The Ritz-Carlton Lodge	For parents, time away from the kids and the job to reconnect as a couple can be imperative to a healthy and successful relationship. Valentine’s Day offers the perfect excuse to get away for a couple of days and rejuvenate yourselves. Here are three relaxing destinations just a short drive from Atlanta, but will make you feel worlds away.

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge:
A Perfectly Pampering Weekend Getaway

If it’s time away without having to lift a finger you’re looking for, The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation is the place for you. As we drove down the tree-lined road to the lakefront resort, it was evident the weekend was going to provide some much-needed R&R.

The rustic feel of the 251-room lodge doesn’t compromise the luxurious feel you expect from The Ritz-Carlton. The common areas provide great views of the property. Grab a drink in the bar, sit outside on the porch in an oversized rocking chair, or gather around the fire pit at dusk for complimentary s’mores.

Spacious rooms complete with balconies, granite countertops, a garden tub and feather beds make resting a pleasure. When you’re ready to venture outside, try your hand at golf – the resort boasts 99 challenging holes – take a walk on the marked trails, sit by the pool or stop by the concierge desk – they’re more than happy to set you up with a boat for the day. The 26,000-square-foot spa is where I chose to spend most of my time; the massages are out of this world, and who doesn’t enjoy a good steam?

The meals here are really where the pampering comes in; tableside service is a regular occurrence at most meals, and the quality of the food and wine lists is superb. If you love the outdoors, opt for the Chiminea Experience for dinner: Sit near the lake with your very own fire to keep you warm, a personal waiter attending to your every whim, and a delicious three-course menu to top it all off. Since it was raining, we opted to dine at Linger-Longer Café. The menu here is full of steak and seafood choices, all prepared to your specifications, and the large booths allow for a little snuggling between courses. Be sure to save room for dessert – the trio of soufflés, each paired with its own ice cream, is a must.

A great breakfast and lunch option is Georgia’s (the lodge’s signature restaurant, it also serves dinner). A buffet for breakfast includes an omelet station, pecan pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit and much more. For lunch, tasty salads, sandwiches and soups are the stars of the menu. If you are looking for something on the healthier side, the Spa Café offers a variety of low-cal wraps and salads, as well as smoothies.

Live jazz fills the lobby on weekend evenings, and with plenty of seating in the area, you don’t have to get on the dance floor to have a blast. Strolling across the lawn that overlooks the lake or sitting by one of the many fire pits makes a great backdrop for a little quiet conversation.

If you are in need of a bit more seclusion, the lodge offers six lakeside cottages – chefs and massage therapists will make house calls to these on-property hideouts.

No matter how you choose to spend your time at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, it’s sure to send you back to the traffic of Atlanta feeling rested and more connected as a couple.

– Tali Toland

Chateau Elan:
A Foodie’s Paradise

As you enter Chateau Elan’s 3,500 acres of lush grounds, the majestic appearance of the Inn takes on an even stronger presence – you instantly feel removed from the stresses of life.

As we walked to our room in the spacious 275-room inn, the French Country décor took the spotlight; the interior accents complement the architectural elements of the exterior. Once we arrived at our room, champagne already chilling on ice, I took a moment to take it all in. The bathroom with its oversized tub and spacious vanity, the very comfy bed with rich red accoutrements, and little extras like the mini-fridge and our gorgeous view of the grounds – I knew we were in for a treat.

Since neither of us is a big golf buff, we opted to skip the property’s three 18-hole courses and nine-hole Par 3 course. But if golf is something you both enjoy, Chateau Elan has villas on the 15th hole, each with a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace and living room.

If you’re in the market to splurge but not really a golf-lover, one of the resort’s 14 themed spa rooms is definitely worth the extra cash. With décor supporting themes like the Greek Room, Zimbabwe Room, Excalibur and Bacchus Suite, you’ll feel worlds away as you drift off to sleep. Plus no kids are allowed to stay in the spa suites, so there’s no way you can feel guilty about not bringing your own brood (or be disturbed by the pitter patter of little feet).

With the weather being so nice during our stay, we enjoyed a walk on the marked nature trails – bikes are available as well. Another activity that isn’t too taxing is heading over to the winery for a tour and tasting. You can opt for the self-guided tour, or for real aficionados a 45-minute guided tour is available. The tastings include four wines and cost $5 per person. I recommend doing the wine tasting before dinner so you’ll know which of Chateau Elan’s wines to choose as you dine.

The food is definitely something to write home about. Our dinner at Café Elan was elegant and delicious – the Mediterranean dishes, including lamb loin, pasta with a variety of seafood and Beef Bourguignon, delight the taste buds. And the service is superb. Another great thing about eating at Chateau Elan is the variety; you can choose from any of the eight restaurants on the property that suit your taste buds. For breakfast though, you can’t beat the buffet served in Versailles; the offerings were varied and yummy. You’d pay twice as much for a similar buffet at many other resorts.

