Lodging

Garden View Room at the Mountain Laurel Creek Inn.

The owners of the Mountain Laurel Creek Inn & Spa in Dahlonega, Georgia, just an hour’s drive north of Atlanta, take care to make sure everything is “just so” at their elegant, secluded B&B. Attention to detail is evident in the design of the five guest rooms, each with private bath.

Each of the guest rooms has distinctly different decor, from the Tuscan-style Vineyard Room, overlooking the B&B’s small vineyard, to the sumptuous, Mission-style Laurel Suite. I’m partial to the Garden View Room, which brings nature indoors with lots of greenery, tree limbs and other natural objects as accents.

The on-site Oasis Day Spa is a wonderful amenity for guests, but it’s also open to the public. Soothe your cares away with skin care treatments and massage therapy using Pevonia Botanica products.

New since I visited the Mountain Laurel Creek Inn last year is the Copper Penny Pub, featuring a number of wines from some of the local wineries — and I know from experience, these wines are tasty! Sample varieties from the Three Sisters Vineyards, Frogtown Cellars, Blackstock Vineyards and Wolf Mountain Vineyard. Not a wine aficionado? Not to worry, beer and sodas are on hand, too.

Want more suggestions for lodging in the Dahlonega area? Read about the Lily Creek Lodge and the Forrest Hills Mountain Resort.

Photo by Kara Williams, taken May 2007.

Inn at Occidental

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

When I arrived on a misty February Monday, I was surprised to see adults and school children sitting on the curb in the village of Occidental.  Cyclists in bright logo gear began to trickle in.  I checked into the Inn at Occidental and asked owner Jerry Wolsborn what the fuss was about.  Turns out the 2008 Amgen Tour of California was about to wiz by.  While the exact route has yet to be posted on the Amgen website, I do know that Santa Rosa will be a staging area for Lance Armstrong and his fellow cycling team in February of 2009.

Located off the Bohemian Highway, the Inn at Occidental doesn’t have cell phone towers. In fact, the only thing towering overhead are redwood trees. “Having lived in Marin for 10 years, I’d never been to Armstong,” said Wolsborn.  The 805 acre State Reserve is “under utilized,”added Wolsborn.  From horseback riding, to wine tasting or relaxing at the nearby Oasis Day Spa, the Inn is an ideal launch pad for a wide array of activities.

Osmosis Meditation Garden

Ten minutes away, in the blink-and-you’ll miss-it town of Freestone, I was treated to an Osmosis Cedar Enzyme Bath and a 75 minute Swedish Esalen massage.  Before my treatments I was invited to stroll the Japanese meditation garden and sip herbal tea in the sitting room over looking the bonsai garden.  I have to say, this was one of the best massages of my life, and I’ve had my share of massages.

Another high point of Freestone is Wild Flour Bread Bakery.  Be warned, the organic bakery is only open four days a week, Friday through Monday, including holiday weekends, except Christmas day.  The scones are delicious.

Sonoma Lodge Room

Before you arrive, you’ll want to check out the rooms on-line.  Each room or suite, offers a distinct personality.  All rooms feature overstuffed down beds and fireplaces and include hors d’oeuvres in the evening and a Sonoma Harvest Breakfast in the Wine Cellar dining room. 

 Room prices range from $259 for traditional rooms, to $359 for suites with hot tubs, to $679 for the two bedroom Sonoma Vacation Cottage.  Check on-line for Internet and Mid-Week specials.  The Inn at Occidental is a member of Unique Inns.

Thanks to Iris and Ron Kovarsky for this photo of the Inn.  Osmosis and Sonoma Lodge photo by Nancy D. Brown