Henry David Thoreau (an enduring question mark in gay history) had his Walden Pond and Eureka Springs has its Lake Lucerne, a modest crescent-shaped lake cradled by forested mountains with a Victorian-era dam of hand-hewn native limestone at one end. And on the north side of the lake, barely visible through the oaks, cedars, redbuds and dogwoods lining the shore, stands a Hansel & Gretel cottage known as Autumn Moon.

«I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars,» wrote Thoreau of Walden, «and a little world all to myself.» For seekers of solitude and lovers of nature, Autumn Moon Cottage offers many of the same amenities--a placid lake to fish in, wooded trails to wander, wildlife--including deer, waterfowl and the occasional fox--and soul-soothing peace and tranquility.

And all of it a mere two miles from downtown Eureka Springs.

The cottage itself is both cozy and capacious, with 1200 square feet of space on two floors, including a full kitchen, a living room with a hearth-warming fireplace and an indulgent two-person indoor whirlpool tub overlooking the lake.

In the morning, while still in your bathrobe, you can have cafe au lait on the deck while he sun comes up over the lake and the mountain on the opposite shore. As the sun goes down, a floating, Victorian-style gazebo is a perfect spot for Bloody Mary's or margaritas. The gazebo is also a favorite spot for commitment ceremonies and weddings. Both at the gazebo and the cottage's front door, a gaggle of white geese and an assortment of ducks will be waiting for handouts.

After a day of sightseeing or power-shopping, you can retire to tree-house-level master bedroom with a king size bed or finish the last chapter of Walden in the loft at the top of the stairs. As night falls, bullfrogs, tree frogs, cicadas, coyotes and owls will sing you lullabies.

While Autumn Moon seems a world away from nerve-jangling urban life, it offers all the modern conveniences--comfortable furnishings, central heat and air conditioning, luxe linens, a fully-equipped kitchen, cable TV, gas barbeque grill and two «luxuries» you probably won't need--a telephone and an radio alarm clock.

For rates and reservations:

Autumn Moon Cottage
1-800-835-5184
(479) 253-6813

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