Take Me Home Country Roads
Girls’ Trip to West Virginia? Really?
Due to scheduling constraints, my three best college friends and I had not held our annual girls’ trip in more than two years. So, when the new year began, we made a pact to not let anything get in the way of our long overdue get together.
We all live in different locations so we needed to select a vacation spot that would be convenient to all, and offer a unique, memorable experience. I suggested a spa in North Carolina, but I was overruled by the group consensus to meet in the state of West Virginia.
The closest to West Virginia that I had been was singing the song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. And, based on the words of that song, “Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River,” I relentlessly shrugged my shoulders and agreed to meet at the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, West Virginia to see if the song lived up to its “almost heaven” hype.
Stonewall Resort: A Lakeside Heaven in West Virginia
Picture this: Beautiful bright blue wide-open skies. White puffy clouds reflecting in the gentle lake. Rolling hills and tree lined scenery. Tranquil peace and quiet. Within minutes of arriving in West Virginia, I had to concede that it may just be a “heaven” of some sort as the John Denver song says.
The Stonewall Resort was the perfect lakeside destination for our girls’ weekend, rustic yet elegant, located alongside the lake and surrounded by 1,900 acres. We wanted a destination that would make us unplug and enjoy nature and each other’s company. This was the laid-back atmosphere we were hoping for to reconnect, reminisce, and recharge.
Great Accommodations, Amenities and Staff
The resort was meticulously clean, and the grounds were well maintained and beautiful. Every staff member was impressively attentive, always helpful and never bothered by our questions. We felt welcome from check-in to check out, receiving friendly service.
The Stonewall Resort offers a variety of accommodations including:
:: Lakeside Lodge
:: Lake House Collection
:: Cottage Collection
:: Briar Point Campground
We stayed in a 4-bedroom cottage that was quiet, cozy, and relaxing. We enjoyed a beautiful lake view. The cottage was a perfect fit for us girls and gave us just the right amount of space to spend time together, catch up on each other’s lives, and get a good night’s sleep in our private sleeping quarters.
Some room amenities included:
:: High-speed internet access
:: Views of the lake or forestry
:: Refrigerators
:: HD televisions
:: Shower products
The Cottage and Lake House Collection accommodations feature full kitchens, furnished outdoor areas and fireplaces.
One note: There are resort fees that vary based on the accommodations type. The fees are charged per night and added to the total price of the room upon arrival. Be sure to inquire at the time you make your reservation, so you know ahead of time about the added costs.
Stonewall Resort included extras:
:: Admission to the state park
:: On-site parking
:: Steam rooms
:: Sauna rooms
:: Local/long-distance calling
:: High-speed Internet
:: Over 20 miles of hiking/biking trails
:: Basic fishing equipment
:: Fitness center
:: Heated indoor/outdoor pool
Do as Many or as Little Activities as You Choose
The benefit of visiting West Virginia is to enjoy the scenic views, nature, and a large variety of outdoor activities. I’m not the biggest adventurer so I had to put on a brave face while participating in some of our planned activities, concerned about the appearance of local wildlife. To my surprise and appreciation, the nature trails we hiked were manageable, and I felt safe while walking surrounded by the Appalachian mountains and vibrant green foliage. One piece of advice that we followed prior to our vacation was to remember to pack appropriate clothing, footwear, and gear for hiking along with a backpack and water bottles. I also appreciated the gentle lake waters during boating and kayaking.
At the Recreation Center, you can purchase special passes allowing you access to two-hour rentals of kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards. The resort also offers pontoon boat rentals and CraigCat (2-person boat) rentals. A fun fact is that you can get “room service to your boat” if you’re hungry and don’t want to leave the lake.
We enjoyed the variety of activities at Stonewall Resort and did a little of everything at our own pace. This included both the indoor and outdoor pools, yard games, volleyball, disc golf, tennis, and our new favorite passion, pickleball. The resort also offers guided tours of the property that we enjoyed immensely.
If you golf, book a tee time at the Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course. If you need pampering, make a reservation at the Mountain Laurel Spa for a massage, wrap, scrub, or nail services. The fees seemed average in comparison to other resort online spas.
When you plan your stay at Stonewall Resort, be sure to check their calendar of upcoming events. They celebrate everything from national wine day, martini day, and ice cream day to special themed drinks and entertainment and patriotic festivities with fireworks.
A fun way to end each evening was enjoying s’mores on the open flame fire pit. It was a fun reminder of enjoying s’mores during our college days.
Dining and Drinks at Stonewall Resort
Stonewall Resort’s culinary team is quite impressive based on the delicious meals we enjoyed. The girls and I kept commenting on how fresh the ingredients tasted. The restaurants offer a huge variety of foods to meet many dietary requirements. They took special care with us when we mentioned shellfish and gluten allergies among us.
Restaurants include:
:: Stillwaters Restaurant
:: TJ Muskies Bar &Grill
:: Lightburn’s Restaurant
:: Splash Poolside Bar & Grill
Stillwaters Restaurant features traditional Appalachian fare along with generous lake views. The breakfast buffet at Stillwaters filled our appetites to the brim! I started out healthy with yogurt and fruit but quickly stumbled upon the waffles, omelet station, and biscuits with gravy.
TJ Muskies is located on the lodge’s lower level, popular for their burgers, signature sides, cocktails, and beer on tap or select from a menu of craft beer. At TJ Muskies, we opted for appetizers: delicious Soft Pretzel Sticks with Queso, House Made Hummus and Tater Kegs (jumbo bacon and cheddar tater tots.)
Lightburn’s Restaurant is located above the Clubhouse at the resort’s golf course. The décor features floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views. We took the shuttle bus to the restaurant. It was a super quick ride from the main lodge. I’m still bragging about the Parmesan Truffle Fries and Smoke House Burger with Gouda cheese.
Splash Poolside Bar & Grill is situated on the outdoor patio next to the pool. Enjoy a refreshing beverage, snack, or grilled favorites.
Servers in all the resort restaurants were amazing. Just a heads up that Lightburn’s and the Splash Poolside Bar & Grill are closed during the winter season.
Stonewall Resort Lives up to its Motto: “Life is Better at the Lake”
West Virginia is a state that is definitely worth a visit if you love nature. The picturesque scenery amidst the Stonewall Resort offered us a perfectly serene atmosphere for relaxing mixed with fun outdoor activities and a truly comfortable cottage. Delicious dining and a friendly staff rounded out all the wonderful attributes of the resort.
My favorite parts of the girls’ trip were hiking the beautiful grounds and relaxing at the outdoor fire pit eating smores while reminiscing about the good old days. We took advantage of so many of the resort’s activities, especially the pools, spa and pickleball courts. A wonderful mix of adventure and relaxation, Stonewall Resort met my vacation goals. The resorts library/game room offered us a place to play the most fun game of scrabble. I hadn’t laughed that hard with my friends in years!
Our time at Stonewall Resort exceeded my expectations and the song, Take Me Home Country Roads, has new significance for me.