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Popular Wintergreen Tips….
Kim Chappell is a
graduate from the Realtor Institute and is an
agent with Wintergreen Resort Premier
Properties, the official real estate office of
Wintergreen Resort. Kim also lists and sells
property in beautiful Nelson County. Contact
Kim Chappell at
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com or
434-238-2430. The Free Daily Blog is posted on
both
www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com and
www.ExperienceWintergreen.com
Nelson County Photo
Tours
Today’s
post is actually a photo tour of Nelson County.
Below are links to two tours. Sit back and
watch the tours…
Nelson County Photo Tour:
Click on this link to watch
a photo tour of Nelson County:
http://www.ubuildtours.com/natour.php?id=14DD
Wintergreen Resort Real Estate Tour:
Click on this link to see real estate listed for
sale in Wintergreen Resort:
http://www.ubuildtours.com/tour.php?id=16E2
New Wintergreen Web
Site Launches
I am happy to announce the
launch of a new “Kim Chappell” web site
dedicated to activities and real estate in
Wintergreen Resort. The new web site can be
found at
www.ExperienceWintergreen.com Of course,
the legacy web site at
www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com will
continue. The Nelson County web site receives
hundreds of visitors each week.
The Free Daily Blog and
Blog Archive will be posted on both web sites
every morning. The Blog has over a thousand
readers every week. Both web sites will receive
some upgrades in August to include some new
features and benefits.
The new web site has
information about activities in Wintergreen
Resort. The activities are divided between
Summer and Winter on the site. In the Winter
section, we are in the process of building
sections on skiing, tubing and the Terrain
Park. Ski season is forecasted to open the last
week of November, and we will be posting
count-down information.
The web site,
www.ExperienceWintergreen.com, also has a
search feature to browse real estate listings.
There is also a showcased property of the week
in the upper right corner of the home page.
Click on the photo to read information about the
property. Real Estate is divided between
condos, houses and building lots. There is also
a special section for properties in Stoney
Creek.
Starting for Labor Day,
there will be special holiday banners on both
home pages. Click on the banner to read the
schedule of activities. The holiday activity
guides are one of the most popular “attractions”
on the Experience Nelson web site.
I have FREE kits about
Nelson County and Wintergreen Resort. The kits
include information about Summer activities,
wineries, real estate and lodging. To request a
kit, send an email to
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com. Also, send
me any questions about Nelson County or
Wintergreen Resort. It is reader’s questions
that provide topics for this daily blog.
Experience
Wintergreen on Twitter
What
is Twitter? It is a “social media” like blogs,
Facebook and My Space. Twitter allows the
poster to post a mini-blog quickly to the web or
directly to the phones or PDAs of those who want
to follow the stories.
The New York Times calls
Twitter, “one of the fastest-growing phenomena
on the Internet”. And we are going to be using
Twitter to bring Wintergreen Resort to you every
day.
Visit
www.Twitter.com to sign up to follow
ExpWintergreen.
How will “Experience
Wintergreen” use Twitter:
Snow Reports: Know when
the natural snow falls in Wintergreen Resort
Ski & Ride Reports live
from the slopes
Live reports from
restaurants, wineries and micro-breweries
Live reports from events or
announcements of upcoming events
You decide how to receive
Twitter. You can get updates pushed to your
computer (through an RSS Feed), you can check
out the Twitter web site to follow
ExpWintergreen or you can have Twitter push our
updates directly to your phone, BlackBerry or
PDA by instant message. ExpWintergreen launches
TODAY on Twitter. Join in the fun.
Wintergreen’s Name
If you are interested in
learning about the history of Nelson County,
Heartbeats of Nelson is a “must read” book by
Paul Saunders. I first purchased the book
because my great grandfather Houston Loving of
Roseland is mentioned a few times. The book has
provided hours of reading about Nelson County
for our whole family.
A copy of the book is in
the reading library at the Wintergreen Nature
Foundation in Wintergreen Resort. Stop by and
browse through the book.
Here is the history of the
name “Wintergreen” in Nelson County from Mr.
