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Vacation in Braselton, GA
Unforgettable Memories
As it’s been said ‘It takes a moment to make memories and a lifetime to forget them.’ Historic Braselton, Georgia, less than an hour away from Atlanta, makes the perfect getaway for anyone wanting to build lasting memories with those they love.
Couples can focus all their energy on one another with a getaway to Chateau Elan, a resort where luxury meets Southern hospitality, set amidst an award-winning vineyard. Mothers can love on their daughters with a trip to the European Spa at Chateau Elan and a shopping trip through historic downtown. College buds can reconnect with a golf trip teeing up to the 45-holes of championship golf at the Chateau. Lifelong memories are beautifully engraved in hearts with a wedding in a historic Southern home with a wrap-around veranda and lush gardens at Braselton Event Center, or under enchanting twinkling lights with a wine-barrel backdrop and vineyard views at Chateau Elan. Investing in memories and relationships is simply the best investment there is.
Welcome to Wine Country
Getaway to the luxury of a French country estate without having to buy a plane ticket. Château Élan offers a sweeping panorama of the north Georgia foothills set amidst a vineyard bliss. It’s Georgia’s premier resort destination that offers championship golf, a full-production winery, European health spa, onsite restaurants, and world-class amenities.
Start your exploration of the chateau with a bike ride (bikes included) along the ebbs and flows of the tranquil property where the chateau sights are second only to the vineyard views. Then refresh yourself with a dip at Le Soleil pool with a mint julep in hand. Walk the vineyards and tour the production facility as you enjoy a tasting of delectable wines that have won dozens of awards at prestigious competitions. Treat yourself to a facial at the European-style spa where they use wine-based products known for their antioxidant boost. Show off your glowing skin while overlooking the vineyards and savoring a delicious meal of upscale Southern cuisine at the chic Marc Restaurant. Swirl, sniff, sip, and sigh with pleasure throughout your stay—Chateau Elan is the real deal.
A French Chateau, Where?
My college roommates and I have been consistently scheduling a girl’s weekend for the past 28 years. Through babies, crazy work schedules, and the fact that we live in New York City, Atlanta, and Boston, it takes dedication to make it happen year after year, but you better believe it is priority we take seriously! This year we discovered an amazing hidden gem, staying on the grounds of a 17th century-style French chateau on a sprawling 3,500 acres of vineyards, canopied forests, and quiet nature trails, without traveling all the way to France. Welcome to Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia. It's world-class luxury with Southern hospitality.
With an award-winning European spa, a sparkling outdoor pool and hot tub, onsite dining, wine galore; it was the perfect setting for recharging, and toasting to year 29 of friendship. My favorite experience at the chateau was an onsite cooking class we took. As we arrived in the teaching kitchen inside the winery, we were greeted with a complimentary glass of wine and the most beautiful ingredients laying out for our use. With an array of cooking skills, we all enjoyed the process of creating stunning dishes that tasted even better.
All About Speed
If excitement wells up in your chest when you hear the roar of an engine and your heart skips a beat with the wave of a checkered flag, schedule your next getaway to an unlikely location that’s all about speed—Braselton, GA. Braselton has opportunities from witnessing world-class sports car races, to getting behind the wheel, to drooling over classic cars.
Michelin Raceway’s Road Atlanta was recently named one of Car and Driver’s 6 best road racing courses in the country, thanks to its elevation changes, blind corners, and distinct personality. It’s situated on 750-acres in Braselton, for family-fun that goes beyond racing. Just across the road sits the Lanier Raceplex, one of the country’s most challenging outdoor race-kart experiences on the site of a former national racetrack. With all this racing legacy, it’s no surprise that YearOne Muscle Cars calls Braselton home, where they build classic muscle cars and sell specialty parts. They host the monthly ‘Braselton Bash’ Car Show, which always brings out the finest cars around. Finish off your celebration of motorsports with a visit to the Panoz Museum on the grounds of the Panoz production facility. Check out some of the world’s most famous race cars past and present, known for their European style with an American attitude.
The Birthplace of the Modern-Day Mall
Although we could have easily never left the grounds of Chateau Elan, I am glad we took the time to get into town to see historic Braselton. Its Southern roots were planted in the late 1800s as a center for farming and commerce, but really made its mark when the three Braselton brothers built “The most handsomest and most completely arranged brick structure in this part of the State,” as quoted by the State Magazine. Braselton Brothers served as a pre-cursor to the modern-day mall with 70,000 square feet of retail space and everything one could need under one roof.
In order to stay true to the town’s history, we new it was time to do some shopping! We started where it all began in the former Braselton Brothers shop which now serves as the Braselton Antique Mall, among other things. It was full of precious finds, one of the most enchanting was that the patio was hosting the local farmers market on the day of our visit! We loved chatting with the farmers and artisans and buying local Georgia goods. Another shopping highlight was Naked South Boutique, also housed in the Braselton Brothers building with trendy clothes, vintage jewelry and lovely home goods.
Small-Town Southern Charm
Braselton, Georgia is a town that still gathers ‘round the Town Green for weekly events, where downtown shops are locally-owned, and views of the North Georgia mountains rest in the distance. It’s a town that believes anything is possible, named after Harrison Braselton, a poor dirt farmer who fell in love and married the daughter of a rich plantation owner in the late 1800s.
Strolling the tree-lined streets of Downtown Braselton, stop in at one of the many antique stores and take the advice of local shop, The House of Boykin, “Hunt, fetch, retrieve.” Wave to the red trolley as it passes by or hop on for a ride. Enjoy a meal at Papa Jack’s Country Kitchen for a classic meat and three. Stop by the historic Braselton school bell that’s been summoning students since 1920 just outside Town Hall and follow the local tradition of never meeting a stranger, but greeting each neighbor with a smile and a wave.
Vintage Treasures
Antiques, vintage, up-cycled treasures, turn of the century furniture, skilled artisan pottery, galore! Shopping antique and unique markets in Braselton takes treasure-hunting to a new level, especially during the Braselton Antique & Artisan Festival. It is held twice a year, the 4th weekend of April and October. The festival fills the charming downtown streets with energy as 275+ antique and artisan vendors bring out their best gems of food trucks and spirits keep bellies happy and vibes merry, and live music drifts through the air. While you’re there don’t miss out on shopping the expansive Braselton Antique Mall in the historic Braselton Brothers Store, fun and funky A Flea An’tiques, Countryside Antiques, and a handful of other vintage shops in town. If you haven’t dropped from all this shopping yet, just 15 minutes down the road lies The Mall of Georgia, the largest shopping mall in the state. Happy treasure hunting!
A Town to Stroll
We strolled over to the Town Green where families and friends were enjoying the afternoon sitting on the amphitheater steps reading a book or eating a picnic lunch. There was a great stage, where we were told events take place throughout the year.
As we enjoyed Downtown Braselton, we felt as if we had stepped back into a simpler time as the Braselton Trolley rolled by and passengers waved out the window. We passed the Town Hall with the Historic School Bell out front, that for decades beckoned students to school and community members to town events just like mama ringing the dinner bell. We could smell something buttery and delicious and followed our noses to The Galloping Gallette, a quaint French Café serving delicious sweet and savory crepes. We could tell this place was authentic when we overheard one of the chefs speaking to a cook in French, and the food confirmed we were absolutely right. My airy crepe filled with savory goat cheese, bacon, mushroom, and chicken was a true taste of France. Braselton is the kind of town that you don’t walk or rush, rather you meander and stroll, and it provided the perfect getaway for four old friends who needed just that.