At 24 weeks pregnant with our 4th baby, and knowing I will not be able to get away alone with my man again until baby Jack stops nursing exclusively and is eating solids, my Cowboy and I decided to take a few days and run away together.
Because we have wonderful family who would take amazing care of our children with only a couple weeks notice, we began searching earnestly for the perfect place for our romantic getaway. We only had a few requirements:
1. NOT touristy.
2. Quiet.
3. Beautiful view.
4. Outside, private jacuzzi.
5. Reasonably priced.
6. Clean.
7. Less than a 4 hour drive.
8. I am in a very high-risk pregnancy and needed to also be within 30 minutes of a state-of-the-art hospital. And flying was not an option for the same reason.
9. Availability with only two weeks notice.
Easy, right? Umm. No. We looked at hundreds of possibilities, and most were excluded for not meeting one of the above requirements. We found a couple of properties on HomeAway.com that looked promising and received a quick response from both property owners.
However, Carl Johnson’s “Bear’s Den” from The Cottages of Dark Corner stood out as the only property which matched all of our needs and wants. They are located in Saluda, NC which meant we barely had to cross our state line from SC into NC (about a 3 hour drive).
Yes, it was a three bedroom which we didn’t really need, but it was priced so reasonably ($124 a night, plus tax) and was fully furnished! It was also only a 30 minute drive to Asheville (where we did not go, because we enjoyed Saluda and Columbus, NC so much and preferred the quaintness to the big city). Best of all, it was located on an old, remote farm full of family history (owned by third generation) and had the most beautiful and secluded view of the Smoky Mountains from the back deck. Carl even had the jacuzzi heated and waiting for us when we arrived! (Yes, we lowered the temperature to 80 degrees because I am pregnant, for all you worried mamas out there!)
I spoke with Carl a few times on the phone, but we didn’t even meet him while we were there. This isn’t because he wasn’t available. All of his contact numbers were listed and his homestead was a short drive away. However, he had a lockbox on the door which held the key to the cottage. He e-mailed us the code to unlock the box and we only had to put the keys back as we left! He and his wife obviously understand the privacy and peace a couple seeks when they come to his cottage! (Have you ever stayed at a bed and breakfast where the owners wanted to visit with you the entire time? Or at a crowded hotel where you couldn’t get away from the noisy neighbors or the traffic outside your window? Ugh.)
We felt as if we had stepped into another world, and it belonged only to us. What a gift! I highly recommend the Bear’s Den (click here for link) and please tell them if you go that you heard about them from my blog. (No discounts for me. I just want the Johnsons to know how blessed we were by their place!)
The memories I made there with my cowboy will forever be treasured in my heart. And I have a handthrown beautiful pottery mug from a local artist to remember it all, with chickens on it, even. Could life be more joyful?!
Read why YOU should run away from home here: Why You Should Run Away
The Working Home 