With our 2 older kids at summer camp and our 5-year-old at her grandparents for a few nights, my wife and I booked a 2-night trip to The Swag.
- It’s my No. 1 romantic mountain getaway in North Carolina. Bougie summer camp vibes!
Location: The 44-year-old rustic luxury resort is almost 1 mile above sea level, on the summit of the Great Smoky Mountains.
- 2 hours 45 minutes from Charlotte.
Basics: It’s an all-inclusive resort. Except for booze. Rates include daily meals, a crazy amount of snacks, and expert-led activities. Relais & Chateaux property. Set on 250 acres.
Booking: 2-night minimum. They only have 18 accommodations. Each is unique. Each has its own name. 11 rooms at the house and lodge. 7 cabins and cottages.
- We stayed in Hummingbird, an updated cabin about 50 yards from the main house ($1,495/night before fees). Loved it.
- Least expensive option is called Danny’s Room at the main house ($900/night before fees). Rates go down to nearly $700/night if you book it in the winter offseason.
- My recommendation would be to splurge a little bit for added privacy and book 1 of the 5 cabins — Balsam, Trillium, Hemlock, Woodshed, and Hummingbird. The privacy is worth the extra couple hundred bucks a night.
- If traveling with a group, there are 2 cottages with multiple bedrooms. The Trinity Cottage has 3 bedrooms (starting at $2,310/night) and Mountain Laurel has 2 bedrooms (starting at $1,975).
Owners: 39-year-old couple David and Annie Colquitt purchased the property in 2018. They invested tens of millions of dollars into property upgrades within the first year of ownership. It’s got Blackberry Farm and High Hampton vibes.
- The couple met at Princeton and honeymooned at The Swag in 2011. They live in Knoxville with 3 young kids.
- We saw David and Annie eating a burger at the Chef’s Picnic with friends!! Credit to me for being a considerate blogger and not interrupting.
Arrival: You pull up to the welcome area, hop out, and are greeted with free beer, wine, or champagne. They’ll scoop your luggage and park the car.
- All guest names along with their hometowns are posted in the Swag House lobby. It’s a nice touch.
- The Swag is intimate (about 40 total guests when we were there), so unless you’re very anti-social, you’ll end up talking to other guests.
Food: It’s all-inclusive, so come hungry. Delicious. A la carte breakfast every morning. Order the cinnamon roll. Packed lunch daily. In the morning, you’ll also pre-select from a few options for dinner.
- Every evening, there are hors d’oeuvres starting at 5:30pm. Then the dinner bell rings for everyone to eat at 6:30pm.
- You’ll be seated at a different table each night with your nameplate. Made me feel important! Haha.
- Cocktails were outstanding. Cozy bar and impressive bartenders. A+ dirty martini.
- Every Wednesday and Saturday, instead of a packed lunch, The Swag hosts a gourmet lunch buffet called The Chef’s Picnic at Gooseberry Knob. I crushed a burger, Pernicious, and 50-mile mountain views. It’s a must.
Kids: Are you crazy?! It’s not a kid spot. It’s a romantic getaway spot. In fact, they just implemented a policy where all kids have to be 8 years or older.
Activities: Hiking, cooking classes, horseback riding, pickleball (new), wine tastings, and yoga.
- My wife and I did awesome hikes each day. She also did a spa treatment ($350 for 90-min massage).
- Make sure to visit the huuuge hot tub aptly named The Lookout. It’s the perfect Instagram pic.
Tour: Here’s a 15-photo look around The Swag! Enjoy.