Saunders’ book:
Among the first settlers in
the Rockfish Valley of Nelson County were the
Coleman and the Ewing families. Around 1812,
Hawes Coleman built the home “Wintergreen” near
the corner of Rt. 151 and Spruce Creek Road.
The house is on the hill over looking the old
Wintergreen Store that is now the Spruce Creek
Art Gallery. You can still see the house on the
hill today.
Over the years, The
Wintergreen community had a church, a mill,
general store and a post office. The small
community is marked with a “Wintergreen” road
sign today. Maps and GPS systems refer to the
corner of Rt. 151 and Spruce Creek Road as the
official Wintergreen, which is confusing to
resort visitors.
When the resort was created
in the 1970s, it used the name Wintergreen
Resort. So, the resort was not named for the
small green plant with red berries but for a
grand home on the hill overlooking the community
of Wintergreen near Nellysford. When you are
driving along Rt. 151 look for the Wintergreen
township sign.
Wintergreen Resort’s
VIP Passport to Fun
I am always on the look-out
for good deals in Wintergreen and Nelson
County. If you have kids under 12 years old, I
think that Wintergreen’s VIP Passport to Fun is
a good deal. This passport lets you create your
own vacation package, and kids under 12 years
old can ride on their parents’ passport. This
VIP Passport provides special rates on just
about everything in the resort. (must purchase
at least one passport per bedroom to qualify and
the passports are $25)
The Passport includes the
following discounts:
20% off of recreation and
children’s programs
10% off of spa services
10% off of purchases at the
golf and tennis pro shop and Wintergarden Spa
Shop
10% off of breakfast in the
Copper Mine.
If you have kids under 12
years old, and you purchase a VIP Passport, your
savings start as soon as you make reservations
for the kid’s Treehouse. In April, I will be
posting information about upcoming Treehouse
activities for kids of all ages. They do have
some excellent activities planned for kids under
twelve this summer.
Wintergreen’s
Amazing Race
After the blog about
GeoCaching in Wintergreen and Nelson County, I
received many emails with questions about
GeoCaching for groups. Wintergreen’s new
Amazing Race is exactly what you are looking for
as a group activity. Add the Amazing Race to
your next group meeting or family reunion in the
resort. Wintergreen’s Amazing Race combines GPS
orienteering, logic puzzles and physical
obstacles to provide participants with a full
filled and awarding day.
Teams receive cards
providing clues and GPS points that lead them to
specific tasks in the resort. Some of the tasks
may include paintball, Sudoku, a high ropes
course and trivia questions. All can be
tailored to the specific group. The team that
can outsmart their competition will be the
winner of this race.
The Amazing Race makes a
great addition to any corporate retreat in the
resort. As an added bonus, the meeting planner
who books the group will receive a personal GPS
tracking device.
For a tamer adventure,
Wintergreen can also plan a resort-wide
scavenger hunt for your group. This is another
perfect activity for scout troupes or family
reunions.
Need Groceries?
“Where can I buy
groceries?” This has been the most popular
question this week from those visiting
Wintergreen Resort.
If you are staying on
Wintergreen mountain, stop by the Black Rock
Market to pick up the basics such as bread,
milk, eggs and chips. The market also has a
deli with sandwiches and pizza. If you arrive
early, you can buy a newspaper at this
location. They have coffee and are open early
to late.
If you need a selection of
groceries, and want to stay local, visit the IGA,
Blue Ridge Grocery in Nellysford. (about 8 miles
from the guard house at the foot of Wintergreen
mountain) The IGA has a few brands of just
about any grocery need. There is a produce
department, a meat and dairy department, beer
and wine and general groceries. It is not a
large store, but fits the need for general
groceries.
Head over to Waynesboro for
city-style grocery shopping at Martins. Many of
the locals travel to Waynesboro for serious
grocery shopping at this large store. There is
a huge produce department (including salad and
prepared foods bar), a large seafood department,
meat department, large bakery, a whole isle of
wine and beer, a “drug store” department and
many isles of general groceries.
Also in Waynesboro, you
will find WalMart and Target in the same
region. There is a “short-cut” from Wintergreen
the this shopping area in Waynesboro. Send me
an email at
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com for details.
