As we look through our guest books and peruse our online reviews, one note, in particular, stands out and makes us smile:
“Thank you so very much for the care, attention to detail, relaxing, and beautiful place you’ve created. The most relaxed we’ve been in a long time!”
-Thomas and Lauren, from July of 2024
Before becoming Innkeepers, we loved visiting Inns and B&Bs in quieter, smaller places like the Andon-Reid and Waynesville. We found that these trips to unique towns and more intimate lodging options helped us destress more than normal and encouraged us to enjoy the present moment. To be able to provide that feeling for other folks as Innkeepers is something special. With that in mind, we try hard to provide a quiet, peaceful, and relaxing experience and we can think of no better place to escape than the mountains of Western North Carolina for this type of getaway.
In the hospitality industry today, there is plenty of talk about folks searching hard for unique ways to use vacation to improve mental health, get better sleep, practice mindfulness, immerse fully in nature, and detox from the effects of current events, social media, and overwhelming societal stress. Our location and property provide a haven for our guests to escape and focus on the beauty of life.
Here are some great reasons why the mountains are calling you to Waynesville to destress and refocus:
Waynesville is on the “Quiet Side” of the Smokies – When you want to get away and enjoy a more laid-back vacation, the Eastern/North Carolina side of the Smokies has become known as the quiet side of the GSMNP, as the towns on the Tennessee side, like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are big and bustling and busy. Eastern Smokies gateway towns like Waynesville, Sylva, Bryson City and Cherokee are just the right size to promote peace, quiet and relaxation.
No TVs in the Rooms at the Inn – This is an Andon-Reid tradition going back to the days of Ann and Don which we are proud to continue. Six of the seven rooms at the Inn do not have TVs (the Garden Suite has a TV), which we find helps make the rooms feel peaceful and private and helps guests disconnect. We have consistently asked our guests after their stays whether they would prefer a TV in their rooms or not, and over 50% of folks enjoy not having a TV while another 18% say they are indifferent about TVs. We do have televisions we can put in the rooms on request for those who prefer to have them, and we have excellent wi-fi for those wanting to stream on their own devices.
So Many Places for Forest-Bathing – “Forest-bathing”, or “shinrin-yoku” in Japanese, is gaining traction as one of the best ways to reduce stress, practice mindfulness, and connect with nature. Innkeeper Brenda makes it a habit every Tuesday as our area has some of the best places to immerse yourself in trees, streams, hills, flowers and fresh air. One of her favorites is Fork Ridge Trail, off the Blue Ridge Parkway. This hike is along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail that runs throughout North Carolina but is quieter than some of the other trails off the Parkway. Another good option is Pinnacle Park in Sylva, which is North Carolina’s only certified forest-bathing trail. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful places on earth like the Cataloochee Valley, Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Pisgah National Forest, Waynesville is a great home base to get into the forest and mountains for a few hours a day.
Enjoy Gourmet, High-Quality & Healthy Food – For such a small town, Waynesville has amazing restaurants. In and around Main Street, there is an abundance of local, small business restaurants, with fabulous chefs, serving up high-quality food made from local ingredients. Also not to be forgotten, breakfast at the Andon-Reid is meant to be an experience, where guests connect and take their time in the morning over homemade, gourmet food, created from fresh ingredients. Our breakfasts are a chance to practice the art of savoring and taking time to enjoy the best meal of the day. We try to create a menu that is familiar, yet creative and unique, crafted and plated with care.
Rooms Designed for Comfort and Sleep – “Sleep Tourism” is becoming a thing, and we wonder why it hasn’t been a thing for longer. Our spacious rooms, with luxurious linens from The Comphy Company, were designed with sleep in mind. Our neighborhood is quiet, our rooms are private, and our mattresses are comfortable.
Connect with New Friends or Enjoy Privacy – The B&B experience is a unique one and is different than other standard lodging. One of the things that sets B&Bs apart (other than amazing breakfast, of course), are the fabulous homes and the more intimate nature of the experience that brings together like-minded travelers. Depending on your preferences, you can connect with new friends around the Inn or at breakfast, or you can enjoy time to yourself with a more private experience. The Andon-Reid is good for both.
Luxurious Bathrooms with Tubs – As far as self-care goes, many of our rooms have jetted tubs and all of our ensuite bathrooms are spacious and unique. The bathroom in the Garden Suite has a two-person jetted tub and a large shower with body jets. Other rooms with jetted tubs include the Carriage House, the Grand Library Suite, and the Magnolia Suite. After a day of forest-bathing, a nice warm bath sounds like the perfect way to keep banishing that stress.
Places to Meditate and Breathe – Not to be forgotten, is that the Inn is a great place to find a quiet corner or comfy chair and just focus on being present and breathing in the fresh, mountain air. Back in the day, Western North Carolina and the mountain regions were known as climate havens for folks looking to let the mountain air heal their illnesses, and we must say, there’s something about the air in the mountains that is just better. At the Inn, we have so many great places to sit and breathe. Our guest lounge has large windows with fantastic mountain views, our wrap around porch has great breezes and comfortable chairs (with the same mountain views), and our patio and lawn are great places kick back and relax. You might even have the time to read a whole book during your visit to the Inn (wouldn’t that be lovely)!
We hope to be able to host you the next time you need to get away and recharge your batteries!
See you soon at the Inn,
Your Innkeepers,
-Brenda and Peter
