I know it is odd for a Yelp review on an Airbnb., but this place is amazing! We have the entire…read more2700 ft home to ourselves, on Horseshoe River in Sapphire, NC. I am sitting now on one of three decks overlooking the river on 1.3 acres and have a breathtaking view of nature. I can hear the sounds of the river from anywhere on this property. One of the decks is screen enclosed with a couch, rocking chairs and a high top table with chairs. We are in the middle of nowhere. This home is very secluded and I love it! The representative Christy- was extremely helpful from the very beginning ; making sure everything was in order for us when we arrived. She even left a goody basket with a nice bottle of wine, munchies, salami, hot chocolate and marshmallows and popcorn. Every room in this home faced the Horseshoe River and the amazing view of nature. There is a private walk down to the river where another deck waited for us. It was easy getting down but a major work out to get back up. The house is stocked with everything you would need to just hunker down, make your own meals and never leave (until it was time to go). Oh, you would need to get your own groceries ;). Just give me a bottle of wine and a charcuterie board and I'm set. This place is beautiful and 5++. The home is named "Quiet Riverfront Escape" in Sapphire, NC.

My rating for our stay at The Wells is ***…read more This was an old-school type of motel with ground level rooms in one long building. I was immediately taken by a feeling of discomfort as we entered the room, I didn't know why. But when I saw how small & cramped of a space it was, I assumed it was this discomfort of being crowded. The king bed occupied most of the small room and we had to be careful to get around the bed corners. The bathroom had a rectangular shaped sink and a nice shower. A small refrigerator was available. The bed had a tall wooden frame around it to make me wonder what purpose it served. We had reserved for two nights. The brewery next door proved to be wonderful. Great craft beer and delicious sandwiches. The Wells had a nice trail though its slightly wooded grounds that was lit with cute tiny lights at night. A stream runs through part of the grounds with a nice gazebo to sit and take in all the wonder of this nicely staged property. It was unique. The first morning I noticed the bathroom sink was not draining well as I washed up. I also noticed a slightly brown tint showing on a bath mat on the floor next to the toilet. I went for a walk on the grounds as my husband took a shower. When I returned to the room, my husband said the shower did not drain. As I looked at the shower, I noticed a definite brown color to the undrained water in the shower. By now, it was clear to me the sewer was backing up into the room. We immediately called the proprietor to report what was happening. I started packing my belongings and told my husband I did not want to stay here. I had not taken my shower, nor did I want to at this point! Other people were seen in the parking lot loading up to leave. They were victims of this event too. The proprietor stated she would be giving us a refund. This was an isolated occurrence for sure, but one I will never forget! This event happened in Fall of 2024. I hope The Wells has insured it will never happen again.

Absolutely loved our stay at Wells. We stayed at the cottage on Lance road. The hotel and cottage…read moreare located in the center of town so easy to walk to shopping, activities and dining. The cottage was well appointed, warm, cozy and had all the amenities needed. Love the local farmers market and the quaint feel of entire town. Hotel offered contactless check in and checkout but managed to make ys still feel very well looked after. Look forward to returning.

Stayed at the Laurelwood Inn over New Years Eve and it couldn't have been more of a perfect stay in…read moreCashiers. With a perfect location and gorgeous sprawling property this mountain resort is the perfect for anyone. Family friendly but also quiet and serene, the Laurelwood is now our family favorite. The property continues to receive enhancements too and we can't wait to see the upgrades. Better yet, the property is but a hop and a skip to the Whiteside Brewing Company which is a must for all visitors. We enjoyed multiple meals, football-watching, along with some of the best beers of our travels. Grab a cobra-chicken IPA and let the kids safely play in the green space! Have Deon fry up some unbelievable chicken wings!! (My daughter has sever food allergies, but was fully cared for by the excellent staff)!! Couldn't say nicer things about both places!!

What a nice welcome! We loved our perfect cabin for two. Close to all trails and waterfalls! The…read moreplace is surrounded by nature and a trail next to it. What a lovely stay! Thank you!