Spa Parties
Let the Wintergarden Spa
plan the perfect Spa Party for you and your
friends. You will have the full use of the
Aquatics and Fitness Center as well as the
services listed below. Wedding Season is here
and any of these parties would make a great
treat for your wedding party. (Having your
wedding at Wintergreen or in Nelson County is a
whole new topic of discussion as there are many
options)
Simple Celebration
This party is for 5-10
people. Each person chooses two 30 minute
treatments and spends 2-3 hours in the Spa.
Each partygoer will also be given a gift.
(refresher facial, or a Swedish massage, a
manicure or a make-up application.
Grand Gala
This party is also for 5-10
people. Each partygoer will choose two one-hour
services or choose four thirty minutes
services. Each partygoer also receives a gift
from the spa.
Enjoying the Indoors
at Wintergreen Resort
Here are just a few ideas
for enjoying the indoors while visiting
Wintergreen Resort:
Stop by the reception desk in The Mountain Inn
and pick up a weekly guide to all activities.
While you are there, enjoy some shopping or a
cup of coffee at Colony Coffee. Remember that
we have free WiFi in the Grist Mill and
Colony Coffee.
Pick up a deck of cards at Necessities in the
Mountain Inn or bring some board games and play
in the Grist Mill.
Go by The Wintergreen Nature Foundation
and look at their exhibits, books and
educational materials. My family especially
enjoys the upstairs and I think any kid (or
adult) would love this visit. Check out the
wildlife photographs taken by visitors and
residents of the resort. Also be sure to check
out the white board with the list of all of the
“wildlife spottings”. I look at this board
every time I visit the foundation. (PS: They
have many Burt’s Bees products for sale with
great prices)
The WinterGarden Spa has a full menu of
spa services. I think that I could spend the
entire day at this spa. There are even some spa
packages for kids.
The Fitness and
Aquatics Center has an indoor pool, a full
fitness
center
and many exercise classes, from water aerobics
to belly dancing. (also check out the outdoor
hot tubs. They are fun, even in the rain) So,
pack your bathing suit, even if you are visiting
the resort in Spring.
Indoor
tennis is very popular and classes and
events are provided each day
There is the golf fire-side chat each
afternoon
The
Treehouse for kids. Check out the Treehouse
for a wide-range of activities from games to
crafts to movies. In coming weeks, I will be
posting information about the Treehouse and
summer activities.
New and the favorite for kids of all ages:
The Adventure Dome. One of my friends just
told me that this is now his kids’ favorite
place in the resort. Here is what they have to
offer:
- 12 Stations - 10 Xbox
360s and 2 Nintendo Wiis
- 42-inch plasma TVs and
comfy game rocker chairs at every station.
- Wifi Lounge
- Mechanical Bull
- Foosball
- Pool Table
- Air Hockey
- Basketball 2-Man Game
- Theatre showing
sporting events
- Children's interactive
games
You can even purchase
tickets on line for The Dome at
www.WintergreenResort.com
Stoney Creek at
Wintergreen
toney
Creek is the valley community of Wintergreen
Resort. It sits in the Rockfish Valley, at the
foot of Wintergreen Mountain. This is part of
the resort that should be included in your
Spring-Fall visit to the resort. Activities
abound.
No, there are no rental
condos in Stoney Creek. (I get that question
often) But, Stoney Creek is only a short drive
from the top of Wintergreen Mountain.
As you enter Stoney Creek,
off of Rt. 151, you will see a large grassy
field on your left. On Saturdays, starting in
May, that field is the home to the Nellysford
Farmer’s Market. It opens at 8AM and runs until
Noon. This is a “don’t miss event”. The market
has really been growing over the years and now
has fresh fruits and vegetables, home baked
breads and desserts, fresh cut flowers and
plants, crafts, local cheese, eggs and meats…and
the list could go on from there. I will be
covering this in blogs, starting in May. I
always suggest to get to this farmers’ market
early in the morning. (I will be discussing
amFogs new farmers market in a blog in early
April. They are located in Afton, VA)
As you drive along in
Stoney Creek, you see Rosewood which is our 55+
community in Wintergreen Resort. I will be
mentioning this community in future blogs. I
have a client that just purchased a golf-side
home in this community and really loves being in
the resort.
