Photograph courtesy of Cloudland at McLemore Resort
CLOUDLAND AT MCLEMORE RESORT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON
Sitting atop Lookout Mountain in the northwest corner of Georgia, Cloudland has much to offer: a championship golf course that features a dramatic 150-foot drop from tee to green on the 18th hole, an in-house spa, soundproof rooms for relaxed sleep, and on-site fine dining. The real draw, however, is the setting. It carries the “above the clouds” nickname for a reason; when clouds roll in, the resort sits above them. Yet that view is no more spectacular than the view of the surrounding landscape on a clear day.
The resort is a golfer’s paradise, with two golf courses to choose from. The McLemore’s Highlands course, renovated by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones, is a par 71 course that runs along cliffs. It has received awards from Golf Digest and Links magazine, and Golfweek named it one of the top 100 courses in America. The new course, The Keep, integrates the natural surroundings with streams that create multiple waterfalls, along with boulders and rock outcroppings that define the area of play. It sits in a natural 200-acre amphitheater with, you guessed it, spectacular views that can stretch as far as 60 miles.
Photograph by Mammoth Studios
WORLD OF QUERCUS
A little more than an hour’s drive southwest of Atlanta, the World of Quercus is like an old European countryside estate that blends ranch life with luxury. The farm was built in 1977 by Duke and Duchess Visconti di Modrone, who moved there to escape political turmoil in Italy. They wanted to live on a working farm (quercus is the Latin term for “oak tree”), and friends from Europe visited often to hunt and relax. Now owned by their daughter, Chiara, and her husband, Angelos, the farm opened to the public last year, with four guest houses that are decorated with artworks, furnishings, and literature from the family that dates back as far as the Crusades. In homage to its woodlands setting, the rooms also feature organic mattresses, nontoxic finishes, and circadian lighting. Each cabin has a porch with an outdoor stone fireplace.
A major draw is the farm’s Uberto Restaurant, helmed by famed Staplehouse chef Ryan Smith. The 30-seat restaurant, originally only for guests on the property, is now open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings, wooing patrons who make the trek from the city. Quercus remains a working farm and ranch, and Smith has crafted a 15-course farm-to-table menu that changes with the seasons.
Photograph courtesy of Sea Island
SEA ISLAND
Situated halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Sea Island is one of the most unique places on the planet: a private island with luxury hotels, fine dining, golf courses (including two that host the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic tournament), and more activities than a family could possibly do in one stay. The centerpiece is The Cloister, described by Travel+Leisure as “a European palace tucked away on a private island.” The Mediterranean-styled hotel, with 265 lodging options, from single rooms to three-bedroom residences, was built in 1928, then torn down and rebuilt in 2006. For golfers, staying at The Lodge (on nearby St. Simons Island) offers the ultimate convenience: The hotel not only sits by two championship golf courses but also boasts an 18-hole putting course outside the back door. There is also a nightly bagpipe performance to signal the end of the day.
Dining options on Sea Island include the elegant Georgian Rooms, the cozy and casual Oak Room, and the kids-friendly lunch spot Snack Shack. Of course, the Atlantic Ocean is the main draw, and Sea Island has five miles of private beach to roam, along with umbrella and lounge service. There are options for hunting, fishing, tennis, pickleball, falconry, archery, boat tours, and a host of other activities. The island also is a kids’ haven with playgrounds, family pools, the Sea Turtle Dawn Patrol, and Camp Cloister during the day.
DETOUR
A few miles from McLemore, Cloudland Canyon State Park offers more than 60 miles of trails, including 30-plus miles of bike trails. The setting is gorgeous, especially in the season of changing leaves, with hikes that will meet you where you are in terms of your fitness level.
This article appears in our August 2025 issue.
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