Indoor rock climbing provides fun, full body fitness

You won’t hear anyone walking into Rise Up Climbing on Church Street complaining about how it’s “leg day” or instantly popping in their AirPods to tune out the rest of the world. That’s because rock climbing doesn’t feel like a workout, or a visit to a typical gym, at all. “[Rock climbing] tricks you into working out because you are trying to solve this problem, this [climbing] route and that’s what you are focused on,” explains General Manager Steven Baker.

Baker himself turned to rock climbing as a way to stay fit because he hated the gym atmosphere. At Rise Up, he has found a passion for this challenging activity—as well as plenty of friends along the way. “The climbing community is awesome because we are very social. Someone is always cheering you on,” he explains.
If you’ve always wanted to try rock climbing, what are you waiting for? With cooler temperatures putting a damper on many outdoor activities, now is the perfect time to explore Rise Up’s incredible indoor facility.

Getting Started

Rise Up offers day passes for anyone who is interested in giving rock climbing a try. (There are memberships for those who want to make it a part of their consistent workout routine.)

Don’t be intimidated once you walk in. You will be ready to climb in under 30 minutes, which includes a short orientation that tells you everything you need to know. Your pass includes a harness; climbing shoe rentals are available as well and you can purchase chalk for your hands.

According to Baker, beginners are not only welcome at Rise Up, there are routes created specifically for these new climbers. “We cater to first timers so we have routes that are similar to climbing up a ladder,” he says. “On beginner routes, every hold is enormous and is easy to hold on to.”

The Workout

Once you begin your climb, you’ll start feeling the burn—and not just in your arms, which is what many people assume. “It’s largely your legs that do the work, your core, your back. The way that we design the routes, we’re almost like a choreographer is with dance. We are trying to force you into different movements so you are working different parts of the body,” says Baker.

Generally, Baker says a climbing session lasts between 1.5 and 3 hours. You won’t be moving the entire time. “There is a decent amount of resting involved in rock climbing. You will really push yourself and then you give your body a good five or 10 minutes of rest,” he says.

Once you finish climbing, you will be “wiped,” according to Baker. And also expect some soreness the next day. “Generally, people will use muscles they never would otherwise,” he explains. “Even some small muscles in the feet!”

Become a Regular

With 60 different 40-foot rope climbs and up to 100 different boulder problems, you will not get bored on a return visit to Rise Up Climbing. Proof of that—roughly 60 percent of Rise Up’s revenue comes from memberships.

Baker says about half of their climbers use it as their sole form of exercise. Others like to climb as a form of cross training. “We have CrossFit people who do it. Runners who do it. It’s good for those people because you can determine how intense you want your workout to be. If you need it to be an easy day, for example,” he says.

Another group that can benefit from rock climbing are those who are getting their strength back after an injury. Rock climbing is low impact. “You are only pulling up your own body weight and it’s assisted by your legs,” Baker says.

A Step Further

Rise Up offers plenty of classes for all ages and skill levels that will help you improve your technique and, ultimately, your workout.

And for those wanting to take their rock climbing skills from Rise Up to the real thing, the gym is now partnering with Blue Ridge Mountain Guides to offer classes for people who want to transition to outdoor rock climbing.

Learn more about Rise Up Climbing, memberships, classes and more at www.riseupclimbing.com.

A $15.5 million renovation is helping the iconic resortdefine southern hospitality for the 21st century

For years Charlottesville’s iconic Boar’s Head Resort has been quietly updating its image. But last May it unveiled the equivalency of a facelift: A $15.5 million renovation of its central inn and restaurant aimed at redefining Southern hospitality for the 21st century.

“The past three years have brought a lot of positive changes,” says Communications Manager Joe Hanning.

“Our goal has been to retain the best of our historical heritage and character, but take a big step into the future. We wanted to revitalize the Boar’s Head experience in a way that will bring a more accessible local presence and appeal to the tastes of well-heeled millennials and modern travelers alike.”

The journey began with the addition of executive chef Dale Ford in late 2016. He’d spent 25 years helming some of the finest resort kitchens in the Southeast and was tasked with rebooting the Old Mill Room restaurant.

“When the restaurant opened in 1965, it was the standard bearer for high-end cuisine in the region,” says longtime Charlottesville food writer Shea Gibbs. Chefs sourced trout from onsite streams and bought meat and produce from local farmers decades before the farm-to-table movement took root. Such practices won the restaurant a four-diamond rating from AAA in 1987 (about 650 in North America enjoy the distinction).

But eventually area eateries caught up. Booms in the late ’90s and 2010s brought a fine dining renaissance to Charlottesville. Seasonal, locally sourced menus became the norm. A treasure-trove of artisan producers arose to meet demand.

“This area is like a heaven for chefs that want to cook with local ingredients,” says Ford.

Moving to Charlottesville brought unprecedented solicitations from farmers asking what he’d like them to grow. “Our farm community is world-class. They strive to understand a restaurant’s needs and go the extra mile to try to meet them.”

Ford fast developed partnerships with more than 20 local farms and food artisans. Organic heirloom produce came from Rockingham County’s Wayside Farm, heritage-breed meats from Waynesboro’s Autumn Olive Farms, homemade sausage from Madison butchery Papa Weavers, mushrooms from Sharondale Mushroom Farm, award-winning regional cheeses from Caromont, and much more. Ford used the items to reinvent the classic Southern staples the restaurant was known for. He updated bar menus to include products from the best regional vineyards, distillers, brewers and cidermakers. Partnerships with Charlottesville’s Three Notch’d Brewing brought custom, small-batch beers on tap. Nightly vegan specials were added.

But Ford’s ambitions went further. The rise of a farm-to-table ethos had shifted social tastes—formal dining had all but vanished; the era of smart casual ensued. Ford loosened dress codes and hired staff that would create a friendly, people-first atmosphere that catered to urban sophistication but brought a sense of relaxed countryside luxury.

“You tell me a place has a suit-and-tie dress code and I think of stodgy senior citizens sitting in a vacuum of silence,” jokes Hanning. “That formality was a barrier between us and a lot of people—particularly younger locals and travelers. [The demographic] had a tendency to misidentify us as an old-school country club for Southern aristocrats.”

