Three families with children, ages 2 years to 13, spent one amazing week in this wonderful home. Set way, way up on a hill, surrounded by trees, beautiful views, and peaceful nature, it was a secluded getaway. The driveway is gravel, and can be tricky to ascend even without snow. But that is the only negative thing I can say about our trip.
The owners had great communication from the very beginning, and their website for the property had intricate details for everything we needed to know about the house. There was also great information about attractions nearby that really helped informed how we spent our time on Beech Mountain.
The house itself has four bedrooms, but really and comfortably fit all 14 of us. The are extra places to sleep everywhere, and not once did we feel like we were in to of one another. The interior of the house is gorgeous and spacious, with a great wilderness theme that fits with the setting. There were plenty of dishes, silverware, and other necessities that, had we forgotten to bring something, we would be covered. The kids loved playing with the pool and ping pong tables, and the adults enjoyed chatting in the living room with the gas fireplace.
The location is amazing. The back porch gives incredible views down the mountain and across the valleys, and with the foliage in the trees you have complete privacy. There was beautiful fog in the mornings and clear stars at night. We even got to light a small fire in the fire pit next to the garage on the lower level of the house. Deer are your constant companions, strolling through the yard and across the roads at all hours of the day. We didn't see any bears, but did see paw prints on one of the trails!
I could go on and on about hiking Grandfather Mountain, getting caught in the tourist trap at Mystery Hill, experiencing the Wizard of Oz live theater, but this is supposed to be about the house. Of course, the location of the house allowed us access to all these amazing experiences, and the complete nature of the rental allowed us relaxation and a comfortable home base for all our mountain adventures.
This was an amazing trip, and we'll definitely be taking about it for years to come. Hopefully we'll get a chance to return and make even more memories. Thank you to the owners who allowed us to share their place, and have such an awesome vacation.