Graduation Getaways

Exciting Celebratory Spots Close to Home

By Natalie Kaar

Ahh, graduation season, such an exciting time! When someone graduates, whether it’s from middle school or medical school, there are lots of reasons for a family to celebrate. And perhaps nothing says celebrating like getting away from all of your responsibilities for awhile to reflect on accomplishments and look forward to the future. Yet given the current economy, that trip to Europe may have to be put on hold. No worries. On the next few pages you’ll find nine desirable nearby destinations that will allow your whole family to dash out of town, while leaving a little cash to go around.

Enticing Options for Outdoor Enthusiasts

If your family loves spending time outdoors, chances are you’ll think the Southern Virginia town of Damascus, about six hours southwest of Washington, D.C., is paradise. As Linda Hughes, broker in charge at Damascus’ High South Realty says of the small-town star, “Once you come to visit here, you’ll really want to stay.”

Nestled in the Virginia Highlands area of the Blue Ridge Mountains with the Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail going right through it, Damascus is known as “Trail Town U.S.A.” While only hiking is allowed on the Appalachian, which extends 2,175 miles from Georgia to Maine, the 34-mile Virginia Creeper allows—and is incredibly popular for—biking as well as hiking and horseback riding. To give you an idea, while the town is home to just over 1,000 residents, the Virginia Creeper draws well over 250,000 visitors per year.

Yet these two trails are only the beginning. Damascus lies at the gateway to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, home to three of the state’s highest peaks, as well as 400 miles of hiking trails. What’s more, the Trans American National Bicycle Trail, the Iron Mountain Trail, the Daniel Boone Trail, the Crooked Road Musical Heritage Trail and Virginia’s Birding & Wildlife Trail are all close by, along with prime opportunities for white-water rafting on Laurel Creek, which offers everything from class I to IV rapids, and fantastic opportunities for equestrians, thanks to the nearby 67-mile Virginia Horse Trail.

Another particularly wallet-friendly destination for outdoor enthusiasts is only a tank of gas away in “Wild, Wonderful West Virginia,” which offers free admission to all but one of its state parks and forests, as well as numerous fairs and festivals throughout the year. And, with exciting new attractions like the 3-D archery course at Cacapon Resort State Park in Berkeley Springs, and bird’s eye-view aerial tours in open-cockpit WWII biplanes offered by Wild Blue Adventure Company, located between Fayetteville and Oak Hill, there is practically no chance of getting bored.

The folks at the West Virginia Division of Tourism also recommend taking time to explore “small-town gems,” including Shepherdstown, for canoeing, kayaking, white-water rafting and historical river tours; Berkeley Springs (one of the nation’s “Top 10 small art towns” according to “AmericanStyle” readers) to check out America’s first spa, Berkeley Springs State Park and downtown shopping (at boutiques, a half dozen galleries and two antique malls with more than 100 dealers); and Elkins, which sits right outside of the Monongahela National Forest, a popular ski area ideal for outdoor enthusiasts year-round thanks to spelunking, hiking, birding, fishing, hunting and white-water rafting opportunities.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay in the Canaan Valley/Monongahela National Forest area, you should certainly consider Black Bear Resort. Individually owned pedestal homes and inn suites with magnificent mountain views are available for rent—with mini golf, tennis courts, an outdoor pool, exercise trails, a fishing pond and a playground on-site.

If looking for an escape even closer by, you should head west on Route 66 to Front Royal, which Jennifer Keck, tourism coordinator for the Front Royal Tourism & Visitors Center, calls “the perfect base camp for exploring the region’s unique outdoor and historical riches.”

Founded in 1788, Front Royal is recognized as the gateway to Shenandoah National Park and the Canoe Capital of Virginia. As Keck says of the one-stop shop destination, “Visitors can enjoy miles of hiking trails and paddling the lazy Shenandoah, command the Civil War sites and experience the charm of our historic downtown.” The area is also home to several wineries, including the new Glen Manor Vineyards; five beautiful golf courses, including the new Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Course; and for the person in your group who is not so outdoorsy, premier pampering at the new Tres’ Bella Day Spa & Boutique.

Prime Places for Those Preferring Pampering & Play
While we began to touch on pampering and play in Front Royal, there are many other remarkable destinations in our region for graduates and their families seeking just that. At the top of that list are Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md.; Goodstone Inn & Estate, in Middleburg; Wisp Resort in McHenry, Md.; and Hershey Resorts, in Hershey, Pa.

At the 2,000-room AAA Four-Diamond rated Gaylord National Resort, located in the heart of the new picturesque riverfront mini-city of National Harbor, recent grads are sure to forget every last detail of even their most dreaded classes, even though they’ve barely left home. Parents will forget all of their worries, too, as the posh resort exudes relaxation, beginning at its Relâche Spa.

