What the heck is Serenbe? That was our first thought once we heard about it a couple of years in the past. An area good friend named Kelly was transferring to this “wellness group” outdoors of Atlanta and informed us it’s an ideal place for a fast getaway with the youngsters. And shortly after that dialog, we realized that our associates Vern Yip and Craig Koch are additionally constructing a house there. So, fast-forward 5 years, we lastly visited over Spring Break and had a good time.
Okay, so now let’s reply that preliminary query.
What Is Serenbe?
Serenbe (rhymes with “Heron B.”) is a small “New City” group about 45 minutes south of Atlanta in a rural city referred to as Chattahoochee Hills. It’s type of a mixture of an upscale-feeling suburban growth and an eco-conscious resort within the countryside. There’s a concentrate on well-being and connection to nature, together with on-site options like an natural farm, a number of farm-to-table eating places, and 16 miles of nature trails.
We didn’t know if we must always anticipate sprawling farmland or dense city facilities and actually, it’s kinda each. The primary sights are these quaint “hamlets” with retailers, eating places, and houses inside strolling distance of each other. However between them are horse pastures, wooded trails, and bigger heaps referred to as “farmettes” that also provide you with a way of remoteness. There’s a variety of residence sizes and kinds, from fashionable condos to retro bungalows which makes for heaps to have a look at if you drive round (in a golf cart, which is the preffered technique of transportation for locals and guests alike).
There’s an Inn you possibly can keep at, in addition to a number of Airbnbs, however general Serenbe felt extra full-time and residential than we anticipated. We requested a neighborhood and so they mentioned about 70% of its occupancy is full-time, which differs loads from our seaside down (which is extra like 50/50 and even decrease relying on the world). We additionally got here of their low season (mid-March) so maybe it has a extra tourist-y vibe through the summer time. Both method, it was nice for us as a result of we stay in a trip vacation spot that will get fairly busy over spring break, so the slower tempo was truly very nice.
The place To Keep In Serenbe?
The Inn at Serenbe is the one lodge however you may also discover leases by websites like Airbnb and the official Serenbe Trip Leases web site. Some Airbnb outcomes could present up as “Palmetto, GA” and a few is probably not inside Serenbe correct, so you should definitely test the itemizing if that’s necessary to you. Being on web site offers you simpler entry to trails & retailers, and also you’ll additionally be capable to golf cart between hamlets extra simply.
We ended up being extraordinarily fortunate that Vern & Craig allow us to keep within the apartment they’ve (which is the place they keep whereas their Serenbe house is being constructed, since they stay full time in Atlanta). Sherry had texted them for Serenbe ideas once we began planning our journey and so they insisted that we keep at their place, because it wasn’t getting used. They’re severely the kindest people on the planet.
What To Do In Serenbe
Our 3 days in Serenbe had been a splendidly chill expertise crammed with – as tacky because it sounds – nice alternatives to decelerate and join with nature and one another.
Get Outdoors
Serenbe gives loads of excuses to be outdoors: trails, playgrounds, even waterfalls. And far to our shock, the primary exercise our youngsters requested every day was taking part in in a close-by stream. Our youngsters are 10 and 14 and we had been fairly stunned to comprehend that this little stream could be an enormous draw for them. But it surely saved them busy for a pair hours every day – simply taking part in with rocks and dirt (our daughter made legit pottery with clay from the riverbed), strolling throughout fallen logs, skipping stones, and many others.
The paths & streams had been very paying homage to the Virginia suburb I grew up in, so I’m undecided each child would discover Serenbe’s babbling brooks as charming as our youngsters did. However I assume it was novel sufficient in comparison with the sandy seashores they’re used to in Florida.
Past the character trails, our youngsters additionally liked the little playgrounds peppered all through the group (once more, one thing paying homage to the suburb I grew up in – and one thing we questioned if they’d outgrown). However Serenbe’s playgrounds appeared deliberately retro and easy – primary swings & slides vs elaborate plastic playplaces – which completely charmed our youngsters. They even ended up taking part in on this little lean-to made from sticks for some time.
The best “fashionable” playground options in Serenbe are a few in-ground trampolines, together with one atop a hill referred to as “Sundown Level” that overlooks the stables. They liked them.
General, there wasn’t something particularly elaborate or distinctive about these numerous outside facilities, however there gave the impression to be some magic within the old style simplicity of them, and the truth that they had been scattered round Serenbe (to the purpose that many youngsters would “trampoline hop” to every spot after dinner within the night).
Experience Horses
With all the stables and pastures round, it appeared solely pure to splurge on a household horseback journey. Plus, it was Sherry’s birthday – so why not spend it atop a horse?
We booked a 1-hour tour by Serenbe Path Using, which was good for novice riders like us. My daughter and I had accomplished one thing comparable final summer time on our journey to South Dakota, however this was our son’s first time on a horse! He was nervous, however Crystal (our information) and Dakota (his horse) had been superior. By the top, he mentioned it was his favourite a part of your complete trip!
The journey took us alongside among the Serenbe trails with sufficient sights (a waterfall! cool homes!) and terrain (steep-ish hills!) to make it participating & enjoyable on the similar time.
