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Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area

Photo gallery for Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area

Living Room, Main Level
Kitchen, Main Level
Living Room, Main Level
Living Room/ Kitchen, Main Level
Dining Room, Main Level

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8156.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pool
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Highlands, NC
  • Highlands Country Club
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Bridal Veil Falls
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Dry Falls
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1 Main Level

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2 Main Level

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3 Lower Level

2 Single Bunk Beds

Common Space

1 Double Sofa Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area

WE DO NOT ACCEPT AMEX

This Rent In Highlands vacation rental home has a strict NO PET policy.

Only adults (25 years old and older) may reserve this property and an adult must occupy the property at all times.

Less than a mile from Main St. Highlands, Cardinal Cottage is an easy walk to town past scenic Harris Lake. Feed the ducks or do a little fishing on your way!  Within minutes you'll be close to shopping, dining and all that the quaint town of Highlands has to offer.

Main Level:
The open living room features a cozy fireplace and a large flat-screen TV, ideal for relaxing nights in. The recently renovated kitchen is equipped with brand-new appliances and connects to a bright dining area that leads out to the deck. The spacious primary bedroom offers a king-size bed, a convertible loveseat, a large flat-screen TV, and a beautifully updated ensuite bath—perfect for late-night movie marathons or slow, restful mornings. Across the hall, the guest bedroom includes a queen-size bed, with a full bath conveniently located just down the hall. A brand-new washer and dryer are tucked neatly into a hallway utility cabinet for easy access.

Lower Level:
Downstairs, you'll find a fun and functional playroom/den—perfect for kids or family movie nights. Outfitted with a large flat-screen TV, DVD player, and a sofa that converts to a queen-size bed, it’s a great space for unwinding. The lower level also includes a third bedroom with a twin bed and an additional full bath, offering flexibility and privacy for guests.

Outdoor Spaces:
The home features a sunny open deck just off the main level dining area, complete with rocking chairs, a new propane grill, and a second dining table for enjoying meals outdoors. Below, a newly built deck spans the length of the home—half covered for all-weather lounging. Unwind on the chaise lounges or sway gently in the hammock while soaking in the peace and quiet of your surroundings.

Just a short and scenic walk from town past Harris Lake, you can feed the ducks, cast a fishing line, or explore all the shopping, dining, and charm that Highlands has to offer—right from your front door.

What our guests are saying…

"Cozy Christmas in Highlands. We had a wonderful family Christmas stay at Cardinal Cottage. Loved the open floor plan, the view from the deck, and roasting marshmallows in the fireplace. The location was excellent - a nice walk to Harris Lake and even Main Street, otherwise, a 3 minute drive. Beds were comfortable and Wi-Fi worked like a charm. Can't wait to stay again!" - Rent In Highlands Vacation Rental Guest, Sandra

Special Amenities:

Wood Burning Fireplace

This home is professionally managed by Rent in Highlands, a division of Country Club Properties. Your premier source for Vacation Rentals in Highlands NC.

Property manager

Rent In Highlands
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Highlands

Located in Highlands, this holiday home is in the city centre and in the mountains. Highlands Playhouse and Highlands Art Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Highlands Country Club and Old Edwards Club. Highlands Biological Station and Highlands Aerial Park are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hiking.
Map
Highlands, NC

What's nearby

  • Highlands Playhouse - 20 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Highlands Country Club - 5 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Bridal Veil Falls - 7 min drive - 5.9 km
  • Dry Falls - 8 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Whiteside Mountain - 14 min drive - 11.9 km

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 90 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Ugly Dog Pub - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Wildcat Cliffs Country Club - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Old Edwards Club - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Rib Shack - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Buck's Coffee Cafe - ‬18 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Cardinal Cottage | Delightful Walk to Town Cottage in the Harris Lake Area located?

