Vacation Rentals by Owner

It is a Great Escape

Guest: retirednluvinit (south of ATL)
Date of Stay: 05/18/12 Review Submitted: 05/25/12

Two couples, two singles stayed here recently for a family gathering. Listing and pics are accurate. Having our own bedrooms and bath, all of good size, was really nice. Never ran out of hot water. Beds were a bit firm, but we got use to them after the first night. Everything was clean and well maintained. Living/dining areas were large enough for us to spread out. Kitchen was well equipped and large enough for three of us to work in it together. Loved the screened in porch. We had a total of 18 family members one day and there was more than enough room for all of us to eat on the porches. The large gas grill made cooking for a crowd easy. Enjoyed the pool table, but walls interfered with some shots. For such a large house, there's only parking for two vehicles, and street parking is not allowed. Overflow parking is at the chapel or tennis courts. Shuttling guests is necessary for those who can't walk 1/4 mile up a steep hill or during inclement weather. Owner was extremely easy to work with and quick with responses to questions. We really enjoyed golfing at BC, massage at the fitness center was wonderful, and Gibbs Gardens, less than 10 miles away, was a delightful way to spend 3-4 hours.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Excellent Home to visit and relax

Guest: Jen (Marshall, Mi )
Date of Stay: 03/31/12 Review Submitted: 04/26/12

We had a wonderful stay at Great Escape. Right from the start in making reservations, the owners were friendly, responsive and very helpful. The home is GORGEOUS, spacious and very clean!! The view is amazing and the home is close to many activities. Biggest plus is if you have children, the pool/beach is so close, Walking distance!! I would highly recomment this home for your next vacation. We love Big Canoe and hope to retire there in the future!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

"Great Escape" lives up to its billing!!!

Guest: Stacey (Cleveland, OH)
Date of Stay: 03/24/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

"Great Escape" is just that and more!!! My family and I stayed in Great Escape on our first visit to Big Canoe. The house itself was beautiful. It was very well equipped and very large!!! I could not believe it when I took a tour of it upon arrival. With four adults and one toddler, we had enough room on the main level and terrace levels...we did not even need the additional three bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. The house was very tidy when we arrived; it is obvious that it is well cared for. Big Canoe itself is also an escape from city life. If you are into rest and relaxation, then this is a great place to visit. The scenery was breathtaking. If you are a person that enjoys the great outdoors, you really should consider visiting this location. The owners of the property were very friendly and easy to work with. They provided information in a very timely fashion and responded to any questions we had. Our experience was great and we would recommend that "Great Escape" be your next vacation site!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Christmas

Guest: bob (vermont)
Date of Stay: 12/23/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

Great place. Great owners. Upon arrival we find our "Escape" completely decorated for Christmas , with 2 trees and great decorations throughout. Place was spotless and ready for a good time. Played pool all night and opened presents in front of a blazing fie on Christmas morn.. Appointed with everything you need to make yourself at home.Best equipped rental kitchen We have ever used. We will be back in 2012.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Wonderful!

Guest: akd - florida (Windermere, FL)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/24/11

My family and I had the opportunity to stay in the Great Escape the week before Christmas. It was wonderful! The house has plenty of room to spread out. It is well stocked with things for cooking and relaxing (games, towels, blankets, pillows), and is beautiful and comfortable. We have stayed in Big Canoe several times. This house is amazingly well priced. Nice quality. The owner was excellent to deal with. Very quick to respond. Terrific directions on how to get to the house, how to unlock, things to do in the area. Could not have been better!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.

Wonderful weekend at The Great Escape!

Guest: donnam (Atlanta)
Date of Stay: 12/02/11 Review Submitted: 12/06/11

This is a lovely home that is well taken care of and was a pleasure to stay in. It has a very comfortable and home like feeling to it. My family and I spent my birthday weekend in two of Allen and Nancy's propoerties. Both homes were in great locations and very well equipped. We will definately be coming back to the Great Escape and plaln on staying longer than a weekend! Allan is very professional and was a pleasure to deal with.

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

Fall week 2011

Guest: Judy (Saint Cloud Florida)
Date of Stay: 10/28/11 Review Submitted: 11/04/11

what an awesome house !!! the views out of every room were spectacular the pictures do not do this home justice . As soon as you open the front door it was so inviting , decorated for the fall. We had plenty of room 5 adults . The view out the living room was so beauiful we had the fireplace lit every night. You will not be disappointed if you rent this home . The home is very well taken care very clean.The owners answer any questions quickly . Thank You Allen and your wife for the nice welcoming gift.The house was centrally located for all the place we went .The Big Canoe restaurant was great had great views ,We also ate Fuego mexican outside the north gate also very good, we took a trip to Amicola State park dont miss it and ate at lodge on the top of the mountain had a very nice buffet dinner . In dawsonville if you like BBQ try Hogs and Dogs on the corner of RT 53 and 9 great BBQ We also visited Dahlonga the gold mine ,has great little shops. We also visit several orchards in Ellijay ,and Blue RIdge which also has a lot nice shoppes. We will be coming back next year hopefully for 2 weeks to stay at Great Escape.My son and his girlfriend also enjoy the trsil in great canoe Thank You Allen and family for sharing such a wonderful home !!!

