My family was really excited for our first trip to Asheville and it didn't disappoint. And while the city and surrounding areas were amazing on its own, our stay at the Escape Hatch absolutely made it the perfect vacation. It was the most immaculate house we have ever stayed in - complete with all the necessities we needed. They even left some toys out for my almost 8 year old to play with. That is what Shelley does as a host - the extra special touches. She left us a kind gift as we entered and a lovely note with some suggestions for places to eat, and she spent a lot of time with me before the trip helping me with our itinerary and sharing the highlights of what to see.
As far as the house - as we drove up to the house (which is the only scary part - about 1 mile on a very narrow road with one side being mountainside and the other - a pretty steep drop) we met a black bear that quickly disappeared into the forest as soon as he saw us. When you get to the house, you are surrounded by the most lush trees and amazing sounds of nature (very appreciated for this city girl). The kitchen area is all windows - which was the perfect setting for my family to try to tackle a puzzle while watching the trees blow. We had coffee on the large deck out back, trying to find our friendly bear again. And just 5 minutes down the road, you are back in civilization. Its truly an escape. Thank you Shelley and family!!!