Posts Tagged ‘Bed and Breakfast’

Lung Cancer Awareness, 2011

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

The month of November is both Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and this blog will focus on lung cancer awareness.

Anyone who has fought cancer or known someone with cancer understands how devastating it can be, and the statistics for lung cancer are pretty staggering. In the United States, lung cancer is the “leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States,” and is responsible for one in three cancer deaths. As of 2009, it kills an average of 437 people daily.

Making healthy lifestyle choices such as not smoking can seriously reduce the risk of getting lung cancer, as can regular checkups at the doctor’s office. The Lung Cancer Alliance emphasizes the importance of early detection, which increases the 10-year survival rate to 92%.

Perhaps this seems like nothing but numbers and redundant advice that you’ve heard many times before. But because this is the month for awareness, we here at the BBAV encourage you to support those in the fight against lung cancer. While we are a group that delights in travel and vacation, we cannot forget those who are unable to partake in these activities due to their illness. And so we remember them with our support, our thoughts, and our prayers as they face an uncertain future.

 

Howl-O-Scream, Williamsburg, VA

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Everywhere you look in Virginia, you will find some sort of Halloween party or harvest festival during this time of year. While you’re making yourself at home at one of our cozy bed and breakfasts, perhaps you will want to attend one of these celebrations. If you have children, there are some spectacular family-friendly opportunities.

One such event is the fabulously scary Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. Traverse through the foggy gloom of the Fear Fair. Explore the vampire-laden “Bitten” house. Rock out to Monster Stomp Revamped. Sneak through the woods of New France while trying to avoid the Widow Makers. If you enjoy that heart-pounding rush of adrenaline brought about by fear, then Howl-O-Scream is certainly the event for you! However, if the kiddies aren’t so keen on monsters popping out at them, you can visit Busch Gardens during the day for plenty of non-scary fall fun. Once 6pm hits, though, the park becomes a haven for horror! *cue thunder sound effects*

Howl-O-Scream is hardly the only Halloween celebration in Virginia, so click here for a lovely little list that highlights different events based on region and city.

Be smart and safe, everyone! (And parents, kindly refrain from adorning yourselves with costumes that would severely embarrass your children…)

Lastly, I feel that no Halloween blog would be complete without this classic tribute to all things that go bump in the night:

 

Autumn Apple Crisp

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Besides pumpkins, apples are one of the most used ingredients in autumn recipes, and with all of the orchards around Virginia, we are certainly in no short supply of this delicious fruit. There is a humongous variety of apple-based recipes floating around the world wide web, so perhaps you’re having difficulty in locating the perfect dish. To lessen your stress and shorten your search time, enjoy one particularly delectable recipe (which can be found in Bob Greene’s The Get With the Program! Guide to Good Eating) that we’ve selected for the delight of your taste buds:

 

Ingredients:

2 cups apples (preferably Granny Smiths), peeled, cored, and sliced

2 tbsp sugar or sugar substitute

1/4 cup apple juice

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cup walnuts or almonds, finely chopped

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp softened butter

Preheat the oven to 350.  Stir apples, sugar, apple juice, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined.  Set aside.

To make the oatmeal topping, mix together the walnuts or almonds, oats, brown sugar, flour, and butter.

Place the apple mixture in an 8-inch square baking dish.  Sprinkle the topping over the apples and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the apples are cooked through and the topping is browned.  Serve with cool whip or vanilla ice cream.

 

Short Pump Town Center: Richmond, Virginia

Monday, August 29th, 2011

When one thinks of tourism in Virginia, he or she usually imagines historic sites, pleasant wineries, warm beaches, and fantastic hiking trails. One, however, does not usually think of Virginia as being a shopping destination, but we do in fact have an incredibly popular location that is perfect for a lively girls’ day out, a well-needed personal shopping spree, or a fun family outing.

Short Pump Town Center is a 1,200,000 square foot open air shopping mall in the West End of Richmond, Virginia. It provides a wide array of fashion boutiques, department stores, well-known retailers, and specialty stores, as well as a plethora of dining options. Their seemingly endless list of stores includes such places as Swarovski, Cold Stone Creamery, the Funny Bone Comedy Club and Restaurant, Macy‘s, the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, and Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Honestly, it would take a few days to visit every single desired store and restaurant, not to mention that you would have to make time for one of Short Pump’s special events (such as Fashion’s Night Out on September 8, 2011). Shopping is fun but exhausting, and after you’ve spent a day on your feet, at the spa, in an upscale restaurant, or at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, you’ll need a place of comfort where you can relax with your purchases. So, your best bet would be to include one of our spectacular bed and breakfasts in your vacation itinerary!

If you’d like to stay updated with special events and sales at Short Pump, follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Happy Shopping!

