I love Blue Ridge - with its winding country roads leading to waterfalls, creeks, hiking trails and wide meadows.
I go to Blue Ridge for all this, but mostly for the light.
Exposure to sunlight increases the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused.
So, this Vacasa rental property caught my attention. And held it for a gorgeous weekend of walks, fly fishing, fireside chats and long afternoons reading and watching the shadows shift. My sister-in-law headed into town to shop and grab groceries (an easy 10-minute drive from the house), and I posted up in the hot tub and started dinner. Others kept the fire stoked on the porch and joined me to watch the sunset over the farm field and meadow across the street.
Now, I love a log cabin, but to experience North Georgia in all its glory is to bask in the light. This modern home offers an elevated stay. The two en suite king bedrooms (one with a soaking tub) have floor-to-ceiling windows and enough light to read or knit on the bed during the day. Or, close the blinds and just nap. The colorful but calming living room looks out over the front porch and views beyond. A beautifully stocked kitchen impressed the cooks among us.
For discerning golfers, Old Toccoa Farm is less than three miles away. Tube, kayak, or raft the rapids in McCaysville. Hire David Hulsey at Hulsey Fly Fishing to take you to his honey holes. Shop the farm market at Mercier Orchards (there's a bakery, so beware). Hike Aska Adventure Area, where there are easy trails for meandering. Take a drive around Lake Blue Ridge at dusk.
Then, return to your weekend home and watch the stars come out.
Others kept the fire stoked on the porch and joined me to watch the sunset