This may have been the first Easter weekend that I did not spend with my family. This happens for a lot of those little special occasions when you live far away from home. But just because I was away from home didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to celebrate in my own way. So I had my Easter weekend planned – a weekend in the mountains, great weather, and perfect company. This started with a great deal from LivingSocial.com. I was able to get two nights at The Ridges Resort and Marina on Lake Chatuge for $200 plus a bottle of wine and a $50 gift certificate towards dinner at the resort’s formal dining room. Being the skeptical traveler that I am, I checked Trip Advisor for reviews of the resort. Since so many hotel guests had great things to say, I decided ‘why not,’ and booked my vacation.
Unfortunately, the reviews were not completely accurate, and were definitely plagued by the very few places to stay in the Hiawassee area. This was certainly not a good ‘value’ resort and is not located on a remote plot on the lake. If I had not had my deal I would have been upset that I booked this trip. Of course it depends on your preferences – but if I am paying an average of $200 per night (without the deal) for a resort on a lake that is advertised as quiet, relaxing and luxurious, I would expect professional staff, quiet grounds, and maybe even a good pot of coffee in the morning.
When I arrived after 45 minutes of beautiful winding roads (although both of us started to get car sick after a bit of ‘aggressive’ driving), I was already a bit annoyed that the resort was on a main road. You would never be able to tell by the pictures or reviews. The second we walked in I knew that this was not the resort I was expecting. Although the staff was friendly (and certainly tried hard), they were not trained well, at all. In addition, the beautiful property (despite the road) was marred by constant loud air-conditioners that made sitting on your balcony less than peaceful.
Now tha it sounds like I have completely trashed this resort – let me focus on some of the positives. I am an incredibly discerning traveler with my expectations resting at a level that is set based on impeccable service, nearly perfect facilities and picturesque surroundings. I find that my judgments can sometimes negatively impact my experiences, which is when I try to relax and realize that there really are some great features of the Ridges Resort.
The property and hotel itself is wonderfully well kept, with tastefully decorated rooms, and a genuinely rustic feel in the lobby. There are nice little bonfires lit every night with s’mores set up nearby. The s’mores are a great touch and is the
best subtle addition by the staff. The property itself is in nice condition with sprawling lawns, lawn games set up (which I am unreasonably addicted to), and an on-site marina with very competitive rates compared to the surrounding marinas. There is a tennis court (and a basketball hoop with a completely bent rim) with nice rackets, perfectly situated rooms with balconies that look over the lake for a perfect sunrise, and food that took me aback with its quality. Again, the staff (with the exception of our waiter the second night) are not well trained at the restaurant, although most of them are very nice and well meaning. But, the food was exceptional. The dining room itself could use some revamping, but every dish we had was delicious from tuna carpaccio, to salmon, pasta, or perfectly cooked steak.
The surrounding area is beautiful. But, after searching for a few hours we couldn’t come up with even a hike within 20 miles of the resort (despite that you are in the mountains). I really enjoy visiting wineries, and have heard that Northern Georgia has some that are up and coming. There was only one close by called Crane Creek Vineyards. I didn’t have high expectations about the quality of the wine, and that’s probably a good thing. But, there were a few gems, and the assistant wine maker that took us through the tasting was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the vineyard. Having an intimate tasting with a wine maker is much more appealing to me than many of the tasting you run across in more popular wineries.
We did eventually find a few wines that we liked, and enjoyed a small, but delicious southwest wrap with a glass of white and a glass of the rose on the beautiful porch
behind the tasting room. In addition, the tasting room has a great store with gourmet condiments from Stonewall Kitchen and cheeses. We decided that hiking was not in 
our future this day and bought cheese, crackers, and the red that we enjoyed the most. One of the staff said we could walk anywhere on the property that we would like. So we visited some cows, took a country road and eventually ended up on the edge of a pond where we made friends with a couple dogs, and enjoyed the beautiful day and delicious snacks. This vineyard was a gem and a perfect outing for the day. It was relaxing, quiet and in a beautiful setting. We stayed well passed closing time in the field and didn’t regret not taking our planned hike at all.
Now back to the resort….There is clearly a serious oversight in training by the management at this resort that does not do the staff justice. After my stay was over I was nearly certain that the stay was not even worth it with the deal I was able to get. A big problem is the pricing. It’s on the high end for what you get in terms of services and location. There is one thing that I learned that I am certain of. It is perfectly fine to splurge – but make sure you know what you are getting. And if you can’t spend that much money, go rustic. Find a cabin rental or camp! I realize that I don’t need the best (aka most luxurious lodgings). When you have the right company, good food, and peaceful surroundings – even the most basic of lodgings can feel like the best, most relaxing getaway you could ever ask for.
