Hiwassee Acres (900 Co Rd 950, Calhoun, TN) is such a beautiful spot. Not only is it a great place to stay, they also have a lot of fun things to do on the property. And if you still want more, they are close to the Cherokee National Forest, the Cherohala Skyway, several wineries, and so much more.
I spent a weekend there for a retreat and fell in love with the place.
From the pictures, I expected it to be nice, but it was even nicer than I thought it would be. The rooms all had their own bathrooms. The beds were super cozy. The kitchen was well stocked and there was even a small sitting area in my room. Depending on what you want, they have anything from private suites to rooms that you can share with others.
The property rests along the Hiwassee River, so there are several spots to just sit and relax.
Petting and feeding the animals was one of the best parts.
I thought that this was an experience that we got to have because of the retreat, but it’s also something they offer to all of their guests. As long as you let them know you’re coming, you’re welcome to join them “any evening at feeding time.”
The animals are all so sweet, and they love being loved on. I could have spent the whole time here and been perfectly happy.
The next morning, we went on a hike to Gee Creek Falls, which follows the creek all the way up to the waterfall.
This waterfall is only about thirty minutes away from Hiwassee Acres.
There are remnants of concrete mining diverters from the late 1800s here and there along the creek.
This was only my third time kayaking, so I was a little nervous about it, but it was a mostly peaceful experience.
I don’t love swimming in water that I can’t see the bottom of, and really water that isn’t contained somehow (like a swimming pool), so the main goal when I go kayaking is not to fall out! This is what makes me nervous about it. I have to say though, going for the first time in the ocean (which I’ll remind you has waves) makes kayaking in a lake (with no waves) much easier.
It’s also how I learned to withstand wakes that happen after boats come through. Which is why I said the experience was “mostly peaceful”. Haha! There were a few boats that came along while we were out there.
Having people around me that have been kayaking pretty much their entire lives helped too. It made me feel more comfortable being able to see what they do and ask questions if I needed to.
(They have kayaks there that you can use, or you can also bring your own.)
We went to Morris Vineyard, a scenic winery nearby for a tasting. (346 Union Grove Rd NE, Charleston, TN)
It was only about twenty-five minutes away from Hiwassee and the drive was really pretty.
Everyone seemed to really enjoy their wine slushies. I don’t drink wine, but the muscadine juice and charcuterie board were delicious. And the views were gorgeous!
Back at Hiwassee that evening, the sunset was stunning!
We were preparing to sit down for dinner (meals aren’t normally provided, but they were as part of the retreat) when the sun started to set and the sky began to change colors.
Then we were treated to another delicious meal by the wonderful staff. They were all so kind and did everything in their power to make sure that our time there was relaxing and enjoyable. It was so fun to meet them all and get to know them a little bit throughout the weekend.
The rest of our time was filled with games, a bonfire, crafting, and exploring the property.
They have a ping pong table in the main building, along with several board and card games you can play. There are also tables in this large space and several rooms. This property would be the perfect place to have a reunion, a wedding, or a retreat like ours.
We all got to pick out flowers to make a bouquet to take home, and also paint our own pot as a new home for a plant that Hope got us. Mine’s not perfect, but it was a lot of fun to play.
I was excited to find out when I got there that they also have horseback riding.
When I went, this wasn’t something they were offering, but they had just opened it up before our trip. I used to own, ride, and show horses when I was younger, so any opportunity to ride now is always fun. It was also a great opportunity to see parts of the property that I hadn’t seen yet.
Their website says, “Playful adventures in one of Earth’s most peaceful places”, and this is so true.
Even if you were to just go and sit on the balcony, spend some time by the river, and watch the animals play, it would be such a wonderful experience staying at Hiwassee Acres. They have gone to great lengths to make it a place that is comfortable and inviting, and it shows. They are still expanding and growing, and I can’t wait to go back and experience it all over again.
Also, a HUGE thank you to Hope Maum for planning our retreat! She genuinely thought of everything and it was the best time.