Ford and Hanning agreed: Renovations were necessary.

The building housing the inn, main lobby and restaurant was built between 1819-1830. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named it an official Historic Hotel of America in 2001. But its last major update came in the 1960s—and it showed.

“The rooms were pretty cloistered; they didn’t encourage mingling or socializing,” says Hanning. There were dark color schemes, dim lighting, antique leather, and décor suggesting Antebellum-era hunt experiences. “It felt like a winter hunting lodge. It was definitely dated.”

The overhaul began in Feb. 2018 and took 15 months to complete. The resort asked Atlanta-based architectural design firm, Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry, to totally reimagine the property—most notably the main entrance, lobby, bar and 130-seat restaurant.

The results are nothing short of fantastic.

Guests enter the lobby by way of an elegant porte cochère with stone columns and slate shingles. Inside, they find a series of large open rooms with bright colors, loads of soft-seating options and walls hung with local art. Dividing walls have been removed or replaced with French doors. Enlarged windows fill rooms with sunlight and lend an open-air feel. Cocktail waiters patrol the area, which is open to the public. The space flows into the restaurant, but feels more like a sister lounge than a waiting-room.

The restaurant—renamed The Mill Room—has repackaged its nearly 200-year-old hardwood flooring, exposed rafters and massive hand-hewn support beams. Their impressiveness is augmented by vintage chic additions that infuse the room’s warm historical character with a hip, Brooklyn-esque allure.

Sculptural glass globes hang from minimalist wrought iron fixtures. They’re ringed with bronze and outfitted with soft vintage bulbs. A black, glass-backed bar runs the length of the dining room bringing a speakeasy feel. It is manned by an able mixologist and flanked by a big, walk-in wine closet with windows. The room is anchored by a fireplace and antique hand-carved surround, but opens onto a wall of windows offering natural light and views of a nearby lake and green, rolling hills.

Ford has made further additions behind-the-scenes. In late 2018 he enlisted the help of Charlottesville ag-tech firm, Babylon Micro-Farms, to transform an empty stone building into a state-of-the-art hydroponic garden. He worked with the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historical Plants to obtain seeds for heritage varieties of salad greens and edible flowers. The system yields about 300 heads of lettuce a week and enables the restaurant to source 100 percent of its salad ingredients in-house. It is the first in the U.S. to achieve the feat year-round.

Ford will also use the facility to sprout plants for an onsite farm garden, which will launch in 2020.

“We view these projects as the announcement of an entirely fresh Boar’s Head Resort experience,” says Hanning. “Our aim is to bring our world-famous Southern hospitality into the 21st century. We want people to come here and think, ‘Wow, so this is what the New South is all about—amazing!’”

Local growers offer a variety of trees— and lots of holiday cheer

Whether it’s a long-held family tradition or an experience waiting to be crossed off your bucket list, there’s something enthralling about the hunt for the perfect Tannenbaum. Perhaps it’s the visions of family gathered around on Christmas morning, warmed by kinship and good cheer; perhaps it’s the memories made along the quest, traditions formed and Kodak moments captured while the kids are still getting along.

Whatever the reason, Central Virginia is home to a handful of tree lots and farms where traditions new and old find their roots. Even if your family swears by artificial trees, it’s worth taking a day to explore someplace new where you can stop and smell the pine needles, sip a warm drink and snap some Christmas card photos.

These particular farms are family-friendly and guaranteed to make spirits bright:

Green Needles Christmas Tree Farm
Over the river and through the foothills, eight acres of white pines and Canaan, Douglas and concolor firs grow in the blissful solitude of Green Needles Christmas Tree Farm. Owned and operated by Jon Perdew, the farm is a 30-minute jaunt from Lynchburg and mere miles from regional icons like the James River and the Blue Ridge Parkway, making it the perfect destination to behold the scenery of the season.

Perdew purchased the farm from its previous owners 14 years ago, and although farming and agriculture don’t flow through his bloodline, they’re second nature to him. The Maryland native worked as an irrigation contractor in his home state until his children’s higher education brought the Perdew family south, where he tried his hand at growing Christmas trees.

Fraser firs are hard to come by in Central Virginia because of the region’s climate. However, Perdew knows that some people have their hearts set on bringing one home, so Green Needles provides a selection of fresh, pre-cut Frasers grown in Floyd County each season.

Besides the ample selection of trees, homemade wreaths and the occasional appearance by Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts and Sourdough Pizza Company, Green Needles offers fun for all ages. Find one of the three tire swings hanging around the farm or sip hot chocolate and mosey out to the foot bridge overlooking the pond.
And if you don’t get enough of the rambling landscape when you visit to score your tree, you can reserve the farm’s old Christmas shop-turned-Airbnb for a night or two in the off season. In the warmer months you can find Perdew at the Forest Farmers Market with the fruit and flowers that also sprout at the farm.

Green Needles Christmas Tree Farm
1175 Yew Tree Lane, Coleman Falls, VA 24536

Dancing Hill Christmas Tree Farm
Considered one of Bedford’s best-kept secrets, Dancing Hill Christmas Tree Farm will make you feel right at home among the towering trees, sprawling fields and glimpses of Blue Ridge Mountain vistas.

A Bedford native and retiree from the Virginia Department of Forestry, owner Richard Miles began planting trees in 1980 to learn more about the process as he helped others establish their own tree farms and to add a little extra cash to his children’s college fund.

Miles’ plan sprouted, quite literally, into a local legacy. Of the farms in the region, Dancing Hill is one of the oldest individually-owned—and with the help of his children, Miles plans to keep the farm up-and-running as long as he can.

On the farm’s 35 acres (six of which belong solely to the trees), Miles hosts an array of white and Scotch pine, blue spruce and small assortment of firs. Like Green Needles, Dancing Hill also offers pre-cut Frasers from Rifton Farm and Nursery in Floyd County.

Pack a picnic lunch and tailgate in the field, then wander over to the gift shop to find the perfect keepsakes for all your loved ones before cozying up on the front porch with a cup of hot chocolate. And don’t forget to pose for some family photos with the antique sled or the handcrafted Santa Claus, snowmen and reindeer displays—this year’s Christmas cards will be a hit for sure.

