FAMILIES AND FRIENDS GET-AWAY TO VIRGINIA TO GATHER PEACE, VIM AND VIGOR

By (c) Russ Barnes


IN THE NEW YEAR


VIRGINIA. December 23, 2009. Lodging isn’t always just glamor. There are inexpensive, quiet, rustic Virginia getaways this winter after the New Year to foster good family relationships or to gather one’s wits, bearings, and vitality for the the coming year. Here are a few places worthy for a familiar group’s consideration:


The Cabins at Crabtree Falls (http://www.crabtreefalls.com) in Nelson County features cabins and cottages, fully equipped, accommodates up to eight people.


In Luray/Page County, the luxury cabins of Appalachian Adventure Lodging (http://www.appalachian-adventures.com). These three bedroom sites are built for comfort, with fireplaces and hot tubs. Enjoy the natural setting just outside Shenandoah National Park and also nearby Luray Caverns.


Like A-Frames? They are cedar constructed. Growling Bear (http://www.rentbear.com/) in Massanutten. They make up part of a resort complex in Bath County. Three bedrooms, three baths, and two stone fireplaces. Ski, golf, hike, and fish. Snow board. The whole family will find something engaging here.


Gather the family and friends in a Great Room. At 3200 feet. Socialize at high altitude. Mountain Laurel Lodge (http://www.warmspringscottages.com), in Bath County. Views for over 50 miles across the Alleghenies and Shenandoah valleys. Beamed cathedral ceilings and a fireplace to relax for conversation, board games, and a hot drink of each’s choice.


Don’t forget Virginia is on the sea. Makes for a serene winter retreat. Sandbridge (http://www.sandbridgebeachva.com/), just south of Virginia Beach, is the place for family and friends to gather. Take your ease. Listen to the waves. You may even see a whale surface during the winter months.


Then there is the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, the largest bay in the United States, outstripping San Francisco Bay in shoreline mileage. Try Bay Creek Resort and Club (http://www.baycreek.net/) in Cape Charles here. Along the Virginia tributaries, you and your family may find recovered indigenous seafood going back centuries. The fish are place-specific such as branch oysters which are ecologically unique to the brackish waters. You decide which waters you want to visit. Shell fish are best and the plumpest in winter.


Many more wintering places in Virginia. For more information about winter places for family and friends in Virginia, contact http://www.Virginia.org.


© Russ Barnes 2009. Bethesda, Maryland. All rights reserved. May be re-printed with permission. russ@bonmeasure.org