Author: Laura Windham

Winter at The Greystone Inn is a season of quiet magic, where every corner invites you to pause, breathe, and savor life’s simple joys. Amidst the gentle stillness of the season, there’s nothing more comforting than holding a steaming cup of decadent hot chocolate while gazing out the window, watching the ever-changing landscape unfold like a scene from a film.

Our thoughtfully crafted menu is designed to warm not just your hands but your heart, turning every sip into a moment of bliss. Picture yourself curled up by a crackling fire or nestled in one of the inn’s cozy nooks, immersed in a favorite book as the rich aroma of chocolate and spices wraps around you. There’s truly nothing better.

Each creation on our menu is a love letter to the romance of winter. The Vanilla Chai blends the comforting warmth of cocoa and spices with the rich allure of oat milk and espresso, while the White Chocolate Orange and Almond offers a delicate dance of citrus and creamy sweetness.

For a festive touch, we present the Can Can—a delightful mix of Belgian chocolate, crème de menthe, and a whimsical candy cane garnish. Our Traditional Hot Chocolate is always a comforting classic: simple, elegant, and customizable with a drizzle of caramel, a hint of lavender, or the nutty sweetness of hazelnut. With dairy-free options available, every guest can enjoy this quintessential winter indulgence.

At The Greystone Inn, hot chocolate isn’t just a drink—it’s an invitation to slow down, embrace the season’s quiet romance, and savor its simple, heartwarming pleasures.

It was a sunny November day when Chip Brown, co-executive director of Lake Toxaway Charities, met us outside the Sharing House in nearby Brevard. A hub of no-cost food, clothing, financial assistance, and the only public shower in Transylvania County, the Sharing House was the first of three LTC-supported agencies Chip showed us that day.

Standing in the Sharing House’s free pantry, Chip explained, “Lake Toxaway Charities’ vision or mission is to support the hungry, the homeless, abused women and their children, the educationally and medically deprived.” To fulfill this vision, LTC’s all-volunteer team raises donations and gains in-depth knowledge of Transylvania County, working closely with the directors of fifty agencies to provide support and empower them to carry out their own missions effectively. At each agency we visited, Chip and Frank Stark, co-chair of the grant assessment committee, greeted the directors with the warmth and familiarity of longtime neighbors—explaining to us the significance of each organization to the community.

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Just one block away, we were welcomed into the family section of the Haven of Transylvania County, a shelter designed to feel like a home—complete with toys, a comfortable living room, and a large kitchen for families to share. Right beside the Haven, we visited Bread of Life: a kitchen providing free, nutritious freshly cooked meals and to-go pantry staples for all.

“The thing I love the most about serving—and I’ll get emotional—is coming here to a place that impacts people every day,” Chip said. “When you visit an agency like the Sharing House or the Haven or Bread of Life, it changes your life, and you want to give back more.”

In this video, hear directly from Chip, Frank, and the directors of these three agencies. To learn more about Lake Toxaway Charities and how all their donations support residents of Transylvania County, visit their website here.

Add together the crisp mountain air, a comfy seat outside, a warm blanket, and a glass of wine, and you have the ultimate autumn-in-the-mountains reading arrangement.

Wild Woman: Empowering Stories from Women Who Work in Nature by Philippa ForresterWhat does it take for a woman to live or work in the wild? Which qualities help women to survive and thrive in the most challenging of natural environments? Taking an anthropological approach, Forrester considers the grit and determination required for women to maintain connections to wildlife.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris WhitakerThis novel, which has taken the 2024 literary world by storm, has been described as “A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each.” Color us intrigued!

Beautyland by Marie-Helene BertinoThis imaginative and tender science fiction novel inspects the fragility and resiliency of life on Earth through the lens of a gentle, unforgettable girl who possesses knowledge of a faraway planet.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo MoyesBased on a true story rooted in Depression-era America, this rewarding story follows the lives of five women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond.

This Is Your Brain on Food by Uma NaidooDr. Uma Naidoo, a board-certified psychiatrist, nutrition specialist, and professionally trained chef, draws on research to explain the many ways in which food contributes to our mental health, and shows how diet can help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues.

While you’re out finding the best cheeses in North Carolina, hop on the Asheville Ale Trail to explore the standout breweries the region is known for. Encompassing the Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, and Boone areas, this trail offers a true variety—from the gothic-styled Burning Blush Brewery in Mills River to the small batch brews of Lookout Brewing Company in Black Mountain. Visit the Asheville Ale Trail’s website to see all the breweries’ locations, hours, and most well-known creations.

In addition to hosting the annual Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest, the WNC Cheese Trail non-profit has created an interactive map of places to sample local cheeses and wine in the North Carolina mountains. Take a day trip along the WNC Cheese Trail and sample freshly-made cheeses that are truly a one-of-a- kind experience.

For rustic charm, visit the Looking Glass Creamery in Columbus, North Carolina. Located right by a beautiful sunflower field, this creamery is home to a restaurant where guests can enjoy their cheeses.

