Eagle Rest Lodge - Upscale Seclusion with Dramatic Views,

I really loved this place! It was so spacious and well appointed. Close enough to walk to town too, about a mile with no huge hills. It was at least as nice as the pictures show. Lots to do as well, games pool table, movies et. Three decks to take in the views and fresh air and a spa, what more could you want?

We booked the cabin for Feb 22 and Feb 23, a Friday and Saturday night. It had unexpectedly snowed Monday - Wednesday of that week, so by the time we got there, there was about a foot of snow but none of the hassles of traveling in bad weather. We were able to enjoy all the perks of the snow while also getting our jacuzzi and hiking time in.

The cabin itself has a nice balance of coziness and spaciousness - it features very open areas wisely utilized to their full potential. The beds were all comfortable, the whole place was spotless, and the fireplace was extremely helpful and charming.

The only slight complaint we have is that the cleaning lady got to the house before 11 a.m., our checkout time, and seemed anxious to get into the house as we were leaving.

Besides that, there was only one issue and the owner was right on top of it. Since temperatures got so low in the few days before our stay, the water heater wasn't working when we got there. We called the owner and he very nicely and patiently explained how to get it reset - it was a 2 minute fix, and he couldn't have been more pleasant about it.

My advice for potential renters: Do it! It's a great deal, and it features spectacular views. My favorite part of the cabin would have to be an amazing stained glass window in the living room that just brings everything together.

I would also suggest bringing some newspaper for the fireplace, and pack knowing that you'll have to climb a lot of stairs to get to the house. The stairs were a bit daunting at first, but it's totally worth it given the amazing views from all of the many windows. I would also suggest to take full advantage of all the amenities - we didn't even check out the gym, but we used the grill, the jacuzzi, the washer/dryer, the dishwasher, the microwave, etc. We felt really first class :) We even had one of the wines kept in stock - we were comped it because of a slight problem with one of the bathrooms (they are usually available for a $10 fee) and were nicely surprised with how tasty it was.

I cannot wait to visit again, and will definitely be suggesting the Eagle Rest Lodge to anyone looking for a relaxing, comfortable vacation in the middle of a whole lot of great hiking trails.

One other thing - on our way out of town, we stopped at a place called JoAnns for a farewell beer and were happy that they had some good craft beer on tap.

We loved our stay at Eagle Rest. It was like staying at a chic designer hotel, but better. It really was like being in an Eagle's nest perched high above the street and up many steps, like being in a tree. We cooked a l lot, and enjoyed the high-quality stainless steel cookware and nice solid dishes. The decor was all new and every detail was just right. I loved the stone fireplace too with the twisting branches embedded right in the stone. It was also surprisingly large with the two social areas, the living room downstairs and the pool table/ bar upstairs. The only drawback for us was the the DVD player in the living room was not hooked up. We loved the living room and didn't want to watch a DVD in the bedroom, so we just played a board game (which was fun though). The mod white couches are incredibly soft too! You just sink and sink into them. It was very relaxing to lie there and read a book. We went in winter so we did not take advantage of the hot tub, but that looked great too. A slope of woods at the back gives a nice view. We'll be back.