Photo credit: Peter McIntosh

Lake Rabun has long been celebrated as a second-home getaway for well-heeled Atlantans looking for some R&R. Lesser known, however, is the charming, yet affordable Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant. Chosen by National Geographic Traveler as one of the best places to stay in the United States, this historic hotel receives props for honoring its Southern heritage, augmenting and blending well into the mountain landscape, using local foods and practicing sustainable ecology.

Lake Rabun Hotel is just rustic enough to remind you you’re at a mountain lake; solid hardwoods, hand-crafted Adirondack mirrors, and a bar made entirely of South Georgia cedar play on the cabin theme. But a full-service spa and suites appointed with plush linens, private baths, lake views and, in a few, fireplaces, make this hotel a refined, romantic choice in summer or fall.

Off-season rates, from $129 a night, are more affordable than stays during summer months; breakfast is included, as is access to a lounge stocked with cold drinks, fruit and homemade cookies. Special packages and services (read: white water rafting on the Chatuga) are available upon inquiry.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 7:06 am and is filed under Travel.