The next center of activity
that you will reach is the golf-tennis-and pool
area. The outdoor tennis courts are scheduled
to open on April 7th. The pools of
Stoney Creek will open over Memorial Day
weekend. If you are a guest of Wintergreen
Resort via a rental through the Resort’s Home &
Villa rental program, you may use the pool and
tennis courts. (rentals through
www.WintergreenResort.com) Many private
rentals also include passes to these amenities.
Stoney Creek Golf is open
year-round but has really been greening up this
past week. There were many playing golf
yesterday. Be sure to read some of my earlier
blogs on Stoney Creek Golf and there will be a
few new posts in coming weeks. There is also a
pro-shop just below the Stoney Creek Bar &
Grill.
Speaking of the Stoney
Creek Bar & Grill, it is open every day for
lunch plus dinner on Friday and Saturday nights
and brunch on Sunday. The hours will be
extended, starting in May. Try the Cobb Salad
for lunch and they also have a great salad bar
for weekend dinners. We have enjoyed many of
the entrees on Friday and Saturday nights.
Can’t wait for the outdoor, patio seating to
open as the views are great.
Stoney Creek has a network
of walking trails, which I was out enjoying
yesterday. In addition, there is a new nature
preserve. I will be posting information on both
the walking trails and the nature preserve in
the next few weeks. The walking trails are well
marked, and some are even paved. If you are
walking for exercise, or even to just enjoy the
views, I recommend these trails.
Lake Monocan is a 20 acre
lake in the heart of Stoney Creek. It will also
be opening over Memorial Day weekend. (or some
weekends in May, weather permitting) Hours are
from 9AM-6PM. Families with kids of all ages
enjoy this lake. Activities include
paddleboats, canoes, electric fun boats, inner
tubes, kayaks, fishing equipment, standard road
bike rentals, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball
court, and a sand beach with lounge chairs.
There is also a snack bar, a picnic area and a
charcoal grill area.
The stables at Rodes Farm
is our next stop in Stoney Creek. The stables
are now open for the season and offer trail
rides for all abilities. This is a great place
to introduce your family to horseback riding.
Later in the season, they will even offer dinner
trial rides that includes dinner beside one of
Stoney Creeks beautiful lakes as the sun sets.
As you can see, there is a
lot to do in Stoney Creek. In coming weeks, I
will be posting in-depth information about each
of these activities. (also be sure to read
yesterday’s blog for information about fishing
in Stoney Creek)
A Week Vacation in
Nelson
Yes, there is plenty of
activities to keep a family entertained for days
or even weeks. Visiting Nelson County can also
be educational, challenging with rock climbing,
mountain biking or hiking or just relaxing.
If you need assistance
planning a family vacation, send me an email to
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com and I can put you
in touch with resources to plan the perfect
vacation. I can also send you an Experience
Nelson County Vacation Kit. The kit
contains maps and brochures.
Nelson County has camping,
Bed & Breakfasts, and condo or home rentals.
For a week vacation, check out either
www.WintergreenResort.com or
www.VRBO.com. Once in VRBO.com, click on
Virginia and then select Wintergreen Resort.
VRBO has several homes and condos that are
available for a week-long rental.
Next week, I will be
posting a blog about Wintergreen Resort condos
that have been recently renovated and are
available for rental through the resort. These
condos have all new furnishings, flooring,
kitchens and baths.
Earlier this week, I wrote
about a private rental of a fishing cottage on
the Tye River. There are many private rentals
and the Nelson County Visitor’s Center
can assist with putting you in contact with the
owners.
Check out my Blog
Archive for many stories about activities to
fill your vacation week. There are also several
day camps that kids can visit during your
vacation. (See the blog archive about kid’s
activities) There is even a world-class spa.
