[…] I have a blog post from our visit, here. […]
A Weekend at Callaway Gardens Lodge & Spa from Brittany at SouthernMamaGuide.com
A few weeks ago my husband and I had the privilege of experiencing the beauty of The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga, located just 80 miles southwest of Atlanta. I am very thankful to the lodge & spa for accommodating my husband and I for an unforgettable getaway weekend. I had heard of Callaway Gardens from some friends here in Birmingham, and I became increasingly interested in learning more as our wedding anniversary approached. I had only heard wonderful things about Callaway and how family friendly, beautiful, and natural it was. We were not disappointed one bit when we visited. The lodge & spa is just so beautiful and very comfortable to stay at. The rooms are very large, include a balcony, have a shower & bathtub, and offer free wifi (a plus these days)! I always appreciate a place that goes above and beyond in the customer service department, and Callaway had just that and more. Every hospitable employee was so helpful, kind, and always had a smile on. We felt so welcome the second we drove up. Southern hospitality is a biggie and I am grateful for their pleasurable service.
A Weekend at Callaway Gardens Lodge & Spa from Brittany at SouthernMamaGuide.com
Every meal we ate at Callaway was just delicious! The first night we arrived we were glad we arrived early enough to enjoy the seafood buffet special at the Piedmont Grille. I especially loved the unlimited amount of snow crab! Hadn’t had those since before I was pregnant, so I really indulged in my share! Everything was just so yummy! We enjoyed it so much we ate there again the next morning for their breakfast buffet, which did not disappoint. I really appreciated that they use most of the produce they can found from the gardens on the ground. It is always nice to know you are eating the most fresh foods, especially while traveling. Our last night we opted for a casual dining experience at the Ironwood Lounge. Again, it was so delicious! We enjoyed sitting outside and had a wonderful meal. Another place to check out and get a reservation to is The Gardens restaurant. We walked to it on our bike adventure and were blown away by the view from the dining room. The menu looked amazing as well! Definitely on our list next time!
A Weekend at Calloway Gardens Lodge & Spa from Brittany at SouthernMamaGuide.com
The attractions at Callaway all sounded amazing before we got there so we just decided to wait til we arrived to decide on specifics. We agreed to rent bicycles and heard this was a great way to see the grounds. I am so glad we did. The bike trails were all paved, mostly shady, and was an easy trail to peddle. Great for most ages! This was a wonderful way to see all of the attractions because we were able to go at our own pace and enjoy the nature as well. On our adventure we passed lakes, gardens, golf courses, historical cottages, the beach, and much more. Before we started our bicycle adventure we attended the Birds of Prey show which was so great and informative. I enjoyed getting to see hawks and owls up close and in person. Learning about them and and how they live was so fascinating-especially since these animals are right in our backyard! This attraction was held indoors which was so nice since it was hot outside. After we finished biking we kicked back and relaxed by the lodge’s beautiful pool and hot tubs. We lost track of time out there and enjoyed our cocktails and yummy appetizers! This was the perfect way to end an active day of sight seeing. Also, just a few hundred feet from the pool is the beach. The trail is quick and easy to access and it was nice to be so close to both of these places while staying at the lodge & spa.
A Weekend at Calloway Gardens Lodge & Spa from Brittany at SouthernMamaGuide.com
On our bike adventure we stopped at the beautiful Butterfly exhibit. We visited here shortly after lunch since we had heard that the butterflies were most active during the hottest part of the day. When we arrived we were able to view the cocoons where some butterflies were about to hatch- it was so neat! Once you are in the habitat it is just beautiful. You look up and see several butterflies flying around, hear the sounds of the small waterfall, and see fish and turtles in the water. It was such a peaceful and incredible experience. Definitely highly recommended for any age! So glad I got some pretty shots of the gorgeous butterflies!
Thank you so much for the incredible weekend, we had such a memorable time and cannot wait to come back soon! Callaway offers a lot of special events this holiday season and I cannot wait to go back and bring our daughter for these great family friendly events! See below for details!
Upcoming Specials & Events at Callaway:
Starting in Sept. through Nov. The Lodge and Spa is offering guests the opportunity to “Harvest a Memory.” It’s their new fall package starting at $199 per night that includes overnight accommodations, access to Callaway Gardens, seeds to harvest and a gourmet picnic lunch and a blanket to enjoy inside the gardens. Guests can enjoy the changing of the leaves colors in the nicer cooler temps!
Another upcoming event is Callaway Gardens’ annual Fantasy in Lights festival in which The Lodge and Spa is also offering a package starting at $219 per night for travelers attending the festival. Callaway is known for turning their gardens into a winter wonderland with a beautiful Christmas tree! It was named National Geographic’s Top 10 Places to See!
aww, these photos are so beautiful!! what a great getaway! i had no idea you could actually stay at calloway gardens! steven took me there for a surprise once in college for the beautiful christmas lights setup they had going around the holidays, and it was such a dream. i will always love that memory! glad you two had a perfect little getaway! i am sure you needed some catch up time!