This sponsored post is written in collaboration with Chetola Resort. All opinions of the stay and my experience in the hotel are my own.

The beach bum in me has been spending a lot of time at mountain lodges. So the second the weather warmed up, you'd have imagined I'd have rushed off to find calm cerulean waves and scorching white sands. But there I was, nestled deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina amidst nearly a dozen waterfalls and hiking trails, tasting homemade chocolates and home-brewed beers. My home for the weekend in the quaint village of Blowing Rock was the 87-acre Chetola Resort, complete with a lodge, lake, and spa. Relaxation was the game's name, and with downtown a mere minutes away and Boone nearby, finding things to do was easy. If you're a fan of outdoor activities, you arrange several upscale sports like fly fishing, golfing and clay pigeon shooting from the website or with the help of the concierge.

At First Glance, Chetola Resort is exactly what you picture when someone says they are off to stay for a weekend in the mountains. The lodge is set back about a half-mile from the road, so to enter the grounds, you must stop and give your name to the friendly guard before a slow drive along a lighted fence. A wise choice because it builds ambiance as the grounds are revealed. We arrived in the evening, so the reflection of the lights in the lake, the pavilion, and the fire pits led us to the front of the inn. Fantastic reveal.

The Room: Chetola Resort has a rustic, traditional wood build with a rural appeal.  The resort rooms designated the Chetola Lodge features 42 guestrooms that can be rented with balconies and view of the lake and grounds. The Bob Timberlake Inn includes eight large B&B suites decorated in signature Bob Timberlake artwork. There are also 100 condominiums on the property for rent, lease, and purchase should you decide never to leave. We stayed in the Deluxe Lake View with Balcony and double queen beds. The decor was a simple, clean white and brown with a few touches of burnt orange that reminded me of fall. (I bet it's lovely in Autumn.) Nothing quite elaborate, but I appreciate that it wasn't flashy or old-fashioned like some of the bed and breakfasts I'd seen in the area. I had difficulty suggesting other hotels in my city guide because the rooms were such eyesores. The beds were high and firm, with a plush duvet. The TV was big, with an entire cable and a mini wet bar which I always loved to have.

Dining: Timberlake's Restaurant is the onsite dining establishment and the only meal we've had all weekend that wasn't weirdly over-prepared. It's a very unassuming and quiet place. The decor is old-fashioned, southern lodging with the option to sit outside near the fire, overlooking the lake. As a naturally cold-natured individual, a window view is just as good. The meals were well cooked. So good that we ate there both nights, despite having plans to meet friends at a local college joint in Boone. The menu had heavier, savory mountain staples like a pan-seared duck, roasted Carolina quail, and tasty side dishes like mushroom risotto and golden Yukon potatoes. (This is the only place I've ordered and finished cauliflower) We were served dinner with semi-sweetened, fresh cornbread and apple butter, and we nearly filled up before the waiter can back with drinks. For dinner on Friday, we ordered the duck breast medium with cranberry port wine compote and Black Angus filet cooked rare and finished with traditional Au Poivre sauce. Both came out quickly and cooked to perfection. On Saturday, we tried the salmon. I had a Pan-Seared Salmon topped with roasted tomatoes, sauteed spinach, and beurre blanc sauce, and J opted for a classic Caesar salad topped with similar pan-seared salmon. The fish flaked perfectly at the flick of the fork. In the morning, breakfast was a buffet of traditional Western-style foods included with the stay.

Overall Stay: The overall trip was pleasant and relaxed. The hotel was quiet. At first, we were under the impression that a much older demographic accompanied us. However, by Saturday and especially Sunday morning, we saw a girls group in their early thirties having a getaway weekend and lots of couples our age. The younger residents were out and about around town. The weekend was a fun and relaxing stay at a first-class mountain resort, and I would return in the fall when the weather cools and the leaves along the Blue Ridge are epically golden and red. Everyone was so kind, and our servers were pretty little hams. They should form a comedy troupe. I didn't think about working for a second between dining room jazz and smores by the fire pit under the stars. Blowing Rock managed to outdo Asheville, which was a complete surprise. I hate to use cliche terms like hidden gen and underrated, but that sums up everything about this cute town. I felt local and spent much time outside the resort looking over the water on the swings. I'm the Southern strolling type now.

Amenities:

Chetola Resort Owned & Operated

Private - Exclusive Club Membership Limited Chetola Guest Membership

67 Acres of Pristine Wooded Land

Orvis Endorsed Lodge & Guides

NRA Certified Instruction Beretta and Ceaser Gurini Shotguns

5 Stand Clay Station

13 Station Sporting Clay Course

Pistol & Rifle Range

Archery Range

Float and Wade Trip

Fly Fishing Adventures

Public and Private Waters

Private Events

Corporate and Executive Retreats

Weddings and Receptions

Additional Info:

• The resort offers fitness classes, tennis and pickleball, indoor swimming, lake activities, and a full-service spa. In addition, special packages for every occasion are available.

• Two-night minimum stay is required. Residents of the Bob Timberlake Inn must be 21.

• No drinks before 5 pm. I wanted a Chetola Relaxer, and it was a no-go. And the bar was closed. But you can visit one of the many restaurants and bars downtown.

• There were no children during the weekend we stayed. So extra points for that.

• There's a full-service spa. I've mentioned it twice, but...there's a full-service spa. Get your all-day pampering on.

Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock

www.chetola.com

185 Chetola Lake Drive

Blowing Rock, NC 28605

800.243.8652

$225-$695+