This is the 3rd time our family of 6 has stayed at Angler's Hideaway. My husband has been coming to the Hiwassee since he was a high schooler in the early/mid 80's; his family sold their own cabin on the river a few years ago, and we were grateful to find a rental so close to where they used to own. This summer, we stayed at the cabin for 2 weeks, and we didn't want to leave when it was time to go. The location is ideal, and why we like staying here. You feel isolated while at the cabin, but a quick walk gets you to Hiwassee Outfitters, where you can rent rafts and tubes, get ice or limited supplies or check your email on their wifi--but only you want to stay in touch with the real world! A longer walk or quick drive takes you to Webbs and Flip Flip Burgers for more limited provisions at Webbs or a burger and drink at Flip Flop. (No major grocery stores, pharmacies, etc., up on the mountain.) Our family knows the area well, so our kids are also able to easily walk from the cabin down to Devil's Shoals or Thread the Needle to tube or play in the rapids. This year, we had two vehicles and also brought our own river tubes, car battery air pump, and life jackets, which allowed us to leave a car upriver and transport ourselves for tubing trips, saving fees from HO or Webbs--but for shorter visits, it may be easier to just use those services. The small creek behind the cabin also offers fun for younger children-our niece and her husband brought their toddler and preschooler for a visit while we were there, and they spent a lot of time exploring the creek and the area around the cabin.

The cabin is well equipped; there are plenty of towels, blankets, and pillows and the kitchen is well stocked for a large family. If you are there for a longer visit or you have a large family, I would advise bringing a cooler or two to keep on the porch for drinks; we did that and it freed up a lot of needed room in the refrigerator. We shopped in Etowah at Food City when we had to restock.

We like the fact that the cabin is rural and rustic and has no wifi or cell phone coverage. Our 21, 18, 17, and 12 year olds quickly adjust every year to being unplugged and when we aren't out on the river or the trails, we spend time playing board games, reading, and talking! (There is DirectTV and a landline--you will have to get a phone card for long distance calls.)

We just left and are already looking at our calendars to return next summer. Thank you Jim and Rusty!