Rhiannon, I would go to Cashiers, Highlands, Asheville. I love North Carolina. I would go to North Georgia also.
But my favorite memory was in Rabun, Georgia, I believe it was, there was a place called Moon Valley. After I moved up there, one of my friends wanted me to take a road trip with her. She told me about about this place. A lot of people from Atlanta would drive up to this place. Literally, it had trout ponds and cabins scattered by the ponds. And across the pond was the restaurant that was a small, old structure with a wrap-around porch. There was an old dog that just laid on the porch. Most people would eat outside on the porch instead of inside. But they had classical music playing. Just great atmosphere. People having a great time. It was BYOB and magnificant food. Pan-seared trout and just the most wonderful side dishes. We brought some great wine. And it was overlooking the pond with the moonlit haze with the cabins in the distance. My friend had just broken up with her ex and I was fighting with mine, and we both have always joked it was the most romantic night and we didn't even have dates.
There was a castle further back on the property that people could stay at also. A few years later I went back. They had moved the restaurant up to the castle inside to accomodate more people. It was stuffy and all the people were quiet. We walked out. The lady said, but it's the same food. I said, you took away the ambience.