By Bob Tagert & Lani Gering With June ranking as one of the most popular months for weddings, we decided to take a drive over the Blue Ridge Mountains at Thornton Gap to spend the night at Shadow Mountain Escape and to talk to Karen and Ralph Riddle about their new specialty – elopements. Karen is an ordained officiant so not only do they provide a romantic getaway, they can perform the ceremony right on their gorgeous property. There are so many amazing places on this acreage it would be difficult to choose the exact place for your nuptials. They are quickly filling a popular niche for those couples wanting to avoid the hullabaloo of a traditional wedding. It is always nice to visit Shadow Mountain and enjoy this secluded place off of Skyline Drive. You might remember reading about SME in our February 2021 issue. Ralph and Karen had a dream of making a couples retreat and building romantic timber frame cabins and they both came true. On their 25-acre property they have built their home as well as four charming cabins. Inspired by their European heritage and many years of living in Europe they have brought a touch of traditional Europe to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The cabins were raised by old world craftsmanship and made from solid oak timbers that were harvested on the property and completed with old world joinery and hand forged iron all around. While the cabins are fantastic, the best part of staying here is Karen and Ralph. They are two of the coolest people you will meet anywhere. As we learned, the town of Luray has recently experienced a revitalization with some much needed new businesses opening. It has been in dire need of eating establishments for the last couple of years….
By Bob Tagert With the early arrival of warm temperatures this year, we decided to take a Road Trip to the Atlantic Beaches and visit the bustling town of Rehoboth, Delaware. For those of you who grew up here, like myself, you probably discovered the Atlantic Ocean by first going to Ocean City, Maryland on some sort of spring break or with the family for a beach weekend. It was always an ordeal, especially on warm weekends. Back then, there was only one Bay Bridge and there were tolls to pay going each way. This always led to impromptu parties in the backup. The second span was completed in 1973 and in the last few years the toll booths have been eliminated. This has all but eliminated traffic backups except when there is a massive volume of vehicles trying to make their way to the beaches. On the Wednesday that we travelled to Rehoboth, there was very little traffic and we made the 260 miles in under three hours. We could not have picked a more perfect April 12th – weather wise. Arriving a little before check in, we decided to hit Dewey Beach for a quick lunch. Our first choice, the Starboard, wasn’t open so we chose a new place…Woody’s Dewey Beach. This place is fantastic. Great food at a good price with a very casual bar with plenty of seating and an extremely friendly and engaging staff. Next time we are there we are trying out their famous crab cakes. After a nice lunch we continued on to the Plaza. The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel is a Victorian style hotel situated right on the boardwalk a block and a half from the ocean front bandstand on the main drag. The hotel is absolutely beautiful and you will get that…
By Bob Tagert With sunny skies and temperatures forecast into the mid 70’s, we decided it was a good time to return to the Blue Ridge Mountains and what lies between. For those of you who read this column every month, you already know that we return to this area often and it is always an adventure. This time we decided to take a few days, so we made our reservations at 29 Main in Sperryville and followed the sun. Unlike our previous trips, I will not begin this article by complaining about Route 66. They have finally completed the widening and addition of express lanes and this trip is a breeze. Granted, this wasn’t rush hour, but the traffic flowed at or above the speed limit with no problems whatsoever. I remember when there was no Route 66 and the only road out this way was Route 55, which exists today and is a nice road to drive if you are not in a hurry. Our first stop was Barrel Oak Winery which is right off of Route 66 in Delaplane. A longtime favorite and great advertiser of ours, the winery was sold about eight months ago and the new owners have put some resources into the main building as well as the rest of the property. The tasting room has new lighting and a fresh look. Their brewery is still producing enhancing the experience for everyone. On cold days, Barrel Oak has the absolute best stone fire place in the state. We ordered a bottle of their Vidal Blanc, a hearty grape that did not go through malolactic fermentation which made for a bright, clean wine. It helped us segway into the laid back, country mood after our slot-car run on Route 66. Leaving Barrel Oak we picked…
By Bob Tagert With February temperatures spring like, we decided to take a road trip to Mathews, Virginia and stay at the Inn at Tabbs Creek. After years of sailing my own boat and sailing with others I had heard a lot about the maritime history of Mathews County. During the 18th and 19th centuries, more than 2,000 vessels were built in Mathews. The demand for sailing ships increased during the Revolutionary War and the industry dominated in the county until before the Civil War. During this time period, more vessels were constructed in Mathews than anywhere else in Virginia. The history of Gloucester and Mathews counties revolves around the Chesapeake Bay and those who worked its waters for generations. Those old enough to recall the days when buy boats came in and out of the harbors will tell you that many of the vessels were crafted by local boatbuilders. Today, there are those who work to keep the history of these artisans and their boats from being forgotten. Mathews and Gloucester counties lie along the Chesapeake Bay and are bordered by the Rappahannock and the York Rivers. There are a number of routes to take to get there. We decided to avoid I-95 and Fredericksburg and chose to head into Maryland, take route 5 south to Waldorf and continue down Route 301, across the Potomac River, across the Rappahannock River and into Port Royal. From there we picked up Route 17, the “Tidewater Trail” and headed south. After traveling for about 45 minutes you will come to the county seat and you can either take route 3 or continue on 17. As you go deeper into the county you will need a good map or GPS. Here the driving is like Rappahannock County…no traffic lights and spotty internet service….
