Vacation Rentals by Owner

Home Away From Home

Guest: mountainlaurel (Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 05/12/12 Review Submitted: 05/22/12

We had a wonderful 7 days at Waterside and look forward to coming back. Not only do we love coming to north GA but now we have found our home away from home. From the decor to the cleanliness of the home and to every possible detail for home needs being available this was by far the best place we have ever stayed in north Ga over the years. We truly appreciate the great detail with which the owners have shown in providing a vacation rental that was exactly as described-and even better in person and the availability to which the owners offered themselves if any unforseen problem came up. Though it rained each day it didn't stop us from enjoying our trip and some of the best times were sitting on the porch reading while the rain came down.We even taught our 10 year old daughter how to skip rocks each morning and evening as we enjoyed the lake. Thank you for providing such a wonderful place to come! As soon as we can we will come back!

Owner response:To provide a positive, joyful experience for our guests at Waterside is our goal. We will continue to strive for excellence because of responses such as yours. It is a blessing to know that your time at Waterside is a memory you and your family will smile upon. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt thoughts about Waterside

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

Wonderful Waterside Weeks

Guest: Rich and Faith
Date of Stay: 10/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

Greetings Catherine.......When we pulled out of the carport at 0930 Saturday we did so reluctantly. As Faith already reported, we were blessed with fourteen solid days of 'picture perfect' weather. That pattern seldom happens, in our experience. The house is so pretty, inside and out. Your decorations and appointments throughout are well done, reflecting a lot of love and thought behind all these nice touches. We personally were warmed by the scripture verses on the walls, suggesting your gratitude to Creator God for the display of His majesty and handiwork in the breathtaking mountain scenery. We truly enjoyed every minute of it. The property was as clean as a whistle when we arrived and we sought to leave it that way when we left. We wish you our best in all your endeavors and hope to re-visit your little slice of paradise in the not too distant future.....Rich and Faith

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Waterside Vacation

Guest: GERRY S.
Date of Stay: 08/22/11 Review Submitted: 09/18/11

Wow, That says it all. We felt at home from the moment we arrived. We slept like babies and we have a sleep by numbers bed back at home. The kitchen was excellent and had everything we needed to prepare meals. From the jacuzzi to the pool table to the games we were never bored. We loved the view from the balcony especially at sunset with a glass of wine. This home is very dog friendly. We loved kayaking and biking in town. The only negative thing was we had to end our vacation and go home. On a 1 to 10 scale this home is a 10. We will recommend this lakeside home to friends and family. This was one of our best vacations. WOW.

Owner response:What a fantastic review from some wonderful guests. I am so glad you loved it at Waterside, we strive to make it the best it can be.

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

Shriner's Summer Ceremonial, June 15th-19th

Guest: Teri (Gainesville, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/27/11

We have been renting vacation homes for over 20 years and by far, Waterside is one of our very favorites. You couldn't ask for a nicer home, a stunning lake, and wonderful local folks that showed their support. Catherine did not forget a thing when it came to amenities and decor. I packed way too much! The neighbors were friendly, the retailers weclomed us and local law enforcement and the fire department made sure that our parade and parking for our events went smoothly. We will be back to spend a great time at Waterside for the next few years, and hopefully even longer than that! Kudos to Catherine...

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

Guest: Shirley
Date of Stay: 04/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

I have been meaning to write to you since we got home. We did enjoy your home so much. Much above our expectations, which was a pleasure. I am hoping to travel again to the area, the scenery was absolutely breath taking, one can only imagine the beauty of it in the fall. I camp in the mountains of Pennsylvania but nothing compared to what I've seen on my trip through the Carolinas and Georgia. Thank you again for sharing your lovely place with us.

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Wonderful family time at Waterside.

