by Rachel L. Miller

The bathroom's antique tub and two-person shower. Photo: Rachel L. Miller

And did I mention that there's a hot tub on the deck? Oh yes. And that the large deck offered a most splendid view of the surrounding woodlands, but not a single trace of another guest…or of another cottage?

Of course, this level of seclusion was intended by Arthur and Zee Ann, who are well aware some guests prefer limited interaction with others while staying at a B&B. But for those who are interested, the couple serves wine and cheese at 5 p.m. daily in the farm's gazebo overlooking the pond. And they also like to make sure they're readily available to their guests throughout the day.

"We're not the type of place that'll just hand you a key to a cabin in the woods and just say, 'Go to it'," Arthur told us as he gave us a tour of the grounds. "We like to be very hands-on with our guests. If there's anything you need, we like to be able to help."

The Campbells faithfully stick to that vow, with Zee Ann extending a kind offer within moments of our arrival. "I'm going to town in a few minutes…can I bring you back anything?"

We declined, but asked her to elaborate on some of the famous faces that have reportedly checked in to the Spring House Farm cottages. And laughing, it was her turn to goodheartedly decline.

After leading us up the steep, twisting dirt road to our cottage, Arthur provided us with a packet containing directions to nearby restaurants, attractions and a map of the Spring House Farm's hiking trails. Ranging from simple to strenuous, but never failing to be scenic, there's an option for every fitness level. Guests can also canoe and take part in bird watching, if they so desire. Hot air balloon rides can be arranged, as can massage therapy.

We settled in and I soon found myself on the deck. Reclining in a tall wrought-iron chair, I propped my feet against the wood railing and just relaxed, enjoying the crisp mountain air and the sound of a light breeze tickling the leaves. At first the complete quiet was a bit unnerving, especially since I'd never experienced such silent privacy before, but as the day wore on I found myself wondering how I'd ever lived without it.

We simply enjoyed the hot tub and caught up on our sleep, easily dozing off as a light summertime drizzle danced on the roof. With Arthur's handy instructions as a guide, we drove out to Lake Lure for a late dinner, just in time to watch the last hint of the sunset's residual pink linger on the hilly horizon. (CONTINUE...)