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In their own ways, each of these books is about a journey—of the mind, the spirit, or the body. As you turn the pages to these stories, we hope you find endless inspiration and adventure as you embark on your next journey.

 

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I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine by Daniel J. Levitin
In this examination of humanity’s powerful relationship with music, Dr. Daniel J. Levitin references scientific studies and world-famous musicians to uncover just how significant music is to mental health.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Brimming with curiosity and care, the author of The Joy Luck Club pays special attention to the birds who live in her backyard for this work of observation and imagination. Illustrated by Amy Tan herself, these birds emerge as central characters as the author shifts her focus from a hectic world to nature’s patterns.

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
This time-bending novel explores a young protagonist, Odile, on the brink of leadership in an otherworldly setting. She lives in the middle of three versions of the same village—one in the past, one in the present, one in the future—as she must decide how to contend with learning the unexpected.

James by Percival Everett
Pulitzer Prize Finalist Percival Everett has written a new modern classic, retelling Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through Jim’s eyes. Retaining all the adventure of Twain’s original novel, Jim’s perspective unveils new truths and powerful stakes through unforgettable prose.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey
In her ruminating, soaring novel, Samantha Harvey writes of a group of astronauts orbiting Earth—gazing at the blue lulls of peaceful days and the distant devastation of natural disasters, and reexamining their own relationships with the planet and the people on it.

In our corner of the rippling Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Toxaway is surrounded by hundreds of miles of forests, rivers, and natural wonders that grow even more lovely in the wintertime. From high ridgelines, frost coats red spruce needles and bare limbs alike, casting the world below into a crystalline landscape. Countless destinations and hikes around The Greystone Inn put the region’s singular wintry beauty on display, particularly the ones we’ve chosen below!

 

 

Rainbow Falls 

 

Named for the rainbows frequently cast by its spray, Rainbow Falls is a 150-foot tall waterfall roughly seven miles from The Greystone in the Pisgah National Forest. Begin your hike at the Rainbow Falls and Turtleback trailhead in Gorges State Park, and make sure to take some photos at the overlook while you’re there!

 

Blackrock Mountain

 

Located in Sylva, Blackrock Mountain offers views of the expansive Panthertown Valley and all its iconic landmarks. Pack a picnic to enjoy by the sloping cliffs, while staying mindful of potential ice and enjoying a spectacular view far from the edge. Photo credit: Asheville Trails.

 

Upper Whitewater Falls

 

An 11-mile drive from Lake Toxaway, the Upper Whitewater Falls is a gorgeous, multi-tiered waterfall of 411 feet. The upper overlook is easily accessible, with a short passage leading directly from the parking lot. Dramatic and roaring, the falls cut a vertical path through the dense forest on either side before pooling in the rushing water below.

 

Black Balsam Knob

 

With breathtaking 360-degree views of the Pisgah National Forest, Black Balsam Knob is a beautiful day hike for anyone seeking adventure. All Trails features a hike for the Knob and its neighbor Tennent Mountain, totalling 4.3 miles in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.

A stone’s throw from The Greystone Inn, the Killer Bees Honey farm hums with activity. After living in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte for most of their lives, owners Denise Altay and Sean Collinsworth settled on a 75-acre parcel of land on Walnut Cove Mountain. Now a certified wildlife refuge with sweeping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this is where they cultivate impeccably pure honey—tested each and every year by independent labs to ensure it remains free of toxins, pesticides, and chemicals like the common herbicide, glyphosate.

A beekeeper since the age of twelve, Sean brought three hives to their new mountain home—and realized just how special this ecosystem was for producing honey. “We were in this incredible, magical sweet spot,” Denise said. This was due in part to the rich flora growing on the mountain, coupled with a climate that limits the amount of time bees spend collecting pollen and nectar. Sean’s bees, in their ever-growing number of hives, traveled to a greater variety of flowers as they produced honey, creating an uncommonly rich flavor.

Denise and Sean also found their land was home to an immense amount of sourwood, a deciduous tree with long leaves and thin strings of blossoms. Sourwoods are unique to southern Appalachia, growing extensively from Georgia to Western North Carolina and creating a honey sought after around the world. “Really good sourwood [honey],” Denise said, “should have a caramelly, buttery beginning and a hint of anise at the end—licorice.”

In addition to their business, Denise and Sean operate the Queen’s Brigade, a non-profit that donates to university-level research on the creature that makes all of this possible: the honey bee. The fifty hives at Killer Bees Honey produce two honey flows a year, one wildflower flow and one sourwood flow, sold on the Killer Bees Honey website and in local stores like the Historic Toxaway Market. Keep an eye out for their next harvest in late May, and enjoy this sweet treasure found right in Lake Toxaway!

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.