By Bob Tagert …sort of. This month’s Road Trip started out as a day trip but by the time we reached Annapolis, we decided to stay the night. It was a good decision all the way around. Having more time in Annapolis is always a bonus. About forty years ago, when I still had a motorcycle, I would take day trips to the waterfront towns in Maryland. One of my favorite stops was the Swamp Circle Saloon. A bawdy kind of place and very inexpensive. It is no longer there, but we decided to take the drive to see who remained. Our first stop took us to Deale, Maryland on Tracy’s Creek and Happy Harbor Restaurant. Happy Harbor has been there alongside the creek as long as I can remember. As one comment read, “Great local place that is no frills, but good food with realistic pricing. If you’re looking for a local place to enjoy some live music without breaking the bank, get happy and happy harbor. Try the crushes, there’s enough variety to keep you coming back for a while!” This truly is a view into the life of folks in Deale. Hard working, fun loving people that know what it is all about. Happy Harbor has their own charter fishing operation and story has it the captain always finds the fish. On our day there, the place was standing room only but we found two seats at the far end of the bar. Our bartender was Peggy who is fantastic. Clearly she is part of the fabric which is Happy Harbor. The earlier quote was accurate. The price of the drinks alone encourage you to stay. Once you settle in, it is hard to leave…but we did. Our next stop was Skippers Pier – across and a…
By Bob Tagert As is our practice every January, we revisit our Road Trips from the previous year. In 2022 we were finally able to hit the road with less worry about masking up and the stigma of the pandemic lightened up. Whew! February – Harrisonburg, VA February found us on the road to Harrisonburg in the central Shenandoah Valley of the Commonwealth. The city has come to represent a large community of ethnic and linguistic diversity in recent years. Over 1,900 refugees have been settled in Harrisonburg since 2002. Language learning software Rosetta Stone was founded in Harrisonburg in 1992 and the multilingual “Welcome Your Neighbor” yard sign originated in Harrisonburg in 2016. This part of the Commonwealth is home to James Madison University and Massanutten Ski Resort. It is also in close proximity to the Shenandoah Wine Trail wineries and lots of outdoor activities. The food scene in Harrisonburg is as diverse as its residents – a good place for you “foodies” to visit. March – Leonardtown, Maryland We decided to “Rediscover a most Exceptional Place”…Leonardtown. Many of you may recognize the name Leonardtown since it is famous for sponsoring the annual oyster-shucking championships held at the St. Mary’s County fairgrounds. Although most of Southern Maryland is surrounded by water, the only water access to Leonardtown is Breton Bay which leads to the Potomac River. Today, historic Leonardtown remains the only incorporated municipality in St. Mary’s County with its own elected mayor and town council. The town is experiencing a renaissance of its downtown as witnessed by the recent and continued openings of several new restaurants and businesses, some which are located in historic buildings. The ever changing Leonardtown Wharf is open as a public attraction for both locals and tourists, Facilities for boating, kayaking and canoeing are…
By Bob Tagert We have been writing Road Trip articles for at least 30 of the almost 35 years we’ve been in publication. They began as a story about a destination near Alexandria. Then we got into Day Tripping when I had my 1974 Fiat Spider which was perfect for a day’s excursion. As our publication grew we expanded our focus and ventured farther out. Most of these involved an overnight stay near the destination and in fact, sometimes the destination was the the place we stayed. Our recent visit to the beautiful Swanendele Inn in Southern Maryland is a good example. A number of years ago we decided to write about our beautiful Old Town Alexandria every December as this is a time to stay home with family and friends…Welcome Home. I will start with a brief history of what it was like when I arrived in 1977. Old Town was approximately six blocks long. It was King Street from the Potomac River to Washington Street. There were a few restaurants on the other side of Washington Street but only a few…the concentration was near the water in the old seaport town which was founded in 1749. Old Town, as we know it today, was in its infancy. The town’s daring merchants transformed a neglected area and gave it a heartbeat. When I arrived, there was live music in almost every restaurant, mostly local folks playing their own music while covering favorite songs for their dedicated customers. Parking was plentiful and pedestrian traffic was minimal…but what a good time! Today, over time and like the Old Town Crier, things have changed. The town is now one of the most vibrant waterfront cities on the east coast. Some of the places that provided music are now gone replaced by more…
