Zen Mountain Escape: Rivers, Nature, Wineries & Solitude

Rustic beauty with modern touches all within a stones throw of two wineries. The first thing you notice here is the incredible stillness as you take in the dramatic view of clouds scraping the top of the Glassy Mountain 1200' above. Enjoy a morning espresso on the yoga platform in the trees 40' feet above the creek and then cool off after a hike/bike/paddle in the outdoor shower. Or let the summer breeze lull you into a nap on the sleeping porch sipping local wines. That's my favorite.
This special little cottage can be found off a short gravel road nestled at the base of Glassy Mountain in the pastoral community of Tiger. Perfect for couples, a small family, or individuals looking to get away from the city to take it down a notch and relax. Nestled in a small meadow this lovely property backs up to 10,000 acres of Chattahoochee National Forest and is the perfect base camp for both adventure and relaxation -- even in the same day! After a day of activity enjoy the endorphins bathing your brain as you cool off in the outdoor shower tucked away in the trees. The cold water is so incredibly refreshing. Or have a nice long soak in the cast iron tub. Then take in the sunset and stunning views of the mountain from the front porch with a glass of wine in hand. or from the firepit at the top of the meadow. We envisioned this property in the spirit of Shinrin-Yoku or "forest bathing" so you will find that nature is the main attraction: from the yoga platform up in the trees, the blueberry bushes, and chanterelles in the forest to the log bridge over the clearwater creek. Right outside the backdoor walk past a unique waterfall that plunges 5 feet between two massive elm trees. Then continue up the side of the mountain into the National Forest for a true Shinrin-Yoku experience. My favorite part of the property is the timber-framed sleeping porch at the edge of the property. With a tin roof, thick futon mattress, and mosquito netting, it is glamping at its finest. Simply grab some pillows and blanket from the cottage and wile away the afternoon reading, napping, or relaxing. Its also the perfect spot to sleep on summer evenings under the stars. Nestled in the valley with mountains on two sides the nights are dark and the stars really do look like diamonds in the sky.

The cottage itself is 700 sq/foot 2 room tin-roof farmhouse converted into a mountain retreat. The flooring in the kitchen and bathroom is 70/yr old oiled barnwood. The farmhouse kitchen has everything you'll need for meal prep and the Nespresso machine comes stocked with Starbucks coffee pods. The original structure didn't have an indoor bathroom but we think you will enjoy the hotel quality linens and the cast iron soaking tub. In addition to the full bed in the bedroom there is a full size futon in the living room as well as a twin platform bed/daybed in the loft. The loft is my favorite room in the cottage: cozy and romantic. I love to sleep on the built in platform bed and stare up at the stars through the skylight. This is also where the TV and DVD player are but they are mainly used by kids.

Most activities are within 20-30 minutes of the cottage and they are epic! Enjoy kayaking and whitewater rafting on the world famous Chattooga River, golf at the numerous local courses, or boating on Lake Burton and Lake Rabun. Both the White Twister and Stonewall Creek mountain bike trails are 10 minutes away. If fly-fishing is your thing, enjoy world class fly-fishing on any number of crystal clear streams in the Chattooga watershed all the way up to Highlands or Cashiers North Carolina. Be sure to visit historic downtown Clayton for an afternoon of antiquing and a nice glass of wine at Fortify or The White Birch Inn -- Clayton's two best fine dining options. For a more laid back atmosphere try The Universal Joint for beers and live music.