Serenbe

Last weekend we rented a cottage at an old farm-turned-inn property outside of Atlanta called the Inn at Serenbe. A cottage rental was an especially good fit for us with our toddler and dog along. We spent the weekend ambling around the farm, visiting the animals, walking nature trails and checking out the sustainable-living concept community adjacent to it.

hogs’ midday nap under a tree

donkey with a bunny rabbit shadow

The community of Serenbe touts LEED-certified buildings and shops, farm-to-table living (it’s adjacent to a working organic farm), new earthcraft homes with underground trash systems and other environmentally forward-thinking design elements surrounded by untouched and protected green space. We found it to be a little too nice and new for our taste. But we loved the walking trails behind the community and the sprawling farm grounds of the Inn at Serenbe property with its turn-of-the-century restored and renovated farmhouse. It seemed that in all aspects of the property and accommodations they managed to attain a serene rustic elegance and country charm without going anywhere near the ‘country-with-a-‘K’ kitsch’ that is common here in the South.

country cottage with a ‘c’, but I could still see goats out my bathroom window

We ate most of our meals at the Farmhouse restaurant on the property.  The lunch, which is only served on weekends, was by far the best meal we had. The fried chicken, brined and soaked in buttermilk and spices was simply wonderful.  And the chive biscuits in the table bread basket had a touch of saltiness to them that won me over too, leaving me wanting another.  I would return to Serenbe (as in, drive 30 miles) just to have the fried chicken and chive biscuits again someday. (And for those of you keeping score at home ‘Portlandia’ style, yes, the chicken did have friends…)