Pipestem Resort, Pipestem, WV

Cross Keys Vineyard

After a quick breakfast, we leave our Loft Mountain hideaway in search of...internet.  You’d figure that in an overlook where you can see the entire Shenandoah Valley, you would be able to get good internet...and you would be right!  E-mail and all those other commitments of modern day living completed, we make our way down into the valley to Cross Keys Vineyard.  We went here last year and had a totally memorable wine tasting and lunch.  Being as it was only 11:00, we passed on the wine tasting, but bought some of our favorite wines to drink on special occasions.  We had lunch at the bistro...trying to keep it light, so we could enjoy dinner at Pipestem, assuming that we actually get there.  We, of course, followed the pairing advice on the menu.   Deb had the Chardonnay with her Caesar Salad and I had the Joy Red with my Caprese Flatbread.  Somehow, I think we will be back.

By 4:00 we make it to Pipestem Resort State Park.  Since it’s the last camping stop of the year and we are here for two night, we go big time...full hook-ups... it’s Friday Night - date night.  Of course, our house is also our car, so we drove to the lodge for dinner.  That means we can walk home.. The restaurant was packed...cause it was all-u-can-eat seafood night for $29.99.  Really...300 miles into the heart of the Appalacian Mountains for seafood...nope...chicken and beef for us.  But it was fun, and we got do so some serious people watching.

Saturday had the requisite bacon & eggs and then off to do some exploring.  Pipestem is located on the top of a thousand foot precipice over looking the Bluestone River.  There is a small lodge at the bottom with a gourmet restaurant that is accessible by a small gondola ride. For an extra $2 you can bring your pet.  Drex has been on cable cars before but this might just as well have been a rollercoaster ride at 6 Flags!  Ears back, eyes out, tongue to the floor kind of ride.  I don’t have the heart to tell him, it’s the only way back!  We broke up the rides with a nice long stroll along the river with plenty of chipmunks.

After lunch Deb and I explored the trails which were obscured by leaves.  We had to pull out all the stops on our trail scouting talents to find our way.  Back to the campsite, where it’s always some time after five, Deb prepares a delicious candelite marinera dinner.  Yup, we still call it camping because after dinner we had our final campfire of the year.  Deb took a video of it so she could have some virtual campfires later.

Tomorrow, it’s up early and off for home.

Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park

No reservations, no plans, just a weather forecast of four gorgeous days in October.  The wonders of the internet...I can read my previous blogs and realize that this is not the first or even the second time we have done this, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.  For the last few years, I have been looking at Pipestem Resort in West Virginia as a fall destination. With two hours of packing, etc, we are off.  By lunch time, we decide that Pipestem is a stretch for one day, so regroup to plan B...Big Meadow in Shenandoah National Park, turning onto Skyline Drive, we see a sign that Big Meadow Campground is full...Plan C...Loft Mountain Campground which is actually on the top of Loft Mountain.  Pretty nice place, with the only internet access in the amphitheater.  The place was hopping! Tomorrow...PipeStem...maybe