Tag: Airbnb

Lewisburg, WV: A great town to visit anytime of the year, but especially during the holiday season

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Travels

“Having won a number of accolades over the past few years, Lewisburg, West Virginia continues to be an idyllic vacation destination for families, couples and groups alike.”–visitlewisburgwv.com

This door, found on an attorney’s office in Lewisburg, gave John and me a good giggle!

Sometimes, we Just Need to Recharge 🪫

 It was short and sweet, as the saying goes, but, wow, was it ever a relaxing getaway that was perfect for rejuvenating the spirit. My husband, John, and I decided to take a couple of days and head up the WV Turnpike to Lewisburg, WV.  While we had visited Lewisburg on previous trips, it had been several years since our last visit. Therefore, we were looking forward to experiencing the town and its surrounding picturesque countryside with new eyes.

Lewisburg, WV, once named one of Budget Travel’s “Coolest Small Towns” in America, has a vibrant energy you can feel whether you are simply strolling along its streets, visiting one of their unique shops, or dining in one of several locally-owned restaurants.  This was especially evident during the weekend in which we visited as it happened to coincide with the town’s kickoff to Christmas.

We arrived on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in the afternoon, which was the first day/night of what the town calls, “The Magic of Christmas in Lewisburg, ” and the town was on-point with its festive spirit.  Ambling through town, we noticed the outdoor Fresh, Hot Donuts and Coffee stand set up outside as part of their celebration.  Boy, did they smell great! The clip-clop of the horses’ hooves trotting along the streets of Lewisburg pulling a carriage of bundled passengers was quite the idyllic sound. Those seasonal carriages rides will continue every Friday and Saturday afternoon/evening until the 23rd of December.  (There’s even a Girl’s Day Out scheduled for December 10 in downtown Lewisburg as well to coincide with their seasonal celebration.)

Additionally, we were there for the town’s tree lighting ceremony on the town’s Center Green Space which occurred later in the evening, not long after the sunset. Prior to this event, Santa and Mrs. Claus walked throughout the town, graciously posing for pictures. Kids of all ages could be heard squealing with delight at the sight of this iconic pair, reminding John and I of when our own daughter was young. According to both Facebook and the Lewisburg website, Santa and Mrs. Clause will continue strolling through town on Saturdays throughout the month of December, from noon to 2:00 pm, with their last appearance occurring on the 23rd. 

Rest and Relaxation 😌

John and I thoroughly enjoyed staying in the heart of downtown in an AirBnB hosted by Anna and co-hosted by April.  We were able to easily access the shops, coffee shops, and restaurants with an easy walk. Additionally, it was also a great jumping off point for a little out-of-doors adventure. 

Greenbrier County, and its neighbor, Pocahontas County, we knew from previous trips, are full of scenic views. This trip was no different. We  loved the simple pleasure of driving through the countryside with its bucolic farmland valleys and mountainous surroundings as we made our way to Beartown State Park. Sadly, we did not take time to look at their website before driving to it. After making the panoramic drive up a winding mountain road, we arrived to find that it was closed for the season.  Even more regrettable was the fact that IF we had taken time to view the website, we might have noticed on the West Virginia State Park’s website that the park, “may be seen during the closed season by contacting the Superintendent of nearby Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. No fee is charged.”  A lesson to remember for another visit.

GreenBrier River Trail 🥾

Since we were unable to walk/hike through Beartown, we decided to make a stop on the Greenbrier River Trail at Renick. While walking along a short portion of the 78-mile path of a former railroad track, we discovered a few interesting historical facts about Renick. We actually stood in the remains of what was once a former, thriving desk factory, viewed several of the buildings original to the town, and stopped by the Renick Community Center and Park, which was decorated for Christmas.  All-in-all this was a pleasant two-mile off-the-beaten-path experience.

The Welcoming Committee 😉

Lost World Caverns 🗺️ 🧭

Continuing back towards Lewisburg, we also decided it was high time we visited Lost World Caverns, located just outside of Lewisburg downtown. What a treat! It is located on a working farm with animals wandering the premises and contained within fenced areas of the parking lot. Additionally, there are plenty of picnic tables and space for walking about the property for those who want to make an afternoon of it.  

