Southern Exhilaration

Southern Eats: Bulloch House Restaurant

Southern Eats is a series about beloved Southern dining establishments. Do you have suggestions? Send us an email.

The south has a history of down-home cooking, and the Bulloch House Resturant sticks to its southern roots.

The Bulloch House Restaurant has been a staple in Warm Springs since the 1990s. The restaurant was originally housed in the Bulloch House that was built by Benjamin F. Bulloch, the co-founder of Bullochville that is now Warm Springs, in 1893. Unfortunately, a fire in 2015 forced the restaurant to move its current location on Broad Street.

Bulloch House Restaurant is known as classic “meat and three” restaurant with a delicious southern buffet. Enjoy fried chicken, sweet potato soufflé, green beans, and sweet corn — all in one meal. Don’t miss the fried green tomatoes either! After a delicious meal, be sure you leave room for dessert. Bulloch House Restaurant’s desserts are all homemade, so give the caramel cake or red velvet cake a try.

Despite their menu changing on a daily basis, Bulloch House Restaurant is always serving up comfort food.

June 1, 2018

Southern Experiences

F.D. Roosevelt State Park

At 9,049 acres, F.D. Roosevelt State Park is Georgia’s largest. With more than 40 miles of trails, including the popular 23 mile Pine Mountain Trail, this park is a hiker’s paradise.

As you enter the woods, you’ll wind through hardwood and pines, over creeks and past small waterfalls. I decided to do a little hiking while I was down in Warm Springs, and opted to take advantage of the Dowdell’s Knob trail. This trail offers the spectacular summits and stunning florals. Additionally, Dowdell’s Knob was a favorite of FDR and is the highest point in the Pine Mountain Range (1,395 feet above sea level).

CamelBak

F.D. Roosevelt State Park is only about an hour and a half south of Atlanta, making it a great day trip or an over-night destination. The State Park also offers accommodations in the park, including campsites and cabins.

Are you ready to take a hike?

May 31, 2018

Southern Experiences

Warm Springs Winery

During your time in Warm Springs, be sure to stop by the Warm Springs Vineyard and Winery.

Located a little over an hour outside of Atlanta, the winery specializes in wine that is made from locally grown grapes. With a two-acre vineyard, Warm Springs Winery makes all wines on premise. In addition to offering a wine tour, Warm Springs Winery also offers tastings. This winery also lives up to its motto of “Come as friend; leave as family.”

The winery specifically specializes in muscadine grape wines and seasonal fruit wines such as peach and blueberry and currently have seven styles of muscadine wine. My two favorites were the White Tribute and the Atlanta Red. I even bought a glass of the Atlanta Red to enjoy on their patio.

Do you enjoy muscadine wine?

May 30, 2018

Hotel Reviews, Southern Experiences

Checking In: Hotel Warm Springs

Checking In is a series for reviewing properties, whether it is a hostel, hotel or other forms of accommodation. To suggest a property, please send us an email.

One of the best ways to complete the perfect weekend getaway is to stay at a quaint bed and breakfast. Hotel Warm Springs is the perfect place to lay your head during a visit to Warm Springs. This hotel is situated in the heart of Warm Springs and is near Little White House, Warm Springs Winery and Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park.

Hotel Warm Springs was originally built in 1907. The hotel changed names at one point to Tuscawilla Hotel, after a Creek princess. You can see this name tiled in the entryway of the hotel. The soda shop next door is even named the Tuscawilla Soda Shop.

During FDR’s presidency, the Hotel Warm Springs hosted guests like the King and Queen of Spain, the Queen of Mexico, President Sergio Osmena of the Philippines, Bette Davis, the press, and others.

Today, the hotel is owned by Ms. Gerri Thompson, probably one of the sweetest hoteliers I’ve ever met. She served us a delicious Southern-style feast on Sunday morning and made sure we had all our favorite treats available in the sitting room on Saturday evening.

One of the best parts of the hotel is that each room is uniquely decorated with antiques, heirlooms, and furniture from Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill Furniture Shop in New York. We stayed in the Moncrief Suite which includes a 100-year old iron bedstead.

Book Here

May 29, 2018

Southern Experiences

Little White House

Located in the small town of Warm Springs is the personal retreat of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Little White House.

FDR first came to Warm Springs in 1924 hoping to find a cure for the polio that had struck him in 1921, and quickly fell in love with the area. In 1932, he built the white clapboard house before being inaugurated as president in 1933.

Little White House is a modest six-room, one-story cottage with a large sundeck on the back of the house. In addition to the main house, there is also a servants quarters and a guest house. The whole environment is staged precisely as it was on April 12, 1945, when FDR passed away while sitting for a portrait.

Shirt // Vest (similar) // Jeans // Watch

In addition to the house, there is a Memorial Museum that has exhibits dedicated to FDR’s presidency and his life in Warm Springs. The exhibits include his 1938 Ford convertible with hand controls and the famous “Unfinished Portrait” by Elizabeth Shoumatoff.

“I owe my life to my hobbies, especially stamp collecting.” // FDR

Upon finishing your time at Little White House, head down the street to see the Historic Pools Museum for which the town was named. The museum discusses the resort that was there and how it changed over the years, as well as the role the springs played for with those with polio.