Here is a sample of
activities:
Tennis & Tennis Lessons
from Wintergreen’s nationally-known program
Swimming in indoor and
outdoor pools
45 holes of golf and golf
lessons for all ability levels
Horseback riding and
lessons for all ability levels
Hiking on marked trails
The Wintergreen Tree House
is open year-round for crafts and adventures
The new Wintergreen
Adventure Dome with many games, including Wii
Miniature golf at the
Wintergreen Adventure Center
Rock climbing wall
Mountain biking on marked
trails
The WinterGarden Spa
Lake Monocan with its beach
and boats
Paint ball sessions
Music and fireworks
Camping at Crabtree Falls
Fishing Nelson County’s
many rivers and streams
Tubing on the James River
Day trips to many
interesting sites in Charlottesville, Staunton
and Waynesboro
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Farmers Markets and Apple
Festivals
Wineries and Micro-Brew
Antique Shopping
Local Art Galleries
Wintergreen Resort
Rentals
I get questions about
resort rentals a few times a week. Many people
are looking for rentals for Summer vacations in
Wintergreen Resort. All condos and homes within
the resort are privately owned, but many owners
do rent their property.
There are a few rental
companies covering Wintergreen Resort, but the
most popular are the following:
Wintergreen Resort Official
Program:
www.WintergreenResort.com
Vacation Rentals by Owner:
www.VRBO.com
Rentals are available in a
wide range of sizes and shapes…from a studio
condo in The Mountain Inn to 9 bedroom houses
that are large enough to entertain a crowd.
Some real estate agents, including myself, can
help you find a long-term rental if you are
interested in staying in the resort for the
entire summer. All rentals have a kitchen that
ranges in size from a kitchenette to a large
chef’s kitchen. You can plan to cook at home or
dine in any of our local restaurants. Many of
the rentals have large decks or patios to enjoy
the views of Wintergreen. There are also
rentals close to specific resort amenities such
as golf, tennis, hiking and the Wintergarden
Spa. (There are also slope-side rentals for ski
season)
Many condo or home owners
use a rental to program to gain income to
off-set the cost of home ownership. Anyone who
owns a property within the resort may rent their
property through any program for which the
property qualifies. I offer clients a “condo
worksheet” that reviews both possible costs of
ownership and possible rental income. I also
offer home owner references to anyone interested
in purchasing in the resort. Contact me at
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com for the condo
worksheet or additional information about
property ownership or property renovations.
Condos and homes that have
been renovated usually produce a higher rental
income. Renovation projects have become popular
in the resort and include the following
upgrades:
Interior paint and upgraded
flooring
New furniture
Upgraded kitchens and
baths
In the past year, I have
seen a surge of condo renovations in the
resort. These owners have all seen an increase
in their rental income. In the Mountain Inn,
condos that have been recently sold and
renovated included: 184, 186 and 194. All
three of these condos are rated Gold and are
available through
www.WintergreenResort.com These condos
include new furniture and flat panel TVs.
Condos 184 and 186 have a door that can be
unlocked to provide an interior access through
both condos. This is perfect for a family or
group that needs to share space.
A recently renovated
VRBO.com condo is 326 Dobie. You can view that
condo at
www.IIMoose.com. This is an example of an
owner purchasing a condo, renovating it and then
placing it on VRBO as a private rental with its
own web site. This condo has some special
summer rates. Ask the owner about week-long
rentals.
There are several local
companies that can assist in the renovation of
your condo or home. I am a member in the Lowes
Real Estate Program with HGTV, and offer the
program to my clients. This program includes a
renovation discount program.
A Perfect Weekend in
Nelson County
Saturday
Breakfast
Wake up to
breakfast at the Copper Mine (7AM-11AM) in the
Wintergreen resort adjacent to the Blue Ridge
Terrace at the Mountain Inn. Or, if you are
looking for great pastries and coffee, try
Ambrosia Bakery and Deli in the town of
Nellysford, VA. (opens at 9AM) You will want to
pick up a to-go menu from this spot for later
use.
Before leaving
Nellysford or the Wintergreen resort, stop by
the Black Rock Market or the Valleymont Market
in Nellysford to pick up beverages and snacks.
The morning adventure will take you out of town
and away from supplies. You will need water and
snacks.
The Saturday
morning adventure is a hike at Crabtree Falls.
This has been a popular spot for decades and is
the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi
River. Be sure to bring your camera and good
walking shoes.
Directions:
From Wintergreen Resort, go east on Rt. 664 for
3.1 miles to Rt. 680. Turn right and go 5.1
miles on Rt. 680 to Rt. 699. Turn right on Rt.