© ShortPumpMall.com

Hiking Around Virginia

Friday, July 29th, 2011

“I believe that the ascent of mountains forms an essential chapter in the complete duty of man, and that it is wrong to leave any district without setting foot on its highest peak.” — Sir Leslie Stephen

 There are many reasons that people choose to go hiking. Some appreciate the physical challenge, while others enjoy the quiet escape of nature, the ethereal beauty that transcends man-made creation. Others (like me) like to pretend they are elves, nimbly crossing the forests and mountains of Middle Earth. (What? You don’t like to pretend you’re an elf?) Whatever your reasons for hiking, Virginia provides some absolutely beautiful trails for hikers of all levels—day-long hikes, easy walks next to lakes and rivers, trails for biking and horseback riding, treks through national parks, and trails that overlook waterfalls. No matter the area of Virginia in which you find yourself, there will be a hiking trail close by.

Because it would be nearly impossible to list every single trail in a single blog entry, I shall highlight a few options in different areas of our lovely commonwealth:

 

The Cascades, Pembroke, Va- This trail offers waterfalls and creeks, so you can cool off after your trek. You have the option of doing a 4-mile round trip to the lower falls, or an 8-mile round trip to Barney’s Wall.

© Rui M.

 

Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, Va- This park is full of various circuit hikes, depending on which direction you would like to take. It’s an easy hike, and is a great opportunity to bring your canine companions with you.

© FergusonFoundation.org

 

Peaks of Otter, Bedford, Va- This is a wonderful hike, because it offers trails for all different fitness levels. If you’re looking for a good challenge, Flat Top and Sharp Top can take up to three or four hours to complete. Or if you’re feeling especially ambitious, you can combine the two for a nice long, 9.8 mile hike.

© http://www.flickr.com/photos/labimposter

 

If you’d like a list of twenty of the most popular hikes in Virginia, look no further than here. Also, after a good, adrenaline-pumping hike, you should have a nice, comforting Bed and Breakfast to come back to…….so, aren’t you glad we have a list of B&Bs for you to peruse?

Virginia Lighthouses, Summer 2011

Monday, July 18th, 2011

“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.”
- Anne Lamott

Lighthouses have been a source of fascination for people for many years, and we here in Virginia are lucky to have some of these beautiful structures decorate our coasts. They stand with silent strength, with few frills or ornamentation, and yet the light that shines from them cannot go unnoticed. For many years, these lighthouses kept ships from crashing to shore, ensuring safety to the crew aboard the vessels. Now these structures are sources of history and, as always, symbolic representations of hope and guidance. And, of course, they are a wonderful destination for those on a Virginia vacation.

The lighthouses of Virginia include the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, built in 1792, the Assateague Lighthouse, built in 1833, the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, built in 1802, and the New Point Comfort Lighthouse, commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1804. As you can imagine, each of these lighthouses possesses a deep history, having survived battles and skirmishes and years of being weathered by ocean waves.

If you’re planning to visit one of these lighthouses, be sure to check out their schedules. Some allow tours during most of the years, but others have set times that the outside public is allowed to see the inside. (Also, toughen up those leg muscles if you plan to climb up the inside of the lighthouse. Those stairs give you a good workout!) Be sure to check out our list of bed and breakfasts to find the perfect inn for you to relax at during your trip to visit the lighthouses.

© 2011 http://www.virginia.org/lighthouses/

© 2011 http://www.virginia.org/lighthouses/

© 2011 http://www.virginia.org/lighthouses/

 Facts courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation, © 2011.

A Secret “Sweet Spot” for Lovers in Virginia’s Beautiful Shenandoah Valley: A TripAdvisor’s 5 Star Award for Excellence

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

“Virginia is for Lovers” is a promise fulfilled at Historic Downtown Harrisonburg’s Stonewall Jackson Inn ~ Bed and Breakfast!  Get out your “Bucket List,”  here is “must” places to visit!!   Two well- known, premier travel directories agree!  TripAdvisor has just awarded the coveted 2011 “Certificate of Excellence” to this Inn for again having a solid 5 star rating from their subscribers for the second year in a row. BedandBreakfast.com has also awarded the Inn “Best B&B in the Mid-Atlantic Region” and lists it in the elite Diamond Collection of the World’s Best B&B’s.

 

The really good news is that this Inn  is located in the hospitality-plus “Friendly City” of Harrisonburg, right in the center of the Shenandoah Valley. The City’s lively Downtown  Historical District  is also the Fine Dining & Entertainment Center of the Valley.  But that’s not all.  It offers museums, galleries, shops, stage theater and music, Farmers Market, outdoor festivals & activities.  In the center of the District in a beautifully restored pre-Civil War home,  you will find a  docent staffed  visitor’s welcome center with a gift shop and  a beautiful Tea Room that serves many different kinds of tea along with homemade goodies. Harrisonburg is not only the Valley’s choice destination for a very romantic B&B & fine dining Getaway,  but it is also a “base camp” for outdoor adventure.    There are easy day trips to experience Civil War and Frontier History, Outdoor Recreation and Entertainment, Shopping & Antiquing, Biking, Hiking, Wine Tasting, and much more.  Check out www.HarrisonburgTourism.com and www.VisitShenandoah.org if you are looking for some ideas.

