A carved wooden sign marks the entrance to the Mountainaire Inn and Log Cabins' manicured, wooded grounds. The inn and its cabins are primarily popular with couples seeking a mountain getaway. Outside, a wrought-iron table and chairs with an umbrella and a circle of Adirondack chairs around a metal fireplace offer a spot for guests to lounge and enjoy the fresh air. The lobby is rustic and lodge-inspired in style, with a stone fireplace, wood-paneled walls, and red wingback chairs. Rooms are located in a long adjacent building, and cabins are located at a separate, river-view site two miles away, on the Middle Fork of the New River.

The inn is located in Blowing Rock, a mountain village of antique shops and restaurants, less than two hours from Asheville and even closer to Boone. There are a number of parks nearby and there are plenty of hiking trails in the area. Grandfather Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is approximately a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The Tweetsie Railroad Wild West Theme Park is a 10-minute drive away. The river cabins are located on the way to Boone, two miles from the main inn, near an outlet mall and closer to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Rooms in the main inn are cozy, if a bit small, with rather sparse, lodge-inspired decor that includes wood-paneled walls, elegant wood furnishings, pastels and neutral hues, and framed pictures or mirrors on the walls. They have carpeted floors, flat-screen TVs with cable, DVD and VHS players, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are similarly basic and modern, with shower/tub combinations. Some rooms have mini-fridges and porches with rocking chairs.

The log cabins feel even more rustic and atmospheric, and are uniquely furnished with modern, woodsy decor. Most have hardwood floors and log-cabin interior walls, and there are quilts and Native American-inspired prints. Some cabins are larger and aimed at families. Each has a dining room and full kitchen with an oven, microwave, refrigerator, coffee/tea facilities, cookware, and tableware. Some cabins have porches with rocking chairs and stone fireplaces, while the Signature Romance Cabin has a hot tub in the living room and the Moose Cabin has a lofted bed area. All have free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs.

Apart from the manicured wooded grounds, the inn doesn't have a lot of extra amenities. There is a 24-hour common room with an ice machine, vending machine, microwave, refrigerator, and free hot beverages. There's also offers a library with books and movies. Outside, there are wooden gazebos and seating areas facing fire pits. There's free Wi-Fi in both the inn and the cabins.