By Bob Tagert

As most of our readers know that we go on and write about a Road Trip every month. Over the years, our trips have ranged from a day trip around the DMV to two weeks as far away as the island of St. John in the USVI to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. With each January issue we do a brief recap of last year’s trips just to remind you where we’ve been. Let’s get started.

FEBRUARY – Shadow Mountain Escape, Luray, Virginia

February took us back to one of our favorite destinations where “Love is in the Air” – the couples only Shadow Mountain Escape.

Over the years that we have known Ralph and Karen Riddle, they and Shadow Mountain have become one of our favorite destinations. You will find SME about two miles on the Luray side of the Thornton Gap entrance to Skyline Drive on Jewell Hollow Road. The brainchild and lifelong dream of Karen and Ralph Riddle, the name SME comes from the name of the tracts (Shadow Mountain tracts) of land that were originally subdivided within Jewell Hollow. The Riddles added the term “Escape” to invoke a sense of the underlying purpose behind their effort. In an attempt to provide an environment conducive to happiness and fulfillment, they focused on exposing the beauty and spirit of the natural landscape and the remarkable life that flourishes there.

There are four cabins located on the fifteen-acre property. In celebration of the abundant wildlife, all of the cabins were given indigenous “bug names”. The Bear Dance Lodge was the first rental built on the property and the two cabins were named Dragon Fly and Bumble Bee. The Butterfly loft was opened in 2003 and the final rental, the Ladybug, was completed in 2011. For added adventure the couple incorporated “La Cantina” in the basement of the Bear Dance Lodge which was inspired by their many visits to Europe. Their intent was to capture the special atmosphere for their guests that they found only in the authentic settings of a German “Stube” or a Tuscan “La Cantina”!

MARCH – Snow Days in Virginia Beach, Virginia

In March we decided to head to Virginia Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. This Road Trip would serve two purposes, we could stay at Virginia Beach and also visit the Virginia Beach Murphy’s Pub to interview the owner, Tom Mooney who also owns Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub here in Old Town. We did check the weather forecast before leaving and were surprised that eighteen inches of snow were forecast for Virginia Beach. As it turns out, the City took the warning seriously and advised business and attractions to close until the storm passed so we weren’t able to go to the aquarium or other destinations we had planned on visiting. We had to switch gears and treat this trip like an extended snow day adventure. We arrived at the Ocean Sands Resort (we don’t really recommend this place) after a four-and-a-half drive. We checked into our room and went to the Waterman’s Surfside Grill at the south end of town. Waterman’s dates back to the 1960’s and also was the craze beginning of the Orange Crush drink. Lani ordered the “skinny ruby aka grapefruit” version. I selected a Copper Fox Rye whiskey. As Waterman’s closes at 10pm we drove back to Murphy’s Pub to meet with Tom Mooney and his wife Ann. We enjoyed a nice dinner and some Irish libations and then headed back to our room. As we turned on the weather channel, there was Jim Cantore broadcasting from the beach in Virginia Beach. Not a good sign.

On the third day, the snow was really no problem as the wind blew much away. We hit the road and slowly left Virginia Beach and headed home.

APRIL – The Blue Ridge Mountains Skyline Drive

We hit some old stomping grounds as we headed to Skyline Drive. Spring is a good time to hit Skyline and Shenandoah National Park. There is less traffic and the mountain is waking up after the cold of winter. Spring is the time of renewal and new beginnings. Leaves begin to show up on trees that have been bare all winter and pop up of color can be seen in the brown leaf piles. Wildlife has been tucked away during the colder months begin to appear, and a wide array of migratory bird species take refuge in the Shenandoah’s during their long trip north.

Although the countryside was still a bit brown, the views were amazing as the sky was clear with abundant sunshine. Looking east we saw the Piedmont region of Virginia including a few towns. On the other side of the road and looking west was the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, a few small towns and the magnificent Shenandoah River meandering its way through the valley before the leaves and other foliage block the view.

