Lands Creek Log Cabins

Lands Creek Log Cabins sits on a massive plot at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with Lands Creek running through it -- it's a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Guests check in at the small office, a cabin-style building with a large stone fireplace surrounded by wooden furniture along with cozy touches such as teddy bears and quilted throw pillows. The friendly owners live on the property, and guests are asked to use the check-in phone at the front desk if no one is there when they arrive. As these are self-catering cabins, there's not much in the way of common space; guests can typically be found relaxing on rocking chairs on their private porches, huddled up around their campfires, or (in some) lazing around in their outdoor hot tubs. There are two pavilions where guests can gather, however, one with Ping-Pong tables and the other with picnic tables. The grounds also have a recording studio and a large event space called Harmony Hall, with a full kitchen decorated with knotty-pine, stone, and weathered-wood furniture and walls, plus a wall-mounted deer head. Guests are typically couples and families, though weddings, corporate retreats, and family reunions also happen frequently. 

Lands Creek Log Cabins sits at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a 20-minute drive from the park's official entrance, though there are trailheads that are closer. Guests can ask the owners for tips on where to hike. It's a 10-minute drive to Bryson City, with restaurants, grocery stores, and a hospital. Golfing at Smoky Mountain Country Club is about a 20-minute drive, Deep Creek (with hikes to waterfalls) is about 15 minutes away by car, and Cataloochee Ski Area is an hour away. Fishing, whitewater rafting, and horseback riding opportunities are all within 20 minutes of the property. Asheville Regional Airport is about an hour and 20 minutes away by car. Keep in mind that the road leading to the property is steep and in winter or snowy conditions cars with four-wheel drive may be needed.

The cabins here are individually decorated in a cozy style, with quilts, knotty-pine walls, log furniture, and novelty rugs. They vary in size, from one-bedroom units with lofted sleeping space, to two- and three-bedroom cabins. There's also a six-bedroom cabin -- The Lodge -- for up to 14 people, which has its own game room. Guests can elect to stay creekside, have mountain views, or be nestled in the woods -- the latter tend to be cheaper, and the mountain-view cabins are arguably the most scenic. Each cabin has a full kitchen with a refrigerator, an oven/stove, a microwave, a toaster, and a coffeemaker along with dishes and cookware. All cabins have central air-conditioning, gas fireplaces, and satellite flat-screen or tube TVs. Other standard features include porches with rocking chairs, charcoal grills, and campfire areas with firewood. Some have outdoor hot tubs or indoor whirlpools. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and hand soap is provided, but toiletries are not. Not all cabins have Wi-Fi.

Picnic and Ping-Pong pavilions are located on the grounds and guests can shop for art, music, furniture, and souvenirs at the gift shop near the check-in building. Large groups -- weddings, corporate functions, family reunions, and the like -- are well-catered to here with Harmony Hall, a spacious, lodge-style venue with an open kitchen, indoor seating for up to 50 people, plus more space in an outdoor covered pavilion. There is also a recording studio on-site. The hall also has a fire pit and small playground. Wi-Fi is free in some cabins, and available free at hotspots throughout the grounds.