Two months after we were scheduled to make our way to beautiful Lake Toxaway, NC it finally happened. We loaded up the car and headed north to the idyllic Greystone Inn for four days of fresh mountain air, hiking and site seeing. This gorgeous inn and it’s surroundings did not disappoint – I’m already planning our next trip back! For now, here’s a sneak peek into our stay at The Greystone Inn and everything we did while vacationing in the peaceful North Carolina mountains!
Getting There
Located between the resort towns of Brevard and Highlands, The Greystone Inn on Lake Toxaway is directly off of US Hwy 64, 50 miles southwest of Asheville. From Charleston, it’s about a five hour drive either thru Greenville or Spartanburg. Both are roughly the same distance but I would recommend taking the Spartanburg route and stopping in Hendersonville. We grabbed a delicious bite in this adorable town, strolled the streets and poked our heads into a number a precious shops.
Ava’s Rain Jacket // Ava’s Tennis Shoes – Sold Out But Similar Style //
Our Hotel
We stayed in the Hillmont at The Greystone Inn and it was the perfect option for our family of four. Two queen beds, a spacious sitting area with gas fireplace, private entrance, large deck overlooking the lake and a bathroom complete with a stand alone tub made for the perfect home away from home.
When searching for places to stay while on vacation, I find myself gravitating to smaller inns. There’s just something about a more personal experience especially right now during these COVID times. With only thirty rooms in total, The Greystone gives you the option to avoid crowded elevators, breakfast buffet lines and other shared spaces.
// Regan’s Duffel Bag – Lillian Vernon but sold out. Love this Pottery Barn Option //
The perks are plentiful at this family friendly inn. The resort offers on-site tennis, golf, boat, kayak, paddle board and canoe rentals all within walking distance. Plus with on site lake swimming, fireside s’mores, milk & cookies turn down service, fishing and an endless arsenal of games & puzzles, the Greystone makes it so you never have to leave the property. If you are looking for a more intimate option, the inn boasts a gorgeous, water’s edge spa and my favorite, The Mansion Bar!
Out of all the endless amenities and options, I think my favorite would have to be just sitting in an adirondack chair on the bluff, overlooking the lake. The views at The Greystone will take your breath away.
Ava’s Overalls // Ava’s Sandals
Patrick’s Shirt // Patrick’s Shorts
Dress // Shoes ( 70% off) // Bracelet //
Hiking
We spent the majority of our vacation outdoors, hiking to endless waterfalls, sliding down frigid water falls and exploring the beauty of the North Carolina mountains. It was magical but I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t even consider the possibility of a wildlife sighting pretty much the entire time we were hiking. Thank God for my family’s sake we didn’t run into any dangerous predators – there’s a 99.9% chance I would have sacrificed Patrick had I laid eyes on either a bear or a snake.
Some of our favorite attractions in and around Lake Toxaway were Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, Schoolhouse Falls and Whitewater Falls. The most difficult of these trails was Schoolhouse Falls but apparently there was an easier route we did not know about. I suggest uploading the ALLTRAILS app to help you navigate all of these unique trails so you don’t end up getting lost like we did!
Regan’s Long Sleeve Bathing Suit // Regan’s Shoes //
Ava’s Shirt Sold Out But Love This Octopus Shirt // Ava’s Shorts // My Hat //
Brevard
On the days were weren’t hiking and watching out for bears, we spent a good amount of time in the town of Brevard, which is about a twenty five minute drive from Lake Toxaway. Surprisingly, there is quite a bit to do in this sweet mountain town. The girls mined for gems, cracked geodes and shopped at the over 6000 square foot toy store, O.P. Taylors. Unfortunately, a few of our must do’s weren’t an option due to COVID – the Co-Ed movie theater and Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop.
Brevard’s restaurant scene did not disappoint. We had fabulous meals at both Marco Trattoria and The Square Root and snagged a few bottles of yummy wine on our way back to The Greystone at Lake Toxaway Wine and Cheese. They also had an awesome selection of jams, local sweets and snacks.
// My Sweater ~ Sold Out But Here’s Another Favorite //
We squeezed a ton into our four day vacation but there is still so much left to do – tubing, white water rafting, the spa! I guess we will just have to make another trip back up into the peaceful North Carolina mountains and our new favorite, The Greystone Inn.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram, @dinnerwiththeduffys, for a Greystone Inn discount code I promise to share in the upcoming weeks so you can get to planning your stay at this magical Inn. Trust me, it will not disappoint!
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