Amid sweltering Florida summers, a trip to the beach doesn’t always suffice. For a truly refreshing escape, it’s best to head north, particularly to the mountains.
The names Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain may evoke images of berry picking and strenuous hikes, but in fact, they’re two distinct luxury resorts in Walland, Tennessee, that offer a relaxing vacation year-round but are especially breathtaking in the summer season.
The first time Carla Shah, the Corporate Director of Revenue Management at Liberty Group, frequented Blackberry Farm was for a winter yoga retreat.
“Our yoga class was held in a large barn-like venue, filled with floor lanterns and a wood-burning fireplace, overlooking the outdoors – it was perfection. This was the exact moment I knew that I would return many times,” she recalls.
Though yoga served as the catalyst, during her retreat, Shah took advantage of what Blackberry Farm is noted for – the food.
Rooted in ingredients harvested directly from the farm and the region itself, Blackberry Farm brings together a team of skilled artisans, including a chef, master gardener, baker, cheesemaker, forager, butcher, preservationist, restaurant manager and sommelier. Each of these professionals contributes their unique talents to craft an unforgettable culinary experience.
“I was amazed by the freshness of the ingredients and the artistic presentation of each dish; each was picture-perfect,” Shah says.
Her second visit in the spring was centered on a Deep Healing Woods retreat hiking the Great Smoky Mountains. This time, Shah focused more on the outdoors and connecting with nature, whether it was practicing yoga among the mountains or enjoying a scenic chef-curated picnic. Throughout her stay, Shah experienced wine tastings, savored cooking demonstrations, toured the on-site wine cellar and indulged in the spa offerings.
To get the most out of the resort’s amenities, Shah recommends becoming a Friend of Blackberry to receive alerts on upcoming events, and if it’s your first time to the Farm, attach your stay to one of its curated events and retreats to ensure a graceful introduction to everything the property has to offer.
As someone who has experienced staying at both resorts, Nikki DeBartolo, the Vice President at DeBartolo Holdings, recommends Blackberry Farm for the culinary crusaders while Blackberry Mountain is ideal for the outdoorsy and adventurous. Of course, no matter which resort she frequents, she aims to partake in as many activities as she can.
“We have done everything from hiking, fly fishing, wine and bourbon tasting, pottery and basket making, cooking classes, private dinners, water slide, pickleball,” DeBartolo lists. “There is always something we do when we go that I try to push us out of our comfort zone a little bit.”
Like Shah, DeBartolo has spent time at the resorts during various seasons to experience the change of scenery Tampa Bay misses, but for summer in particular, the Blackberry Mountain team recommends forest bathing, the Arbor Adventure course and enjoying the summer mountain sunset during dinner at one of its on-site restaurants, Firetower.
From tastings and culinary classes to spa sessions and outdoor adventures galore, the magic of both Blackberry Mountain and Blackberry Farm is that guests don’t have to leave the resort but can relax, play and stay all in one area.
“We never leave the resort, DeBartolo says. “It is our time to just disconnect as much as we can from the real world, and everything you want is right there.”
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