Once inside the facility, there is a fascinating museum that houses numerous fossils.  One fossil of interest is the complete remains of a prehistoric bear that was found on a ledge above the main cavern. This bear once roamed the area around 32,000 years ago, and its skull is 2.5 times the size of today’s black bear. Additionally, there are plenty of other replica fossils and items of geological interest.  Plus, for those that can’t get enough, there is also a museum shop, so you can bring home your own cavern treasure.

There are two ways to experience the caverns–the self-guided tour, which John and I took, or the “Wild Cave Tour.” The self-guided tour takes about 45-60 minutes to walk the ½ mile loop that includes about 350 steps as you move through the cavern. No matter the time of year, the cavern remains around 52 degrees. With beautiful passageways full of numerous stalactites and stalagmites, all playfully named, the tour is full of sights that will fill you with wonder and awe of the ever-changing world below ground.  The history of the cave is rich, and there is even an opportunity to hear a hidden spring flowing through the cavern. 

For those who enjoy a spicy adventure, there is a four-hour guided tour of the caverns that will definitely take you off the beaten path and even off your feet since there are spots in which you will be crawling, climbing, and getting muddy! The guides take care of the required gear in order to allow you to successfully navigate passageways and chambers.  Reservations are required.

Let’s Eat 🍽️

Old and New FAvorite Places to Dine 🍝

To fully round out our time in Lewisburg, John and I dined at a couple of new places and visited an old favorite.  Our dining highlights included, The Humble Tomato, The Wild Bean, and Hill and Holler. These restaurants offered delicious gluten-free and plant-based options for me as well as plenty of scrumptious eats for John. Additionally, tasty treats and exceptional wine were found at Bella The Corner Gourmet and Robert’s Antiques and Wine. 

All-in-all, our recent trip to the Lewisburg area provided John and me with new experiences for which to be thankful.  We were able to relax in comfortable surroundings, recharge our batteries with a walkable and welcoming community, and renew our spirits with plenty of fresh air and inspiring natural sights.  Lewisburg, WV, and its surrounding area, has much to offer visitors. John and I highly recommend it, and I am sure it will not be our last visit to the area!

Lexington, KY, June 2021, Part 1: The Adventure Begins

by stephsimply, posted in Travels

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”–Marcel Proust

Ready, set, go . . . travel!  Yes! After months of not traveling, like many people across the country, John, my husband, and I, were ready to hit the road for adventures.  As educators, we have the opportunity to use June and July as months readily available for travel, but last year, of course, was a different story.  In fact, our biggest trip last year was to local home improvement stores for plants!   While we debated the merits of one big, blow-the-budget-trip, we instead settled on more frequent, pocket friendly exploits.  Thus, for our first short venture we decided to visit a beloved friend, Lexington, KY.

Having been to Lexington on several previous trips, we decided to add a twist:  stay downtown.  Looking on Airbnb, we found a cute downtown apartment just off Short Street–which made me giggle since I am 4’11”!  Hostesses Susannah, and assistant, Heather, were excellent communicators to ensure we had a clean, comfortable place to stay.  Additionally, Susannah provided us with her personal guidebook to Lexington.  Full of information, this guidebook proved to be a valuable asset as we wanted to explore new parts of the city.

Rainy weather and storms forced us to modify plans and go with the flow.  However, Lexington is the perfect place in which to do this as there are plenty of indoor and outdoor sites.  One such modification led to a serendipitous stop.  

One of my student’s parents recently gifted me with two books by Kentucky & Appalachian author, Crystal Wilkinson’s books.  According to the backs of both books, Wilkinson and her partner, a poet and an artist, owned a bookstore in Lexington–Wild Fig Books and Coffee.  Based upon the book cover’s description, the store sounded right up my alley (Plus, I would have personally loved to chat with Ms. Wilkinson if the opportunity presented itself.), but I was unsure if the bookstore was still in operation due to conflicting Google searches.  John and I were never able to find it, and I later sadly read afterwards that it was permanently closed.

