If you love vacationing in the outdoors but want all the comforts of home, North Carolina has miles of mountains, wilderness that offers peaceful seclusion, outdoor activities from fishing to hiking, and many choices of rentable private cabins that come complete with fireplaces and hot tubs. These cabins, all west of Raleigh, have all that and much more.
Nestled near the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and three hours west of Raleigh are the Cottages at Spring House Farm at Marion. The cottages and cabins are located on a wildlife sanctuary. Choose from six private and secluded cabins, each with an outdoor hot tub, fireplace, fully stocked kitchen and outdoor barbecues. One cabin, the Appalachian, is also pet-friendly. Each cabin is stocked with breakfast items, television with DVD, a supply of firewood, bed linens and towels. On-site activities including exploring the 92 acre farm or fishing in one of the three ponds.
The Cottages at Spring House Farm
219 Haynes Road
Marion, NC 28752
828-738-9798
springhousefarm.com
Located about an hour south of Marion and near Hickory Nut Gorge are the Four Seasons Cottages & Cabins in Lake Lure. Of the six cabins, three have fireplaces and hot tubs; choose to spend a night or two in "Creek Waters," "Blue Skies" or "Autumn Splendor" cabins. Each of these cabins has an electric fireplace and a hot tub big enough for two in the master bedroom, as well as cable television, a fully-stocked kitchen, washer and dryer, wireless Internet access and a barbecue on the screened porch. Movie buffs should head to the nearby Hickory Nut Gorge and Chimney Rock Park to see where scenes of the film "Last of the Mohicans" were filmed. Wine buffs can try the products of the nearby Green Creek or Rockhouse Vineyards.
Four Seasons Cottages & Cabins
113 Boys Camp Road
Lake Lure, NC 28746
888-625-8714
fourseasonscottages.com
Less than an hour west of Lake Lure and only eight miles from the shopping and dining in Asheville are the Farm Cabins and Cottages in Candler. The rustic cabins are each outfitted with a hot tub, fully-stocked kitchen, bed linens, cable television with DVD player and wireless Internet. Each has even two wood-burning fireplaces, one in the living space and one outside on the porch. Guests are encouraged to explore the property and vineyards of the nearby Biltmore Estate.
The Farm Cabins and Cottages
215 Justice Ridge Road
Candler, NC 28715
828-667-0666
thefarmcabins.com
A little over a hour west of Candler are the Rock Creek Cabins in Bryson City. The 16 cabins, less than a mile from the Great Smokies National Park, each have a hot tub, gas fireplace, satellite television, fully-stocked kitchen and central heat and air conditioning. Local activities include hiking Great Smokie's highest peak, Clingman's Dome or white-water rafting the local rushing rivers.
Rock Creek Cabins
24 Fry St.
Bryson City, NC 28713
800-731-8050
rockcreekcabins.com
Nestled near the base of the Great Smoky Mountains and about 45 miles south of Bryson City are the Rivendell Cabins in Franklin. Two of the three cabins, the "Rivendell" and "Cedars," offer a hot tub, deck with a fireplace, satellite television, fully-stocked kitchen, central heat and air conditioning, washer and dryer, and linens. Local attractions include gem mining at the Mason Mountain Mine, seeing the train collections at Smoky Mountain Trains or exploring the Great Smoky Mountains.
Rivendell Cabins
761 Henderson Road
Franklin, NC 28734
800-994-6462
rivendellcabins.com