699 and proceed 1.4 miles to SR 56. Go west on
SR 56 for 6.5 miles to Crabtree Falls on the
left. Parking is $3 per car.
I always try to
be at Crabtree Falls no later than 10AM. Plan 2
hours, at least, to really enjoy this hike. Take
time for photos and the view from the top is
outstanding. You will want to take a few moments
to soak up this view. The trail is well marked
and maintained. There are several places along
the way to stop and rest, if needed. You may
also link to the Appalachian Trial.
Lunch
When you leave
Crabtree Falls, and you are in immediate need of
either food, beverages or a nice restroom, turn
left out of the Crabtree parking lot and head up
the mountain on SR 56. Head just a few miles to
Montebello, VA and the general store. They have
snacks, including soup, beverages and a
restroom. They also have some unique gift items.
I suggest that
you don’t miss lunch at the Blue Ridge Pig. It
has been showcased on the Food Network and in
the Washington Post. The bar-b-que is the best
and you need to order the potato salad. (bring
cash as they don’t take charge cards.) It is
located under the big pink pig just a few doors
down from the True Value Hardware in Nellysford.
There are a few inside and outside tables for
dining, but I suggest that you take your bar-b-que
to go.
Take your bar-b-que
and head to the Wintergreen Winery on Rt 664,
heading back to the Wintergreen resort area. The
Wintergreen Winery has outside seating with a
river view. They also have a great selection of
wines to pair with any lunch with prices from
$12-$25 per bottle. Tastings are also available
as well as a gift shop and additional food.
Afternoon
Here are some
suggestions for your afternoon:
Continue exploring Nelson County Wine at the
Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery. (2800 Berry Hill
Road, Nellysford). Don’t miss the Pear Sangria.
Play
some tennis at the Wintergreen resort. There are
19 clay courts and 3 indoor courts.
Go
horseback riding. The resort offers lessons for
both adults and children.
Relax
and enjoy the spring weather from your deck or
outside of the Mountain Inn.
Dinner
I highly suggest
making a reservation for dinner at any
restaurant within Wintergreen Resort. The Edge
offers casual dining while overlooking the
mountains. The Copper Mine is an American
steakhouse at night with casual but elegant
dining. The Devil's Grill has southern American
food.
For dinner
outside of the resort, I suggest Basic
Necessities in Nellysford. They serve
full-course European dinners on Saturday (and
Friday) night with live music. A reservation is
a must. 434-361-1766
Night
Check at the
Mountain Inn for Saturday Night entertainment.
Often, a live band or comedian will be
scheduled.
There is a Game
Room for all ages that is open to 11PM. Its in
the breezeway below the Copper Mine. Games
include NASCAR, Sopranos Pinball, pool and air
hockey.
Rent a movie at
the Black Rock Market. They are open on Saturday
nights until 9PM.
You may arrange
for a babysitter in your unit 48 hours in
advance through the resort.
Sunday
If you have to
return to work on Monday, spend Sunday pampering
yourself.
The Aquatics and
Fitness Center opens at 7AM on Sunday morning.
(additional fee) There is a fitness center,
indoor pool and hot tubs. Call in advance to
join a yoga session. The Wintergarden Spa opens
at 9AM on Sunday morning.
Brunch
Take the short
drive to Stoney Creek for Sunday Brunch. Served
10AM to 3PM. Enjoy the Spring weather with their
outdoor seating.
Afternoon
Right after
brunch, stay at Stoney Creek for a round of
golf. A 27-hole course designed by Rees Jones.
Or golf at Devils Knob at Wintergreen resort
after April 1st.
Take the family
to the Out of Bounds Adventure Center at
Wintergreen Resort. It is open from 12-5PM on
Sunday. There is a rock wall for climbing, a
skate park and mini golf.
View Art and
Antiques. The Spruce Creek Gallery
(434-361-1859) and the Tuckahoe Antique Mall
(434-361-2121) are both open on Sunday and are a
short drive from Wintergreen resort.
Email Kim
Chappell
at
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com in advance
to schedule an area homes tour. See the best
homes for sale in Wintergreen Resort and the
surrounding Nelson County area. View condos,
mountain homes, and houses in Stoney Creek.