MAY – Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Rehoboth, Delaware

May took us to Rehoboth Beach and the beautiful Boardwalk Plaza Hotel. Our intent of visiting Rehoboth in April is to take advantage of the amenities of a beach town in the early months of the season. Once the Atlantic shore towns were only busy in the summer months. Not so anymore. With the boom of construction and population, Rehoboth is now a year-round rocking town. It is slower in the shoulder months but most businesses remain open. Upon entering the beautiful lobby of the Boardwalk Plaza we are greeted by their great staff and the three parrots that patrol the lobby area. Emro IV is top parrot with Moose and Peanut also clamoring for attention and talking up a storm.

Adjacent to the lobby is their popular grotto…a large pool-like hot tub which is open for use day and night and is connected to a small sitting pool on the boardwalk. The Grotto is off limits for the younger crowd at night but available for all adults. Upon checking in we were given an ocean front suite on the fourth floor which is only for adults. During the shoulder seasons this is nice but during the summer months when the place is buzzing with kids, it is essential. They give you a special key card that will access the fourth floor from the elevator. Another nice touch is that only the fourth floor can access the hot tubs on the roof. This is a bonus.

Our first stop is usually Nalu for a cocktail and the bacon wrapped pineapple chunks…mmmm good. Then we hit the Purple Parrot for happy hour. We then returned to the Plaza in order to catch local musician, Keith Mack, who was playing in the Tavern. We got wrapped up in the music and nixed our plans for a nice dinner at the Plaza but Lani saved the day and made the trek down the boardwalk to a beach staple…Grotto Pizza! They never disappoint.

Some of the bonuses of the shoulder season is occupancy, less crowds and parking is free and as has happened to us, we have had 70-degree days and the first sunburn of the year.

JUNE – U.S. National Arboretum

We decided to stay close to home in June. At the suggestion of one of our readers, we ventured into the “City” to the U.S. National Arboretum and spent the afternoon. We ended up going on a Saturday before the Memorial Day weekend and parking at the Visitors Center meant making a few “loops” around the lot but on the third spin we garnered a space as close to up front as you could get without parking in a handicap space. I had never been to the Arboretum and the last time Lani went was in 1985 when she was on a 2-year assignment with the USDA. We are both losers…it really is a nice place that is less than a 1/2 hour drive from Old Town Alexandria. Lani took in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the National Herb Garden that was adjacent to the Visitors Center while I enjoyed sitting around the aquatic plants exhibit outside and watching hundreds of Koi fish swim around the enormous pond. There were several families and groups picnicking and a good number of folks walking and jogging the grounds.

The 451 acres of rolling forested terrain, including Mt. Hamilton offers commanding views of the Capitol from one of the city’s highest points, expansive meadows, and the restored Spring House Run riparian habitat. Nine miles of winding roadways and many more paths connect the gardens and natural areas across the grounds. The grounds of the National Arboretum are open very day of the year except Christmas Day.

JULY – Berks County & Reading, Pennsylvania

In July we decided to visit Berks County in Pennsylvania. Our decision was influenced by the Berks County marketing folks so we contacted Lisa Haggerty, the Marketing Director and she arranged two nights for us at the Hilton Double Tree in Reading. Pronounced “Redding” just in case anyone out there was curious. On our drive up we did make time to stop in Wrightsville to stretch our legs and enjoy a very nice lunch at the John Wright Store and Restaurant along the beautiful Susquehanna River. It is a beautiful spot with a view of the remains of the second Columbia Wrightsville Bridge that was destroyed during the Civil War to keep the Confederates from crossing the water.

