My parents came to visit North Carolina towards the end of the summer.  They wanted to spend some time in the mountains and drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway while they were here.

My mom found a great cabin to rent in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Mountain Springs Cabins is located about 20 minutes outside the city of Asheville.  They have a number of pet-friendly cabins, but do have some (relatively) strict rules you must follow.  Your dogs must be bathed before visiting, they must have their nails trimmed, and they are not allowed on furniture.

Their website made me wary of how receptive they truly were towards dogs, but they were very excited to meet Ava upon our arrival and they were very welcoming towards all of us.

The cabins themselves are quaint and comfortable homes away from home.  Our cabin was far away from any of the others, and the facilities were very quiet and serene.  The management was outstanding.  They provided us with extra towels and toiletries, and they were very knowledgeable about the area and its offerings.  They had even prepared a very detailed and extensive book about all of the activities available in the area.

A small creek ran through the facility, and there were hammocks and fire pits installed along its length.  We sat along the river in the evenings, and I tried to fish with a pole borrowed from the management office.  Chickens from a nearby farm liked to congregate around the edge of the water, and Ava really enjoyed staring at them.

She also liked to take advantage of the shade trees in the area to hone her climbing skills.