Located in the heart of Highlands, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Nantahala National Forest, Highlands Biological Station and Highlands Playhouse. Highlands Art Gallery and Cullasaja River Gorge are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 40 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 40 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 40 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Danielle W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Great Cottage in-town

Second time staying at this location. Close to town and convenient.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Cottage

Great location. Close to downtown. Very clean and roomy! We have stayed here twice and will be coming back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

nikki s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cardinal Cottage

Great location! Walking distance to shops and restaurants. Very Clean! Beautiful property!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Theresa P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Chasing Water Falls

Perfect
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bryan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

nice house great location

We enjoyed our stay. Nice house in a great location
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Morgan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

Great location, property is exactly as pictured. Well stocked kitchen. Worked great for our family of 4!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Janet B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice stay

The house was comfortable. The water pressure was a little low otherwise nice stay and convenient to town.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alyson G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy stay

We had an amazing visit!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Addis T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our time in Highlands

Overall the Cardinal Cottage was great for our family! The cottage is super close to Main Street which is great. The basement is more chilly than the house and our kids ended up sleeping upstairs on the couches. The baseboards in the kitchen and main bedroom bath kept on falling (they need to be secured in place), and the washer was a little tricky because it was filled with detergent but I am not sure if it is working the way it should. Overall a great place to rent.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brooke R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

Very clean property in a great location. So many nice touches including a well stocked kitchen with spices and some food items. We will definitely look to come back and stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Paul K., Greenville, SC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Well located, well equipped, and well stocked mountain cottage

Cardinal Cottage is one of a very few vacation homes we’ve rented that is actually nicer than the photos on Vrbo. It is attractively furnished for adults yet comfortable for children. We can vouch that the cottage is indeed walking distance to downtown Highlands—we did it 3 times in 3 days with 4 grandchildren aged 3-9 to feed the ducks at Harris Lake, have breakfast at Mountain Fresh Grocery, and have dinner al fresco at Lakeside.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice getaway

Enjoyed our short visit with friends in this quaint home. Main floor has easy access from the upper driveway. Steep stairs inside to the lower level but manageable if you take your time. Overall, great stay for these 4 adults.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Judy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Will definitely stay here again!

Cardinal Cottage is tastefully decorated, very clean and comfortable. All essentials are provided including a Keurig. Property management was excellent. Great location near town.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Juan A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highlands Adventure

Great spot to spend a long weekend in NC and explore the surrounding areas. We’ll be back.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Juan Alvarez

Property was great and overalll we were happy.

Property was great and overalll we were happy. We found that the towels were clean upon arrival but did have a slight smell to them. Also the amenities of the property mentioned a keurig coffee maker but it did not have one. Water pressure in the showers was weak especially for the size of the master bathroom. Our favorite area was around the fire place and outdoor fire pit.

8/10 Good

Mark B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Clean and convenient

We had an issue with the heat on a super cold weekend, so we actually had to move houses(owner was super helpful once we were able to reach her), but we did stay here for a night. It’s got pretty much what you need, only concern is downstairs has no heat/ac (except for some wall heaters and fans) and the stairs are really steep(not ideal for kids), but for a couple, this place is decent.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

sandra m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy Christmas in Highlands

We had a wonderful family Christmas stay at Cardinal Cottage. Loved the open floor plan, the view from the deck, and roasting marshmallows in the fireplace. The location was excellent - a nice walk to Harris Lake and even Main Street, otherwise, a 3 minute drive. Beds were comfortable and wifi worked like a charm. Can't wait to stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jason R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice cottage

Nice cottage very close to downtown. Walked from the cottage downtown several times.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Steve G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Enjoyed the walk to breakfast and lunch! Great little town.

Very easy to find and enter. Very private deck area.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Judith Mayes

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- -

10/10 Excellent

Bruce C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice house, convenient location

Very good for 2 people, or a couple with 2 kids. Upper and lower level (kids' bunks) separated by steep staircase or different driveways. A little confusing to find main-level driveway, but fine once you're used to it. Main level has everything a couple needs, and everything works fine. Layout is a little different - e.g. picnic table in sunroom instead of dining table. Excellent, quiet location close to downtown.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Katherine K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house right outside downtown!

We really enjoyed our stay at this property. Had everything we needed and was very comfortable for our group. One note to future visitors: the house is in proximity to downtown, but the area has no cab or ride share services. So you will need to drive and from downtown. The route is not easily walkable.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lucas R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice stay

The cardinal cottage was perfect for our weekend stay. Very close to town and just enough room for 6 adults to stay comfortably. House has lots of extras in the kitchen. Definitely would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Denise Cunningham

Enjoyed the house 2 years in a row.

Enjoyed the house 2 years in a row. I would definitely make it 3 in a row. Easy to work with.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin Pogue

Very enjoyable vacation.

Very enjoyable vacation. I tried to mark all questions excellent but for some reason some came out as 4 or 4 1/2 All cordial and responsive.

About the host

Hosted by Rent In Highlands

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests