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Mountain Lake: Idyllic Mountain Escape
by Lynette Johnson
Far off the beaten path, below the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, is a resort that feels as though it is at the top of the world. Imagine 2,600 acres of peace and quiet, nestled into the mountains amid towering trees, looking out over a small freshwater mountain lake—that lake, by the way, is the highest in elevation east of the Mississippi River. Mountain Lake is, indeed, a resort like no other.
Stay in the grand old stone hotel or one of more than a dozen one- to four-bedroom cottages, from rustic to super-romantic. You’ll soon learn that many folks have made this their annual family vacation spot for generations—and you’ll equally soon learn why! They say you can “do it all, or do nothing at all” here, and that’s the truth.
You’ve probably seen Mountain Lake before, but you may not have known it. Mountain Lake was the location for the filming of the 1987 movie, Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. Really!
Mountain Lake isn't your ordinary lake. You'll want to take a walk around it and check its level. It's a naturally rising and falling lake that, just last summer, was completely dry. All the winter's snow is bringing the level slowly up, and as it rises, there will be more opportunities to play on the lake instead of around it. Look forward to a day soon when you can canoe, kayak, or go paddleboating on the lake, or swim in its cool waters... or even take a wine and cheese cruise! For now, imagine soaking in the outdoor heated pool or hot tub, or laying out in the sun on the lakeside beach.
Now, you really could do nothing at all, but, in case you want to ‘do it all’ instead, here’s what you have in store. Play volleyball, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, giant checkers or chess, bocce, or tennis. Or try the archery range. Go hiking or mountain biking on more than 20 miles of trails, ranging from easy to quite technical. Take a guided hike or go on a hayride.
If the weather’s less-than-perfect, try some indoor activity—billiards, ping-pong, foosball, shuffleboard, videogames, movies, board games, or puzzles—or relax in the indoor sauna or hot tubs.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Mountain Lake offers nightly entertainment for guests, from astronomy to karaoke, to magic shows, to tribal campfires, to a cookout and hoedown.
And if all this is not enough, schedule a massage for yourself and send the others in your family out to play golf at the nearby Castle Rock course or to raft, canoe, kayak, or tube on the New River. Send the kids to play in the Native American teepee or the cozy fox den.
There are no TVs in the hotel or most of the cottages, but you won’t miss a thing! By the way, breakfasts and dinners are included in your room rate, as are most activities.
Give Mountain Lake a whirl this year—I bet you’ll be back again before long!
Article text ©2007-2010, Shenandoah Specialty Publishing, LLC.
May be printed for personal use only.
Shenandoah Valley Spas & Resorts
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