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

8 young senior citizens

Guest: Jackie (Lakeland, Fl)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11 Review Submitted: 10/21/11

Four couples of us stayed at the Great Escape recently for a week. It is a lovely house in a great area. We are all from Florida via the midwest and love to come to the mountains in the fall. We had great weather for the most part, saw some fall colors and generally enjoyed what the area has to offer. Big Canoe is a beautiful place with lots of amenities - golf, swimming, fitness center, lakes, a beach - children would love it in the warmer weather. The Great Escape is roomy, has great beds, and is beautifully decorated. I would recommend it to anyone who likes relaxing in the mountains. My only caution would be that the street the house is on is very steep, so would not do for very young children to play outside or for the disabled. Otherwise, it is a great place!

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

The best Big Canoe has to offer

Guest: BJ (Marietta, GA)
Date of Stay: 08/12/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

My family and I just enjoyed a week's stay at this lovely home. The kitchen is well stocked - the best I have ever experienced. The amenities are very close. The owners are very quick to respond when needed. We enjoyed the pool table, views, screened porch to eat outside and the large screen TV. We took advantage of the tennis courts and swimming. The staff at Big Canoe is very nice and helpful also. The value offered on this house is worth the money.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

BIG CANOE IS A GREAT MOUNTAIN ESCAPE

Guest: Anne (Atlanta)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/17/11

I've always loved Big Canoe and it does not disappoint. Through the years and lots of development, Big Canoe continues to feel welcoming and comfortable as a mountain retreat.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway.

Fabulous house and wonderful owners!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/29/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

What a great house and an easy owner to work with!! We've rented many (probably 10+) houses in Big Canoe and always have a wonderful time there, but this has to be one of the best, if not the best, person to rent from bc the house is so well cared for. Many homes are not well stocked, but this one is! There are plenty of pots & pans, glasses, dishes, towels, etc. Also, comfy sofas and furniture for eating on the porch and deck. It was a pleasure to rent this one and we will be back. It is especially great in the summer months bc it is about a 2 min drive to the pool ammenities or about a ten min walk (the walk wouldn't be appropriate for little kids or elderly), but our 8 yr had no problem! We will rent again!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.

Wonderful weekend

Guest: Stefanie (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

We had a wonderful time at Great Escape! The property is so clean and well maintained. The owner has thought of everything! We hosted family for a special birthday celebration and there was plenty of room for everyone to relax and enjoy. The outdoor decks and screened-in porch were very relaxing for morning coffee and watching the sunrise. The bedrooms are all beautifully appointed and comfortable. There is plenty of room for everyone to relax. We hope to come back again soon!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners.

Wonderful Week in Big Canoe!

Guest: May 2011 Bride (Columbia, South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/12/11

My family rented this beautiful home for the week before my Memorial Day weekend wedding . It could not have been better! The house was was beautiful, clean and comfortable. It is so convenient to all of the amenities, which was a huge plus. Allen was available all week for any last minute questions we had and was so accomodating to all of our needs. My entire family had a wonderful time and we will definitely be back! I recommend Great Escape to anyone looking for an unforgettable stay in Big Canoe.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wedding Week

Guest: Jan (Mobile, AL)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/01/11

Thank you for all your hospitality! We enjoyed a perfect week in Big Canoe for the wedding celebration of our daughter. Family members of all ages enjoyed your home, it suited all of our needs! Thanks for answering all of our questions, we will be back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Excellent rental, superb home, owner extremely helpful, Big Canoe is a great resort!

Guest: Robin (Missouri)
Date of Stay: 12/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/11/11

The listing description and photos were accurate. The home is large, roomy, nicely decorated, and had everything we needed for a perfect stay for 11 people aged 19 to 74. The home was clean and ready for us when we arrived. The owner is quick to respond to emails and is very helpful and honest. We hiked to three waterfalls and enjoyed beautiful views. Our children (ages 21 and 22) loved the fitness center. Big Canoe is a lovely resort area and a summer stay when you could enjoy the lakes and pool would be heavenly. You will not be disappointed if you rent this home.

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

What a BEAUTIFUL property & one of our BEST rental experiences!

