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The therapeutic benefits of walking in nature have long been touted, but it’s much more than the sight of the blue-hued mountains and deep green forests that calm and center us. The subtle scents of the rocks, rivers, plants and trees play a major role in elevating our mood and state of mind.

To extend the wellness of the woods beyond the trails, The Greystone Inn teamed with Elder and Co., makers of handmade soy wax candles in Brevard, North Carolina, to create a custom Greystone candle for our guests. Before getting to work in her studio, Ellie Tate, owner of Elder and Co., began the creative process with a visit to our special lakeside location to experience firsthand the essence of The Greystone. From there, we put our noses to work, noting our reactions to sample candles, essential oils, and each potential ingredient Tate suggested.

“After creating samples, I always burn the candles in my own home and live with the scent before presenting them to my clients,” said Tate. “Of the seven samples I created for The Greystone, I felt that two truly captured the allure of the inn and its unique setting.”

The final winner – a lovely combination of all things Greystone – moss, soil, balsam, cedar and pine – that can be enjoyed throughout the hotel and anywhere you’d like to take The Greystone with you. The Greystone candle is available for purchase at The Greystone Inn Market or in the hotel lobby to bring the magic of Lake Toxaway and The Greystone Inn to your own home.

Shop now (https://thegreystoneinnmarket.com)

Branches of Hope
Fraser fir. Red spruce. Yellow birch. Ask anyone in North Carolina their favorite tree and you’re likely to get a variety of answers. Ask anyone in Transylvania County and you’re likely to hear just one – the Angel Giving Tree.

This year will be the fifth year The Greystone Inn will put up the Angel Giving Tree – a partnership with Lake Toxaway Charities and Rosman area schools to provide gifts and food to over 200 prequalified school children, the elderly and disabled. The Angel Tree program provides children ages pre-K through high school with a complete set of new clothing and a stocking filled with toiletries and essentials. Each child also receives a wrapped gift from Santa and a box of food for the entire family.

Hear why this program is near and dear to Patrick Chapman, Principal at Lake Toxaway’s T.C. Henderson School of Science and Technology, and look for more information on how you can participate in this special annual charity event in our upcoming October e-newsletter.

5 tips for meditative yoga:

1. Find a calm place
2. Set a manageable time limit
3. Take stock of your body
4. Feel your breath
5. Focus your attention

Join us at 9 a.m. on Saturdays for a Sunrise Salutation meditation and set your intentions for a wonderful weekend!

Hotel guests – $25
Local visitors – $35
24-hour advance reservation required

You can’t have summer without peaches!  Here’s how to create our newest signature drink – the Grilled Peach Tea Cocktail! Perfect for nights out on the patio. Smokey peaches, whiskey, and wine–summer in a glass!

Grilled Peach Tea Cocktail for Two
Ingredients:

• Whiskey
• Fortified wine
• Grilled peach tea syrup

 

Garnish:

• Toasted almonds
• Orange peel
• Thyme
• Fresh peaches
• Lemon Juice

Come see what’s growing in the Greystone garden! This season, we’re very proud of our cauliflower crops, so much so they’ve made their way onto the dinner menu.

Featured Dish of the Season: Cauliflower Steak
Cauliflower purée, roasted grapes, marcona almond, curry oil

Brevard Music Center Summer Institute and Festival
The Greystone Inn is proud to support the Brevard Summer Series, a festival of musical events including classical, jazz, and even a Star Wars soundtrack tribute!

Click here for more information

Fishing the Backwaters:
3 Tips from Local Experts of Headwaters Outfitters:

1. Move Slow: Backcountry fish can be extremely spooky. Methodical movements are key to success!
2. Bring a Buddy: Two minds are greater than one. Having an extra set of eyes can help you better decipher water!
3. Lighter tippet: Backcountry fish tend to be smaller than your average stocked fish, however, these fish are still smart and will steer clear of flies attached to heavy fluorocarbon.

 

Let’s Go Foraging!
In Western NC, there are more than 3,000 mushrooms and 200 of them are edible. Mushrooms are commonly found in wooded areas near bodies of water of areas that are very moist all the time.

Most commonly found in the area:

• Chanterelle
• Chicken of the Woods
• Lactarius
• Lion’s Mane
• Bear’s Head
• Cinnabon
• Trumpet

 

The Black Trumpet Mushroom has no poisonous look-alikes, making this a great mushroom for beginners to identify. Their dark color and strange shape make them look like little black holes on the forest floor.

Featured Dish of the Season: Forager’s Manicotti
Wild mushrooms, kale ricotta, truffle crème fraiche, pecorino cheese
Try this dish at The Greystone Inn!

Mint Julep – Kentucky Derby
Black-Eyed Susan – Preakness Stakes
Belmont Jewel – Belmont Stakes

Essential Oils 101
with The Greystone Inn’s Masseuse Marlene

Used for thousands of years, essential oils have many therapeutic properties – antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal, to name a few. Many use oils to help calm, destress, reduce tension and muscle soreness, as well as ease symptoms of colds, stomach upset…the list is almost endless!

Combined with a massage, or used even during yoga & meditation, oils can be very powerful as they take less than a minute to enter the bloodstream and can make significant physical changes. In spring, floral oils such as lavender and rose are a joy to use to highlight the season.

For yoga, I recommend grounding oils such as frankincense, cypress, sandalwood or blends. For stress or an emotional recharge, a blend of wood & grass is the ticket. I’ve even seen success with using oregano oil for plantar warts!