By Bob Tagert For this month’s Road Trip we decided to head south in St. Mary’s County to where the water meets the road where our ultimate overnight goal was Swanendele Inn in Ridge. The drive down Maryland Route 5 is about one and a half hours through St. Mary’s County and it takes you past scarred fields from this year’s harvest and the many remaining tobacco Barns from the days when Maryland was a top producer of tobacco. In comparison to those barns standing like headstones to a lost industry, you will pass beautiful Amish farms and maybe catch a wave to an Amish family out for a buggy ride. When we arrived at the town of Ridge we turned into the driveway of the Inn and were met by owner Gerald Meyerman. This proper Dutchman walked with us to the front entrance and explained that Swanendele was Dutch for “Valley of Swans”” and named after the resident pair of swans. The property was purchased in 2001 by Meyerman and his wife Victoria O’Hara – Alexandria residents at the time. The couple were impressed by the natural beauty of St. Mary’s County and the property features 800 feet of waterfront on St. Jerome Creek. The couple planned and built the Inn between professional assignments overseas, resulting in the opening of Swanendele Inn in June of 2019. Although the Inn resembles a beautiful building from yesteryear, the house also features modern systems and conveniences, including geothermal heating and cooling, ultraviolet filters in all air handling units while preserving the warmth of a large loved and lived in family home. Both Gerald and Vicky have lived and worked all over the world in professional capacities. The furnishings and artwork at Swanendele represent the many destinations of their travels. On one of…
By Bob Tagert To get a jump on the folks seeking fall foliage in October, we hopped on the Potomac Eagle for a leisurely trip through the heart of the West Virginia Potomac Highlands and the South Branch of the Potomac River in Romney. The vintage diesel locomotive took us on a three hour round trip ride through the beautiful mountains and fields that border the South Branch of the Potomac. The journey begins at Wappocomo Station located next to a charming homestead and a sprawling view of the mountains. Once you get out of the station, the train tracks are about 25 to 50 feet back from the river. The summer foliage that we encountered made for difficult views of the river except when the train came to the occasional clearing and then views of the rapids and kayakers were spectacular. Although the foliage was dense in some spots, by the time this column is read, fall will be upon us and the leaves will have started to turn and begin to fall. Since October and November in the West Virginia Highlands will be colder, the viewing will be much better as well as more colorful. Soon the fields and pastures began to disappear as the mountains closed in on the river from both sides. We had entered a part of the canyon named The Trough. The Trough is a 6-mile long wooded gorge carved by the river as it continues northwestern course with several bends in the river and large boulders dislocated from the ridges above dotting its shores. The steep slopes of the Trough are forested primarily with oaks, hickories, Virginia pine and large quantities of paw paw; with several rock outcrops visible on both sides. The two wooded ridges that define the Trough make it inaccessible…
By Bob Tagert So what is Glamping? Glamping is short for “glamorous camping” and has become a mainstay of outdoor recreation over the past decade. If your essential list contains things such as a real mattress, running water or an actual toilet, you can still find numerous options that bridge the gap between traditional camping and the comforts of home. Last month we returned to one of our favorite places, the Shenandoah Valley near Luray, Virginia. We are familiar with both sides of the mountain at Thornton Gap since we do the Blue Ridge distribution each month. Our normal route is to come in on the east side at Sperryville and then cross the mountain into Luray. This we did, and when we reached Spacious Skies Shenandoah Valley Campground we discovered that it was only a few hundred feet from Route 340 which runs between Luray and Front Royal. When we returned home we took Route 340 north to Front Royal and then picked up Interstate-66. This reduced the driving time substantially. A very pleasant discovery. We like to take every back road possible on our treks to Road Trip destinations and then the “fastest” way back on the trip home. The good thing about “Waze” and GPS is that you can pick and choose part of your route coming and going. The Grounds. Spacious Skies Shenandoah Valley is a serene slice of heaven, conveniently located just 20 minutes off I-81 and about four miles from Skyline Drive and Thornton Gap. The complex is nestled in the farmland atop a hill. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the views are spectacular. The campground is close to Luray Caverns, the famed Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, the Shenandoah River and several Civil War sites. In addition to camp sites and…
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