“…Leave As Friends”
Expect the company of deer, fireflies, warblers and an affable dog at Glade Valley B&B.
Glittering fireflies, so many we weren’t sure at first what they were, sparked a magical light show in the Blue Ridge mountain night. And all ours to view from the back deck of the Glade Valley Bed and Breakfast.
Set down a long lane not far from Sparta, N.C., the log cabin inn was built three years ago specifically as a bed and breakfast. Any realtor will tell you location is everything, and Jim and Margaret Connor have scored one of the area’s great settings, an easy walk from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Deer snack on fallen apples at the edge of the yard, Carolina warblers perch on sunflowers and the view seems to go on forever. When the couple designed the inn, they brought a stepladder to the cleared lot to determine how to situate the structure to capture the best vistas.
Their cedar log inn, with vaulted ceilings and tall windows, combines the warm coziness of a cabin with a light, spacious ambience. Front porch rocking chairs allowed us to enjoy views of the Blue Ridge mountains and the lush Connor gardens.
Guests awaken to the aroma of Margaret’s home-baked cinnamon rolls, pies, breads and Moravian sugar cakes. We sampled cranberry/orange scones with orange butter, homemade cherry and plum jams, baked breakfast casserole, oatmeal maple bread, grits, eggs, country ham and sausage, all served family-style with fresh fruit, gallons of coffee and plenty of conversation among the guests.
The inn’s five guest rooms are themed around national parks with names such as Denali, Mesa Verde or Yosemite; our favorite accommodation was a guest cabin tucked into the woods about 75 yards away from the inn and down a steep flight of stone steps. The rustic spot has a loft bedroom, a plush bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub for two, a kitchen with a wood burning stove and a secluded back dining porch.
From the moment Hunter, a sizeable pooch of indeterminate breed, ambled up to the car to greet us we felt at home in Glade Valley. And apparently we’re not the only guests to feel the warmth. Jim Connor pointed out a prophetic sign over the front door. It read “Enter as strangers, leave as friends.”
We did.
Glade Valley B&B, 330 Shaw Lane, Glade Valley, N.C. 336-657-8811, 800-538-3508, gladevalley.com. $110-$130, smoke-free and pet-free.
Children 12 and over are welcome. Reservations recommended.
