Chattanooga Pulse

Following the bends of I-40 through the Cherokee National Forest and then Pisgah National Forest on your way to North Carolina’s Briar Rose Farm, worries of the plugged-in world begin to fall away. You’re heading to a working farm, with three wood cabins, none of which have cell phone or Internet service—or commercial television. What they do have is peace, privacy, hot tubs on the decks, and fresh eggs and homemade bread right from the farm.

Briar Rose Farm is owned by Chicago transplants Tom Hare and Judie Hansen, who bought it 15 years ago. The area is home to a mix of mountain people, whose roots go back to the Scotch-Irish and English settlers seeking a new life, and the recent wave of artists and early retirees seeking much the same.

As you make the turn off Highway 63 into the farm’s long roadway, you’ll see a group of buildings and farm equipment, some old, some new. The Farm Cabin, completely renovated by Tom and Judie, sits across a pond from the farmhouse. In back are the organic gardens that guests have access to, providing seasonal produce year-round. Created from the original 1880’s farmhouse, the Farm Cabin now boasts white-pine interiors, includes a loft bedroom and a fireplace, and sleeps up to nine.
Continuing up the long, unpaved road, you’ll pass the barns, housing the farm’s many chickens and its goat herd. Tom and Judie encourage guests to save leftover food scraps for feeding to the animals.

Briar Rose’s two other cabins, the Log Cabin for Two and the newer Knob Log Cabin, are each located on their own patches of land. These two cabins are equipped with an LCD TV that plays CDs and DVDs, but there is no television signal, complementing the cabins’ quiet vibe.  Complete privacy means that if you leave your curtains open, you can wake at dawn to a stunning green view of the Carolina mountains. Morning coffee can be drunk sitting on the porch swing—or even better, in the hot tub under the apple tree.

Briar Rose Farm’s Farm Cabin, sleeps up tonine ($150-$160 per night); the Log Cabin for Two can also accommodate a third person, ($135 per night); and the Knob Log Cabin, also designed for one-to-three persons ($135 per night). (828) 622-7329 or www.briarrosefarm.com.

Life on the Farm and Close By

• Hiking the steep two miles up the road to the Duckett Top Fire Tower. You’ll follow the chuckling creek most of the way. Katie, one of the farm dogs, loves this hike and may well accompany you, taking time off for forays into the brush. In season, wild blackberries line parts of the route, perfect for a sweet mouthful of juice. Once at the top, a breathtaking view from the mountaintop is revealed, including, on a clear day, Asheville and eastern Tennessee.

•Scenic drive into Hot Springs/Pisgah National Forest.
This pleasant, 30-minute drive will take you through Pisgah National Forest, where, if you choose, you can stop and picnic, or take advantage of its many hiking, rock climbing, bird watching and other recreation opportunities. Called “The Land of Waterfalls,” Pisgah is one of nation’s most beautiful forests.  www.pisgahforest.com/public-lands/pisgahnationalforest.

• Hot Springs: rafting, walking—and a lot more
Be advised: Hot Springs is not Asheville. The small, friendly town has only a few stores and restaurants. However, it’s the only North Carolina stop on the Appalachian Trail—in fact, as the town’s web site points out, its main street is the Appalachian Trail. If you’d like to say you’ve hiked part of the Trail, this is your chance.  It’s also a mecca for many other outdoor activities, including horseback riding, llama trekking, and especially water fun—rafting, kayaking, canoeing and fishing—on the French Broad River. Rafting companies include Blue Ridge Rafting (www.blueridgerafting.com), Huck Finn River Adventures (www.huckfinnrafting.com), Nantahala Outdoor Center (www.noc.com), and USA Raft (www.mtnadventureguides.com). For more information about the Trail, visit www.appalachiantrail.org/northcarolina. For complete Hot Springs info, visit www.hotspringsnc.org.

Shopping

• Grits Country Café and Store, about three miles from the farm on the way to Hot Springs, features a section of local arts and crafts. (828) 622-3777.

• Back at the farm, Judie offers a selection of handmade goat-milk soaps and lotions to take home with you for a sense memory of a relaxing stay.

Where to Eat

• If you prefer to eat in, Briar Rose’s cabins are equipped with full kitchens and cooking/serving utensils.

• Hot Springs’ several restaurants include Martha’s at Mountain Magnolia.
If you’re in the mood for a really good meal out, Martha’s has superb food (most locally produced) and a great wine list. (828) 622-3543 or www.mountainmagnoliainn.com.