Swan House

Years ago I saw an article online that featured the Swan House, I had no idea where in the United States it was, but I promised myself then and there that I would visit someday. When we started our road trip from Nebraska to Washington D.C., the sole reason we stopped in Georgia was to visit the estate.

Just fifteen minutes north of downtown Atlanta, the Swan House is nestled in-between 33 acres of breathtaking grounds and gardens. Our journey began at the Atlanta Historical Center, where parking is free and an admission ticket is not required to shop or dine; however if you’d like to visit the gardens and historic homes, the tickets start at $23 and can be purchased in-person or online.

Once we left the Center, we started by slowly making our way through the grounds and gardens over the bridge and towards the Swan House while enjoying the surreal scenery and fresh air.

We started our tour at the back of the house, where a beautiful stone waterfall leads into the gardens. When we visited, I believe it was being set up for a wedding that would be occuring later on that evening; I can’t imagine a more romantic setting to get married.

Recommendation: Try to schedule your visit during a weekday (Tuesday-Thursday) to avoid the crowds. Also the estate is very strict on their photography policies, so if you’re bringing a professional handheld camera, you need to let someone at the front desk know. They usually make allowances for tourists, but if you’re planning a photoshoot then you need to get permission prior to your visit.

I later learned, that this portion of the house was used in the Hunger Games franchise and depicted as President Snow’s home in the films.

Once we finished admiring the waterfall and gardens, we then went around the property until we reached the main gates where we were greeted by the grandeur of Swan’s main entrance.

During our visit we learned that this beautiful house was designed by Philip Trammel Shutze in 1928 for Edward and Emily Inman; the Swan House was inhabited by the family until 1965. Then in 1966 the house was purchased by the Atlanta Historical Society and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We visited the estate in autumn and waited until late afternoon to roam the grounds because we wanted to see it during sunset. As the sun went down everything was bathed in a beautiful golden hue giving the atmosphere a fairytale-like quality.

I would definitely recommend spending an entire afternoon at the estate and giving yourself ample time to explore the grounds. If you start feeling peckish, the Atlanta History Center offers different eateries that makes allowances for all budgets. They have a communal indoor seating area, as well as a tailor-designed mezzanine level so you can enjoy views of the Buckhead skyline while partaking in your meal.

On warmer days you can also head to their outdoor patio.

We enjoyed a delicious meal at Souper Jenny. The aromatic vegetable soup was exactly what we needed to warm up after a long outdoor walk; Jenny’s menu is full of seasonal flavors and local ingredients and it’s vegetarian friendly! If you’re in the mood for a pick-me-up, then you want to head to BRASH, they offer delicious baked treats and incredible coffee.

However, if you’re looking for a more refined dining experience, then call head and make reservations at the lavish Swan Coach House restaurant to enjoy a leisurely luncheon while savoring delicious mint juleps.

I was delighted by the Swan House, but during our trip, I learned that Atlanta has so much to offer, from amazing museums to the largest aquarium in the United States; needless to say, this amazing city is definitely worth the trip, but that’s a blog for another day.