Southern Snow - Yes, it Snows in the South!

I found this article, by the AJC (Atlanta Journal Constitution) interesting because I live in the South and I really want to hit the slopes this year! The article makes a good point – while the West may have more and bigger mountains and ski ares, there are plenty of ski areas and ski hotels and lodges to choose from here in the South – and yes, it most definitely does snow. Check them out!

1. Smokey Shadow Lodge, North Carolina

You’ll stay in a rustic looking, historic lodge made out of stones and logs that’s close to the Cataloochee Ski Area, one of the most popular in the region. Rates are $75-$135 depending on type of room and the season.

2. Sydney James Mountain Lodge, Tennessee

It’s family-owned and situated near a pretty stream near downtown Gatlinburg. You’ll be very close to the Ober-Gatlinburg Ski Area – and this is the closest ski area to Atlanta.

3. Chestnut Ridge Country Inn, West Virginia

This hotel is close to the famous Snowshoe Mountain Ski Area in West Virginia – it features the largest vertical drop in the region! The inn itself is perfectly situated – close to skiing and close to town and other attractions.

4. The Azalea Inn – North Carolina

It’s cute, comfortable, highly rated and the closes B&B to Sugar Mountain, which offers 20 slopes for all types of skiers. What more do you need?

5. The Log Cabin Motor Court

It’s only 5 miles away from downtown Asheville’s many shops, restaurants, cafes and antique shops. You can go night skiing at nearby Wolf Ridge.

Jim Justice, new owner of The Greenbrier, wants the legendary and historic W. Va hotel and resort to be more friendly to ordinary Virginians, and not just to Presidents and the rich and the famous. To that end, The Greenbrier is offering a jaw-dropping special - $59 per night, as a ‘Tribute to the Virginias.’

The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W. Va

This offer is exclusively for residents of West Virginia and Virginia, and available only on the nights of November 15-16, December 18-20, 2009, January 8-10 and February 5-7, 2010.

In a press statement, Mr. Justice said that “The Greenbrier is a national treasure, and we want to share our enthusiasm and our new amenities with the citizens of West Virginia and Virginia.”

If it’s a national treasure – we think it is – and The Greenbrier wants to share their enthusiasm, then shouldn’t the special rates have been offered to everyone, instead of just the good people of the Virginias?

Even so, the offer is still amazing. Standard room rates offered by The Greenbrier on the same dates start from $275 per night, as compared to the $59 that Virginians will be paying.  

In addition to the ridiculously low rate, also included in the offer is $20 in Match Play coupons per night for The Tavern Casino, complimentary greens fees and 20% off on all other outdoor activities. Plus, daily resort fee is waived for guests on this package.

For more details, visit www.greenbrier.com/tribute.

Info: 300 W. Main Street White Sulphur Springs WV 24986; (304) 536-1110; www.greenbrier.com/; Photo by riptheskull 

by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

The Lowe Hotel, Point Pleasant, West Virginia

On a recent road trip I pulled into the little town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, conveniently located midway between Illinois and my North Carolina destination. In the center of Main Street, amidst scores of meticulously restored older buildings filled with cute shops, I discovered the Lowe Hotel, the only hotel in town.

I hauled my suitcase up the long marble staircase to the second floor, opened the door with an enormous skeleton key, and was delighted to discover a room decorated in antiques and outfitted with a queen-size poster bed. It didn’t take me long to climb beneath the fluffy quilt, prop myself up with two down pillows, and boot up my laptop. I was happily answering emails when the noises began. At first they were small creaking sounds and I paid them little mind – all old buildings make noises. Then just before turning off the light a very loud noise startled me. It sounded like a large, dry tree branch snapping in two and seemed to come from the television, which I hadn’t turned on. Puzzled, I dismissed it and went to sleep. Read More »

Have you heard of the Greenbrier Resort? It a gorgeous, historic hotel in West Virginia which has catered to the rich and famous since 1778. Twenty-six presidents have visited the hotel, and Joseph and Rose Kennedy even honeymooned there. Well, it looks like the economy has taken its toll on this fine resort, as it has been reported by the Washington Post on Friday, May 20th that the resort has filed for bankruptcy. Apparently, the 720-room resort might be purchased by the Marriott hotel chain for a reported $130 million.

This makes me sad, on one hand, but happy on the other. It’s great that the resort is going to (hopefully) survive, and that it won’t simply be bulldozed to make way for a newer, more modern property with less heritage and charm. I am, however, concerned that Marriott will end up changing the “feel” of the property, though the company has gone on record as saying that they have no intention of changing either the name nor the “overall identity” of the property. I hope not! This hotel is a true gem, and it has a lot of history. Plus, it’s an amazingly posh hotel – it’s a five diamond property, and I’d hate to see such a beauty be changed in any significant way.

There’s something remarkable about walking around a building that’s over 230 years old, and it’s fun to imagine what the hotel walls have seen and heard over the years. It’s something that can never be replaced if significant changes are made to a building, so here’s to hoping.

Photo Credits: uuzinger