North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway traverses 252 miles of the state’s mountainous western terrain and is iconic for good reason. Take a drive, slowly mind you (the Parkway speed limit is 45 tops, with occasional areas of 35 and 25 mph) to allow the scenic views around each bend to become indelible memories. There’s nothing quite like a parkway meander—unless, of course, you can call it home, which is the case for Tony and Brenda Seaford. “Our log cabin idea started when Tony dreamed of purchasing mount…

For years, Sam and Gale Easter of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, dreamed of building a log home for their retirement. Though some well-meaning friends tried to discourage them from buying a log home—saying they were too expensive or required too much upkeep—the Easters couldn’t suppress their dream.  Four years after purchasing a waterfront lot on Smith Mountain Lake in 1999, the couple moved into their custom-designed log home in Union Hall, Virginia. “We are loggies,” say Sam and Gale, who also o…

“I quite literally have it in my blood,” says Peter Spanos. “My mother and father bought their first hotel in 1952, before I came along. So I was born and raised in the hospitality business.” The historic hotel his folks had purchased was called the Winnecoette and was perched on a hill above the Weirs Beach area of Lake Winnipesaukee. They renamed it The Shangri-La and branded it as a luxury resort. “It really was something in its time,” recalls Peter. “People came from all over, and many returned year…

Retirement means different things to different people. Some want to spend their time with family and friends, enjoying their free time away from a job. Others have retired from a full-time job but still want to have their hands in a project or two. To some, retirement means having the opportunity to travel the world but returning to a comfortable home base. Still others want to pursue their love for outdoor sports such as golf, skiing, or boating. Many retirees have hobbie…

Well known for its proximity to Montreal, its snow-capped ski slopes, and assortment of activities and establishments, Saint-Sauveur is an outdoor paradise that log home owners Normand and Françoise Arsenault can enjoy every day. Situated about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Montreal, Saint-Sauveur is home to Mont Saint-Sauveur, the region’s largest ski area, as well as a group of ski areas that market themselves jointly as “Valley of Saint-Sauveur.” Situated on top of a mountain in Saint-Sauveur is …

When Jim and Sue Alexander built their log home at Crescent Lake in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 10 years ago, the couple had a few key objectives in mind. For starters, they wanted a beautiful, waterfront retirement home that would allow them to enjoy 626-acre Crescent Lake and all of its surroundings. They also wanted a home that would serve as the perfect gathering place for their three grown, married daughters and their own families. Finally, the Alexanders wanted to tear down an existing cabin and repla…

Nestled between two rivers at the base of the Uwharrie Mountains, the town of Norwood, North Carolina, seems like just another small town along a highway that is dotted with small towns. But this town includes a sanctuary of sorts, a place to find solace and surround oneself with nature’s beauty. Lucky Clays Farm began as a place to relax on the weekends and maybe shoot a few rounds of clay targets, a favorite pastime of the farm’s owner, Judith Carpenter, who won the North Carolina women’s state champi…