The Homestead
For the next two days, I am up at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia for work. Not a bad gig for a couple days work in my opinion. My co-worker and I left Cary this morning. During the five hour scenic drive up to Virginia, I couldn’t help but fall in love with almost every little town that we passed through. The weather is beautiful and the trees and flowers are in full bloom. With quaint Victorian homes situated high on rolling hills and picturesque white church steeples standing tall amid the back drop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it was easy to imagine Confederate soldiers marching up those same rolling hills 150 years ago and Civil War battles waging in the valleys of the mountains. History is not far from your mind when you are traveling through North Carolina and Virginia.
If we were ever to move our family, I would seriously consider moving to the south western parts of Virginia (granted if we could live in one of those amazing Victorian homes perched on a hill with acres of land surrounding us). The towns we passed through looked as though they had not changed much in the past 100 years, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. Farm lands stretch for miles and town Main Streets look like the front of a postcard. Virginia is for lovers, and I am certainly in love.
The Homestead is amazing in it’s own right. Built ten years prior to the American Revolution, it began as a rustic wooden lodge built in close proximity to healing spring pools that has evolved into magnificent resort that offers all the luxeries of any modern five-star resort. In fact, stepping through the single front door, you almost feel transported back in time.
But alas, my trip is not all rest and relaxation. I am here for work. My co-worker and I set up our things and prepared for the next day’s events during the afternoon. We did take some time to enjoy high tea in the afternoon. This was quite enjoyable, as we set in the Great Room sipping hot tea and enjoying pastries and tea sandwiches. A pianist played “Moon River” in the background. Staff waited on the guests sitting in the lobby enjoying tea. (Why, am I really getting paid for this moment?) I have to enjoy such moments when I can (they are few and far between).
Tonight we have dinner reservations with two other people from my work and then we’ll head back to our rooms to settle in for the night (at least I will). Tomorrow we have an early start to the day, but fortunately our duties end around lunch time. I’m wondering how to fill my time tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps a walk around the property would be nice, or reading my book on the terrace. I definitely want to take some pictures. Either way, I’m sure I’ll figure out some nice way to spend my afternoon.
Yes, this place certainly is charming and magical. If only my dear husband was here to enjoy The Homestead with me. It’s the one thing missing from The Homestead, and it’s the one thing I miss the most.