The family-owned FernCrest Winery, located in Cherokee County, also has a tasting room in Andrews, North Carolina. Here, they serve their award-winning wines and a selection of specialty cheeses from Ashe County Cheese.

A holistic ritual for purifying and exfoliating the skin, dry brushing is a long-held practice that provides both health and beauty benefits. First developed hundreds of years ago in India, dry brushing may improve your body’s detoxification process while smoothing and polishing your skin. The bristles, made from natural fibers, gently scrape away dead skin, dirt, and other impurities that clog pores. This may better allow you to filter toxins organically.

Beyond natural exfoliation and detoxification, dry brushing is a sensory experience, akin to a massage, that even improves circulation. This act of self care, especially when integrated into a daily routine, can serve as a soothing, tranquil moment for meditation.

Before your shower, brush along your feet and ankles before sweeping the brush up your legs in sweeping motions. When you reach your torso, transition into rounded movements with your brush before moving to your arms. Step into a shower to wash away the exfoliated impurities, then apply moisturizer when complete.

A simple method with lasting effects, dry brushing is a rich experience where you can bring the luxury of a spa into your very own home.

This autumn, explore Lake Toxaway and the surrounding mountains and trails by geocaching! A cross between a scavenger hunt and a treasure hunt, geocaching involves using GPS coordinates, maps, or other clues to find hidden objects. These objects can be anything, from small bottles holding the location tracker to intricate, multi-step puzzles.

On geocaching.com, searchers can find a map to 19,000 geocaches in North Carolina and nearly one million in the United States. A quick glance at the map reveals geocaches in nearly any public place, hidden in the hollow of a tree in the Pisgah National Forest or even by a city crosswalk.

Once you come across a geocache, you can log it into the website or on a physical log included with the object. Just remember to leave the geocache where you found it, so everyone else can enjoy their treasure hunt, too.

Lake Toxaway is home to two geocaches of our very own! One is right by The Greystone, should you like to explore the area and have an outdoor adventure during your stay.

Spanning across 500,000 acres, the Pisgah National Forest is home to some of North Carolina’s most iconic and treasured scenery. From the rippling waters of Looking Glass Falls to the sprawling wildflowers of Black Balsam Knob, there is something for everyone among the natural wonders of this forest.

It may surprise readers to learn the origin of the Pisgah National Forest is linked to the history of another famous North Carolina landmark, the Biltmore. George Vanderbilt’s estate once encompassed 125,000 acres. He hired Frederick Law Olmstead to oversee the management of the estate’s lands, as well as the preservation of the area’s existing forests and the reforestation of other sections of the land. In 1898, the Biltmore Forest School, the country’s first school to teach sustainable forestry practices, was founded and located on the property.

The Vanderbilts weren’t alone in their concern for the preservation of forests. The Weeks Act was passed into law in 1911, which meant the federal government could now purchase and preserve private land. No property owners sold to them, however, until Edith Vanderbilt inherited the Biltmore and surrounding lands after her husband passed away in 1914.

In order to ensure the land remained protected and undeveloped, she sold 86,700 acres to the government so they could continue what the Vanderbilts began. The Pisgah National Forest was founded the very next year, becoming the state’s first national forest.

For those interested in learning more, the Cradle of Forestry is located a roughly 30-mile drive from The Greystone and provides interactive learning experiences about the beginning of forestry. The next time you find yourself in Pisgah, whether you’re driving through the Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking along mountaintops on the Appalachian Trail, know you’re among a significant piece of the country’s conservation history.

To learn more about Cashiers Quilters and find quilt shows in the area, visit cashiersquilters.com.

Summer is here, along with our new seasonal cocktails! This season, we’re crafting bright, colorful, tasty, and fun drinks sprinkled with a dash of healthy ingredients from Asia and Italy—tea and aperitivo liquors.

Tea can be a delightful addition to cocktails. It offers a depth of flavor that complements various spirits, adding complexity and richness to the drink. Depending on the type of tea used, whether black, green, or herbal, it can impart subtle nuances ranging from earthy and floral to fruity and spicy. Tea contains antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that can contribute to a cocktail’s perceived healthiness. Overall, incorporating tea into cocktails adds an element of sophistication and depth to the drink.

To sample our offerings this season, try: the Green Confusion, which contains matcha (green tea); the Smoking Jacket, which has Lapsang Souchong (black tea); and the Paddy Melt, incorporating chamomile (herbal tea).

Aperitivo liquors are renowned for their ability to stimulate the appetite, aid digestion, and promote digestive health. These spirits, often characterized by their bittersweet flavors and lower alcohol content, serve as a perfect base for refreshing and light cocktails. Popular aperitif liquors bring a unique blend of herbal, citrus, and botanical notes, adding complexity and depth to our cocktails.

We wove these liquors throughout our seasonal cocktail menu! Here are a couple we love: the Rascal cocktail incorporates Yellow Chartreuse, which is sweeter with floral and citrusy notes; and the Blossom cocktail, which includes Campari and Misty Meadows, incorporating the herbal, floral, and spicy Green Chartreuse.