If your schedule is too full of festivities to visit on the weekend, the farm is open seven days a week. Just 10 minutes from local eateries in downtown Bedford, you and the kids can easily grab lunch and head for the Hill.

Dancing Hill Christmas Tree Farm
1401 Dancing Hill Rd., Bedford, VA 24523

Ingemont Farms
On the outskirts of Roanoke, Ingemont Farms is a quaint and cozy winter wonderland. The farm is nestled on a hilltop overlooking nearby mountain ranges and five acres of picturesque terrain where the friendly farm dogs Jake and Jed frolic and roam.

When owner Geoff Trevilian’s grandfather started Ingemont Farms, their staples were blueberries, pigs, chickens and eggs. Trevilian added Christmas trees 40 years ago, fostering a passion for the green giants that had taken root in his childhood. When Trevilian was growing up, his “job” was to pick out the family’s tree every year; as an adult, it seemed fitting to be a place where other families could establish the same tradition.

Aside from his grandfather’s influence, Trevilian was greatly inspired by late local forester Robert Kennedy and attributes much of his success as a tree grower to Kennedy’s skill and bestowed wisdom.

At Ingemont, you have your choice of white pine, Leyland cypress, Douglas fir and a few Frasers, as well as Canaan Valley firs which, according to Trevilian, are a great replacement for Fraser firs if you can’t find the perfect one. You won’t see any pre-cut trees at Ingemont, however. According to Trevilian, it’s important to the farm that its visitors know their trees were grown there.

The farm has a “you pick, we cut” method to ensure the quality of the cut and the safety of the procedure. But if that goes against your tradition, Trevilian says not to worry—visitors are free to cut their own trees if they’d like.

Ingemont opens for tree-hunting Friday, Nov. 29 from noon till dark and every Saturday and Sunday to follow until Christmas. Weekday visits to the farm can be made by appointment.

Ingemont Farms
1697 Camp Jaycee Rd. Blue Ridge, VA 24064

Tree Tips
If you’ve never gotten a Christmas tree straight from the farm before, the excursion may seem like a daunting task. Luckily for rookies, Perdew, Miles and Trevilian offer a few simple tips:

1. Plan ahead. Trees looks much smaller in the field than they do indoors; Perdew suggests measuring the space your tree will occupy in your home and having a gameplan for how you’ll get it there so you don’t end up with an oversized tree awkwardly anchored to the top of your vehicle.
2. Fragrance. Consider which fragrance you want wafting through your home. It may sound odd, but according to Miles, different trees have different smells. Because of their sap, some spruces tend to release an unpleasant aroma, while pines smell more earthy and Leyland cypresses emit a somewhat fruity scent.
3. Watering. You’ll want to get your tree in water within five hours of cutting it if at all possible, adding water each day as needed. Trevilian suggests adding water twice a day for the first few days after bringing the tree inside.
4. Ornaments can make or break your tree (literally). The heavier your ornaments are, the stiffer you’ll want your branches to be. Miles suggests hanging weighty ornaments closer to the center of the tree and filling the outer branches with the lighter, more delicate ones to avoid a Christmas catastrophe.

Local family takes an adventurous leap & truly starts living

Photos by Lauren Grijalva

Ever wondered what it’s like to trade in a routine life—filled with hectic daily schedules—for a life on the road having grand adventures with the ones you love? This is something many families only dream about—but for The Wanderpreneurs, that dream is now a reality.

Aaron and Lauren Grijalva—who met in Lynchburg while he attended Liberty University—along with their two kids, Casen and Calista, hit the road in November 2018 after realizing they were being pulled away from each other due to their incredibly busy lives.

“The kids would come home from school, have to do homework, be rushed off to sports practices, we would all shovel down a quick dinner at some point, I would often leave for an evening photoshoot, Aaron would have meetings,” Lauren says. “We were seeing each other and doing things as a family less and less. We loved our sports, jobs, clubs…but it just became too much.”

Originally, their plan was to “hit the reset button” and travel full-time for one year, exploring the country. But now, at this point in time, they’ve decided not to put an end date on their adventure and instead take their journey day by day.

“We love adventure. Being outdoors is what brings us joy, and doing things together as a family is important to us,” Lauren says. “We don’t want to get to the end of our lives and regret working too much, not spending enough time with each other or with our kids, and not making the most of each day. We feel like this world has so much to offer, and we want to see as much of it as we can, meeting new people as we learn and growing along the way.”

It took research and planning, but thanks to Aaron and Lauren’s flexible jobs, as well as the right doors opening up, they were able to get on the road just three months after the idea sparked during a casual conversation the summer of 2018.

“We researched different types of RVs to find the best fit for our family. We had lengthy conversations with our good friends, the Brewers, who we met in Lynchburg, that had been full-time RVers for several years,” Lauren says. “They were instrumental in giving us great advice and answering all our questions, giving us the confidence to continue moving forward.”

The Grijalvas then put their house up for rent, which received a ton of interest, and talked to their kids’ schools about withdrawing them in order to homeschool and travel. They read articles and watched YouTube videos on everything RV-related and grew more motivated with each step.

“The biggest inspiration was finding other full-time RV families and seeing how many amazing places they were visiting and how happy they seemed as they bounced from adventure to adventure,” Lauren says.

The family sold and donated 90 percent of their belongings, including both cars so they could buy a large truck to pull their new, 400-square-foot home. Piece by piece, their plan continued to fall into place until it was time to hit the road.

They started their journey in Georgia, traveled through all southern border states, crossed over into Mexico, and visited the entire western side of the U.S. So far, they have been to more than 15 national parks.

“We realized early on in our journey that we loved the lifestyle so much, we couldn’t imagine stopping after a year,” Lauren says. “We wanted to slow down our travels, spend more time in each place we visited, and look at it as our new lifestyle, not as a trip.”

Plans are in the works to travel down the northeast coast this fall to see the foliage in Maine and Vermont. They also want to take their kids to New York City, plan to spend this winter in Florida and next summer in the Lake Michigan area. They say they would also love to spend an entire summer exploring Canada and an entire winter in Mexico at some point in the future.

“We like to dream big, and have had many discussions about future plans,” Lauren says. “We’d love to explore beyond North America one day and do some international travel. We have a running family bucket list of places we all want to see.”