 

The Stonewall Jackson’s mission and promise of a “A Night’s Delight ~ A Breakfast to Remember” is a tall order, but the Inn’s friendly hospitality team is up to the task.  They literally love their jobs of “making guests happy”.  Galina, a “wannabe” interning Innkeeper from Belarus tells the guests “It is like working in a Disneyworld Bed & Breakfast”.  The team leader, Master Innkeeper and owner,  Dr. Wayne Engel, is Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at James Madison University.  He and his son started the Inn twelve years ago “just to have fun”.  The ambiance is one of warm Southern Hospitality in a Civil War Era restored mansion , with all of today’s amenities & technological comforts.  The Stonewall Jackson Inn is Certified “Virginia Green” carries a 3 Diamond AAA and an “Exceptional” rating by the Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia www.InnVirgina.com. Visit the website for more information and details of “The Stonewall Jackson Experience” in the “Friendly City” of Harrisonburg.

Dr. Wayne Engel, © 2011 http://www.stonewalljacksoninn.com/

Visit www.StonewallJacksonInn.com, write Wayne@StonewallJacksonInn.com, or call 800.445.5330

Dr. Wayne Engel, Owner/Innkeeper

Stonewall Jackson Inn

547 East Market Street, Harrisonburg, Va. 22801

 

Chincoteague Island Events, July 2011

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Parades, ponies, and carnivals. Sounds like a child’s dream, right? Well, actually, these three things are included in an event happening towards the end of this month on Chincoteague Island, the setting for Marquerite Henry’s famous novel Misty of Chincoteague. If you haven’t guessed by now, this event is Pony Penning Day, where the wild ponies of Assateague Island are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys and brought over to Chincoteague. This tradition most likely began in the 1700s, but it was not recorded until 1835. Since then, it has evolved into a fully-fledged tourist attraction, including various other events that accompany the swimming, penning, and selling of the wild ponies.

© 2011 Chincoteague.com

What sparked an international interest in Pony Penning Day was the aforementioned book, Misty of Chincoteague. It is the story of a wild pony named Phantom, her foal Misty, and the loving family that buys Misty. You should definitely read it during your Pony Penning Vacation! And while you’re reading it, you should definitely be staying at one of the fabulous Bed and Breakfasts in the area. For the full experience, check out Miss Molly’s Inn, the wonderful B&B at which Marguerite Henry stayed as she penned her novel. Do you see the pun I made there? “Penned”??? “Pony PENNING Day”??? Yeah, okay, it’s not the wittiest of puns, but it’s still sort of clever!

© 2011 Miss Molly's Inn

There are also a number of other inns in the area that are also wonderful choices, so you have your pick of fantastic establishments!

15th Annual Rotary BB&T Fourth of July Balloon Rally, Lexington, VA

Friday, June 24th, 2011

Let me guess: Your fourth of July usually includes some sort of family barbecue, a lot of red, white, and blue decorations, and maybe some fireworks. Sound about right? That’s fun and all, but why not do something a bit different instead of your same routine celebrations? For example, as you have already guessed by the title of this blog entry, there’s going to be a rally of hot air balloons in Lexington at the Virginia Military Institute’s parade grounds. If you’re a bit skittish about riding in a hot air balloon, don’t panic. They provide tethered balloons so that you can have the experience without the hesitation.

Although the hot air balloons are the main event, they are not the only attraction by far. There are also food vendors, face painting, an antique car display, and the ever popular “Eleanore’s MarketPlace,” which sells used items that are in excellent condition. Besides the event itself, Lexington is a wonderful city to explore, and a bus shuttle will be provided for those who wish to scatter about and investigate.

If you’re not sure where to stay during your trip to Lexington, fear not. We have some wonderful bed and breakfasts in the area (we are the BBAV after all)! If you’re a fan of Victorian elegance, try the 1868 Magnolia House Inn.  For a unique, environmentally-friendly stay, try the Applewood Inn and Llama Trekking.

© 2011 The Reasons to be Entertained

 

Cycling the Wicomico to Fleeton Loop

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Spring is a lovely time to cycle in the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia. Make your way from one picturesque town to the next, stopping to enjoy the sights and meals of fresh seafood. Travel between Chesapeake Bay VA Bed and Breakfasts, or use one as a base and make daily excursions.

The Wicomico to Fleeton Loop runs between the quaint villages of Reedville and Fleeton, by Ingram Bay. Begin the ride with a hearty meal at a Fleeton VA Bed and Breakfast – one that will keep your feet happily pedaling for hours. Then make your way north towards Reedville, a historic town with a thriving fishing industry. The main road would get you to Reedville in under four miles, but the Wicomico – Fleeton Loop takes a longer, more scenic route; the entire loop is just under 27 miles.

The cycling trail leads to the Wicomico River Bridge Fishing Pier, a good spot to rest with a picnic. Several restaurants in this little town are good options, too. The Crazy Crab is an excellent restaurant with a water view; think of fresh crabmeat piled on a fried soft crab. Tommy’s and the Fairport Marina are two other good lunch spots. Before getting back on your bike, check out the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum.

The view from Reedville.

For more information about about the Wicomico – Fleeton Loop, please see Northern Neck Cycling.