Travel and Adventure by Various Travel Authors

High up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, not far from the borders of South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, is an idyllic 1,400-acre property that once was a private haven for one of the South's wealthiest families and is now the site of one of the top-rated affordably priced family resorts in the country.

In the mid-19th century, when the Wade Hampton family of South Carolina, one of the South's leading dynasties, wanted to escape summer heat and humidity, this where they went. They often brought along family and friends and treated them to wonderful hospitality.

It was also the place where Hampton retreated to recover from wounds received in the Civil War, in which he had served as a Confederate general and in which he had lost his son and his brother. He was visiting here when he learned of his election as Governor of South Carolina, and he continued to vacation serving first as governor and then as a U.S. Senator.

Since the 1920s, the High Hampton Inn, standing at an elevation of 3,600 feet in the Cashiers Valley near the hamlet of Cashiers, has been a popular destination for families who seek an affordable retreat for fun and relaxation. Better Homes & Gardens magazine named it one of America's 50 Favorite Family Resorts and Child magazine selected it as one of the 60 Best Family-Friendly Resorts.

When we checked it out in late spring we found so much to like about the place. True, it is not upscale — neither posh nor glitzy — but the setting is to die for, the food is outstanding and there is plenty of fun for every member of the family.

"Rustic" is the word to describe the decor throughout the property. Building exteriors are shingled in poplar and chestnut. Interiors, too, have a woodsy look and feel to them. All woods used in the rooms are from the property, including furniture crafted to reflect a mountain lodge rustic style. It's a perfect match for the surroundings.

Because we had a new puppy, we opted for one of the property's 17 cozy cottages. Cottages range from one bedroom to much larger. There is even a honeymoon cottage at a secluded spot on a small lake. Some cottages have fireplaces and/or a screened-in porches.

The main Inn, built in 1932 over the spot where Wade Hampton's lodge once stood, is made completely of local materials. It offers 120 guest rooms and suites on two floors. No pets are permitted here. The focal point of the Inn is its huge, four-sided stone fireplace that seems to have a fire blazing every evening.

Neither cottages nor guest rooms in the Inn have televisions or telephones — a factor that adds to the true get-away-from-it-all, back-to-nature feel.

Yet another option for guests is to rent from a pool of privately owned, fully furnished, vaulted-ceiling Colony Homes, which range from two to five bedrooms with two or more baths. Each has a fireplace and a small kitchen plus color television, DVD and a telephone.

This is a place you visit to get back to nature.

So it is a plus rather than a minus that neither guest rooms in the Inn nor the cottages come with television or even telephone. But to accommodate those who can't live without it, even for a short while, there is a room for TV viewing off the main lobby and, of course, there are telephones available in the public area as well as wireless Internet access, which also is available in a few select guest rooms in the main Inn.

While 1,400 acres is a large property, almost all accommodations are within easy walking distance of dining and of all the activities as well.

If dining is one of your favorite activities — and if dieting isn't — you are in for a treat. Rates include three meals a day, and are all buffet-style. We never tired of that because there was always an exceptionally wide range of choices, and because new items appeared each day. The Inn is known for its Southern fried chicken, and for its rainbow trout fresh from nearby mountain streams. Another favorite is the herb-crusted and roasted prime beef. Emphasis is placed on locally grown vegetables and breads and some bakery items are homemade. Afternoon tea is 4-5 p.m. each day.

There are plenty of ways to work up an appetite, or to work off excess calories. It's only steps to the five tennis courts or to the bent-grass greens of the golf course designed by noted golf architect George W. Cobb, who said it is not difficult to find a more challenging course, but it is quite difficult to find one with greater natural beauty.

The private, spring-fed, 35-acre Hampton Lake has a small sand beach and a children's playground. Motorized boats are prohibited, making swimming, canoeing, rowing, pedal-boating and fishing all the more enjoyable.

Another activity we enjoyed was hiking. There are eight main trails on the property, one of which takes you to the 4,618-foot peak of Chimney Top Mountain.

Inside the Inn's public rooms and throughout the property it seems there is always something to do — kids programs, youth programs and activities to appeal to most adults. There is also a health club and spa facility located off the main property.

The High Hampton Inn is open from late April through late November. Reserving well in advance is highly recommended.

IF YOU GO

For information, visit www.HighHamptonInn.com, e-mail info@HighHamptonInn.com or call 800-334-2551.

Fred and Karen Eckert are freelance travel writers. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.

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