The family of four has been fortunate to see some of the most beautiful landscapes our country has to offer including the majestic Grand Canyon, White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, Big Bend National Park in south Texas with its vast jaw-dropping night skies, and Alabama Hills, Calif., with its huge boulders. But, while the views have been magnificent, Aaron and Lauren say the sweetest moments of their journey have been the ones you can’t capture in a photo.

“Seeing our kids reconnect in a way we didn’t know was possible, meeting tons of amazing, unique people on the road and hearing their stories, sitting around hundreds of campfires, getting to know other travelers and learn from them, realizing how much stronger and closer our family unit is as a result of the time and experiences we’ve had together—those are the best discoveries,” Lauren says.

The biggest challenge they have faced so far is figuring out how to properly balance work and play. Aaron builds websites, while Lauren blogs and creates content for an RV website, so while their schedules are flexible, they still have to be disciplined.

“The whole first year of travel, we moved on average once a week,” Lauren says. “Our plan moving forward is to at least double that and average two weeks per destination. We usually work in the mornings, explore/hike/spend time outdoors in the afternoon, and when needed, do more work in the evenings, after the kids are in bed.”

While they say sometimes they do feel the need to slow down before they get burned out, they also say they can’t imagine doing anything else right now.

“It would be really hard [to go back to the routine life we used to have] but I know to never say never,” Lauren says. “We are always open for anything God has in store for us, whatever that may be. By having an open mind and heart, we make our plans tentatively, praying for guidance and blessing as we continue on. All we know is that right now we are having an absolute blast and living each day to the fullest.”

Aaron and Lauren cannot stress enough how much it has paid off to take the risk they did, and they want to encourage others to do the same.

“I can’t even put into words how amazing the experience has been for us,” Lauren says. “It’s challenged us to re-evaluate our entire mindset in many aspects of life. Seeing how so many other families are living unconventional lives is inspiring. We have made numerous lifelong friends on the road—friends we’ve spent weeks at a time with, caravanning to new destinations together, exploring and hiking together and spending hours and hours around campfires with, getting to know each other on a real, raw, personal level.”

Read more about The Grijalvas’ journey and RV life on their website, www.thewanderpreneurs.com, and follow them on Instagram (@the.wanderpreneurs) and Facebook (@thewanderpreneurs) to see what they’re up to each day.

You’ve most likely spotted the LU on the side of Liberty Mountain, and just above it is perhaps one of Lynchburg’s best kept secrets: the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre (LMSC).

Described as a “toothbrush glacier” by Kevin Hoff, Marketing Manager and Assistant Ski and Snowboard Instructor, the LMSC offers skiing and snowboarding year-round on its “synthetic surface that mimics snow.” Thanks to lots of “matting laid down like a thick tooth brush and a misting system [that] keeps it slick” the surface can mimic the slip and grip of skiing or snowboarding on real snow, but, Hoff explains, “When you fall [at Snowflex], you don’t experience as many harsh impacts.”

You should go for the view at least—voted “Best View of the City” for the last few years in Lynchburg Living—but stay for the fun, exercise and family-centric activities. We promise, you’ll be happy you did!

Fun for All Ages

As kids grow older, finding activities for the whole family to enjoy together can be understandably challenging. LMSC offers skiing and snowboarding year-round on two different sized slopes. Plus, to make the experience accessible and fun for all ages, they also have tubing and a large trampoline on-site.

For those new to the mountain, or skiing/snowboarding in general, Hoff strongly recommends purchasing the combo pass; for $25/person, you have access to everything at LMSC including the rental equipment. “Recently we offered a $5 upcharge for a walk-in lesson,” Hoff explains. “The lesson can be up to four people, so all the kids in a family can do it together, then they can do whatever they want for [the remaining time].” Hoff says this is the best way to maximize your time on the mountain. LMSC will start lessons with children as young as three or four if the parents are involved; “the goal there is that they have fun and don’t feel stressed out,” Hoff says. “It helps them to become familiar with the concepts, and you can start to teach them the basics.”

For those not interested in any of the physical activities, they also have a spacious lodge on-site that offers a small snack bar with locally roasted coffee and comfortable seating and viewing areas. “We want the whole family to have a good experience—not just one kid,” Hoff says.

Whole Body Health

An added benefit to skiing and snowboarding is the physical challenge they offer.

“These are whole body workouts,” Hoff says, “It’s your legs; you’re bending and turning, so it’s a lot of rotational exercise with your core.”

In fact, according to Hoff, the core drives the direction your body will move, so core strength and stability along with balance and coordination turn skiing and snowboarding into quite the exercise experience. These activities will also improve your body awareness (the technical term is “proprioception”); knowing where your body is oriented while doing different movements can be a good mental challenge as well.

Bonus: You’ll Be Happier

It’s no secret that screens are demanding more time and attention than ever before. Hoff says, “While tubing isn’t physical, it’s just great to get outside in general; kids get too attached to their screens and aren’t outside, but we want to see more outside time.”

Indeed, time outdoors is known to reduce stress and increase one’s sense of well-being. Additionally, Hoff says coaching and teaching kids as they develop new skills gives him a front row seat to their increasing levels of self-confidence. “A lot of kids don’t jive with the whole team sports idea,” Hoff says. “But with skiing and snowboarding, you can be on your own or find a buddy and challenge each other.”

Writing for Psychology Today, Dr. Stephanie A. Sarkis says, “In a [2013] study in the United Kingdom, people that went to green spaces felt more relaxed, had more positive emotions, and [had] improved spiritual wellbeing.” For simply stepping into the great outdoors and appreciating the view, the benefits are hard to beat.

And if you’re simply looking for a picnic site, then take the short drive and grab a seat on your tailgate. “I see people from all walks of life and all ages enjoying the view,” Hoff says. “It’s awesome!”

Skiing is just the tip of the iceberg. This Nelson County resort offers outdoor fun all year-round!

If you are looking for a new place to make memories this summer and fall, don’t let Wintergreen Resort’s seasonal-sounding name keep you away. Warm weather fitness opportunities for all ages and skill levels abound at this unique destination that’s located just an hour drive from the Hill City. “It feels like a world away,” explains Betsy Dunkerton, the resort’s director of marketing.

“But it’s very close.”

