Google+ Summer in the South: Summer Escapes - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Summer, for the longest time, has always meant “summer vacation” to me. Sure, when you were in school as a kid, those last few weeks of May and June were filled with thoughts of summer break instead of finals. But as adults, those thoughts are now turning into daydreams of wonderful weekend getaways to places you would otherwise not take the time out to explore. “Summer vacation” means time unplugged from work. It means rocking chairs, swimming, big breakfasts, bike rides, new towns and souvenirs.

When we thought of which Southern getaway spots to highlight in this post, we immediately thought of Meredith Perdue and her boyfriend, Michael of Map & Menu. Their trips all over the East Coast have made them experts at the art of the getaway. We couldn’t resist asking Katie Frederick of Ever After Honeymoons to chime in with her picks for some truly special escapes, too, since she’s a pro at creating wonderful vacations.

Image Credits: All by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.

The Fearrington House – Chapel Hill holds a special place in Meredith + Michael. It’s where they went to school and first met and is a fantastic area to eat some great food and walk one of the most gorgeous college campuses in the country (not that we’re biased or anything). “When we were students, the two of us would drive to Fearrington Village to check out the Belties, peruse the books at McIntyre’s, and have some ice cream at The Belted Goat. After school, we came back and spent a wonderful evening at The Fearrington House. It’s a short drive back to Chapel Hill, where all of the shops, restaurants, and general atmosphere of the campus town await you, but The Fearrington House offers a way to experience it without being completely immersed in it. When you’ve had your fill of Chapel Hill, check out the ever-growing towns of Carrboro and Pittsboro, or just relax on the grounds on Fearrington Village. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that the breakfast at The Fearrington House is one of the best we’ve ever had — you should definitely try it for yourself.”

Image Credits: All by Joey + Jessica via Style Me Pretty except bottom right by Kate Headley via Snippet and Ink.

Bald Head Island – “Of the many places we’ve traveled together, Bald Head Island remains one of the most special. My family has been vacationing on the island since I was a child, and I was eager to share the experience with Michael when we began dating back in college,” says Meredith. “The island is only accessible by boat, giving it a wonderful private getaway feel. Large sandy beaches, marshes for paddling, miles of car-less roads for biking, and a growing set of hiking trails are just a few of the natural offerings of the island. There are two country clubs that many visitors have access to, the adorable Harbor Village, a well-stocked market and a few shops, and let’s not forget Old Baldy – the picturesque, century-old lighthouse that visitors can climb.”

Image Credits: All by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.

Clifton Inn – “Charlottesville is a delightful Southern escape – the area is rich with history, the downtown is charming and filled with great shops & restaurants, and its setting among the Blue Ridge Mountains couldn’t be more picturesque! When you’re not exploring historic attractions like Monticello or hiking in the nearby Shenandoah National Park, we highly recommend relaxing at the lovely Clifton Inn, just outside of town. I first discovered Clifton earlier this summer and found myself inquiring about dates for future trips before I’d even checked out! The inn offers one of the most soothing, tranquil settings I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying firsthand.”

Images from The Sonnet House

Soniat House – According to Katie, this boutique hotel is located in the French Quarter and is comprised of three historic creole townhouses. Just as you would expect, the rooms are furnished with balconies that overlook courtyards. It offers the New Orleans experience with class and luxury. If you’re just in town for a bit or if the Soniat House is out of your price range, you’ll still find that just walking by this beauty is an experience in itself. Luckily, you can do that on the way to some of NOLA’s other attractions including the Aquarium of the Americas, the St. Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, Riverwalk, dozens of restaurants, antique shops and art galleries, and the Frenchmen Street Music District.

Images from Blackberry Farms

Blackberry Farms – Katie must have read our minds with this pick — the Southern Weddings gals have been dying to go here, too! This 4,200 acre hideaway offers everything from yoga to canoeing, carriage rides and whiskey tasting. You might choose to relax at their spa and enjoy their incredible farm fresh restaurant, then stay in their cottages with a covered porch, rocking chairs, and large whirlpool tubs. Of course, we love that you can also partake in their farm activities, go kayaking or just plain relax on the property.

Where are some summer getaways that you’ve loved? Would you go to any of these places?

Want more Summer in the South? Check out our past posts!
Blue Eyed Yonder
A Weekend Barbecue
Summer Essentials from A Southern Lady
Beach Getaway Essentials

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
5 Comments
  1. avatar Stefanie R. reply

    The font for the city/state is a bit difficult to read.

  2. avatar Sarah U reply

    Love seeing photos from Meredith and Michael’s great website! I think she is the best southern photographer out there! ..But I’m biased, she’s shooting my August wedding in NC :-)!

  3. avatar Meredith @ Map & Menu reply

    Thank you so much for sharing a few of our favorite Southern escapes! We, too, are looking forward to a visit at Blackberry Farms someday – it looks so dreamy there!

  4. avatar MacKenzie reply

    Ahh! Love seeing Map & Menu and Katie giving such fun suggestions for southern getaways! I just added a new one to my list! Thanks for sharing this fun post, SW!

  5. avatar Caitlin reply

    What a great post! I have never heard of any of these places…esp the one in TN (where I lived for a few years while I was in college)! Thanks!

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