Receive Kim’s Experience Nelson County Kit.
(If you want to
experience adventure in Nelson County, including
Spring hunting, trout fishing, Appalachian Trail
hiking, wine tours, orchards and berry farms as
well as Virginia southern cuisine, contact Kim
Chappell to receive community information.)
To watch a tour of
Nelson County, click on this link:
http://www.ubuildtours.com/natour.php?id=14DD
Lake Monocan Park
Lake Monocan is a 20 acre
lake at Stoney Creek in the valley.
The lake and park is
open to the public and is $12 for adults, $8
for children aged 6-12, and free for children
under the age of 5. (2008 Summer Prices)
Wintergreen Resort Members, and all registered
resort guests have complimentary access to Lake
Monocan park. You will need to present a proper
ID or pass for complimentary access. Each guest
will pick up a wrist band. There are also
multi-visit passes available at a discount and
an individual Season Pass. For example, an
adult can purchase a Season Pass for only $99 to
cover the entire Summer.
The lake and park has a
full-time life guard, snack bar, paddleboats,
canoes, electric fun boats, inner tubes, kayaks,
fishing equipment, standard road bike rentals,
horseshoe pits, sand volleyball court, sand
beach, lounge chairs, picnic area and outdoor
charcoal grills are available. (some fees
apply) Bring your own towel.
There is a two-mile bike
trail that follows the lake and the Stoney Creek
Golf Course. The park offers hourly rentals of
bikes or you can bring your own.
Any of the six picnic areas
can be reserved for a fee. Each picnic area has
an 8ft long table, charcoal grill and trash
can. Half day rentals are $20 and an All Day
rental is $30. To reserve one, call
434-325-8181. This is a perfect area for a
family party, office event, birthday party or
picnic with friends. (attendees also pay the
daily entrance fee)
During the Summer, there
are also several Summer Kid’s Camps planned with
activities at the lake and park. For details,
see my Blog Archive and the Kid’s Activities
library of past blog posts.
WiFi Spots in Nelson
County
Even though we are a rural
community, we do have several wireless
Internet spots in the county. Here is a
list:
Lovingston Café: 165 Front
Street in Lovingston. Open 10:30-9PM Everyday
McDonalds: In the
Lovingston shopping center on Rt. 29. This is
also our only fast-food chain restaurant in the
county. They are open everyday from 6AM-11PM
Rapunzels: 924 Front
Street in Lovingston. Open Tuesday and Thursday
from 12PM-6PM; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
from Noon-10PM. They also have great coffee
drinks and a nice used book collection.
Devil’s Grill: At the
Devil’s Knob Golf Course on Wintergreen
mountain. Open for lunch during the Summer and
dinner from 5:30-9:30.
The Edge: Located behind
the Mountain Inn in Wintergreen Resort. Open
everyday from 11AM-10PM
The Mountain Inn & Colony
Coffee: Located on Wintergreen mountain and the
main lodge. The lodge and tables are open 24X7.
Visit the Nelson
Memorial Library in the hot summer and pick
out some great books or join one of their fun
events for kids. On June 11th, the
library will have bug stories for kids ages 3-5.
(10:30AM) The library is open six days a week:
Monday - Tuesday: 12 - 8pm
Wednesday - Thursday: 10am - 5:30pm
Friday: 10am - 5pm | Saturday: 10am - 2pm
Sunday – Closed
Many Maps of Nelson
County and Wintergreen Resort
Maps can help you find your
way around Nelson County or Wintergreen Resort.
They can also be fun and educational. Here are
some places to find maps of our region:
Wintergreen Resort
Premier Properties: Located in the Mountain
Inn of Wintergreen Resort and the official real
estate office of the resort. This office is
open 10AM-5PM, seven days a week. FREE Maps
available include:
- Wintergreen Resort
driving map including map of all of the
condo neighborhoods
- Wintergreen Resort
hiking map including 30+ miles of marked
hiking trails
- Ski Trail Map
- Map of all of the
dwellings and building lots on Wintergreen
mountain or Stoney Creek
- Map for day trip to
Charlottesville and surrounding areas: Ask
for the Discovery Map/Charlottesville
Maps Available On-Line:
Here is a great web site for maps of Nelson
County:
www.nelsoncountyva.org/#maps . (Look in the
upper left corner of the web site) My favorite
map shows Points of Interest across the
county and it can be found at this web link.
