Just over two hours from Nashville — and only 45 minutes from Chattanooga — a peaceful mountaintop retreat awaits. Nestled atop Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia, Cloudland at McLemore Resort is where time slows down and nature takes center stage. For my husband, Hunter, and me, it was the perfect couples’ getaway, with two world-class golf courses, unforgettable meals, and panoramic views at every turn.
We arrived bright and early, ready to make the most of the day. Before our first round, we stopped at Skyside, the resort’s bar and grill with sweeping canyon views. Hunter ordered the crispy grouper sandwich, while I opted for the colorful Veggie Bowl — a mix of brown rice, crispy chickpeas, charred corn, lion’s mane mushrooms, and more. It was the perfect power lunch before hitting the links.
The Highlands Course, redesigned by Rees Jones and Bill Bergin, is considered one of the Southeast’s golf treasures. From the very first hole to the dramatic 18th — named one of the top 10 finishing holes in the world by Links Magazine — we were immersed in breathtaking mountain scenery.
Forested fairways opened up to expansive canyon views, and the changing elevation made every shot an adventure.
After golf, we checked into our room, perched cliffside with a view that stretched across the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Dinner that evening was at Croft, where the menu draws inspiration from a Scottish high-country picnic. The standout? The Bourbon Barrel Fries — seasoned, spicy, and perfectly crispy, paired with a smoky ketchup. We ordered them three more times during our stay and even took a box to go. I had the bucatini with wild mushrooms, olives, and grilled asparagus, while Hunter enjoyed the Charred Golden Tilefish with chermoula and sweet potatoes.
Though the bars close at 10 p.m., the staff encouraged us to take our wine and wander. We settled into Adirondack chairs around a crackling fire pit, watching stars dot the sky in perfect silence.
The next morning, we returned to Croft for breakfast — flaky pastries, fresh fruit, and herby roasted potatoes — followed by another indulgent lunch. I ordered the Veggie Club with hummus, avocado, tomato, and roasted red pepper (plus more fries), and Hunter ordered the grouper bites and crab cakes. Both of our lunches were so good, we ordered them again the next day!
We spent the day relaxing by the infinity pool, soaking in views from the edge of the mountain before heading to our afternoon tee time at The Keep.
Newly opened for preview play, The Keep is McLemore’s latest showstopper. This 479-acre course offers over a mile of cliff-edge play, waterfalls, ancient boulders, and lush wetlands. It’s hard to imagine a more visually dramatic or immersive golf experience — and we’ve played a lot of courses.
For our final evening, we dined at Auld Alliance, a fine-dining gem that blends Scottish heritage with French elegance. The name honors a historic 1295 pact between Scotland and France, and the wine list reflects that union.
I started with French sparkling and a glass of Bordeaux, paired with a beet salad and glazed carrots with cashew crème. Hunter ordered a steak, while the chef prepared a custom plant-based entrée for me featuring local seasonal produce. We dined outdoors, surrounded by flickering lanterns and cool mountain air — the perfect end to a romantic getaway.
We spent our final morning lounging by the pool, reluctant to leave. From the food to the fairways, Cloudland exceeded every expectation. The service was outstanding, the scenery unforgettable, and the memories? Worth returning for — again and again.
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