Blue Ridge Parkway Lodge with Long Range Views

Fabulous long range views looking out east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fully furnished luxury log home constructed with 10 inch round logs in 2009 situated on 30 acres. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with stone and marble finishes and a huge kitchen with commercial grade appliances. The gas stove has 6 burners with a griddle & double oven. Paper products, plastic wrap & aluminum foil are provided along with basic spices. Bathrooms have walk in showers with body sprays, rain fall shower heads, in addition one shower has water-fall and massage heads. Bathrooms have heated tile floors, the remainder of the house has tigerwood floors. A large teak dining table to accommodate the family dinner and a 25 foot vaulted ceiling in the great room with windows to the peak accented by mammoth logs, will put you in a mountain lodge state of mind. This is a split plan: one king size bed in the north bedroom with a private bath. There are 2 bedrooms on the south side that share a bathroom: one master bedroom with a king size bed and one with a queen bed.

There is plenty of wood spilt & easily accessible for a roaring fire on a cool night (we get lots of those even in the summer). Many board games are available for rainy days; Netflix for movies (and even workout videos) and Pandora for music. Golf is nearby in Jefferson and in Boone. Blowing Rock is a must see with numerous mountain themed shops as well as the best restaurants anywhere. The West Jefferson Art Council has a "gallery crawl" which gives art lovers an opportunity to stroll through the art district to discover one of a kind paintings, sculptures, etc. There is also a cheese factory and farmer's market there.

Merlefest is a 4 day event in Wilkesboro that honors the memory of instrumental virtuoso Eddy Merle Watson and the contributions of Doc and the entire Watson family to the musical traditions of the area. This is the largest folk music festival in the United States with blues, folk, Cajun, jazz and old time music showcased. In 2011 it is scheduled for April 28- May 1st. Not to be missed!!

Cascade Falls is a short drive south on the Parkway. It has a picnic area & overlook but the best part is the hike to the falls. Along the way, the park service has numerous signs explaining the types of foilage that blanket North Carolina. It is also a must see!. Further away in Jefferson is the Mount Jefferson State Park. On the drive to the top, there are a couple overlooks that are awesome. You can see to Tennessee & Virginia on a clear day. The picnic area at the top is very good with a fireplace & grill. Perfect for a family reunion. There are hiking trails at the top as well.

If you want to venture farther afield, try out the Virginia Creeper Trail. It was an old railroad bed that was made into a bike trail. You can rent bikes & the rental company will take you to the top of the mountain. Then you bike to the bottom. It has such a gentle slope that you hardly have to pedal. Numerous bridges over streams make perfect photo ops or even fish (with appropriate licenses). There are a couple places to stop for lunch. Plan on getting an early start & taking most of one day.

The sunrises are spectacular, each one is different so be sure to get up early and have your camera ready. Come relax, hike and share this one of a kind log home with your loved ones. Enjoy!

Nearby seasonal attractions: Tweetsie Railroad has a steam powered train, petting zoo & rides & Mystery Hill for children, The Blowing Rock, Appalachian Mountain, Beech Mountain, Grandfather Mountain with a swinging bridge & zoo, Merlefest is April 28-May 1 2011. Virginia Creeper Trail is a gentle downhill bike trail in Damascus, VA.

You don't want to miss...