Still seeing snow? We asked Dunkerton and Zach Marlowe, Wintergreen’s director of ski operations, to give us the lowdown on the fun that’s happening there… in higher temperatures.

Hiking Wintergreen visitors can access 30 miles of hiking trails for hikers of all abilities—some are gentle strolls through the woods and others are more strenuous, leading to spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A few of the “favorites” include The Plunge, Shamokin Falls and Paul’s Water Creek. You can also hike with a naturalist and learn more about the trees and wildlife in the Wintergreen area. Those hikes are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Tennis

Wintergreen has two tennis facilities—Devils Knob on the mountain and Stoney Creek in Rockfish Valley—for a total of 19 clay courts outside open spring through fall and three indoor deco-turf courts open all year. According to Marlowe, many players prefer clay courts since they are easier on your joints. Another perk—the mountain breeze. “The beautiful thing about us is the weather at Wintergreen is so much nicer and cooler during the summertime… it’s much more inviting to play tennis up here,” he says.

Wintergreen also has been turning heads with its Tennis Academy, which is ranked as a top 10 resort tennis program in the world. There are clinics for adults and children as well as private lessons—the resort also hosts tournaments.

Discovery Ridge Adventure Center

Family fun awaits you here with so many activities to keep everyone busy, including ziplining, a bungee trampoline, tubing, archery, a climbing tower and mini golf. Brand new updates completed this year include gem mining and an indoor Ninja Warrior Course. “Every month we will change the course. So you can return and have a new experience each time,” says Marlowe.

Golf

Two golf courses on the mountain and in the valley are adjacent to the Devils Knob and Stoney Creek tennis courts and provide 45 holes of play in addition to a driving range. “The valley is the more forgiving course. The mountain course is more challenging… but the views are stunning,” says Marlowe. “Golf is a great way to connect with friends and take that two or three hours to be with each other and have fun.”

With their Golf Academy, Wintergreen provides schools, clinics and lessons for adults and children. “They tailor a lot of their lessons to what you need. The goal is to get you ready to play better golf and, ultimately, enjoy it more,” says Dunkerton.

Lake Monocan

A nearby outing at the 20-acre Lake Monocan gives you a chance to swim, fly-fish, kayak, canoe, play volleyball or—simply plop down and have a picnic. You can also get some steps in by taking a walk on the two-mile path around the lake. Lake Monocan is staffed daily with a lifeguard Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting.

Learn more about these activities at Wintergreen Resort, and others, by visiting www.wintergreenresort.com.

If you’re hoping to get away for the day, look no further than Altavista, Virginia—located only a 30-minute drive from Lynchburg.

When incorporated in 1912, the town encompassed a little under two square miles. Since then, it has more than doubled in size—adding new shops, restaurants and attractions. But Altavista still has always retained that small town feel. “Most of our businesses are locally owned and have been here for over 50 years or longer,” notes Lori Johnson, president of Altavista on Track.

Explore the heritage and history in this antique-lover’s haven by visiting its shops, restaurants, and sites.

Main Street

Avoca Museum

One of the first things to catch your eye after taking the Altavista exit off Route 29 is a beautiful American Queen Anne–style home. Built in 1901, the Avoca Museum is open to the public for tours Thursday through Saturday—and be prepared to learn about a range of local history.

“The site doesn’t mark one specific event or personality. Instead, Avoca interprets 12,000 years of human history from the local Native American civilization to present day,” explains Executive Director Michael Hudson.

Also on the grounds are a Victorian garden, an arboretum and a covered pavilion.

The Shoppes of Altavista

Offering a wide variety of farmhouse and primitive decor, The Shoppes of Altavista beckons you with wide windows featuring seasonal displays. As you walk in the door, you are immediately greeted by the smell of warm candles and a friendly “hello” from the counter.

Owner Barbara Gibson often finds herself directing visitors around the town and enjoys helping customers find what they need. “I love it when someone brings in a photo of a gallery wall in their home,” she says. “We look around the shop together to find something that would be the perfect fit.”

Main St. Cafe and Coffee & Main St. Shoppes

Conveniently located on the corner next to a free public parking lot, Main St. Cafe and Coffee smells of sweet treats. At the counter, you can order from a delicious menu full of sandwiches, wraps, soups, gluten-free options, and baked goods. Notable fare includes “The Italian Stallion” (a sandwich filled with Italian meats and spices), “The Fightin’ Colonel” (a Tex-Mex chicken dish), and “The Luigi” (a vegetarian panini).

Pass through the dining area after you eat and browse the Main St. Shoppes. Their eclectic selection includes Vera Bradley designs, luxury body products, and fine jewelry. The navy blue walls are contrasted with bright white displays and add a touch of elegance to your gift shopping experience.

The General Store and Inn

From the sidewalk, you can peek inside the windows of The General Store and Inn and see big barrels of old-fashioned candy. Candles, children’s toys, home decor, and locally-sourced groceries pack the floors. Talking to Manager Alison Patterson, you get a glimpse into the heart behind this unique store.
“The owner, Dale Moore, started the business because he grew up in a general store—his grandparents owned one,” explains Patterson. “His family wanted to bring some nostalgia back to Altavista. The General Store and Inn, along with their Main St. Shoppes and Main St. Cafe and Coffee, is one of the ways they celebrate local history.”
To feel truly transported back in time, you can enjoy ice cream at the counter or drink a glass bottle of soda at the gazebo out front. From that spot, you can see the beautiful winding staircase that leads to the boutique inn upstairs. It offers three private suites, each with a king-size bed, living area, work desk, treadmill and high-end bathroom with walk-in shower.

Pittsylvania Avenue

English Park

Already known as a great place for hiking, boating, and play, English Park is upgrading its amenities this summer. New additions include a splash pad, playground equipment, and additional shade structures.

Scoops Ice Cream Shop

Featuring 22 flavors of Hershey’s Hand-Dipped Ice Cream, Scoops Ice Cream Shop is one of the newer businesses to open in downtown Altavista. Choose a cake or waffle cone then fill it with your favorite flavor. They also sell Granny P’s cookies, cakes, and pies.

Elba Butcher Shoppe

As the main grocery store, Elba Butcher Shoppe is a locally-owned business offering fresh produce, meats and pantry items. In the back, you can view the “butcher” part of the name with a shining case of fresh pork, chicken, and beef.