Guest: Jennifer S. (Rincon, GA)
Date of Stay: 12/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

My family and I just finished part of our Christmas vacation at Waterside. We were amazed when we actually saw the inside of the house. It was even more beautiful than the photos indicated. My newly married son and his wife were so pleased with the gorgeous downstairs bedroom and the privacy they had. We had three teenagers and four adults; there was plenty of room and the pool table was a big hit. The owners of the home even left us some home baked goodies! There was plenty of opportunity for everyone to relax and reconnect. I look forward to coming back someday. Jennifer Shey

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

A little piece of heaven

Guest: Morsemen (The Villages, Florida)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/02/10

My family (wife, daughter, son-in-law and I) decided to do something different this year for Thanksgiving - go away! We wanted to be far away enough to forget about home chores, work, etc., yet wanted to be able to drive to the location. We also wanted to go someplace we had never been before. We discoverred on line (homeaway.com) Waterside in Hiawassee, Georgia. The photos of the home looked most inviting, and the location (on lake Chatuge) seemed idyllic. The web site was most clear, the pictures gave a perfect idea of what to expect, and the other reviews, like this one, were all five-star. We contacted Catherine Macafee via e-mail, told her of our interest in renting her home for the five day Thanksgiving "weekend" and after a few questions (all answered to our satisfaction) we booked our stay. Cathering had several suggestions for making the most of the stay and her advice was most helpful. The ride north from Central Florida was fairly uneventful, and the day was glorious - temperatures in the seventies. Upon arriving at Waterside (our GPS, in addition to Catherine's precise directions brought us right to the front door), we were delighted to find that our vacation home was exactly what had been described - in fact even better. How do you quantify "home-iness" and warmth. As we brought in our bags, we noticed a note from Catherine attached to a welcoming gift - how thoughtful! Our five day stay was spent mostly exploring the natural beauty of the area - do not miss Anna Ruby Falls (near the town of Helen). Speaking of Helen, the day spent there was our only disappointment - we had heard so much from so many people as to how wonderful this Swiss Alpine Village was. It was charming in a way, but basically, to our way of thinking, an expensive, crowded tourist trap. Incidentally, not far from Helen is the town of Cleveland, which is the "Maternity Hospital" for Cabbage Patch Babies. We enjoyed that, especially our daughter! Do take advantage of the many wineries, general storers, grist mills, etc. that the area affords. We were never bored. We were sorry to have to leave Sunday morning, but will take many good memories (and photos) with us. We all highly recommend a visit to Waterside.

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

Guest: Florence
Date of Stay: 09/23/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

I enjoyed your lake house sooo much, it is absolutley lovely & even though we has so many activities to do with the wedding, we found time to do some shopping. I love Hiawassee & the people seem so friendly. We will definitely be back. Thank you so much & please keep in touch, even though we have never met, I fell like I know you, you are a very sweet & kind person. Sincerely Florence

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better than expected

Guest: Safta Sara (Marietta, Ga)
Date of Stay: 04/29/10 Review Submitted: 05/04/10

I just spent a wonderful weekend with my children and grandchildren at Waterside celebrating my husband's b-day. The house is even better than the on-line photos. It is spotlessly clean, comfortable, and pleasantly furnished. The spacious bedrooms are positioned to allow maximum privacy. Our kids loved the game room and the hot tub. The fenced yard is also great because our little ones were able to be outside on their own while we prepared meals in the well equipped kitchen. The neighborhood is nice and quiet yet close to grocery stores and restaurants. We enjoyed the proximity to the lake, just across the street. Hiawassee is central to so many activities in that area. We rented a pontoon boat to explore Lake Chatuge, picnicked at Firescreek (near Hayesville), went to a free concert at the John Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, watched David Goldhagan make his beautiful glass pieces from the viewing platform in his studio/foundry, and went trout fishing and played miniature golf in Helen. We hope to return when it is warm enough to go tubing. We have stayed at many properties over the years in our travels around the U.S. I would rank Waterside as one of the best.

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

Even Better Than Expected

Guest: Safta Sara (Marietta, Ga)
Date of Stay: 04/29/10 Review Submitted: 05/04/10

Just got home from a wonderful weekend at Waterside celebrating my husband's b-day with our children and grandchildren. The house is wonderful!!, better in person than in the photos. The house is spotless and so comfortably furnished. It is located in a quiet neighborhood, but very convenient to shopping and restaurants as well as central to so many activities in the mountain region. The bedrooms are situated in a way that allows for maximum privacy. The kids loved the game room, the hot tub and the picnic table by the lake. It was great having a fenced yard to allow them to play outside on their own. We enjoyed the rockers on the porch. Some of the highlights we enjoyed were: renting a pontoon boat to explore Lake Chatuge, picnicking at Firescreek on the North Carolina side of the lake, a free concert at The John Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, N.C., watching David Goldhagan manipulate large molten glass pieces from the viewing platform in his studio/foundry, hiking the High Shoals waterfalls, trout fishing and miniature golf in Helen,Ga. We hope to return when it is warm enough to go tubing and to catch a play at the Licklog Playhouse in Hayesville. There is so much to do in the area and Hiawasee is so central to all of it. We often rent VRBO properties in our travels around the country, but I'd rank Waterside as the best so far!!