There are also driving maps of Nelson
County that can be printed from this site.
Maps Available at the
Visitor’s Center: Visit the Nelson County
Visitor’s Center in Lovingston to pick up not
only maps but brochures and information about
Nelson County. The Visitor’s Center is located
in the same building as the library. At the
Visitor’s Center yo can also pick up guides to
Nelson County’s wineries and micro brewery.
Appalachian Trail Maps
can be purchased at Blue Ridge Sports in the
Mountain Inn in Wintergreen Resort.
Have a Martini at The
Edge in Wintergreen
The Edge has been a popular
bar and restaurant in Wintergreen for years. It
is open daily from 11AM until late serving both
lunch and dinner. The large bar area serves a
wide variety of drinks or you can have drinks
delivered to your table. The Edge has just
updated its Martini Menu (as well as food menu)
Stop by over the holiday season.
Here is a brief list of the
martinis being served: Persian Kat, Blue
Sapphire, Pome’tini, Green with Envy, Grape
Fizz, Made Martini, Berry’tini
The Winter food menu looks
great. The popular nachos and hot soft pretzels
are back! The menu also includes several soups,
new salads, Winter Warmer drinks and new
entrees.
The Edge is just behind the
Mountain Inn in Wintergreen Resort. To review
their new Winter 08/09 Menu click on this link:
http://www.wintergreenresort.com/pdf/Edge0809.pdf
Nelson County Weather
Long before TV and radio,
Nelson County locals looked to nature to predict
a cold Winter. Lots of Winter berries and nuts
in the Fall meant a cold
Winter ahead. Today, most locals go to
www.NelsonCountyLife.com for the real local
weather. That weather report is created live in
Nelson County. Tommy Stafford has professional
experience in forecasting the weather.
Tommy has a daily audio
forecast that many listen to each morning. The
web site also has an extended forecast and
weather stations reporting from around the
county.
Wintergreen Resort, at
www.WintergreenResort.com, displays the
temperature on Devil’s Knob Loop on its home
page. Be aware that the “5 Day Forecast” can be
accurate for the valley, but is not reporting
the weather on the mountain. Temperatures on
the mountain are usually at least 5 degrees
lower. (Nelson County Life does forecast the
temperatures for the mountain tops)
Many locals buy the annual
Farmer’s Almanac. It has had a place in our
home for generations. I have found it to be
rather accurate when looking at the large
picture of weather in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In January, the almanac is predicting a lot of
wet weather. From January 5th-7th,
the book is predicting “widespread unsettled
conditions”. Another storm is predicted to
arrive from the 12th-15th
of January.
My report is always a
combination of many sources, including what is
going on at our home in Beech Grove—at the foot
of Wintergreen Resort.
Attention Wintergreen
Fans: Logos Available
Are you a Wintergreen fan?
Check out the Wintergreen logo gear at the Logo
Shop in the Mountain Inn. Here are some holiday
gift ideas that can be purchased inside the
Mountain Inn.
A Wintergreen Coffee cup or
travel mug with a gift card from Colony Coffee
in the Mountain Inn.
Wintergreen patches for
backpacks, jackets or collecting. I took some
WTG patches to a recent real estate convention
and everyone loved them. The patches make a
great trading item. (also great for Geocaching)
Wintergreen pins for ski
jackets or trading. These pins can easily fit
into an envelope with a Wintergreen gift
certificate.
Hats, hats and more hats.
Ski hats or baseball hats…there are many choices
with the WTG logo. Tuck a hat into a holiday
stocking with a note about a surprise ski trip.
How about a Wintergreen
fleece jacket with some snow tubing tickets
tucked inside?
There are also Wintergreen
holiday ornaments for the tree. This makes a
great gift for a new resort home owner.
Sweatshirts for the entire
family. There are sweatshirts in many colors
and all sizes—all with the Wintergreen Resort
logo. |