Guest: JohnnyAYQ (Cincinnati, OHIO)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/11

Our family has been renting vacation properties for several years... usually twice annually, and I have to say that Allen was amazing to work with. Quick replies, thorough answers, during the "hunting" process. Then once we decided upon this property, he made the whole process one of the EASIEST and smoothest we dealt with. Arriving without having to "go to" a broker/agents office for a key, was SO nice... loved the keyless entry (in fact looking at them for my own home), and a gated community gave us SUCH a secure/safe feeling. House was BEAUTIFUL... so many rentals are minimally furnished, and honestly, sometimes "tacky"... Allen & Nancy's property was beautifully decorated, and we had ALL that we needed. The ONE main thing that set them MILES ahead of the others we've rented at the Holidays, was the added touch of CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!... This was SUCH a nice surprise, and truly appreciated!... my mother and sisters thought "I" had done it (since I arrived first)... but I couldn't take credit and HAD to give it to the owner, NO OTHER rental has EVER done this before during our Holiday stay, and was such a NICE touch... THANK YOU! Was very tastefully done! We also found out that Allen & Nancy own other properties, so we look forward to seeing what else they may have and/or returning to this property again... and to anyone looking for a great place and wonderful owner to deal with... LOOK NO FURTHER.... you've found it HERE! Thank you Allen & Nancy for going above and beyond, and giving us MORE than expected! Happy New Year!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Nine weeks in spectacular Big Canoe

Guest: Laurie (New Port Richey FL)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/03/10

My husband, my elderly mother and I recently returned to Florida from spending 9 weeks in this newer, lovely home. We had never been to Big Canoe and the area is just gorgeous. Unfortunately we left before the leaves changed, but the mountain views from the house were amazing. "Great Escape" is in a wonderful location. It's not too far from the main gate, and the amenities in Wolfscratch Village are right at the bottom of the hill. (Younger folks could walk up and down, but we did not.) The golf course is an easy drive from the house, and the courses are breathtaking! Since we were there for a long stay we made use of the fitness center and the pools (although these, like to golf, are not part of the rental fee). The staff was always friendly and helpful. Great yoga classes! And the hiking trails in Big Canoe are wonderful! We needed a large house because we had family coming for part of our stay. When they were there and using the top floor bedrooms, we all had plenty of room and privacy. The rest of the time we lived comfortably on the main floor and the downstairs. The kitchen was well equipped. There is plenty of room for dining. The big screen TV was great (once we found out how to get it into HD!). The screened porch is lovely with a fabulous view. My mom spent most of her time out there reading. (And we were able to borrow books for free from the Chapel Library.) We had a few problems in the first few weeks (eg, air conditioning compressor went out, lost wireless connection once, gas grill needed replacement), but Allen lost no time in getting everything taken care of once we told him what happened. Our damage deposit was mailed to us without asking for it within a week. It was a pleasure renting from Allen and Nancy!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Perfect location, Very Comfortable Home, Perfect for two families

Guest: Tara H. (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/09/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

We went for a week this summer and had a great time. There is so much to do and see in North GA. It was nice walking to the beach/pool especially after dinner when we would have the whole beach to ourselves. The home was perfect for us. It is very comfortable and had everything we needed. A big thank you. We will definitely be back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A great family escape!

Guest: Karen&Family (Marietta)
Date of Stay: 03/12/10 Review Submitted: 03/15/10

Enjoyed our long weekend at this beautiful home! Even with a large group of 10 there was plenty of room. It's a great place for the whole family! The little girls adored the bunk bed and "fort" room. The adults enjoyed watching the rain from the screened porch. We had a wonderful visit; thank you!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Guest: Gayle11 (Lilburn, GA)
Date of Stay: 01/19/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/10

My 2 daughters, their families and I spent 3 nights at Great Escape to ring in the 2010 New Year. It was a wonderful weekend; one we won't forget. The house is beautiful and has so much space. My granddaughters loved the children's bedroom and the fort room. We hiked, took the girls to the indoor pool and played Wii on the big screen TV. We also loved watching the deer play on the mountain in the back. It was very cold and the fireplace was great. We hope to visit Big Canoe again and would definitely want to stay at Great Escape.

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Guest: Leigh McMutry (Winston, GA)
Date of Stay: 10/06/09 Review Submitted: 10/06/09

This was a WONDERFUL house. Mr. Pye, the owner was very easy to work with, very accomodating and the house was perfect. The space was great and the home was detailed and cozy. This was definitely a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle!

Recommended for:

Guest: Meeshey (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 04/20/09 Review Submitted: 04/20/09

What a wonderful house! We were in Big Canoe for a wedding and this turned out to be the perfect house. We had some singles, couples and even a small child - and there was something to accomodate everyone. It was also spread out over 3 floors which was nice...we never felt as if we were on top of each other. We could also walk right out the front door and do a wonderful hike to a waterfall. And we were right around the corner from The Chimneys where the wedding took place. All in all, a wonderful weekend and this house certainly added to that!

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