Do you like to ski? Raleigh blogger Chana Lynn recently vacationed in Canaan Valley, West Virginia. Her photos were so great from her trip that I asked her to share her travels with us today. This rural area of West Virginia looks beautiful, and like me, Chana can always find a good brew or cup of coffee about everywhere she goes. And this may be all the snow I see this year. Enjoy! Leigh
Skiing at Timberline is a little like stepping back in time.
It’s not fancy or high tech, but there is a good variety of slopes to ski and
the resort is ideal for families with young skiers. Our girls have grown up
learning to ski here and have enjoyed getting their bearings here in
preparation for that dream ski trip out West some day. The best thing about
Timberline is they have the longest green/beginner trail in the Mid-Atlantic
called Salamander that is two miles
long and provides amazing views from the top and a great run down the mountain.
Timberline offers nice accommodations where you can actually ski right onto the
slopes. In the Summer months, Timberline offers horseback riding, mountain bike
trails, golf, canoeing on the lake and much more.
If you are into Cross-country skiing, White Grass is a great place with great trails near both Timberline
and Canaan Valley. They also are home to an amazing little café with all
natural, local dishes served up in a cozy little space. Delicious, organic meals
are their specialty.
Before leaving Thomas, you have to make a quick stop at Blackwater Falls. Winter or any season, these Falls are a fun and easy hike down the path where you can view the Falls from several vantage points. In the Winter they are generally frozen over and very cool to see. In the Summer the water comes gushing over the Falls and the cool spray is a welcome relief on hot sunny days. Kids can hike this easily and lots of photo ops here. Bribe them with some ice cream from the Fiddle if you must!
WANT TO GO:
Chana Lynn has lived in Raleigh for the past 12 years working as a Web Designer and Social Media Consultant for several local businesses. Besides working with clients to improve their web and online presence, she is also the creator of RaleighWhatsUp.com, a blog about the latest happenings in Raleigh regarding restaurants, breweries, boutiques, music and other fun city events! Supporting the local businesses is a critical part of making Raleigh the hip and trendy city it is quickly becoming! When not pinning or tweeting, she keeps busy with two active girls, loves traveling, interior design, and spending time with friends and family. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @RaleighWhatsUp.
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Just about every year around Christmas time, we pack up the
car and leave Raleigh in search of “whiter” pastures. This search often has us heading Northwest to
Canaan Valley, West Virginia. Quite rural, and almost untamed, this area is a
diamond in the rough. We have been going to Canaan for the last ten years and
it remains truly “wild and wonderful”. We enjoy spending time “off the grid” here
every year.
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| Picturesque Canaan Valley, WV near Timberline Ski Resort |
The drive from Raleigh to Timberline is around 7 hours, but most of the drive
is highway until the last couple of hours. There are lots of great places to
stop for breaks on the highway including Richmond, Charlottesville, Wintergreen
area and Harrisonburg. Once you hit Canaan Valley, the McDonald’s and Starbucks
give way to beautiful pastures, forests and farmland.
Canaan Valley includes two ski resorts in very close proximity
to each other. Canaan Valley Ski Resort and Timberline
Ski Resort. They are within a mile or so of each other. We are partial to Timberline
because our family has a place up on the mountain.
There are lots of rentals
and a new slope side hotel for lodging. We have always skied at Timberline but
we often take some time at Canaan for some fun snow tubing and ice skating.
Canaan Valley’s snow tubing park has just completed a major renovation, and has
its grand re-opening January 2013!
It’s not just the skiing, sledding and snow tubing that
brings us here every year in the Winter (all seasons are amazing here by the
way!!), it’s also the two local towns of Davis
and Thomas. We always make time to
drive into the quaint post-industrial towns of Davis and Thomas every time we
are up here. It’s about a ten mile drive from the ski resorts, but well worth
it.
DAVIS, WV
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| Siriannis Cafe in Davis, WV |
In Davis, we make our usual stop for pizza at Siriannis. Located on the main drag,
they offer up delicious specialty pizza and local craft beer on tap. The place
is very homey and it’s always a warm cozy spot on a freezing cold winter
evening! The place can get very busy during the ski season and they do not take
reservations. First come first served! They also DO NOT take credit cards, and
it’s important to know that so you don’t get stuck driving across town looking for
an ATM! But, try and make time for lunch or dinner there, it’s delicious. Davis
also offers Hellbenders Burritos and
Boomtown Java for your specialty
coffees.
THOMAS, WV
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| The Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV |
Just about two miles further from Davis is the town of
Thomas. Lots to fill an afternoon or evening here!
Purple Fiddle is
a highlight in downtown Thomas. “The Fiddle” always has high quality live music
lined up and their food is delicious. Local micro brews are on tap and fabulous
homemade ice cream make this a must stop for the whole family.
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| Tip Top Cafe in Thomas, WV |
Depending on the
weather, there is indoor and outdoor seating.
Just down from the Purple Fiddle is a new place called Tip Top Café. They are a wine bar,
coffee bar and also serve up a small menu of tasty treats. They do a great job
of offering up fresh, quality food and drink. There are several other new food,
drink and shopping establishments starting to pop up along the main drag nearby
such as Gargantuan Emporium and Flying Pigs Cafe that we look forward
to checking out during our next visit.
Before leaving Thomas, you have to make a quick stop at Blackwater Falls. Winter or any season, these Falls are a fun and easy hike down the path where you can view the Falls from several vantage points. In the Winter they are generally frozen over and very cool to see. In the Summer the water comes gushing over the Falls and the cool spray is a welcome relief on hot sunny days. Kids can hike this easily and lots of photo ops here. Bribe them with some ice cream from the Fiddle if you must!
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| Mountain State Brewing |
After the hike, you may need to refuel and
hydrate, so consider stopping off at Mountain
State Brewing for an excellent craft beer off the taps. We often fill a
growler to take back to the cabin with us. Winter hours can be a little tricky,
so check their hours on Facebook or their website before stopping by the
brewery. Fill up a growler or have a drink at the bar. We always end up having
some great conversations with other folks and we have had many fun, unexpected adventures
here in the Summer or the Winter.
If you enjoy handmade crafty items, nearby MountainMade is worth a stop. Local crafters
and artisans offer up beautiful art, jewelry, ceramics, food, textiles, etc.
This is a great place to stop and pick up a unique gift or simply something to
remember your mountain trip.
.jpg) |
| Artistic benches in Thomas, WV |
Overall, if you are looking for an opportunity to truly get
away from it all, leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind for a few
days and discover Canaan Valley. It is definitely worth the drive to make your
escape to this beautiful WV mountain destination and reacquaint yourself with a
renewed appreciation for a slower pace and natural beauty.
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