Upscale Cottage with Ultra Privacy and Spectacular View

• Gorgeous Mountain-top Home in Pristine Setting

  Gorgeous Mountain-top Home in Pristine Setting

  • Guest Walker
  • Date of stay 12/01/12
  • Review Submitted 02/25/13
  Visited Mt. Laurel Cottage for the first time in December of 2012, in what most would assume was a down time of the year, post-Fall/foliage. Nothing could have been further from the truth! The weather was an unseasonably warm 60 degrees almost every day, dropping to a crisp mid 40-degrees most evenings. The outdoor fireplace (stocked with starter logs and fresh cut wood) inside a screened-in porch was perfect for entertaining guests and hosting dinner parties. I brought my dog, who loved to briefly escape the comforts of the outdoor porch and roam the immediate vicinity of the property, exploring the woods in plain sight. The accommodations were immaculate--the comfort of the beds and linens made for a quiet, peaceful, and deep sleep. The house is EXTREMELY well insulated so just a little heat with the large ceiling fans is more than enough to keep your room warm and comfortable. The kitchen has all the basic amenities but I primarily used the outdoor gas barbecue for all my cooking needs. Gamekeepers Tavern, a top-notch, gourmet restaurant located just five minutes from the entrance, specializes in wild game. Make sure to introduce yourself to Matt, the owner, and Chip and James, the lead bartenders. I had originally planned on staying just a few days, but once I experienced a few days and saw an opening in availability, I booked the place for two weeks! There are numerous hiking trails in the area, including a short, but beautiful trail on the property, just minutes from the entrance. The trail runs along a creek which the dog enjoyed. Met some of the other property owners and visitors staying in Mt. Laurel. Everyone is very friendly and educated, mostly affluent, looking for an escape from the urban lifestyle, while maintaining a sense of connection (3 HD TVs all equipped with DirecTV + fast, wireless internet all over the property) with privacy. The house is truly stocked with everything you need and includes a washer and dryer so you really don't have to pack that much. The water pressure and temperature was great in both showers (I was alone but tried both!) If you don't have guests staying in the second bedroom upstairs, make sure you open the rooftop windows for the fresh air and incredible mountaintop scenery. If I had the money, I would buy one of the available properties for sale inside Mt. Laurel. In summary, this is among the most scenic and beautiful destinations of any in the United States. Book this place!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Wonderful Trip!

  Wonderful Trip!

  • Guest Millie P.
  • Date of stay 09/23/12
  • Review Submitted 02/03/13
  This home is absolutely fantastic! I can't say enough about the views!!!!! The porch is where we lived most of our trip when we were not out hiking and exploring Cashiers and Highlands. We did a lot of hiking there on the Preserve and the fire pit area was really nice; it was well stocked with wood and starter logs. Our son played in the creek there many late afternoons while we had cocktails and appetizers. The beds are very comfortable, the kitchen is well stocked and all the linens were nice as well. It was one of our best family vacations and we look forward to returning. The Gamekeepers Tavern is a must for anyone looking to eat out one evening.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Perfect for Tour de Cashiers!

  Perfect for Tour de Cashiers!

  • Guest Andi M.
  • Date of stay 05/04/12
  • Review Submitted 05/07/12
  My husband and a friend's husband love to go cycling and have made day trips to from GA to ride the Tour de Cashiers before. This year we decided to make a weekend of it, and I'm so glad we did! This cabin is only 7 miles down to Cashiers; very convenient! When we arrived, we had some trouble navigating the neighborhood; a phone call with the homeowner sorted that out. The key and gate opener were not where they should have been, and this too was resolved in a very timely manner. The rental process itself was smooth and painless. The views are amazing, and the screened porch is definitely the main attraction for good reason. My friend and I stayed out there all afternoon while the guys raced, and then we all spent the rest of the evening enjoying the supermoon and a cozy fire. There were a few small disappointments however that should be mentioned for potential renters: * There were not two queen beds as the listings both here and at homeaway.com indicate. The upstairs loft had a full size bed and a twin size hideaway and the downstairs master had a king. The loft bed is not catty-cornered as pictured but sits with the head of the bed at those windows straight ahead. There is neither a headboard nor screens on those windows which means your pillows can fall out and into the porch if you're not careful! Renters with children should be cautious. * The loft got very warm during the day despite having a/c. It may be of concern during the heat of summer! * Not sure if it's seasonal, but there are many carpenter ants. In the mountains you're bound to have some critters or pests, but I was a bit uncomfortable by how many there were. There was also a lot of sawdust on and behind the twin sized bed in the loft, likely from ant damage. * The listing says "pets considered," and we were able to take our dog. (We were also told there is no minimum stay with a pet contrary to the listing.) Be aware there is limited "open space" to take your pet to toilet unless you allow them to use the gravel driveway and clean up after them. * The property looked like it had been cleaned, but perhaps not just before we got there or not as well as I'd like to have seen. I went around the house with the broom and vacuum and felt much better. * We were instructed to leave our garbage either in the house or drive it down the mountain to some bear proof cans. Some signs to these cans would be useful, especially in the dark. Overall a fantastic weekend; looking forward to 2013!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Fees:

• Cleaning Fee: $100 + tax
• Pet Fee: $100
• Tax Rate 11.75%

Cancellation policy:

100% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date.