Travels With Fred

Breaking Away…In Your Own Backyard

            With the holidays behind us, a winter chill upon us and 2006 stretching out before us, it is the perfect time to begin planning this year’s family road trips. Many people dream of Caribbean cruises or Mexican villas. I dream about lush Virginia hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic overlooks, roadside picnics, quaint country restaurants, antiquing, boating, sparkling mountain lakes and historic battlefields. 

                Living at Smith Mountain Lake affords us many opportunities for travel and recreation, whether here on the Lake, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Highlands, in neighboring Central Virginia or the Shenandoah Valley. Within a few hours we can visit and enjoy some of the most beautiful sites in the country – day trips designed to enrich our lives, fulfill our dreams or challenge our skills. While our schedule is not yet complete, my wife and I are planning a day trip this winter to Wintergreen Resort, a trip this spring to Appomattox and Poplar Forest and a trip this summer to revisit Mountain Lake. I’ll report back and share these experiences with you in future issues of the Laker.

                Quality day trips begin with planning. Here at the Lake you can take advantage of the resources available at the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, conveniently located at Bridgewater Plaza. First, pick up a Virginia map. They are up to date, well designed and loaded with valuable information.  Next, take a copy of the 2006 Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide and then begin your search for interesting travel brochures. Be sure to get copies of the Shenandoah Valley Travel Guide and Outdoor Adventures, a guide to recreation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you have specific questions, ask one of the Visitor Center’s knowledgeable volunteers, who are prepared to answer your questions and help you navigate the many reference areas. Later, in the comfort of your home, relax, pour yourself a beverage and begin to unfold the many wonders of Virginia.

                But wait, that’s only the beginning. Once you’ve made some choices, you can go online and visit web sites for more detail – driving directions, current activity calendar, virtual tours, restaurant reviews and more. With all this information in hand you are well prepared to make a decision that will lead to an enjoyable day for you and you family.

                I consider a comfortable day trip location no more than three hours from home, preferably less. This provides sufficient time to explore and enjoy the site and return home at a reasonable hour. Along the way you may discover places you would like to revisit or plan for an extended stay in the future.

                    What’s your pleasure? Do you enjoy skiing? Consider Wintergreen Resort featuring snow sports for every age. Looking for natural beauty? Consider Natural Bridge, a Virginia historic landmark located in the Shenandoah Valley, easily combined with a side trip to the Peaks of Otter. History? Consider Appomattox, where our nation reunited, or Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, the Bedford County plantation he called “the most valuable of my possessions.” And for a day of family recreation, Mountain Lake Resort offers hiking, boating, fishing and exploring. These are but a few of the day trips you can enjoy right here - in your own backyard.