My girlfriend and I were driving through Damascus (my favorite hiker-town, period) and needed a place to stay. As a hiker, I "love" the fun of staying in hostels and small holes in the ground whenever I can - however, as I was here on business we decided to find a more proper place to lay our heads. We had no predetermined destination, so we browsed around online until we stumbled across the Millsap-Baker - and am I ever-so-glad we did! We called roughly an hour in advance and still they accommodated us on the fly. The estate is a little off the beaten path, but trust the directions you're given and you'll find it. We were greeted by canons in the yard and a smile on the owner's faces. After a brief tour of the empty grounds (we somehow managed to arrive on a weekday with no guests), they turned over the run of the house to us... as such, we explored! Situated on a hill overlooking the main drag leading into town, the estate offers a quiet setting surrounded by high mountains and untouched nature. The house itself is grand, well decorated with exceptional antiques passed down through generations of owners, while offering modern amenities. We found ourselves lounging around in the downstairs parlor whilst watching television and munching on the provided snacks. It's a great place to be lazy and feel rich while not breaking the bank. Breakfast the next morning was great - though the conversation regarding the history of the house and the owner's themselves was even better. "Downtown" Damascus is a quick hike from the estate - not too close, not too far. A simple drive to be sure, but when in a hiker-town, you hike! We left out early the next morning after a quick breakfast that was provided and prepared ahead of time for us as we had a tight schedule. All-in-all, I highly recommend the Millsap-Baker if you're passing through Damascus and aren't really feeling up to living the "hiker-trash" lifestyle while you're visiting... then again, even if you are feeling extra smelly and have discernible dirt-lines on your legs, they'll still welcome you! read more