Last week, I blogged about needing to be okay with changing travel plans. Several months back, I booked a place in Asheville, North Carolina for a few weeks between Thanksgiving and when I was supposed to leave for a holiday in Turkey. But when COVID-19 cases started exploding in late October, I started to think the Turkey trip wasn't going to happen. Well, that and my dog is still alive. Given his heart condition and other age-related issues, I can't leave him in boarding anymore. And I wouldn't want to.
So, the Turkey plans vanished (thank goodness for totally flexible airline policies - I got all my money back) and I needed somewhere to stay in the United States until after New Years. Unfortunately, someone booked my Asheville rental the day after I originally planned to leave, so I couldn't extend it. And Asheville is expensive and popular, so finding another place there that fit all my criteria wasn't possible. It was too late.
Time for some random internet searching. I plugged all my criteria into AirBnB for the general Blue Ridge mountain area and this delightful house in Lewisburg, West Virginia popped up. Funky artwork and plants everywhere, mosaic floors, a bamboo privacy fence all around, and an infrared sauna. Booking unique accommodations is part of the fun of travel, and this place caught my eye.
What clinched the deal for me (not that I wasn't already committed) was when crossed the state line from Virginia into West Virginia and that line was on a mountain pass with rolling ridgelines as far as the eye could see. I knew I chose right. As if I wouldn't love a place nicknamed The Mountain State. So here I am, riding out the remainder of this insane year in America's coolest small town. And I have a huge, fenced yard for Trotsky Bear, which makes this the coolest place for him too.
I had mentioned that I'd subscribed to this blog but it didn't "take." Well, it helps if I input the correct email address (head slap). I'm all caught up on your travels now. If your on-the-road adventures bring you to Minnesota at any point, be sure to give me a shout. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWill do! I've been listening to you and The Husband talk about places to go. I'm heading to a small beach town outside New Orleans next. The Husband is wrong about not wanting to go there. I can't wait! And Savannah was one of my backup options for Asheville, but maybe next fall instead. I really want to check it out. Glad you finally got some travel booked!
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