A few other things to note, especially for the guys: If you’re trying to increase the romance level, schedule a rose petal turndown while you’re at dinner, or have roses waiting in the room with a special note when you arrive. The concierge is more than happy to set these things up for you. And if you aren’t sure what will make the most romantic weekend, let Chateau Elan do the work for you; they have 11 packages for couples ranging in price from $182-$1,465 per couple. Most include dinner, breakfast, and an activity for your stay – golf, the spa, cooking classes and tennis are the most popular.

For couples, the variety of activities, places to dine and types of scenery will give you plenty of chances to talk, relax and simply reconnect with one another. And really, what else can you ask for?

– Liz White

Callaway Gardens:
A Nature-lover’s Weekend Getaway

At Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, couples can surrender themselves to the smell of precious gardens, thick tree groves and sweet silence.

The Lodge at Callaway Gardens is a 150-room resort nestled among towering trees. Opened in late 2006, each spacious room sports a luxurious bath complete with a granite vanity, stone shower and separate tub. The room flows from its indoor beauty to the balcony opening to the surrounding natural woodlands.

Callaway Gardens is a nature-inspired luxury resort, with 13,000 acres of landscapes, gardens and trees. For more than 50 years, Callaway Gardens has provided millions of visitors with a place of relaxation and a window to the living world. Callaway offers many things to do during a weekend stay, from bike riding to golf to spa treatments.

Since only one of us enjoys golfing, we opted for much-needed togetherness and time to reconnect with one another. We wanted to explore as much of the gardens as possible during our weekend stay, so we rented bikes and headed out on the marked paths, shaded by gigantic magnolia trees. It was nice to talk without kids’ voices dominating our conversation.

We discovered that rainy days at Callaway Gardens can be just as enjoyable. It can be spent relaxing at the spa, sitting by the fire at the Ironwoods Lounge inside the lodge, or touring some of the indoor facilities throughout the gardens.

We scheduled a couples’ massage at the spa on a rainy morning. With earthy oils rubbed into our bodies, we enjoyed having our stresses massaged away. The Spa Prunifolia, which opened in March 2007, offers an array of spa treatments like facials, massages and body wraps.

We checked out the Day Butterfly Center and watched as butterflies hatched from their chrysalises before our eyes. The Sibley Horticultural Center winds you through several greenhouses with dozens of species of plants from around the world.

Great places to eat are tucked away throughout the gardens. Dinner at the Gardens Restaurant overlooking Mountain Creek Lake and the golf course is spectacular. Make reservations near sunset and request a window seat or the porch for the most romantic views. The Georgia-inspired menu includes locally raised trout and chicken, but the chef’s medley of Vidalia onions, muscadines and other regional produce in their entrees makes them uniquely delicious.

Lunch or a quick bite at the Discovery Café, an indoor/outdoor café adjacent to the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, offers excellent scenery to watch the mallard ducks landing on the lake. We also enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the Piedmont Dining Room at the lodge, with all the Southern fixings that provide energy to walk or bike the gardens.

As a couple, a weekend getaway at Callaway Gardens allowed us to reconnect with one another, escape the responsibility of parenthood, and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounded us.

– Tiffany Capuano

Everything in Moderation

If you’re looking for something more affordable and a little simpler than a resort experience, there are plenty of places close by to choose from.

Helen, Ga.: This quaint town in the mountains of North Georgia has tons of options for romantic getaways. Renting a cabin for the weekend is a great idea because it allows you alone time without the added expenses of eating out – most come with kitchens, private hot tubs and great views of the town’s wooded areas. If you’re more into a hotel feel, try a local bed and breakfast; from $175 a night, places like Black Forest B&B in the heart of Helen provide a relaxing respite to the busy city life of Atlanta.

Brasstown Valley Resort: Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, this state-owned facility has great prices while still offering pampering and great surroundings. Play a round of golf, fish, go horseback riding or visit the local winery in Young Harris while you’re at the resort. A number of restaurants on the property, as well as cabin options with kitchens, make Brasstown Valley the perfect solution for whatever type of getaway you’re looking for. Packages include the Old-fashioned Romance Package, which includes deluxe accommodations, champagne and chocolates upon arrival, dinner for two and breakfast for two. Rooms start at $199/night on the weekends.

Henderson Village: Heading south instead of north can be fun for a change. Spend the weekend among the 19th-century mansions and gardens of this cozy bed and breakfast in middle Georgia’s county seat, Perry. The property’s 24 guest suites are scattered throughout the grounds, and each is elegant yet casual. Bathrobes and nightly turndown service add to the appeal of a stay here, and the gas-burning fireplaces will enhance the romance of your evenings. The food served in the Langston House for all three meals is Southern comfort food at its best. Beginning at $159 per night, it’s worth the hour-and-a-half drive. If you can get away mid-week, enjoy 20 percent off on accommodations.