When I was asked to visit The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain Georgia it was described to me as rustic elegance. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d agree since the word rustic has me running for the nearest strip mall. However when I arrived I immediately realized what they meant and that my insect fearing, nature-phobic self would have nothing to worry about.
The Lodge and Spa is a Marriott property and includes all the amenities you would expect from such a distinguished brand. Upon entering the lobby I was treated to delicious apple cider, a roaring fire and a friendly front desk agent happy to help. She checked me in, handed me my keys and offered to assist me in any other way I needed.
When I arrived on the 2nd floor I found the typical hotel setup of a table with flowers and a phone and long hallways filled with doors. I had two hotel rooms one of which was a suite. It was decorated with deep colors and leather furniture and gave off a “cabin in the woods” feel. The living room had a connected couch and love seat, a chair with ottoman, an entertainment center with flat screen TV, and many drawers for our clothing and a miniature refrigerator.
Through the double doors I was surprised to find a huge bedroom. The king size bed only took up half the room which also included 2 night stands, a desk, a dresser, flat screen television and a table with fake plant.
The bathroom was large with a stand up shower and separate deep bathtub. One of the highlights of the shower was that instead of those small bottles of toiletries, Callaway Gardens Lodge and Spa use a system where they put 3 bottles on the wall. One includes their shampoo, one includes their conditioner (which I fell in love with) and one includes body wash. Of course they also offered bar soap. It was so convenient to not have little bottles everywhere and to always have your hands free. By doing this they rid the earth of a lot of plastic waste!
The other room was a standard hotel room equipped with two large beds, a desk and a chair. It also had a large bathroom with the same shower and separate tub. I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels and it’s so nice to have a big bathroom in which to get ready. There was also a lot of counter space so you could set your makeup, shaving kit, hair dryer or whatever else you needed up the first day and never have to worry about putting it away. There is nothing worse than a hotel with just a sink in the bathroom.
The beds were covered in plush down which was a dream and although the mattress itself could have been more comfortable you were able to come home after a long day and fall into the countless pillows for a long nights sleep.
The icing on the cake was the balconies outside both our rooms. Outside the suite our balcony was quite large and included two rocking chairs, a bench with small table and ottomans for our feet. The balcony outside the standard room was much smaller with just 2 chairs. Many a day my Grandmother would enjoy just sitting outside breathing in the fresh air while enjoying the view of the property.
Speaking of the property, I could have spent 2 days of my vacation just walking the grounds, enjoying the fountain and lounging in the heated swimming pool. Since The Lodge and Spa is nestled back in the woods they were sure to create walking trails and even a nice trail to a beach where, in the proper weather, you can swim or lay out. Not only is the pool heated, they also have an area where you can change right at the pool so you don’t have to freeze going between your room and the pool area. The two whirlpools are a welcome treat when you’ve been walking through the gardens all day and find yourself with sore muscles. If you don’t want to swim but your kids are relentless, just enjoy a drink at the Cabana Bar while they splash away! Golf at Callaway Gardens offers two 18 hole courses. Unfortunately while we were visiting the weather wasn’t golf friendly. In the warmer months my husband said he’d have loved to play through at least one course as they would take a great degree of skill and had impressive views.
There are a few other amenities I’ll be writing about in future posts that I’ll mention to you. The Lodge and Spa is home to the Spa Prunifolia where I was treated to a pedicure and a day of relaxation. The Ironwood Lounge is available if you are hungry during off hours or want an alcoholic drink throughout the day. It’s a nice place to just sit and relax. Finally the Piedmont Restaurant serves up delicious meals breakfast, lunch and dinner. On certain nights there is even a surf and turf buffet.
The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens also offers a great destination for conferences in their 22,000 feet of meeting space. Obviously I did not experience a conference so I won’t go into detail, only letting you know that this is a possibility and would be a great place to have a family reunion or a wedding! Your pictures will be breathtaking.
The front desk staff was always quick to help but were a bit shaky on directions so be sure to have your GPS. We enjoyed this hotel so much, especially when every time we would leave and come back we were greeted at the door. It was as if they truly did miss us. The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens is really a relaxing vacation and I hope to come back and visit with just my husband in the future.
Make your reservations at The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens by clicking HERE!
*I received a complimentary week stay at the Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens in return for my honest review.
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