Our accommodations at the Double Tree were very comfortable even though it was going through some renovations. The hotel is in the middle of town and near just about everything. The Cheers American Bistro is their in-house eatery and includes a nice pub that offers indoor and outdoor eating and a full-service bar. The bar deserves a special mention. I ordered a Beefeaters martini that was served in a substantial glass and chilled to perfection and garnished with a lemon twist. I enjoyed every minute of it! The best part came when I got the tab. I experienced “reverse’ sticker shock. What usually cost me $16 to $20 in Old Town was only $8 at the Double Tree…Score! As our two days progressed, we were continually amazed at the affordability in Reading. Lisa gave us a few ideas for dinner, so we took a walk down the main street.

We had planned on following the popular Berks County Covered Bridge tour on our second day but the weather was iffy and we weren’t that high on touring in the rain so we just started driving and ended up in the small burrough of Spring Ridge. We were lucky. The weather held and we found a beach-like place in the mountains – Jimmy G’s Beverly Hills Tavern. Surrounded by an aging wooden fence is piles of white sand that was trucked into the mountains and made to look like a beach resort with a Tiki-style bar located in the middle. This place was unreal…nothing but green hill sides outside of this oasis of fun and sand. When we return, we plan on exploring more of the County.

AUGUST – Luray Caverns, Luray, Virginia

In August, we escaped Washington’s summer heat for the coolness of the amazing Luray Caverns. The Caverns are a must see on anyone’s adventure list. Whether the temperature in the valley is hot or cold, the Caverns maintain a temperature of 58 degrees F year-round. Also, the outdoor temperature is usually ten degrees cooler in the mountains than the valley. It will take you the better part of a day to see all that the Caverns have to offer, but there is so much more.

The Garden Maze is claimed to be the largest hedge maze in the Mid-Atlantic States. The Garden Maze is a one-acre ornamental garden with over 1500 Evergreen hedges that create a half-mile pathway that diverges at over 4o points. The Rope Adventure Park is a true workout for all ages. There are two levels that enables participants to grow at an individual or team level, exploring risk, self-discovery, communication, problem-solving, and coaching. While every step is an adventure in the Caverns, one of the most memorable sights is Mirror Lake. This is an area of still water that reflects the stalactites hanging from above. With no air movement in the Caverns there is no wind to disturb the water, thus forming a natural mirror. It is amazing. Luray is about a 2-hour drive from D.C. and you can find accommodations at both Sperryville or Luray. It is definitely worth an overnight stay.

SEPTEMBER – Love Ridge Mountain Lodging, Nelson County, Virginia

For our September adventure, we decided to head south to the mountains of Nelson County and spend a couple of nights at Love Ridge Mountain Lodging outside the town of Love, Virginia. We also decided to make our drive down to Love Ridge a real adventure and picked up Skyline Drive at Thornton Gap near Sperryville and then continued to the end and picked up the Blue Ridge Parkway to mile post 16 right before Love Ridge. With a speed limit of 45 mph on these beautiful back roads we knew it would be a long trip.

Our cabin was one of the first we came to. A rustic, well appointed, one room cabin with back and side porches as well as a grill and fire ring out back. Lani had preordered a snack basket of cheeses. meats and other tasty items that was accompanied by a bottle of Gabriele Rausse’s Malbec wine. We opened the wine and settled in.

We used the cabins wifi to access the internet and find directions to Wintergreen Resort where we went for dinner. We were at an elevation of 2800 feet and our Verizon cell service was spotty at best. Also, signage on the Parkway is minimal as no commercial signage is allowed. We entered the Wintergreen Property and headed for The Edge restaurant. We sat at a high top near the bar where we had a nice view of the cloudy mountain and also a good view of the young man playing music. We ordered dinner and settled in listening to the music.

After dinner we made our way back to the cabin and made a nice fire in the fire ring. I lit up a nice John Crouch cigar and we finished the wine. A perfect ending for a long day.