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

Nice Property

Guest: Robo Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 04/23/10 Review Submitted: 05/06/10

Stayed April 24-25: Very well maintained...had a great time...it rained all day Saturday so the Jacuzzi can in handy and we totally enjoyed the day. The view is great the master upstairs with the balcony is fantastic. Super nice place, centrally located, great access to the water and the public beach/park (you can take the kayaks over)! I think we will return!

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

Guest: Greg F.
Date of Stay: 04/04/10 Review Submitted: 04/13/10

I wanted to express our great pleasure for our stay at Waterside the last 4 days. Your house is in beautiful condition and we really enjoyed everything about it. We didn't end up using the bikes, but did enjoy the use of a couple of kayaks. Robin was very grateful for the the extra effort you made as your home was very clean and well appointed We especially loved sitting on the master bedroom balcony in the morning. Wish we had one like that at our home, thank you again for everything!

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Waterside Pleasure

Guest: @% (Sydney Australia)
Date of Stay: 03/25/10 Review Submitted: 03/30/10

We found Waterside to be just as presented, while not water front, the water is just across the street. The location was convenient to all that Hiawassee offers and in a quiet neighborhood. We highly recommend it.

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

Guest: H. & J. M.
Date of Stay: 03/12/10 Review Submitted: 04/18/10

The house is absolutley beautifu. Its been raining almost the whole time we have been here but even in the bad weather the view is amazing. The fog over the mountains and the aquamarine water really makes me want to keep coming back. The sun came out today and the lake was outstandingly beautiful. Thanks again.

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Guest: Kim D.
Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 04/18/10

Our family had a wonderful time here. We spent most of our time at Young Harris College watching baseball but we always came back here for our meals. The house is equipped with everything w needed. You are very good at the details and the gouse is so comfortable. If we ever make it out to this area we would definitely want to stay here again.

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Guest: Kim168 (Monroe, Ga)
Date of Stay: 02/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/01/10

My family and I went with some friends to chase the snow this past weekend. We were trying to find a place big enough to accommodate 10 people. I came across Waterside and it just looked perfect online. When we arrived it was just a beautiful as the website showed. The owner of this property helped us to make this weekend perfect. I will suggest Waterside to any one I know looking for the perfect Georgia mountain get away. As for us we will return and hopefully soon.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/01/09 Review Submitted: 12/01/09

My wife and I plus pet stayed at this lovely home in Sept.09. We have rented vacation homes for the 15 years since we retired. In doing so we have seen alot!! The minute you walk into Waterside a number of things strike you. Very clean,lovely decor and furnishings and very well equipped for any type or age of family. We are eat in people doing formal dinners every night and the kitchen is a real treat to do just that. We could prepare a special meal,have wine on the front porch before, with a lovely view and feel the place was meant just for us. The front yard is fenced and ideal for a pet and the traffic in the area is very minimal. The neighborhood is quiet and very well kept. Keeping a boat is easy as the lake access in right across the street. You will have to really look to find this kind of quality and completeness in a rental place anywhere.

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Guest: Lori
Date of Stay: 11/11/09 Review Submitted: 11/10/09

We had such an amazing time at your house we loved it and will stay there time and time again. The decor was perfect for the lake and so comfortable in every room. It is very kid friendly, you have thought of everything. I love the stuffed deer heads in the game room-very funny. Just wanted to say thank you for an amazing weekend that we will remember for years to come. Lori C.

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Guest: Donna
Date of Stay: 08/01/09 Review Submitted: 07/31/09

When we arrived at Waterside, we could not believe how pretty it was! The way it is decorated, all the things you could want or need, and the lakefront just beautiful The kids could run down and swim and kayak in the lake while we rocked on rockers on the front porch, enjoying the peace and sunshine. At times, I went and swam in the lake, other times I took the kayak out. We walked to the farmer's market and bought fresh vegetables (the farmstand owner even gave us free tomatoes to make our sauce for dinner). At night, we soaked in the hot tub. We enjoyed the fair and went out to eat at some great restaurants. But I have to say, I just wanted to stay at Waterside, it was the best! I loved it there and look forward to coming back.

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Guest: Mary A
Date of Stay: 11/17/08 Review Submitted: 11/16/08

I have finally gotten a chance to tell you what a wonderful time we had at our lakeside dream! Everything was absolutely perfect. Perfect decor, perfect beds, perfect views! I could go on forever! Yes, we did have extremely cold weather with snow on the mountain tops and the wind, but we were warm and cozy the the fireplace making it so homey, with all there is to do with the game tables, and wonderful assortment of music and movies. The kitchen is well stocked, the whole setup is just great, we did not want to leave. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful Waterside. It is so convenient to everything and I could live there in a minute.

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Lakeside dream

Guest: Mary A (Chattanooga TN USA)
Date of Stay: 11/15/08 Review Submitted: 03/04/09

I have finally gotten a chence to tell you what a wonderful time we had at our lakeside dream! EVERYTHING was absolutely perfect. Perfect decor, perfect beds, perfect views! I could go on forever! Yes we did have extememely cold weather with snow on the mountain tops and the wind howling nonstop but we were warm and cozy with the fireplace making it so homey. We suffered none with all that there is to do with the game tables, games and a wonderful assortment of music and movies. The kitchen is so well stocked and the whole setup wasjust great and I did not want to leave. We hope to try to return at a warmer time of year to enjoy the beautiful lake also. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful Waterside. It is so convenient to everything and I could live there in a minute Mary, Chattanooga

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Guest: James M.
Date of Stay: 11/04/08 Review Submitted: 11/03/08

Waterside is a delight from front to back, floor by floor, day by day. The decor is professional but quite comfortable. There are amenities galore, including a pool table, ping pong, air hockey, games, a fine hot tub, large grill and front yard swing. There are TVS and DVD-VHS players and even a place for your computer. Everything in Waterside is first class and it is obvious that a lot of care and planning has gone into the selection of every item in the house. A nice intangible benefit of staying at Waterside is the attitude of the owners, who are determined to make your stay there as pleasant as possible. We've stayed at a number of places in the Hiawassee-Young Harris-Blairsvill area and Waterside is without a doubt the best-in every respect. James M.-author

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Waterside

Guest: James M. (Dagsboro, Deleware, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/09/08 Review Submitted: 11/06/08

Waterside is a delight from front to back, floor to floor, day by day. The decor is professional but quite comfortable. There are amentities galore, among them a fine hot tub, front yard swing and a place to hook up your computer. Almost everything in Waterside is first class and it is obvious that alot of care and planning has gone into the selection of every item in the house. A nice intangible benefit of staying at Waterside is the attitude of the owners, who are determined to make your stay there as pleasant as possible. We've stayed at a number of places in the Hiawassee-Young Harris-Blairsville area and Waterside is without a doubt the best-in every respect. James D. M. Author Dagsboro, Deleware

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

Guest: Lori H.
Date of Stay: 06/21/08 Review Submitted: 06/20/08

Thank you so much for sharing your home with my family and I. We had a wonderful time and we hated having to leave. We could not believe how well you pampered us. Because of your kindness, we felt this was the best vacation that we have ever taken. Lori H.

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WONDERFUL!

Guest: S.L.H. (Vidalia, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/14/08 Review Submitted: 05/17/10

My family and I had the most wonderful time when we stayed at Waterside. Catherine went above and beyond to make our stay feel like home. We would love to stay there again!

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

Guest: Juliet J.
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/31/08

I wanted to write and thank your for the wonderful time we had at Waterside. My husband and I had a great time on the kayaks and the location of your home is incredible. The decor was beautiful and we had so much fun playing all the games. Thank you again for renting us such an amazing house. The Lord truly blessed us with an wonderful anniversary!. Juliet

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Guest: Sherri R.
Date of Stay: 05/06/08 Review Submitted: 05/05/08

I wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had at the house this past weekend. I actually came straight into the office on Monday to try and rebook for another time and was saddened to see that the house is completely booked. Please let me know if you have any cancellation. The home was wonderful, the weather was great. We enjoyed a great wine festival in Helen as well as a wonderful day to explore Helen. I will continue to view the website for any possible openings as I will re-book your lovely property again and again. Thank you for sharing your wonderul home with us. Sherri R.

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