Claudia's Blog

Desoto Falls in the winter Winter is truly my favorite season at Hitherside of Mountainwood cottages. When winter settles over Lookout Mountain, a quiet magic transforms the landscape around Mountainwood Cottages. Crisp mountain air, dusting frosts, rushing waterfalls, and peaceful, uncrowded trails make this one of the most serene times of year to escape to Mentone. If you are planning a chilly getaway and wondering what winter brings, what to do, and whether you can still h

Exposing Vrbo’s 12% Fee Hike and Airbnb's 15.5% fee hike: Why Platform Corporate Greed Means YOU Pay Higher Nightly Rates When you plan a vacation, you’re looking forward to creating memories, relaxing with family, and enjoying a home away from home. But behind the scenes of popular online booking portals like Vrbo and Airbnb, the cost of securing that getaway is skyrocketing—and it’s not because local property owners are trying to squeeze extra profit out of travelers. Big

If you’ve ever stood on the back deck at Mountainwood Cottages during an early morning, watching the blue mist settle gently into the woods, you might have felt a quiet, haunting sense of familiarity. It isn’t just your imagination. The connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Scottish Highlands isn't just a coincidence of scenery—it’s written into the very bedrock beneath our feet, carved into our folk songs, and woven through the ancient legends we still whispe