The next day we set out to explore Nellysford and the Nelson 151 Craft Beverage Trail. It is a trail composed of 7 wineries, 6 breweries, 3 cideries and 4 distilleries. Thinking the Trail was right up our alley, we decided to hit a distillery. A few miles up the road in Afton, Virginia we stopped in at the Silverback Distillery. Silverback is the only mother, daughter distillery in the nation. I was first struck by the incredible packaging of their products. In keeping with the Silverback theme, the vodka bottle has a Silverback gorilla and the gin bottle has a colorful baboon on the inside back of the bottles. Very impressive. I then bought a bottle of each for the collective bottles.

Our last night at the cabin was the best. With the clouds seemingly resting on our shoulders, we used some old Old Town Crier issues to start our fire, as we invited our new Silverback friends to be our cocktails. In the glow of the fire and the smooth taste of the drink, we noticed the mist about us. It became clear that we were now immersed in the cloud. As the mist began to collect on the tree leaves above us, they soon became drops of water that began to lightly fall. It was magical, something you would expect on a cloudy night at 2800 feet.

OCTOBER – The Avenue Inn & Spa, Rehoboth, Delaware

Our October Road Trip took us to the other shoulder season in Rehoboth. Unlike our earlier trip, this time our destination was the The Avenue Inn & Spa. The fall season is much like the spring season…parking rates are reduced or eliminated for the season and it is less crowded. While not a busy as the summertime, there are events like the True Blue Jazz Fest and the Sea Witch Festival in October. Both of these events draw a lot of people to Rehoboth in the Fall.

The “Avenue” is in the heart of town and only one block from the boardwalk and beach. After checking in and partaking of the nightly wine & cheese social, we headed toward the beach and back to our fav – Nalu for all day Sunday Happy Hour and those bacon wrapped pineapple chunks. They have the NFL Ticket in the fall so we were able to take in a couple of games. We hit up the Purple Parrot for dinner and a nightcap.

The Avenue Inn & Spa is a historic, family-owned hotel located at 33 Wilmington Avenue – the lobby can be accessed from Rehoboth Avenue as well. Known for its friendly service, clean rooms and prime location, it also has the most comfortable beds ever. The Avenue offers a variety of rooms and suites. In addition to a pool, sun deck and gym, complimentary amenities like full breakfast and nightly wine and cheese social and 8pm cookies are offered. It is one of the few places that have complimentary beach chairs, towels and free shuttle service to and from the beach. Another thing that sets this hotel apart is the blackboard in the lobby that is updated daily with events and specials taking place at restaurants close to the Inn.

It is always a pleasure to visit the beach-brings back old memories and gives us a chance to create new ones. Book a room at The Avenue. Park in their free garage and everything is within walking distance.

NOVEMBER – The Art Cottage by the Bay, Solomons Island, Maryland

November found us on Solomons Island. With a little planning we were able to secure Carmen Nance Gambril’s rental, The Art Cottage by the Bay. This quaint cottage is located right behind Carmen’s Gallery between the main drag and the water of The Narrows. It is the perfect place to stay as it is within walking distance of the majority of shops and restaurants on the island. There is no need to get into your vehicle that is very conveniently parked next to your front door. If you are looking to buy some art or a cool place to stay, check out Carmen’s Gallery and the Cottage.

We have known Carmen for many years and know how passionate she is about her art and gallery, but also about fellow islanders and all of her wonderful animals, mostly cats. This time of year, doesn’t lend itself to very pretty landscaping but the view from the bedroom and backyard is still spectacular. Blue water everywhere. There is much to see and do in Solomons – the Calvert Marine Museum, Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, On Watch statue and Cove Point Light House for starters.

DECEMBER – Home for the Holidays – Old Town Alexandria

We always aspire to feature our very own Old Town in December. The holiday décor is impressive and the Scottish Walk is the highlight of the season with the parade and all things Scottish-related in the many activities of that weekend. Lots going on down in the 100 Block of King Street and along the waterfront. Old Town has even been touted as a place deserving of a Hallmark Christmas movie setting by some. Mark your calendars for a visit in 2026!