Join us in raising a toast to our legendary “Lady of Lake Toxaway” on April 23rd!

“I’ve traveled the world twice and I believe Lake Toxaway to be the most beautiful and special place on earth.”
– Lucy Armstrong Moltz, 23 Apr 1883 – 24 Sep 1970

Featured dish of the Season: Osso Bucco Appalachi
NC sweet potato au gratin, slow raised beef, roasted brussels sprouts, maple chili demi
Available at The Greystone Inn

If winter were a wine, it would be Domaine de la Solitude, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France

“I personally love this wine for the winter months for several reasons. At 50% Grenache, this wine brings some beautiful notes of stewed strawberries and grilled plum that will warm you from the inside – sitting next to a fire or getting ready for dinner. The remaining Syrah and Mourvedre to round out this blend and add a savory-peppery note that is full of structure to help match up to any filling meal you are about to put on the table for the whole family to enjoy. That is why, if winter were a wine, it would be Domaine de la Solitude.”

– Matthew Arnall, Restaurant General Manager & Sommelier
Domaine de la Solitude is available at The Greystone Inn.

Featured drink of the Season: Third Moon Spritz
With blackberry, rosemary, and lemon.
The perfect mocktail for soon-to-be-mamas like Kendra!

Choosing wellness this winter with The Greystone Yogi Sara Hartless

What does daily wellness look like to you?
Being kind to yourself, being grateful for where you are and allowing moments of stillness are my favorite ways to implement daily wellness.

Is there a specific place on property you would recommend to guests seeking quiet tranquility during their stay?
The fishing dock and the solarium are incredibly beautiful, calming and natural places to find peace and quiet… these are some of the hidden gems of the property.

For a lot of people, the concept of self-care and wellness is difficult to practice. What do you think helps guests adjust that mindset?
Wellness is first and foremost a choice, and it doesn’t always look like a workout, bubble bath or face mask. Sometimes it’s a walk in nature by yourself, or chocolate cake, or the decision to say no and sit by the fire with a book instead. Self-care is about giving ourselves the space to be at our happiest… so we can tackle whatever life throws our way next!

What inspires you most about Lake Toxaway, and how does that translate to the spirit of mindfulness for visitors?
The story of Miss Lucy’s love and care for the community and environment I think is very much still part of this property’s charm. The involvement in uplifting women of the area is so inspiring, and that nurturing mentality is carried on by much of the staff at Greystone. With people looking out to enhance your experience, there’s extra room for being present and mindful.

The Greystone is surrounded by natural beauty. What do you feel rejuvenates guests most during the winter months?
I’ve heard the frozen waterfalls are a must see, and I can’t wait to experience it! There’s also something so comforting about watching the stillness of the lake, as there are significantly less boats out enjoying the water.

What is special about the techniques and treatment at The Greystone spa? What treatment or service do you recommend to someone working to destress?
Just being at The Greystone automatically allows for deeper breaths and less stress. To really leave it all behind I encourage people to add on scalp massages, as this encourages overall relaxation, can relieve tension headaches, and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which aids in “rest and digest”.

Is yoga really for everyone?
Heck, yes! Yoga is so much more than asana (the postures of yoga) or pranayama (the breathing practices of yoga) that first come to mind. My favorite sutra to reflect on is referred to as the “locks and keys,” as cultivating attitudes of “friendliness towards the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous and disregard toward the wicked…” How amazing would it be if we could all remember to do that every day!?

Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Experience Gorges State Park

Did you know that about 125 rare plant and animal species can be found in the park?
Discover more fun facts here! (https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/maps-and-brochures/gorges-state-park-fact-sheet-2021.pdf)

What to do in Downtown Brevard
Shopping
Dining
Arts
Entertainment
And more!

View downtown Brevard’s activity and guide map

Must See: Frozen Waterfalls
Explore waterfalls & plan your adventure

“There aren’t enough wonderful things to say about this special place! The views, the accommodations, the staff … from the moment we arrived everything was top notch. The room was beautiful and clean and the beds were insanely cozy! Best sleep ever!!! I have already referred 17 friends and would urge everyone to visit this spectacular place!!”

“This is the sort of place where after you visit you dream about ways you could rearrange your life to stay forever. Charming hotel with lovely, comfortable rooms, ours had a balcony with a splendid view of Lake Toxaway. The staff is beyond friendly and accommodating. Will be back as soon as possible.”

Vote for The Greystone Inn in the 2022 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards! To all of our amazing guests: we are beyond grateful! (https://wba.m-rr.com/home)

What We Love About Winter

“Fuzzy scarves, snuggly blankets, roaring fires, the sound of rain, and a good book with a glass of red wine.”
– Regan, Director of Operations and Executive Chef

“I love to fall asleep with my window open, with a crisp chill in the air snuggled up in a pile of blankets. Sit by a fire with a cup of hot tea and my current favorite book, Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Christmas Lights, enough said.”
– Mary Anna, Guest Services

“The misty cold mornings and star-filled night skies by a campfire.”
– David, Catering and Events Manager

“Watching the fog roll in over the lake. It’s magical. Winter time, while a bit chilly, is also a great time to hike. The leaves are off the trees and views that cannot normally be seen are fully visible… and NO BUGS! On clear nights, the number of visible stars is staggering. Oftentimes, the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye.”
– Paulette, General Manager