations from the stargazing platform. It is a bustling working farm, and you can enjoy some of the property's bounty at the 19th century Lewis Gristmill restaurant for dinner (you can even purchase eggs, produce, and other foodstuffs to take home). 03 of 11 Half-Mile Farm Courtesy Old Edwards Hospitality Group Highlands, North Carolina Old Edwards Inn and Spa is one of Highlands, North Carolina's favorite stays, and their best-kept-secret venture is a luxury country inn on 14 gorgeous acres. Elegantly appointed rooms come with every stay, as do views of a historic farmhouse, lush forests, rolling hills, and tranquil Apple Lake. The warm seasons bring stand-up paddleboarding, picnicking, and biking, while vibrant foliage pours over the landscape in fall. Stays at the inn also include access to Old Edwards Club for rounds of golf and games of tennis. 04 of 11 The Inn at Pursell Farms Courtesy of The Inn at Pursell Farms Sylacauga, Alabama Start your farm fairytale aimlessly wandering the grounds at Pursell Farms, where "the welcoming committee" is a herd of longhorn cattle. Then, take a stab at sporting clays at Orvis Shooting Grounds or retreat to the Spring House Spa. Hungry? The resort boasts a handsome restaurant, pub, and grill that uses herbs, veggies, and grass-fed meats from the grounds. Whatever you do, don't leave without a round at FarmLinks, "the world's only research and demonstration golf course." 05 of 11 The JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa Courtesy of JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa Sonora, Texas You'll know your vacation has really begun as soon as you set foot on the grounds of The JL Bar Ranch, Resort and Spa. Set in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, the resort offers a warm welcome with elegant lodges, a sporting clay course, horseback riding, and seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine across its 13,000 acres. If you're in town to see the bluebonnets during spring, this spot is a great home base for your adventures. 06 of 11 Julep Farms Robbie Caponetto Dillard, Georgia North Georgia delights with its rising mountains and green landscape, but most of all, the Peach State feels like one (very) big small town. Dillard is no exception, with the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains setting the backdrop for a peaceful getaway at Julep Farms, a modern farm resort on 22 acres. The resort, which hosts guests in abodes like "The Magnolia Cottage," "The Sweet Tea," and "The Derby Cottage," envelopes visitors in graceful surroundings. Julep Kitchen serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, and there's also a market and bar. 07 of 11 Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards Courtesy of Nicewonder Farm and Vineyard Bristol, Virginia This luxury stay in the Virginia Highlands is a destination for an unforgettable experience. Stay overnight in the elegantly appointed inn, or book one of the property's yurts to be even nearer to nature. The vineyards have a tasting room and wine shop, and the restaurant, Hickory, focuses on Appalachian cuisine and locally-sourced produce for breakfast, dinner, and dessert. 08 of 11 The Old Oaks Farm Courtesy The Old Oaks Farm Guthrie, Kentucky While not a full-fledged resort, this destination offers relaxation in rolling countryside on a historic farm. Established in 1867, this property is located on the the Tennessee-Kentucky border and is now a popular wedding and events venue. It is situated on 4.5 acres and includes a five-bedroom home with beautiful grounds, fire pits, and a sunset deck. Guests can paddle the nearby Red River and walk the farmland. You can book the entire home on Airbnb. 09 of 11 Southall Farm & Inn Courtesy Southall Farm & Inn Franklin, Tennessee Self-styled as a "farm-based resort project," Southall Farm & Inn can be found on 325 acres of farmland between Franklin and Leiper's Fork. The lush hills of Middle Tennessee greet you as you arrive, and the rest of your stay includes a stay in beautiful inn with 62 guestrooms and suites and 16 cottages, a farm (with an apiary, greenhouse, gardens, and orchard) that provides ingredients for educational and dining experiences, and a spa with a focus on wellness and relaxation. 10 of 11 Shaker Village Courtesy Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Harrodsburg, Kentucky Slip into a slower pace of life at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, which is home to the largest restored Shaker community in America. During your stay at The Inn (a hotel with guest rooms, suites, and private cottages in historic buildings), the land's farmers lead overnight and day guests through a variety of programs that include quality time with the animals, a walk through the vegetable garden, lessons on beekeeping and gardening, and more. Vegetable enthusiast? The garden's produce is used at The Trustees' Table, where you can enjoy farm fresh fare throughout the year. Bonus: Honey from the apiary and apples from the orchard are used for cooking and served onsite. 11 of 11 Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo Courtesy Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo River Ranch, Florida Westgate may be an hour south of Orlando, Florida, but when you visit you'll feel like you're thousands of miles away from the city-and-Disney life the area is famous for. Perched on 1,700 pristine acres (and surrounded by an astonishing 400,000 acres of protected land), you can get your dude ranch on amongst buffalo, longhorn cattle, goats, cows, horses, and other animals that live on-site. To keep you busy, horseback ride or hit the archery range, mini golf, or enjoy a swamp buggy ride. Come slumber time, rest your weary limbs in standard hotel rooms or glamp in luxury 651-square-foot tents. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit