Luxusious Smoky Mountain Chalet with a Killer View
Location: Franklin, NC (off Hwy. 441 south of Franklin)
Why stay in a vacation rental with hand-me-down furniture, dusty rooms, a lack of soft towels, and a shortage of dishes when you can stay in luxury at Hidden Gem. I stay in vacation rentals when I travel and I know there is a wide selection in what you find when you get to your destination. You will not be disappointed when you arrive at HIdden Gem. Everything is first class. I guarantee it.
Hidden Gem is located 5 miles from the GA/NC state line on HWY 441. It is 9 miles from Franklin. As you drive up the paved road to the top of the mountain, there is only one other house on the road. From the large wrap around deck you have a wonderful view of a mountain vista with layers of mountains.
Inside, the stone gas fireplace provides a warm center for the large vaulted living room. There is a wall of windows looking out over the mountains. There are 2 bedrooms with king beds, 1 bedroom with a queen bed, and 1 bedroom with twin beds. In addition there is a game room with a sleeper sofa. You can relax in front of one of the two TV’s, play a game of pool, or soak in the hot tub in a separate room which looks out on the forest. You can hook up with the free WiFi if you have to stay in touch but be warned - business will not be as important when you are relaxed in the mountains. You can even start out at our lower deck on a private nature trail that extends out into the National Forest.
Franklin is a quaint, friendly town that loves to have festivals, parades and parties. In 2015 and 2016 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine voted it the Top Outdoor Town in the Blue Ridge area. It has a number of fine restaurants and shops. A recently completed Greenway follows the Little Tennessee River which runs through Franklin. You can hike or bike for several miles along the river. There are nature walks with guides to point out plants, birds and other things of interest. Franklin has a rich history with connections to the Cherokee Indians and to Scottish settlers. “Picking on the Square” during the summer and fall months invites everyone to come downtown with their folding chairs and listen to music and watch the folk dancing. The Fun Factory is a delight for both children and adults with all kinds of games and food.
If your taste is for more lively things there are a number of trails to hike (The famous Appalachian Trail is only a short distance from town). We have recently added a nature trail directly from Hidden Gem. There is also white water rafting, good fishing for mountain trout, viewing some of the impressive waterfalls nearby. Franklin is known as the “Gem Capital of the World” and there are several ruby mines where you can pan for rubies, garnets, sapphires and other precious and semi-precious gems. The Smokey Mountain Theatre is a new arts center which brings in well known entertainers from all over the United States. Asheville, with its magnificent Biltmore House is about an hour away. The Biltmore is George Vanderbilt's chateau that is the largest private house in the country. It has 250 rooms filled with priceless antiques and art. Harrah's recently renovated casino is less than an hour away in Cherokee. You won't be bored. In fact, you may just want to sit on the large Hidden Gem deck and gaze at the mountains to relax.
Come stay in our lovely chalet. Any time is good. In the spring you can enjoy the mountain laurel and other native flowers; in the summer relax in the cool mountain air; in the autumn be amazed at the color display Mother Nature puts on for you. And if you are a mind to, spend Christmas or New Years and have a good chance of having a white Christmas. Wildlife abounds. Other guests have reported seeing lots of deer, wild turkeys, fox and even an occasional black bear.
This is my only vacation rental property. I personally manage it and my family stays here when they come to the mountains. We maintain it in good condition. Our cleaning crew is top notch. We would love to share it with you. I will be happy to recommend the good restaurants, the best place to pan for gems and do anything else I can to make your visit memorable.