Alabama - The Heart of Dixie

Rocky Mount Bed & Breakfast (1)
2364 Rocky Mount Road, Prattville, AL 36066
Nearest Interstate: I-65, Exit 179, one and a half miles west.

On a fifty-acre farm in the hills above Montgomery Jim and Sharron Cobb pamper guests with down-home Alabama hospitality in the house Jim's great grandfather built in 1881. Although the house was enlarged, some things haven't changed, like the airy central hall and the view of the gardens from the wrap-around veranda.

The house has 12-foot high ceilings and three guest rooms decorated with photos of ancestors and the family's original furniture. Two rooms have fireplaces and one has a private entrance. Anna's Room, named after Jim's great grandmother, is a favorite of guests celebrating an anniversary or wedding.

Sharron's country breakfasts, served by the fire or on the veranda, are just a hint of her culinary talents. If you don't care to go out to one of the local restaurants, you can order one of her gourmet dinners, beautifully presented on fine china in the glow of candlelight. She's also well known for arranging parties and weddings at the inn. She can provide food, flowers and music, every ingredient for a memorable occasion.

If you want to spend some quiet time with a book, try a lawn chair under the old oak trees in a peaceful spot where you can see Tennessee Walkers grazing in the pastures. There are about three hours of trails on shady field roads near the farm. One trail through the woods leads to a hilltop where you can look down on Montgomery. You can use their horses or pasture board your own. For longer rides one of Alabama's largest wildlife management areas is a short trailer ride away. After an invigorating afternoon on horseback, you may want to end the day with one of their down-home steak cookouts and a bonfire. For more information call 800-646-3831, email: RockyMountBnB@aol.com or visit their website: www.rockymountbb.com.

Alabama - A Mountain Retreat

Mountain Laurel Inn (2)
P.O. Box 443, Mentone, AL 35984
Nearest Interstates: I-75, Exit 306 or I-59, Exit 231.

Susan Wilcox shares her inn's half-mile driveway with the Mentone Wedding Chapel and a horse ranch. Nestled on Lookout Mountain near waterfalls that create their own music, this quiet inn couldn't be more romantic.

From March to early summer the woods are laced with two varieties of mountain laurel, trillium, lady slippers, wild azaleas and varieties of wild rhododendron.

In fall the trees in the 85-mile Lookout Mountain range turn red and gold, and the harvest moon rises in the sky like a pumpkin pie. It's a short stroll along the Bluff View Trail in any season to see Desoto Falls, so named because of Spanish armor that was found in the area and linked to the famed 17th century explorer. More adventurous paths lead down to the river and along the bluff overlooking the Little River Canyon. The rewards are views of more waterfalls and Indian caves in the rock face.

If you want to ride well seasoned, surefooted mountain horses for an hour to see the waterfall, the Shady Grove Dude Ranch next door will do fine. If you bring your own horses up, your riding options are unlimited. Less than a mile down the hill from the inn is the 200-acre Holly Springs Stables, owned by a seasoned professional trainer Nancy Smith. She has quiet, well mannered horses to rent or will board your horses in her 20-stall show barn. Whether you pack one of Nancy's maps, or hire a wrangler to guide you the first day, you can explore miles of forested trails in the Lookout Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Country roads, paths along riverbeds and nearly hidden springs all await the adventurous.

Back at the inn, Susan's cozy sitting room called the Gathering Place is always stocked with hot and cold beverages. Guests can play board games or sip steaming mugs of tea in the rockers out on the porch while listening to woodland sounds.

All rooms in the main house and Susan's separate guest house have private entrances and are decorated with sunny country quilt colors, antiques and comfortable furniture.

Mornings begin with coffee delivered to your door, a nice touch for early risers. Susan's gourmet breakfasts are served on a table that once stood in her grandmother's 1888 landmark house. A hot fruit compote, Decadent French Toast or Ranchero Eggs seasoned with herbs picked from her raised herb beds are just a few of her favorite dishes. She graciously shares others on her website. For more information call Innkeeper Sarah Wilcox toll Free at 800-889-4244 or visit their website: www.Mountain-Laurel-Inn.com. For Stabling or horse rental contact Nancy Smith at Holly Springs Stables: 256-634-4132 or Shady Grove Dude Ranch: 256-634-4344.

Zion Farms (3)
2979 Big Texas Valley Road, Armuchee, GA 30105
Nearest Interstate: I-75, Exit 306, near US 27 and Hwy 140 North of Rome.