Stayed at Earthshine this July and absolutely loved our time! As we parked our car, we were greeted…read moreby stunning views of the surrounding forest and mountains. The main lodge is something truly special. We could only marvel at its beautiful wooden architecture and design. It felt like something out of a movie or postcard. Walking into the lodge, we were warmly greeted by the lodge manager (Megan). She showed us around the expansive seating area and explained the available activities before showing us to our room. The room was rustic, clean and beautifully decorated. Our room like many in the Main Lodge featured large windows offering great views of the mountains and forest. The bed was very comfortable and was nicely decorated with warm blankets. After getting settled in and unpacked, we made our way to the front porch to enjoy the views. To our pleasant surprise, there were several feeders set-up that were attracting loads of adorable little hummingbirds. We enjoyed some refreshments and relaxation while dinner was being prepared. For dinner, Earthshine's staff prepared some very yummy black bean burgers, sweet potato fries, brussel sprouts and salad. We follow a vegetarian diet, and it was really great to see this accommodated by the lodge. For dessert, the staff served us a gooey chocolate banana cake that really hit the spot. We spent some more time on the porch watching the sunset, before heading into the main lodge area to play some card games they keep on hand. We retired to our room for the evening and fell asleep to the sound of thunder in the distance. I slept very well and woke up feeling rested and refreshed. The next day, we enjoyed breakfast in the main lodge area.They had an excellent selection of teas and coffees, which are a must have for my mornings. After breakfast, we took a hike up the hill behind the lodge and were greeted by even more views of the most rains and forests. The property they have is truly something special. I know we just barely scratched the surface of things to do at Earthshine, so we will definitely be back to experience more of what they offer and to explore the beautiful area around Lake Toxaway. Our stay was overall very relaxing and rejuvenating. I would absolutely return to the Earthshine Lodge in the future to escape the busyness of the world. A true sanctuary that offers a unique, rustic and luxurious experience.

Best brunch with Santa ever…read more I was looking for holiday activities for my little girls while visiting my North Carolina based brother and came across Earthshine's Brunch with Santa. My brother told me the story of Earthshine and its noble connection to the outdoors combined with its mountain top setting made me book the brunch. I am so glad I did. Earthshine is a rustic lodge sitting on top of a mountain near Lake Toxaway in North Carolina. A twisting and eventually unpaved road takes you up, up, up...passing a pretty pond and clusters of old wood buildings now used by crafts people. When we arrived at the lodge itself, I was struck by two things: the absolutely gorgeous view and the steep climb from the parking area to the lodge steps or ramp (I recommend the ramp. The stairs are also steep and slippery when wet). The multi-storied lodge has a huge deck overlooking the valley and inside, a large great room that serves as a dining room with a big stone fireplace; an upstairs area with tables (and a big game selection) and another big stone fireplace. There are a couple hallways with doors that lead into the private rooms for guests. Everything is wood and stone and rustic in feel. We were greeted with warmth and kindness, offered our choice of seating and directed to coffee and a buffet. The buffet was small with a section of hot entrees and a second section of cold salads, pastries and desserts. Size here definitely did not matter. The eggs were fluffy and light, the biscuits and peppery gravy the best ever, the ham tender and the rice... well, the rice was exceptional. It had bits of veggies in it as well as quinoa and oh so much flavor. My kids loved the little pastries paired with hot chocolate. The food was surprisingly and happily very good. And then it was time to meet Santa. Wow. Santa was phenomenal. Jovial, kind and full of wonderful stories about the reindeer, toy-making, the secrets of flight and scooting down chimneys... he even taught the kids (and adults) a reindeer dance. He also had something I have never seen before... a Naughty or Nice Meter that could tell you if you were on the right track for a Merry Christmas. That meter tested everyone.. and each child approached it with either joy or caution (you can imagine the worry that might enter the heads of a few little troublemakers).. We had a great brunch and such a wonderful time with Santa. Earthshine's staff was kind and friendly...eager to please... full of information about the outdoor opportunities surrounding the mountain. We never saw a guest room but we did see a lot of very happy people staying there. We will definitely go back.

We had the cutest little cabin! It looks just like what you see on the website. The ONLY thing that…read moreI didn't see mentioned is that you are in the direct flat pattern so you do hear several planes flying over. Also, it is worth mentioning that extra towels are u see the bed. Wish we had known that before the last day! Other than that, it was so cute and cozy! Would most definitely recommend!

This is a hidden gem! We stayed in a river view vintage cabin for 3 nights and loved it. They are…read moreclose to hiking and biking and only a 20 minute drive into downtown Asheville. The staff is attentive and willing to help you out in any way.