Broad Street

Vital Edge Nutritional Center

As you enter Vital Edge Nutritional Center, you are welcomed by the smell of essential oils and pleasant greetings of the Rorer family, who decided to bring their knowledge about natural medicine, herbs, essential oils, and homeopathy to the local community. Rows of specialty items line the shelves—from delicious treats such as raw honey to natural air fresheners, this shop offers a variety of homeopathic solutions for your everyday life.

Vintage on Broad

As a shop that recently gained national attention through a feature on the History Channel’s “American Pickers” television show, Vintage on Broad doesn’t disappoint. From front to back, you can find primitive items, farmhouse-style decor, and classic antiques. As you walk along the long rows of interesting finds, you’ll quickly learn this shop is deceptively deep.
Pretty Please

With adjoining doors that make friendly business neighbors, Pretty Please sits right next to Vintage on Broad. Inside, the fashion finds take you on a whimsical, and often glittery, journey around the glamourous, light-filled space. You’ll find chic shelves overflowing with rhinestone costume jewelry, beaded masks, embroidered dresses, and sparkling platform heels.

Just Outside of Town

Bittersweet Antiques (1666 Wards Road)

With large, rustic furniture that you can see from the roadside, Bittersweet Antiques is already a head-turner on U.S. 29. Inside, their shelves overflow with primitives, vintage wall art, lighting, plants, and nostalgic decor.

Virginia Found Goods (710 Pocket Road)

Although Virginia Found Goods has an address in Hurt, the giant warehouse is just outside the town of Altavista. Drive along Pocket Road until you see the Instagram-friendly vintage trucks marking the entrance. After you grab a complimentary cup from their coffee bar, you can browse the large factory which is full of painted furniture, barn wood, and chippy, rusty goods.

A voyage on Virginia’s “Valley” road

STORY & PHOTOS BY JOE TENNIS

Route 11 parallels I-81 like a neighborly older sibling, taking you from the scenic Shenandoah Valley to the majestic mountains of Southwest Virginia. This highway grew from the Native American Warriors Path to the Great Stage Road and the Valley Turnpike. It’s a road that runs more than 339 miles in Virginia, north to south, slipping in and out of Staunton and Salem, Roanoke and Radford, yet always staying close to I-81. >>

Winchester sits near the top, little more than a dozen miles from where U.S. 11 enters Virginia at Berkeley County, West Virginia. Winchester is the hometown of country crooner Patsy Cline, as well as where George Washington established a surveying office in 1755, long before the Revolutionary War. I visit monuments to both individuals in Winchester and take a stroll at the handsome pedestrian mall of “Old Town Winchester,” just off U.S. 11.

Heading south, I soon slip into Stephens City, checking out the Newtown History Center. Then I take a 4.7-mile detour on Va. 277 to discover Dinosaur Land, where timeless replicas of reptiles stand with frozen ferociousness alongside educational explanations.

Back on Route 11, I meander into Middletown and stop at Shaffer’s BBQ & Market; it sports a funky collection of rehabbed furnishings inside what was once a service station. “We’re a Route 11 barbecue joint,” says storeowner Matt Shaffer. “Route 11 used to be, before the interstate, the only way to get around. And barbecue is sort of timeless in that sense, as well.”

For lunch, I sample Shaffer’s most popular items—a chopped pork barbecue sandwich with a side of broccoli salad. Next, I find Strasburg, where Route 11 makes a hard right beside buildings boasting murals. Near this small town’s center stands a movie theater transformed into the Box Office Brewery.

Just beyond, Strasburg signals the start of Route 11’s gorgeously green “Scenic Road” status, which rolls south for more than 30 miles to New Market, passing through Woodstock, Edinburg and Mount Jackson in Shenandoah County.

A quick detour off the highway finds the factory of Route 11 Potato Chips. Originally established at Middletown, in 2008, this company moved to its present location at Quicksburg, where the business now handles 14,000 pounds of potatoes per day. All chips are kettle-cooked, says clerk Freda Sigler. “And we cook six days a week.”

Through most of its journey, Route 11 is a connector of colleges, caverns and courthouses. Until I-81 came on the scene in the 1960s, this was the main north-south route through the Valley of Virginia, cutting past the campuses of James Madison University, Radford University, Mary Baldwin University, Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University and Hollins University—to name a few.

Route 11 remains a gateway to subterranean treasures called Dixie Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns, Endless Caverns, Grand Caverns and the Caverns at Natural Bridge. Also, just north of Harrisonburg, where Route 11 resembles a country road, you’ll see a wedding venue called Melrose Caverns—the site of a cavern that’s been closed to the general public for more than 50 years. Still, says owner Richard Yancey, this Melrose place is sometimes shown to curious wedding parties.

Historical markers line Route 11 from Glade Spring to Greenville. And you could spend days reading about long-gone battles and pioneers. Or you can make Route 11 a journey of wine, wild honey and a school bus turned into a food truck at the Valley Pike Farm Market.

Housed inside a “bank barn,” relocated to the Weyers Cave community, the Valley Pike Farm Market faces Route 11, midway between Harrisonburg and Staunton. “One of the biggest draws that we have is just the building and the warmth of the building,” says owner David Gardner. “It was going to be destroyed, and I just hated that. It was 125 years old.”

Down in Staunton, I explore the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States and a guiding force during World War I. Where Wilson lived for the first few months of his life is preserved along Route 11—just like the birthplace of his second wife, I shall find, many miles down the line.

But, first, it’s time for an ice cream break. And I take a right at Wright’s Dairy Rite, a Staunton landmark along Route 11 since 1952. Golden oldies blast on the jukebox at this frozen-in-time ice cream stand.

I order a chocolate malt milkshake at Wright’s and head to Lexington for the night, moving into a 1901 house called A Secret Garden. It’s a bed-and-breakfast that’s not marked with a sign, but they will leave the light on for you.

For dinner in downtown Lexington, I take a brisk walk to feast on steamed mussels and a salmon club at the Southern Inn. The next morning, for breakfast, A Secret Garden’s Amber Barraclough serves a spinach frittata with fresh fruit and thick slices of bacon. Later, for lunch, I savor shrimp tacos at the Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen, which sits on a hill overlooking Route 11, just a couple miles north of this handsome city’s historic district.

