Pursell Farms could easily be described as “3200 acres of natural beauty, creating a mecca for relaxation and retreat.” For the purposes of finding a place to get away for a few days to celebrate our wedding anniversary and relieve stress, we believe Pursell Farms near Sylacauga, AL was a great choice. It was only about a 2 1/2 hour drive from our house, the accommodations were gorgeous, and the on-site dining was outstanding.

As soon as we drove through the gates, we knew we were in for an exceptional experience. A herd of longhorn cows at the entrance was undisturbed as we drove past, watching the signs pointing to the inn.

Our deluxe room with a balcony displayed an uncommon attention to details and amenities, and the view was tranquil and bucolic.

We enjoyed several great meals right inside the inn — a casual supper at Ol’ Tom’s Pub and two outstanding breakfasts at Arrington. Plus, there were some welcome treats in the lobby that we grabbed a few times as we were going in and out. (Stay tuned for more about the dining at Pursell Farms in future posts).

Exploring for a few hours in a golf cart, we found photo-worthy spots all over the grounds.

We could see why so many come for the golf course. It is one of the best-manicured you’ll find anywhere. Steve chose instead to fish one afternoon and had several lakes to try that looked mighty fishy. My only regret is that I didn’t book a spa treatment. I will definitely do that during a future visit.

Orvis has a retail store on the property, which also serves as the headquarters for the shooting grounds at Pursell and the place to get a fishing permit. Another place to pick up a few souvenirs of your visit is at the Marble Valley Mercantile, inside the FarmLinks Club House near the inn.

Pursell Farms is a wedding venue extraordinaire. The ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, bachelors’ or bridesmaids’ weekends can all be held on the grounds. In fact, wedding season has begun in earnest. Once you see it, you’ll understand its popularity as a site for such special occasions.

On Friday, I’ll share more about the Pursell family and the influence of their very capable staff at the Farms. For now, check out the website here and enjoy the photos I’ve shared today.