I've stayed at the Garden Hamlet Cottages twice while attending conferences at the Sanctuary in the…read morePines (located on the property). Both cottages, Sourwood and Wake Robin, were immaculately clean and comfortably furnished. (Cottages are individually owned). An awesome peaceful setting on Highland Lake, close to Flat Rock, Hendersonville and surrounding areas. (Asheville was an easy 35 minute drive) And during these crazy times, a big shout out to Steve Collins and Highland Lake Properties for a hassle-free refund for a future reservation (and cancelled past the free cancellation period).

It's been three days now since I left the Guest House Cottage at Highland Lake. After four days of…read morerelaxation and bliss, I was ready to move in permanently. I'm still a little sad to be gone. This place is straight out of a country dream... The spa treatment was luxurious. The Lake was deep enough for diving and warm enough to jump in mid day or late night (we did both). The grounds were pretty as a picture (organic gardens, farm animals, and mountain views). And the staff was sooo chill and laid back. The perfect spot for a wedding (that's why I was there), reunion, or romantic getaway. I know I'll return one day... I'll see you there darlings!

We had a late arrival but it was really easy to find the check-in. You receive an email in advance…read moreto so you know the location. They are in the process of updating the wi-fi in the units. You will get an access card to use the facilities at Sapphire Valley. The pool was nice. The place was a little outdated but in general it was good. There was no mention on the mini golf at the place. Basic course but well maintained. Our unit was very clean and remodeled. There was an electric fireplace to use. The four stars is for having to drive over a mile to get to use the facilities.

This resort is absolutely gorgeous! I wish I could post a video here to show you the entire room…read morefrom beginning to end that I took. We stayed here in December 2023 from a road trip from our home state of Florida. The outdoors was so pretty and we had a great view of the forest. At first thought I thought our backyard was an icy lake, but it was so cold that it was a golf course frozen over. We definitely want to stay here again another season, possibly the fall when there are colored leaves on the trees. This resort is great for large families of 4+. We are 4 adults and stayed here very comfortably because the rooms are huge and can connect! There is a REAL fireplace in each room and the kitchen is large with all the things you need to cook, wash, etc. The rooms were also very clean. The community room is huge and real nice as well. I honestly don't have anything bad to say about the resort except that if you want to visit the lobby, you will have to drive a little. But, we didn't need to at all. You can always call if you need something and they will deliver asap. I strongly recommend this place! If you have any questions, I can try to answer them for you.

We are wyndham owners and are thrilled to have a resort we can come where there is no sales or…read more"updates" meetings being pushed on us! Pam checked us in and was fantastic filling us in on the places/trails to check out! The room was nice with the layout. Bedroom was large and the bed was incredibly comfortable! Everything was clean when we checked in the room. I did forget to take photos of the inside but definitely time for some updates as there's still popcorn ceilings, and counters are stained from use. We will absolutely be back again! We had a view of the bunny slopes from our deck.

We used this resort as a base for our 5-day plan to do some waterfall hikes in the Sapphire Valley…read more This was our second visit to this resort; the first was more than 5 years ago. We are not owners there. Location. The resort is in the mountains of North Carolina, with the main highlights being the wonderful natural attractions of the area. There are many hikes within an hour's drive to waterfalls in local state parks, on National Forest Service land, and even a walk around a Wyndham-owned lake. Note that while the mileage may seem short, most of the roads are mountainous and curvy. There are a few restaurants nearby, and an Ingles grocery store a few miles from the resort. The resort is in a quiet location; our enclosed back deck faced the woods. The area felt safe. Our one-bedroom unit was spacious, clean, and comfortable, but dated. On the plus side, it included everything we needed -- a comfortable bed, full kitchen, television, internet access, and laundry set within the unit. We also enjoyed having the enclosed back deck. However, as mentioned, it was somewhat dated though some things (such as light fixtures had been updated). A few concerns. Noise traveled from our neighbor's unit, even when they spoke at normal volume. And, there were no handicap-accessibility fixtures (such as grab bars) in the shower. We appreciated the *free* activities available at the resort, including indoor pool, wet and dry saunas, jacuzzi tub, miniature golf, and the hike/walk around the lake down the street. While most of our time was spent exploring the area, we also participated in an hour of bingo at the resort. Together, my husband and I played 4 cards for $10; I won the final (of 8) games and got back our $10. There were other activities too that we passed on.