Barnsley Gardens

My family and I just returned from our spontaneous trip to Barnsley Gardens.  Just an hour north of Atlanta, it is an easy drive -

Its quaint cottages and beautiful surroundings make it look like a movie set.

I'm a little obsessed with "walking cities".  Although this is not a city, it is a place in which you park your car and walk everywhere.  It is relaxing and quiet and beautiful -

Barnsley Manor was built in the 1850's by Godfrey Barnsley -

It now looks like this -

My daughter said that if we lived there, this is where she would sit everyday to look out the window -

I don't think we will ever live there, but it would be a really cool place to have a party.

We had a full day of activities wandering around the plantation, swimming at the pool, and playing games like bocce ball -

...and croquet -

...but the girls' favorite activity was horseback riding -

We packed it all in to two days and one night, but it was the perfect amount of family time.