Cabin (Cheoah 2)

The cabin sits on the banks of the Cheoah River, within the 120 acres of woodland that make up Tapoco Lodge Resort in Nantahala National Forest. Expect a peaceful riverside and forest setting rather than a town or road view.

Cheoah 2 has 2 Queen Beds with pillowtop mattresses and premium bedding, and it sleeps up to four guests. That suits two couples, friends travelling together, or a family with older children.

The private bathroom has a shower/bathtub combination, designer toiletries, towels and a hair dryer, so you can freshen up without leaving your cabin.

Yes to both. The cabin is air-conditioned and has soundproofed rooms, which helps with a restful night. The lodge sits well away from Robbinsville, about 15 miles from town, so the surroundings are woodland and river.

You get a coffee/tea maker, complimentary bottled water, a TV with digital channels, free WiFi, an iron and ironing board, and daily housekeeping. Parking at the resort is free. WiFi works well across the property, though mobile signal in the surrounding mountains is limited once you leave the lodge.

Well-behaved children are welcome on the property, and the restriction on children 12 and under applies to the historic lodge rooms in the main building, not to the cabins. The guest who books must be at least 21 years old, and children under 12 are not permitted in hot tubs at any time.

The resort has two restaurants. The Cheoah Dining Room serves breakfast daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., with limited terrace seating over the river. The riverside Tapoco Tavern serves pub fare such as burgers, brick-oven pizza and Carolina Mountain trout, with hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and it closes for the winter season. The cosy Laurel Lounge off the lodge lobby serves cocktails, beer and wine. Reservations at the Tavern are recommended on (828) 498-2800.

There is no swimming pool at the lodge. Guests spend their time on the hiking trails, tennis courts, firepits, the games room and library, and the Tapoco Tin Can Theater, which usually shows movies on Friday nights. The Mountain Spa is open Fridays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a swim, Yellow Creek Falls on Tapoco Road is a popular spot, though the water can be cold.

Check-in runs from 4 PM to 10 PM and check-out is before 10 AM. The front desk is staffed from 7 AM to 10 PM, and there is no after-hours check-in. Bring photo ID and a credit card, as a $50 damage deposit is collected on arrival and reimbursed after check-out. Cancelling less than 72 hours before arrival forfeits the deposit. The closest airport is McGhee Tyson (TYS), roughly 76 to 83 minutes by car.