At Zion Farms the Cooper family has created a mountain retreat for guests who wish to escape the routines of life and rejuvenate their spirits. Rustic elegance is a theme repeated in barns, beautifully appointed guest quarters and cottages scattered around the 340-acre estate.

Standing on the hill by the main stable you see the architectural details in woodwork, brick arches and Georgia stone that are the signature of the farm. Rena is the creative designer behind all the buildings, using rough hewn timbers that come from the farm's own forests. After the winter of 1993 when a snow storm with thunderclaps blew down hundreds of trees, Rena used her talent for design to help Bob build new buildings and embellish existing ones with the logs and boards milled after the storm. She also seamlessly converted the original Clydesdale stable into deluxe guest rooms with balconies, fireplaces and views of pastures in two directions.

In some suites a classic fabric on an upholstered chair seems to have inspired the room's entire theme. The carefully chosen bed linens, king size four poster beds, sturdy chests and marble baths, could inspire you to redecorate your home.

Breakfast is served in the main house, Cooper Lodge, in a cozy room that allows guests to mingle or huddle in a secluded nook. Chef Brad Hall describes his meals as "down-to-earth southern gourmet." He uses locally grown farm produce whenever possible. His pecan crusted trout comes fresh from a nearby farm. Dinner is provided on request and can be served with panache on the columned porch overlooking the valley.

There are well behaved ponies and horses to ride, and even Clyde crosses for heavyweights. They breed and sell horses and have a resident trainer who gives lessons in the arena and on the cross country course. But whether you use theirs or bring your own, riding through the woods or green valleys in any season is delightful. The Coopers have created a lively, yet peaceful resort that is as soothing to the soul as a hymn sung in a country church. For more information call 706-232-4323 or visit their website: www.zionfarms.com.

Cohutta Lodge, Restaurant and Wilderness Stables (4)
500 Cochise Trail, Chatsworth, GA 30705
Nearest Interstates: I-75 and I-575, between Chatsworth and Ellijay on Hwy 52.

The Cohutta Lodge and Restaurant sits on 150 acres atop Fort Mountain in the vast Chattahooche National Forest, which stretches across most of northern Georgia. Leaning on the rail of the second story deck you can see sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The landscaped gardens below lead to a gazebo overlooking the valley. It's a sunny, windswept spot where temperatures rarely top 90 degrees. No wonder this is a popular site for weddings.

There are several choices of accommodations at Cohutta. Each room and suite in the main lodge is decorated in a different theme and some have balconies and Jacuzzis. There are cabins on the hillside if you seek serenely quiet surroundings. Farther down the hill in the Valley View Lodge all rooms have private patios that are perfect for nightly star gazing.

Dining is a gorgeous experience with views of the wilderness through tall windows. On weekends the chef prepares lavish buffets. Guests and locals alike come for the Friday night seafood and Saturday night prime rib buffets.

Just after you turn into the main gate there's a drive that leads down to the barn where Susan Alred manages a barn of 24 Quarter Horses. She will also board your horse during your stay. Susan says that in spring the woods come alive with flowers, but late fall is her favorite season for riding and hiking in the peaceful Cohutta Wilderness.

"The woods in this area are full of trails and streams. In summer you can hear a waterfall through the trees, but in fall you can see it," Susan says. "The top elevation here is 2,800 feet and from the lodge on clear days you can see 80 miles to the Alabama State line." After riding, she recommends a swim in the enclosed, heated pool up at the lodge-it's the best way to end the day. For more information call the Lodge: 706-695-9601 or visit their website: www.cohuttalodge.com. For horse stabling or rental contact Barn Manager Susan Alred at 706-695-2276.

Dillard House (5)
1158 Franklin Street, Dillard, GA 30537
Nearest Interstate: I-985 to US 441 north.

High on a plateau, on land that was awarded in 1794 to Captain John Dillard for his service in the American Revolution, the Dillard family has been welcoming guests for nine decades. Their philosophy of Southern hospitality is inherited from Carrie and Arthur Dillard whose first guest, a traveling preacher, arrived in 1917.

Carrie was a gifted cook, gardener and businesswoman who treated guests like members of her extended family. She passed down her work ethic and hospitality skills to generations of family members who still live and farm in the area.

Guest accommodations these days are in cottages, guest rooms and chalets with great views of Blue Ridge Mountains. The term "living off the land" is obvious at mealtime when smoked meats, garden fresh vegetables, homemade cakes, cookies, jams and jellies are served family style. You can also purchase some of these goodies from the gift shop.