Nonetheless, in our search for the book store, we happened to encounter Greyline Station, which describes itself as, “A dynamic public marketplace in the heart of the bluegrass.”  This 65,000 square foot marketplace felt very grassroots and community driven as John and I walked around, visiting the numerous and varied vendors. Built in 1928, the building was home, in the 1940s, to Southeastern Greyhound which was, at one point in time, the largest employer in Lexington.  As the years progressed, this building had several reincarnations before becoming forsaken. Then, in 2014, the abandoned building was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places. Four years later, revitalization began, and it now houses eateries, bars, offices, a radio station, retail stores, event space, and a public market. John and I can only imagine the exponential potential this unique area has for growth.  We are eager to return to Greyline Station in the coming months to witness the further expansion of this vibrant and community-centered hub. 

“Greyline’s 65,000 square foot building has a storied history. For almost 100 years, the building was home to bus & transit companies, and was deemed historically significant in 2011. Come explore Lexington’s newest place to Shop, Eat, & Meet.”–as seen on the official website

With the rain clouds tentatively staved off, it appeared that we had a decent window of time to visit what was described by AirBnB hostess, Susannah, as a local favorite, the Arboretum State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, located on the UK campus near the football stadium.  Described by Susannah as a “three-mile walk/run path through beautiful gardens,” John and I were positively stunned by the sheer number and variety of flowering plants.  Identified as Kentucky’s official botanical garden, this 100-acre public garden provides visitors with both native and not-so-native flowers, trees, shrubs, and other plants. From the Children’s Garden to the Visitor Center, from the Walk Across Kentucky displays to distinctive horticultural displays, and from the Kentucky Utilities Ornamental Tree Collection to the fragrance and roses gardens, this botanical paradise has much to offer visitors.  It was clear this was a favorite spot for exercise due to the number of walkers/runners we saw in the parking area and exercising on the various paths–until lightning flashed, the thunder clapped, and the heavens dumped buckets of rain.  John and I earned an extra cardio boost as we ran to the car during this gully washer, ending our visit far too soon.  Therefore, the Arboretum State Botanical Garden of Kentucky will definitely be at the top of our list of places to return!

“The Arboretum celebrates nature, fosters an understanding of relationships between humans and their natural world, provides cultural opportunities for the community, and serves as a community center for environmental education, horticulture, and urban forest renewal.”–as seen on the official website

Heading back to the apartment to wait out the storm, we discussed dinner plans.  The great thing about Susannah’s location was our ability to walk to dinner each night.  On the previous evening, we walked around and through Thoroughbred Park. Dedicated to the Thoroughbred Industry, this 2.5 acre park features numerous bronze sculptures by artist, Gwen Reardon, and it was located right across the street from one of our favorite Lexington eateries, Carson’s Food and Drink. Their diverse menu offers John plenty of meat-centric dishes as well as gluten-free plant based options for me.  Carson’s service is always on-point, and the food never disappoints.  This is one restaurant upon which we always look forward to returning.

“A rustic, yet refined atmosphere with chef-driven recipes paired with prohibition cocktails, hand-selected wines, and craft beers.”–Carson’s Food & Drink

Another one of our favorites places to dine is Pies and Pints, and Lexington has one!  Conveniently located across the street from both Triangle Park and the Lexington Convention Center, it is also a short walk to Rupp Arena.  Thus, making it one hot location on the night of concerts, basketball games, and other public events. Pies and Pints, personally speaking, offers me a rare opportunity to eat a pizza that is both gluten-free and vegan while still offering all of the traditional favorite pizza toppings, such as sausage and pepperoni, for John.  Plus, they have wonderful apps, salads and sandwiches, all of which have gluten-free options.  With attentive service, 35 taps for those so-inclined–including ciders and root beer, and a wide array of one-of-a-kind pizza toppings, Pies and Pints remains high on our list of go-to eateries in Lexington.

“Stop by for lunch, dinner, happy hour or anytime you want to enjoy a delicious pie & brew while cheering on the Big Blue.”–Pies & Pints, Lexington, KY location

Next week, I will share more of our Lexington adventures–including two, new-to-us food stops and a historical location that is also a base for several types of out-of-doors adventures.  In the meantime, if you haven’t put Lexington, KY on your short-list of friendly, tourist attractions, be sure to take time to add it.  Then, plan your visit soon, and hit me up on Instagram, Facebook, or at stephsimply.com with any questions you may have.  With so many points of appeal and interest, you’ll be glad you visited Lexington, KY!  And while you’re there, be sure to tell them Steph simply sent you!