Lexington is where the South’s two greatest generals, Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, lay at rest—now more than 150 years since the silence of the Civil War battlefields. Lee and Jackson are loved in Lexington, and their names are on monuments and street signs. You will also find a museum dedicated to the early life of Jackson, pinpointing the time when the devout Christian served as a teacher at Virginia Military Institute during the 1850s-years before the Civil War.

The most entertaining way to see Lexington is to take the carriage tour, where you’ll hear stories of fires that fell on the city and how the streets were lowered to help wagons roll uphill. You’ll even hear about the ghost of Lee’s horse, Traveller, as the tour rolls to Washington and Lee University. “His ghost was seen running across the campus of the school,” says Courtney Rhodenizer, a longtime guide for the Lexington Carriage Company.

Heading south from Lexington, I cannot resist stopping at what sits essentially at the center of Route 11 in Virginia—and even beneath the actual road: Natural Bridge.

Now the centerpiece of a state park, Natural Bridge is the key attraction of a Rockbridge County village that includes the fun-loving Dinosaur Kingdom II. Much like Dinosaur Land near Stephens City, Dinosaur Kingdom II is a showpiece for the fertile imagination of artist Mark Cline.

For two nights, I move into the Country Inn & Suites near Hollins University, only a half-mile
from Route 11 on the north end of Roanoke.

This hotel proves the perfect point to base explorations, beginning with a late-night supper
at the nearby Hollywood’s Restaurant & Bakery, which serves a Cranberry Salmon entrée on a
menu that also features a “Route 11 Burger.”

At daybreak, I make a beeline for Buchanan, a town on the James River, about 20 miles north of Roanoke. I trace the swinging bridge above the James, stretching beside Route 11. Then I take a five-mile kayak journey with Twin River Outfitters, a business operated by twin brothers John and Dan Mays.

“People like the scenery,” John Mays tell me while standing on the banks of the James River. “It’s just a fun, family-friendly activity, outdoors, in nature.”

On the river, I drift across light riffles and slip beside the silent stone pillar of a former railroad crossing. I also paddle beneath I-81, where I quietly listen to its roaring traffic. I spy on turtles and baby ducks. And I work up a hunger for more fish—satisfied with a chunk of fried Pollock at the Buchanan Fountain and Grille on Main Street.

Back down in Roanoke, I roll down Route 11 on Williamson Road, which leads to the attraction-packed downtown district, where you’ll find the O. Winston Link Museum, Taubman Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Transportation, Hotel Roanoke and Center in the Square. You’ll also catch a glimpse of the famous star on Mill Mountain without ever leaving Route 11.

A caveat: It’s terribly tough trying to figure out where Route 11 continues through Roanoke. It’s not well-marked.

Maps and GPS also do not agree. But do find and follow Salem Avenue, take a left on 13th Street, and keep going across the Memorial Bridge, eventually coming upon Raleigh Court, a neat neighborhood centered by the Grandin Theatre, built in 1932.

Sailing into Salem, Route 11 crosses the Roanoke River three times until reaching Salem’s quaint downtown district, where I window shop at the Antiques by the Market Antique Mall then munch on a soft-shell crab sandwich at Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company. I also devour a plateful of oysters, which, I’m told, had been harvested from the James River—many miles downstream from my kayak ride into Buchanan.

South of Salem, Route 11 overlaps U.S. 460 on a scenic stretch that links Elliston and Shawsville to Christiansburg, the courthouse town of Montgomery County.

Here, I find another retro restaurant, Dude’s Drive-In, standing next to the Starlite Drive-In Theatre.

I ramble on to Radford, cross the New River and then pass through Dublin. I ultimately land in Pulaski, where I stand in awe of the stately Pulaski Train Station then study the model railroads at the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Transportation Museum.

Brace yourself: Leaving the once-booming factory town of Pulaski, Route 11 climbs up and over Draper Mountain. It’s a fun ride on a motorcycle. Crossing Draper Mountain also affords overlooks on both sides of the highway, providing picnic sites and insights into the valley below.

In what you might call Route 11’s final act through Virginia, the highway drifts down Draper Mountain and simply joins I-81 for the next 16 miles, zipping past truck stops and antique markets. Then it takes a fancy curve into the handsome town of Wytheville, with its roomy Main Street anchored by the Bolling Wilson Hotel. I spend the night on the fourth floor of this structure, topped with “The Perch,” affording a bird’s-eye view from the roof.

This is the hometown of Woodrow Wilson’s second wife, Edith Bolling Wilson, and her story is told at this hotel through her love of canaries, orchids and bourbon. It is also shared at a museum in the “Bolling Building,” her birthplace. Various scenes of her life, as well, appear on a mural just off Main Street in an alley at a crosswalk near the center of Wytheville.

Come dusk, I cross Main Street near that downtown mural.

And I take a taste of light beer while tearing into a rack of ribs—served with sweet potato fries—at the new 7 Dogs Brew Pub on Wytheville’s Spring Street.

About 25 miles south of Wytheville, Route 11 provides the Main Street of Marion, a town where the nationally-televised “Song of the Mountains” PBS TV-Show originates from the 1929 Lincoln Theatre. Marion is also known for its downtown chili cook-off that coincides with the Hungry Mother Festival at nearby Hungry Mother State Park on the third weekend of each July.

At the end of July, look for the Virginia Highlands Festival in artsy Abingdon, a courthouse town lying about 25 miles south of Marion—yet little more than 15 miles above Route 11’s touch into Tennessee at Bristol. Abingdon is where you’ll also find live musicals, dramas and comedies at the Barter Theatre—right on Route 11—plus the must-try Strawberry Kiwi Cosmopolitans at Morgan’s, an upscale restaurant on Main Street at Courthouse Hill.

Bristol wraps up Route 11’s ride through the Old Dominion with a green space at Sugar Hollow Park, open space for development at The Falls and a salute to songwriters at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Bristol is the town where country music legends Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family each made their first recordings, separately, in 1927. It’s also where current country music superstar Kenny Chesney made his first recordings—for a cassette, released in 1990—at Classic Recording Studio on Moore Street. All of these musical milestones—and more—are celebrated with block parties, festivals and concerts on Bristol’s State Street, where you’ll see Virginia on one side and Tennessee on the other. State Street lies about 300 miles south of where country music’s Cline lies at rest in Winchester—a far journey, for sure, yet one that’s connected by that long and winding road.

