DawsonTimes.com

Allow Valentine’s Day to linger with a quick getaway this weekend for "Wine Weekend in the Woods" at The Lodge at Smithgall Woods, an exclusive retreat destination.

Guests at the "Wine Weekend in the Woods" will be treated to a culinary tour that includes 14 wines, five mouth-watering meals by resident-chef Mac Parks -- and easy access to a secluded hiking trail to Dukes Creek Falls and outstanding trout fishing at this beautiful conservation area near Helen.

The weekend begins the evening of Friday, Feb. 27 and concludes on the afternoon of Sunday, March 1.

Couples will be treated to two-nights accommodations, five 'New World' wines with Friday dinner, five 'Old World' wines with Saturday dinner, and a sampling of Georgia wines on Saturday afternoon. Lunch on Saturday and a special Mimosa-and-Bloody-Mary brunch on Sunday, is included as well. The all-inclusive package is $749 per couple for both nights.

Recently named a "Top 10 Culinary Country Inn" by Bon Appetit magazine, The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is found within Smithgall Woods Conservation Area, part of Georgia’s state park system. Overnight guests enjoy exclusive access to half of the 5,664-acre preserve. One of north Georgia's premier trout streams, Dukes Creek, runs through the mountain property and is a favorite for catch-and-release fishing. The lodge is popular for romantic retreats during weekends and small business meetings during the week.

For more information, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/info/smithgall. For reservations, call 1-800-318-5248.