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Sanctuary Cottage | One Mile to Downtown and National Forest

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A covered outdoor seating area with wicker furniture and a wooden table.
A room with a wooden cabinet, two chairs, a round table with chess, and a window with a view of greenery.
A cozy living room with a stone fireplace, leather sofa, and a chess table.
A cozy kitchen with wooden cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator, and a large shelf filled with dishes and glassware.
A cozy outdoor seating area with a wicker sofa, a coffee table, and a lamp.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Highlands, NC
  • Place, Bridal Veil Falls
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Place, Dry Falls
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Highlands Country Club
    ‪6 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Highlands

With a stay at this vacation home in Highlands (Lake Sequoyah), you'll be steps from Nantahala National Forest and a 2-minute drive from Bridal Veil Falls. .This vacation home is 9 mi (14.4 km) from Chattahoochee National Forest and 1.7 mi (2.8 km) from The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts.

What's nearby

  • Bridal Veil Falls - 1 min drive - 1.1 miles
  • Dry Falls - 3 min drive - 2.3 miles
  • Highlands Country Club - 6 min drive - 2.5 miles
  • Whiteside Mountain - 15 min drive - 8.7 miles
  • Western Carolina University - 48 min drive - 37.1 miles

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wildcat Cliffs Country Club - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪The Pizza Place - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Oak Steakhouse - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Highlander Mountain House & The Ruffed Grouse Tavern - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Los Vaqueros - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Sanctuary Cottage | One Mile to Downtown and National Forest

Enjoy Waterfalls or sunsets—at Sanctuary Cottage, you are perfectly positioned for both. Located inside the Highlands city limits, this warm and inviting mountain cottage is approximately one mile from the shops and restaurants of downtown Highlands and one mile from the national forest. Spend the morning exploring waterfalls and trails, the afternoon shopping in town, and the evening gathered with friends around the fire. You do not have to get in the car to enjoy the mountains. Walk directly from the front door along quiet gravel roads, or continue from the property toward the national forest. It is an easy way to experience the peaceful side of Highlands while remaining only minutes from downtown.

Outdoor Living at the Heart of the Home
Guests often tell us that Sanctuary Cottage is all about the deck. The large back deck is furnished with high-end, exceptionally comfortable Summer Classics seating and includes an outdoor dining table for eight. Grill dinner, open a bottle of wine and settle in beneath the cool North Carolina sky. An outdoor heater helps extend deck season into the cooler months. The sunset views from here can be exceptional!

When the mountain rain arrives—as it often does in Highlands—the comfortable screened porch gives you a covered place to enjoy morning coffee, read, dine or simply listen to the rain. A newly built firepit in the front yard is on a beautiful elevated stone platform surrounded by Adirondack chairs. Firewood is provided, so guests can enjoy a real wood fire without having to bring or purchase their own. It is an ideal spot for drinks, conversation and long evenings outdoors.The landscaped front yard features native plants that complement the cottage’s natural mountain setting.

Warm and Comfortable Inside
The welcoming living room centers on a convenient gas fireplace that can be enjoyed at the touch of a button. A large television is mounted above the fireplace, making it a comfortable place to watch a movie or catch the big game on a cool fall afternoon. Guests who would rather remain outdoors can move the small television from the primary bedroom onto the deck, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds—the game and the view.

The extremely well-equipped kitchen makes it easy to prepare anything from a quick breakfast to a full dinner. Meals can be enjoyed around the indoor table, on the screened porch or around the eight-person dining table on the deck.

Ideal for Two Couples
Sanctuary Cottage is especially well suited for two couples traveling together. Two bedrooms feature king beds and private bathrooms, and their placement at opposite ends of the single-level home gives each couple additional privacy. A third bedroom with two twin beds provides flexibility for friends, older children or additional family members.

The cottage comfortably accommodates up to six guests.
Sanctuary Cottage is made for people who value time together: morning walks, afternoons in town, dinner on the deck, football by the fire and evenings beneath the stars.

Highlights
• Inside the Highlands city limits
• Approximately one mile from downtown Highlands
• Approximately one mile from the national forest
• Walk toward the national forest directly from the property
• Quiet gravel-road walks from the front door
• Large furnished back deck
• High-end Summer Classics outdoor furniture
• Outdoor dining table for eight
• Gas grill and outdoor heater
• Comfortable screened porch
• Newly built firepit on an elevated stone platform
• Adirondack chairs and firewood provided
• Indoor gas fireplace
• Large television above the fireplace
• Portable bedroom television that can be used on the deck
• Two king bedrooms with private bathrooms
• Third bedroom with two twin beds
• Single-level, split-bedroom layout
• Landscaped front yard with native plants
• Comfortably accommodates up to six guests
• No pets permitted

Good to know: The cottage is most comfortable for groups of up to six and is particularly well suited to couples and friends seeking a relaxed Highlands getaway. The drive offers parking for two cars.

*This is a no-pet property.*
**This property has a Ring doorbell camera at the front door. **

[All of the homes managed by Highlands Vacation Rentals have wifi internet access(speeds may vary based on different providers), basic kitchenware & dishes, linens provided, and a starter set of amenities including: 2 toilet paper rolls per bathroom + A set of personal shampoo, conditioner, hand & body soap (also per bathroom), 2 paper towel rolls, a few kitchen trash bags, a kitchen sponge, some dish soap and a couple of dishwasher and laundry detergent pods. ]
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. There's a private balcony. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a flat-screen television is provided for your entertainment.
This smoke-free vacation home features books, games, and a playground. Recreational activities include snowboarding nearby, rock climbing nearby, and hiking/biking trails nearby.
Guests will find features like wireless internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Day bed

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill

Laundry

  • Laundry detergent
  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping mall

Things to do

  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Sanctuary Cottage Highlands
83
Sanctuary Cottage Private vacation home
Sanctuary Cottage Private vacation home Highlands

Sanctuary Cottage | One Mile to Downtown and National Forest Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 9 out of 9 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 9 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Corey W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great charm and location
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Robert K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
well appointed and clean
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Caroline M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage in convenient location

My husband and I loved our stay at Sanctuary Cottage. The home was beautifully decorated and the neighborhood was convenient yet quiet. We felt right at home as soon as we walked in, lamps and music on as well as fresh cut flowers to welcome us. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sandra M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cozy space for 4 adults and 2 small children. We loved the gas fireplace. Kitchen fully equipped. Bring all your own food tho. Salt & pepper enough coffee for 1 pot is the only food included.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jane R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house!

We absolutely loved our stay at Sanctuary Cottage. It is such a lovely and comfortable home. We enjoyed sitting out on the deck for cocktails and looking at the stars. The screened porch is a perfect spot to hang out during the rainfall. The kitchen is very well appointed having everything you need. Everything was just right. Lots of great spots to cozy up with a book. We loved our stay and hope to go back next summer!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Helen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The house was beautiful and well equipped with everything you could possibly need.

The property was great but the only problem was there was just one tv.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Renee D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family getaway

Perfect for our family of four! The kitchen was incredible, sunsets were fabulous and convenient to everything.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Vacation

The pictures of this property absolutely do not do it justice! It is FANTASTIC! The property owners have thought of every thing you might need! The linens and pillows on every single bed are fabulous! No expense was spared in this design! The outdoor space and views are amazing! We stayed here with our 15 year old, 6 year old and 3 year old. We hiked several local trails! Fantastic trip! You are just a few miles outside of town. Location is great!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2021