Over the Christmas break, we hit the road and headed to Barnsley Resort in Georgia. Barnsley Resort is located in North Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just a short drive from Atlanta. Originally meant as a gift for Godfrey Barnsley’s beloved bride two centuries ago, this Southern estate, is nothing short of magical. We discovered Barnsley through friends who stayed there a few years ago and had great things to say about it.

Barnsley has so much to offer, and it makes a great family escape, but it could also be great for groups, couples, and even weddings. It is located on 3,000 acres and boasts all kinds of services and amenities to entertain guests of all ages.

As far as activities, Barnsley has anything you can think of at an outdoor resort. Golf, shooting, hiking, biking, horseback riding, catch-and-release fishing, canoes, and a disc golf course. There is also a spa. Every night, you can pick up s’mores supplies to make s’mores around the fire, which the kids loved. They also showed movies in the Town Hall each night, and the kids would watch that while the adults sat outside around the fire. There are also activities available throughout the year, including wine tastings, crafts for the kids, and presentations of all kinds. The kids really enjoyed a presentation called Birds of Prey by Blue Ridge Raptors, a local bird rescue program.

We had a spate of bad weather while we were there, so we weren’t able to enjoy some things (like horseback riding), but the resort did a great job of letting the kids do additional activities (like feeding the horses) to keep them busy.

There was also a cottage filled with board games and yard games, and the kids really loved spending time there.

The Rooms at Barnsley Resort

Barnsley has a few options for accommodations. We wanted a more private stay, so we chose to stay in the cottages. We stayed in a one-bedroom cottage. It had its own fireplace, front porch, a spacious bathroom with a shower and freestanding tub, a separate king bedroom, and a pull-out sofa for the kids to sleep. There was no kitchen, but there was a small fridge, coffee maker and a wet bar. There are also larger cottages for big groups. The rooms are a little bit on the dated side. However, we were able to chat with the CEO of Barnsley (who is an FIU grad, for all my fellow Golden Panthers out there), and he said guest room updates are the next project they are tackling this year. Our cottage was right in the middle of the resort and we loved being able to come in and out without having to go too far.

In addition, there is an Inn with 55 guest rooms.

Where to Eat at Barnsley Resort

Barnsley has three dining options. Woodlands Grill, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We dined here twice for dinner and once for breakfast. The food was good, definitely try the Brussels sprouts – we ordered this every time we dined there and once for takeaway. Breakfast service was slow, but they were in the midst of a big COVID spike and were very short-staffed.

Rice House is another more formal dining option – it was only open for New Year’s dining while we were there, so we didn’t get a chance to try it.

The Beer Garden is another option – more casual, located in the center of the resort, and open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well. They had more barbecue options, breakfast sandwiches, and snacks available. We did grab breakfast from here most mornings and lunches as well.

What we loved most about Barnsley was that it felt like a breath of fresh air. It was relaxed, we didn’t really have to GO anywhere or do a whole lot. The kids got to run around and be kids, spend time outdoors without being told to stay in one spot, and the adult shad a chance to just sit. At one point, we were enjoying a wine tasting and we couldn’t see the kids. Melissa, who is in charge of events on the property told us, “That’s the beauty of Barnsley – just let the kids be.” And truthfully, the kids were fine playing on their own, running around on the lawn, and checking in with us from time to time.

If you’re searching for a getaway where you can spend some quality time, enjoy the outdoors, and just be, then Barnsley Resort is definitely a place I’d recommend you check out.

xoxo