If someone in your group teeters on the fence between riding and more grounded diversions, there are tennis courts and fishing ponds. The youngest members of the family will gravitate to the farmyard petting zoo where Texas longhorns, goats, chickens and a miniature donkey compete for attention.

Barn Manager Pam Thompson, who shows Quarter Horses, can board your horse or match you with one of her trusty mounts. There is a riding arena and trails in the Little Tennessee River Valley that pass through apple orchards and lush forests to breathtaking scenic overlooks of waterfalls. For lodging information call 800-541-0671 or 706-746-5348 or visit their website www.dillardhouse.com. For stabling or horse rental contact Dillard Barn Manager Pam Thompson at 706-746-2038.

Southern Cross Guest Ranch and B & B (6)
1670 Bethany Church Road, Madison, GA 30650
Nearest Interstate I-20, Exit 114, US 129/441 south.

This is a haven so perfect for family vacations that it had to be shared. Surrounded by Georgia woodlands and gently rolling pastures, this working ranch has sixteen guest rooms. They breed and sell Quarter Horses, Paints, and Percheron crosses as well as POAs, (Ponies of the Americas) for children.

Riding is included with your room, so the barn gets lively each day at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. as guests meet to saddle up for trail rides or to take a lesson. Friendly staff, some who have been here since it opened 10 years ago, will help you select your horse, but you can groom and saddle up yourself while getting to know your mount. There are 200 acres of rolling meadows and shady, Georgia clay trails to explore.

If you want to bring your horses on vacation, the large new barn has special "Guest Horse" stalls. Once you have gone out the first time with a guide in a group of six, you are free to ride on your own. For more challenging riding it's just a short drive to Hard Labor State Park where there are thousands of acres and 22 miles of trails.

After riding you can relax on the large deck across the back of the lodge overlooking the pastures, swim in the pool or revive yourself in the hot tub. There is a community room where snacks and beverages are available anytime and a Western styled lounge with a TV, videos, lots of games and a computer.

Three hearty buffet meals are included daily. The sunny dining rooms have large oak tables that make it easy to sit down, introduce yourself and meet new friends. On Fridays the evening seafood buffet attracts many locals. Every night there's a wide choice of main dishes, vegetables, a Mexican specialty and a large salad bar. Desserts and soft ice cream top off the meal. Cookies, sweet treats and milk are put out every evening.

This all inclusive riding vacation is like attending a big house party where you are sure make new friends. Guests say they enjoy the place because they feel like part of the family here. One mother said she and her daughter come several weekends a year because "it's like coming home for us." For more information call (706) 342-8027, email: mail@southcross.com or visit their website at www.southcross.com.

Twelve restored 19th century homes nestled together near a once thriving stagecoach intersection has become a charming country retreat, Henderson Village.

Homes with white columns and sprawling verandas overlooking gardens symbolize the romance of cotton country. Ten rustic farm cottages have been moved to the site and completely refurbished with luxurious amenities. The houses have been collected by a German electronics businessman who fell in love with the area and bought one house and then another, sometimes saving buildings on nearby farms from destruction.

All twenty-four guest suits have European feather beds and sophisticated sound systems. Houses are connected by 18 acres of picturesque gardens and fountains to the gourmet restaurant located in Langston House. The restaurant has garnered praise from Georgia Trend magazine as "the absolute best dining experience in Georgia."

Relax by the pool, or pamper yourself with an in-room massage after enjoying the ease of riding Tennessee Walkers through woods, fields, and lush game lands on more than 8,000 acres. Barn and Hunting Manager Benny Taylor organizes trail rides on their horses or yours. He also arranges bass fishing, clay shooting or hunting excursions in season.

If you wish to bring your own horses, you can stable them at the H-T Horse & Cattle Company's brick stable located across the street from Henderson Village. Extra roomy cement block stalls, paddocks, a lighted riding arena and professional horse care are offered by this family owned business.

Coming upon this mellow rural landscape is a rare find that takes you back 100 years. Riding through the countryside's cotton fields, peach and pecan orchards is like stepping in the hoof prints of Georgia planters. Call 888-615-9722 or visit www.hendersonvillage.com for more information. For stabling and riding information contact Barn/Hunting Manager Benny Taylor at 478-217-0350 or HT Horse & Cattle Company at 478-987-6901.