With warm weather on the horizon, The Tides Inn in Irvington awakes from its winter slumber in preparation for adventure seekers, weekend travelers and the area’s newest band of visitors—foodies.

Last season, the waterfront resort introduced an array of new culinary and boozy experiences that allow visitors an in-depth look into the region’s centuries-old community of watermen, cunning Prohibition-era tactics and cutting-edge, modern creations.

The Northern Neck—the northernmost peninsula on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay— has long been recognized as a sleepy stretch of coastline dotted with quaint riverside towns. The Tides Inn is challenging that stigma by drawing attention to its exceptional seafood fare, crafty libations and gastronomic inventions inspired by local influences. Fervent to experience the innovation firsthand, I packed my bags and ventured to Irvington, arriving just in time for happy hour.

With a palate that longs to acquire a taste for distilled spirits, I swapped the wine list for The Tides’ signature bourbon tasting. The luxe experience was first introduced last spring in the cavalier Eagle Room. The back wall of the private space is comprised entirely of rectangular walnut lockers formerly used to store liquor behind lock and key during Lancaster County’s mid-20th century dry spell. The discreet cases are now brimming with The Tides’ private label bourbon and strive to assert Irvington as not only a premier wine destination, by virtue of the nearby The Dog and Oyster Winery,
but as a showroom for exceptional spirits.

For nearly three months, The Tides team collaborated with distiller Brian Prewitt of A. Smith Bowman Distillery to craft the perfect bourbon to be poured exclusively on the Carter’s Creek property. Aged for 11 years and three months, the Tides Inn Single Barrel Bourbon was bottled May 2018 and breathes fragrant notes of vanilla, caramel, toasted nuts and fig. Subtle aromas of apple and dried cherries also surface as the full-bodied bourbon opens in the glass.

Its draw is as smooth as the creek at sunrise and pairs superbly with the blackened mahi, seared scallops, fired Naan and cheesy starters prepared by Executive Chef TV Flynn. Also on the whiskey docket are Bowman’s original John J. Bowman, the oaky and mellow Bowman Brothers and the port barrel finished Isaac Bowman.

I chased the tasting with dinner in the elegant Chesapeake Restaurant, ordering its signature Lancaster Lemonade as my nightcap, and indulged in everything seafood. The table overflowed with velvety shrimp and grits, softshell Chesapeake Bay crabs, buffalo-style Angry Oysters, oysters on the half shell with tequila lime mignonette, and to extend my whiskey experience, a plate of bourbon-glazed fish bites.

While savoring every bite of the remarkable cuisine, I was struck by the true tide-to-table philosophy carried out by the inn. The centerpiece of each platter—be it oysters, crab or fish—had been caught by local watermen just beyond the restaurant’s waterside windows. Wanting to know more about the society of Rappahannock River watermen, we arranged a voyage on the Miss Nicole with third-generation oysterman, Captain William Saunders, for the following morning.

Relentless thunderstorms drenched Irvington overnight, but cooler temperatures and overcast skies appeared come morning. Although the stormy weather prohibited me and other passengers from experiencing the shucking and tasting of bivalves typically associated with The Tides’ Virginia Oyster Academy, it prompted an exceptional lecture from Saunders.

Having spent the better part of his life on the Rappahannock with his father and grandfather, Saunders is nothing short of an oyster expert. He, along with Virginia’s River Realm diplomat, Joni Carter, explained that Irvington once hosted the most competitive real estate market in the Northern Neck. The prices for riverfront homes skyrocketed and wealthy investors came flocking, repurposing old homes and empty lots into million-dollar residences surrounded by intricate landscaping.

While the properties are stunning, Saunders and Carter explain that the stormwater runoff from the landscaped coastline is ridden with excess sediment and pesticides that threaten the livelihood of oysters. Chemicals from grass, flower beds and the like stunt the growth of oyster spat (baby oysters) and poison the farm-raised beds grown by local waterman. With stricter laws regulating the quantity and size of oysters watermen can harvest, every loss is detrimental. Nonetheless, Saunders happily informed us that foreign shellfish were being introduced to the river to increase oyster immunity to harmful diseases, and in turn, prevent depletion.

Insightful discussions on oysters continued for the remainder of our hour-long voyage, only to be interrupted by the raising of a crab pot or telling of a captivating anecdote from Saunders’ 30-plus years on the water.

Once back in port, I mounted one of The Tides’ complimentary beach cruisers and peddled through downtown Irvington, stopping for a latte at The Local and paying a brief visit to the acclaimed Hope and Glory Inn before returning to the property for Afternoon Tea.

Like the bourbon tasting, Afternoon Tea is a recent incorporation. It is hosted every Sunday afternoon in the Chesapeake Club and brews six varieties of organic teas from North American’s only tea plantation, the Charleston Tea Plantation. Opting for taste of the South, I ordered a pot of the Plantation Peach black tea.

Accompanying my piping hot kettle were a honey pot, cream, sugar cubes and a three-tier serving stand laden with miniature eats. Anchoring the stand were four savory starters—a multi-grain chicken salad sandwich; cucumber, arugula and sprouts on brioche; an open-face smoked salmon on pumpernickel rye; and lastly, a turkey and cheddar pinwheel smeared with apple butter.

The second tier presented a biscuit and fruit scone garnished with a bright purple orchid. The two pastries were also served with boats of local jam and British-style clotted cream. Crowning the tower was my personal favorite—dessert. The plate of true decadence offered a cheesecake lollipop, chocolate covered strawberry, chocolate ganache cake bite and a lemon bar dusted with powder sugar.

Relishing my final hours in Irvington, I biked over to The Dog and Oyster for a pre-dinner wine tasting and spoke with owner Dudley Patteson about the Northern Neck’s vinicultural history. By sunset I was feasting at the riverside tasting bistro, Merroir, and savoring a relaxed and delicious close to my ephemeral escape to The Tides. Bourbon Bivalves at the Tides Inn