A Secluded Cabin Getaway in North Carolina
After nearly a week and 550 miles on the road we had finally escaped the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C. and finally arrived at our dream getaway in Canton, North Carolina. Nestled in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, this town of less than 5,000 is a great place to cozy up in a private cabin or go on an outdoor adventure. After leaving behind the skyscrapers and night life of Charlotte and the hipster cafes and distilleries of Ashville, we were ready to spend a couple of relaxed romantic days away from people (and COVID).
We stumbled upon Canton the same way we’re sure many do, while searching for lodging outside of Asheville. Since the town is only 40 minutes west driving from Asheville there’s no lack of places to rent on Vrbo and Airbnb. The cabin we chose had a gas fireplace, propane deck grill, a heated jacuzzi, and it all overlooked a babbling creek. At night we’d grill salmon, sit in the jacuzzi, and get lost looking at the night sky filled with stars. Only a few times in my life have I seen such a beautiful stars filled sky. I get lost just thinking about it now. Definitely worth the nightly rate!
| 1. | Hiking |
| 2. | Conclusion |
After nearly a week and 550 miles on the road we had finally escaped the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C. and finally arrived at our dream getaway in Canton, North Carolina. Nestled in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, this town of less than 5,000 is a great place to cozy up in a private cabin or go on an outdoor adventure. After leaving behind the skyscrapers and night life of Charlotte and the hipster cafes and distilleries of Ashville, we were ready to spend a couple of relaxed romantic days away from people (and COVID).
| 1. | Hiking |
| 2. | Conclusion |
We stumbled upon Canton the same way we’re sure many do, while searching for lodging outside of Asheville. Since the town is only 40 minutes west driving from Asheville there’s no lack of places to rent on Vrbo and Airbnb. The cabin we chose had a gas fireplace, propane deck grill, a heated jacuzzi, and it all overlooked a babbling creek. At night we’d grill salmon, sit in the jacuzzi, and get lost looking at the night sky filled with stars. Only a few times in my life have I seen such a beautiful stars filled sky. I get lost just thinking about it now. Definitely worth the nightly rate!
Hiking
Looking for more mountainous views, we finally left our cabin to explore the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. The drive through US-276 S and Blue Ridge Pkwy is a twisty, treacherous route, but well worth the risk to see the gorgeous in the Fall. You can see the leaves tinged with deep Red and bright oranges overtaking the landscape. On the horizon, deep blue mountains surrounded us on all sides, seeming to touch the sky. Along the route there we saw numerous overlooks to stop and take in the views (and a few selfies). We even saw a waterfall right by the side of the road!
There are tons of hikes nearby, but using our trusty AllTrails app we were able to find two short, challenging trails in the nearby Pisgah National Forest. Of the two we’d highly recommend the half-mile, Lower Falls via Graveyard Fields Trail. The trail is short, and highly trafficked, but the views of the falls were breathtaking. That said, we still enjoyed the 2.5 mile, out-and-back Buck Spring trail. It is a strenuous uphill without many clear views of the surrounding mountains, but still has a beautiful vantage point from the top. (The Pisgah Inn located at the base of the trail seems like a good option to spend a couple of nights.)
Conclusion
After three nights in the woods we said goodbye to Canton and North Carolina before heading back home. In total we had spent _ days in North Cackalacky, enjoying southern hospitality, cuisine and natural beauty. One six hour drive later we were home, back to the heart of the nation’s capital and the mundanity of the ‘new normal’ of quarantine.
Unlike previous trips we’d made in the past, we had no plans to travel again. It’s only when you lose the ability to travel do you really realize how fortunate you’ve been. We’re grateful to the beautiful state or North Carolina for an unforgettable experience but we’re also ready for the next big adventure.
