In mid-October, we booked our stay at Blackberry Farm. Blackberry Farm was always a dream getaway for me. It’s booked at least a year in advance so I never thought we’d have the chance to go. Somehow, David made it work and surprised me with a two-day trip! We had the nicest, coziest stay at Blackberry Farm. It truly re-charged our batteries.
Blackberry Farm is a popular destination year-round, but I think Fall is the perfect time to stay at Blackberry Farm. The foliage is incredible and it gives you the opportunity to breathe in the crisp mountain air as well as make use of the stone fireplaces throughout the property.
Accommodation at Blackberry Farm
We stayed in a cottage room that was as spacious as it was cozy and comfortable. The rooms are stocked with a welcome treat that pays homage to local Southern flavors and traditions plus unlimited pantry snacks ranging from cookies and candy to nuts and chips. I loved that every guest received a reusable water bottle to use during the time at the resort. Each room also has its own golf cart to use for navigating the more than 4,000 square foot property.
Blackberry Farm Culinary Experience
You will not go hungry during your stay at Blackberry Farm. All meals are included and you can dine at one of two restaurants on property for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food is an out-of-this-world experience prepared by an internationally-recognized culinary team. The menu changes daily and is an homage to Southern classics blended with international flavors. I could go on about how unique and delicious it was.
We spent one date night at The Barn, the more upscale restaurant on site. The restaurant itself was expansive and dimly lit, but the menu wasn’t my favorite of the stay. I much preferred the food at the main house. It may have been the menu on the one night we visited so I’d definitely give it another chance if we go again.
What We Did During Our Stay
There is so much to do during a stay at Blackberry Farm! Some of it’s included in the price and other experiences are an additional charge. We spent most of our first day driving around the grounds to see the animals – pigs, turkeys and puppies – and getting the lay of the land. Meals also took up a lot of our time and my husband and I spent some time using the gym. One of our favorite family experiences was a 1.5 mile hike. It took about an hour and our three-year-old made it just short of a mile before needing to be carried. We asked to borrow a hiking carrier which was convenient when she was ready to call it quits.
Had we been there without our daughter and for a longer stay, we would have taken advantage of more activities, but felt like our time there was well spent with a good mix of activity and relaxation.
A Note About Service
This is the one area where I can’t sing the resort’s praises. I found the service to be truly hospitable in some ways but lacking in others. If you frequent other luxury resorts, the service at Blackberry Farm isn’t on par with the consistency you may expect.
For example, they sat us in the back corner of the restaurant for our first two meals. After realizing it was because we had our toddler with us (this was where all families with kids seemed to be sitting), we started asking to sit where we preferred.
Moreover, on the day we arrived, we had to wait around for four hours because we arrived before the 4 p.m. check-in. Others who also arrived early got rooms right away. However, there was no effort to accommodate us even with a toddler who desperately needed a nap.
Finally, we were practically chased out of our room by aggressive staff at the 12:30 p.m. checkout time. These, with a few other small occurrences added up to impact our overall impression. We still very much enjoyed ourselves but found the inconsistencies in service to be frustrating.
Overall our stay at Blackberry Farm lived up to many of our expectations and was everything we anticipated it would be, I just wish the service had been more consistent given the price of a stay on the property. It should be.
Looking for some of my past travel guides? Here are a few of my favorites:
Los Cabos Travel Guide: Where to Stay in Los Cabos
Tulum Travel Guide: Kid-friendly Tulum
Our South Carolina Family Vacation
Our Big Island Babymoon
Napa Valley Travel Guide
Bermuda Travel Guide
Leave a Reply