One of the largest spas in the region, the chic European setting offers 12 treatment rooms dedicated to specialized services, including a signature Couples’ Suite with floor-to-ceiling windows with a 180-degree panoramic view of the Potomac River and a soaking tub overlooking the Washington Monument. Relâche also features a signature Relaxation Room, steam rooms, a full-service beauty salon and spa boutique, and an indoor Junior Olympic-sized 24-meter lap pool—which in warmer months opens up to the outside. According to Amie Gorrell, director of public relations, this furthers the resort’s philosophy of having “everything in one place.” Speaking of which, you also won’t want to miss Gaylord’s onsite dining gems—four restaurants, featuring everything from award-wining fine dining to casual family spots, to a sports bar with a 30-foot high-definition video wall—or the resort’s hosted activities, such as speedboat tours.

Another exceptional spot for pampering of the refined culinary and lodging variety, still practically in your own backyard, is Middleburg’s luxurious Goodstone Inn & Estate. Not only does Goodstone’s fine-dining restaurant Hilltopper’s feature straight-from-the-farm fare with, according to sales and marketing manager Star Haury, “an element of magic” thanks to esteemed chef Tarver King; at the same time, the estate’s extraordinary multi-bedroom cottages, each with a full kitchen, dining areas and gathering spaces with large comfy couches, practically scream serenity. Talk about a great spot for those hoping to get rid of their end-of-term stress or empty-nest anxiety.

Meanwhile, Wisp Resort, still less than three hours from D.C., is also especially well suited for families seeking pampering and play on a graduation getaway. After all, as Lori Epp, Wisp’s director of marketing points out, “The family can spend time together or apart”—whatever it takes to keep everyone happy. As the kids play in the indoor pool, Dad will be free to golf a round or two, and Mom can relax at the soothing spa. Afterward, everyone can meet up for a mountain coaster ride, white-water course or a guided mountain buggy tour, and then dine together at one of the resort’s restaurants.

Of course, up in Pennsylvania, just over two-and-a-half hours away, is a town that is all about treating guests to the best of all things pampering and play: Hershey, known as The Sweetest Place on Earth. Beginning with pampering, The Spa at The Hotel Hershey is practically legendary, a destination in itself, with sumptuous chocolate spa treatments including the Whipped Cocoa Bath, Chocolate Fondue Wrap and Chocolate Sugar Scrub. And, when it comes to play, not only is Hershey home to Chocolate World and Hersheypark, a world-class amusement park with over 60 rides and attractions; it’s also home to 63 holes of golf including Hershey Country Club, featuring two championship courses, and Spring Creek Golf Course, which was designed with children in mind. What’s more, guests are also afforded the opportunity to catch big-name performers in both Giant Center and Hersheypark Stadium.

Sensational Spots for Those Seeking Sun and Sand
For families who crave sun and sand more than anything else, point that GPS to Virginia Beach. While it sits less than 200 miles from the district, you’ll feel as if you’re a world away there thanks to over 35 miles of beach, a free 3 mile-long boardwalk and activities for everyone in your family—from those seeking outdoor adventure like kayaking with dolphins to those who prefer serene oceanfront dining and those who live for lively boardwalk festivals. Plus, there are exciting new attractions like the Restless Planet exhibit at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center—which is to open May 23 and feature 6,000 new animals.

Besides, depending on whether you prefer to stay in the heart of the resort area or would rather feel as if your family is on a beach of its own, you’ll find overnight accommodations to perfectly suit you. If seeking seclusion, scope out Sanbridge.

To find out more about these destinations including information on special offers, please call or visit the following:

DAMASCUS, VA.
High South Realty, 276-475-9069; www.damascus.org

WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Division of Tourism, 800-CALL WVA
Black Bear Resort, 800-553-2327
Cacapon Resort State Park 3-D Archery Range, 304-258-1022
Wild Blue Adventure Company, 304-574-1150

FRONT ROYAL, VA.
Front Royal Tourism & Visitors Center, 800-338-2576
Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Course, 540-631-3050
Tres’ Bella Day Spa & Boutique,  540-635-2255

Gaylord National Resort, 301-965-2000
Wisp Resort, 301-387-4911
Goodstone Inn & Estate, 877-219-4663
Hershey Resorts, 800-HERSHEY
Virginia Beach, 800-VA-BEACH

(May 2009)

Tags: Black Bear Resort, Damascus, destinations, Front Royal, Gaylord National Resort, Goodstone Inn & Estate, Great Escapes, Hersheypark, outdoor activities, Virginia Beach, West Virginia, Wisp Resort