Hit the Spa
Sherry’s different birthday current whereas we had been there was a soothing journey to the Spa at Serenbe with our daughter. Once we referred to as to e book, the girl on the cellphone gushed a lot in regards to the Reiki therapy over a typical therapeutic massage that Sherry took her recommendation and that’s what they every loved for an hour (together with hanging out within the infrared sauna earlier than and after the therapy, and ordering some macarons). However each our daughter and Sherry ranked their spa expertise as their favourite a part of the journey!
Lease Bikes or A Golf Cart
You’ll be able to simply get round Serenbe with out a automotive. We solely used it at some point once we ventured out to a close-by park. Our good friend Kelly – the one who moved there full-time a couple of years in the past – loaned us her golf cart and our youngsters liked that we may all scoot round city in it. Had we been there longer, I positively would have introduced our bikes (or rented them), though it’s pretty hilly so getting round could possibly be a little bit of a exercise.
Go See A Waterfall
Okay, so this one is technically outdoors of Serenbe, but it surely was positively definitely worth the 15-minute drive (there are a few smaller waterfalls in Serenbe too). We went on a 2-mile-ish hike at Cochran Mills Park that took us previous quite a few waterfalls, together with this spectacular cascade proper firstly. It was somewhat steep and overgrown at elements, however our chihuahua did it, so I wouldn’t say it was too difficult!
FYI – the paths we took (the Orange trails) are throughout the primary highway from the parking zone.
Store the Shops
We had a enjoyable afternoon of exploring among the retailers in Serenbe, though they’re pretty restricted – particularly on the subject of issues that children get pleasure from. So the retailers didn’t take up a lot time, however they had been good pit stops on our walks.
Most likely our two favorites had been Typo Market and the Hills & Hamlet Bookshop. They’re each charming & quaint, and Typo Market packs loads of cute curiosities (stationery, decor, toys, and many others) in a small retailer! Sherry additionally ducked into an upscale residence decor retailer referred to as Mister & Mrs Sharp to oogle the products. She left with two little gold fortune cookies (one for every of our youngsters) that hinge open, and you may write somewhat be aware for them inside. Right here’s an affiliate hyperlink to a model of what she bought that you would be able to get engraved on Etsy.
The place To Eat in Serenbe
Very similar to the purchasing choices, the eating choices in Serenbe aren’t quite a few, however we loved each meal we had – particularly from the place we ate thrice!
Blue Eyed Daisy
Blue Eyed Daisy is an off-the-cuff spot that was a brief stroll from our apartment and we ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner there (not all on the identical day). They solely serve dinner a few nights per week and we caught their weekly “Burger Night time” on Monday, which Vern and Craig mentioned we couldn’t miss. My Dubliner burger was one of the best burger I’ve had shortly.
Halsa
Halsa is a Swedish-inspired restaurant that positively had our favourite “vibes” of all of the eating places. It’s somewhat pricier, and the “clear” and “vegetable-forward” menu won’t be each child’s favourite, however we preferred our lunch a lot that we got here again the following day for breakfast!
The Hill
The Hill is a barely nicer, however nonetheless informal dinner spot the place we ate on our final night time. Like the opposite eating places, it boasts native farm recent components and could be a superb date night time possibility too. Our youngsters shared a pizza, Sherry crated her personal “tapas” from the apps & sides, and I totally loved my “beef stack” that ended up being code for a burger.
Nigel’s Fancy Bananas
We’ve been massive followers of this frozen banana & gelato store ever since a mutual good friend of ours & Kelly’s opened her first one in Florida a couple of years in the past. Serenbe is its third location, so in fact we needed to cease in. It by no means disappoints and the chocolate-covered bananas sprinkled with issues like graham crackers & marshmallows or a melted peanut butter drizzle are nice. We counted this as lunch as soon as day (at residence each infrequently, it’s dinner, together with another random snack that we eat afterwards).
Different Locations To Eat
One other common eating spot is The Farmhouse on the Inn, however we had been informed it’s a bit dressier and we didn’t pack for the event. There are additionally espresso retailers like Birdhouse Espresso Room and Minro Studio that may be a cafe and ceramics studio the place you possibly can take pottery workshops (however that was closed whereas we had been there). There’s additionally a pizza place referred to as Radical Dough that we might’ve liked to strive, but it surely was additionally closed whereas we had been there.
A Journey to Serenbe: A Abstract
We had a good time in Serenbe. We didn’t actually know what to anticipate, aside from it all the time being known as having a “farm” feeling and being a pleasant gradual place to chill out. It lived as much as the nippiness, connect-with-nature vibe we’d heard about – and I believe its distinction to our day by day atmosphere was particularly enjoyable for our youngsters. Our daughter is already asking to return and take a look at goat yoga!
In any case, right here’s a fast rundown of our journey in bullet type:
The place to Keep:
What to Do:
Purchasing & Eating:
Extra Household Journeys We’ve Taken
Should you’re involved in our tackle different locations or are looking for family-friendly journeys, you may additionally get pleasure from these posts:
