Bed and Breakfasts

[CBar]

I think it could be informative and intriguing to share lodging experiences we have had as we pursue our Civil War travels. I don’t mean telling folks about hotel or motel chains (although I can recommend one Sleep Inn over another), but rather informing each other about lodgings that have actually enhanced our Civil War travel. I visited the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia several times in the past couple of years, and I have two bed and breakfast houses I would like to recommend. I'll describe them in two separate posts.


My favorite B&B is a real hidden treasure. The Jacob Swartz House (http://JacobSwartz.com) is just outside New Market, VA, isolated by fields and located on a wooded lot overlooking the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The owner, Virginia Harris, doesn’t advertise it in the usual B&B listings. I found it through the Civil War Preservation Trust website, and she commented that almost all of her guests find her through the internet. I have stayed with her twice and I cannot praise her or her home too highly. She has a single cottage for guests, which can accommodate one person or an entire family. On our first visit in 2003 we were her only guests for five nights, and we received wonderful, personal attention. The cottage is fully furnished in what I would term “upscale rustic,” the color scheme being shades of lavender and green. It has a full kitchen and she stocks the refrigerator. In the evenings, when we returned from a day’s outing, we would find she had left homemade desserts for us there. She serves truly gourmet breakfasts and packs a tremendous picnic lunch at need (I’ll never forget our tailgate picnic—including peach iced tea—in the wilds of Highland Co. at the McDowell Battlefield). A sunroom includes TV, VCR/DVD player, and a library of intelligent movie videos. The master bedroom has French doors leading to a screened and tree shaded porch, overlooking the rushing Shenandoah below. I turned off the air conditioners, opened the French doors, and slept to the sound of the water flowing past. One night it rained, and then I was lulled by the pattering on the tin roof above. I found CW books and flyers placed on various tables throughout the cottage. Virginia knew I was interested in the entire Valley, and she told me that there the CW is known simply as “The War.” She even found her copy of The Burning to leave out for me to read (I never did find time!). The Jacob Swartz House is across the river and just downstream from the New Market Battlefield, which is hidden behind high bluffs. The cottage itself was raided by Custer’s troops in 1864. Located just a couple of miles from I-81 and U.S. 11 (the Old Valley Pike), the Jacob Swartz House is ideally situated for CW exploration in the Shenandoah Valley. It’s also the perfect hideaway for the person who wants to sit down and quietly write. Virginia remarked to me that, oddly, very few of her guests are CW enthusiasts. That should be remedied.


*split thread to make 2 different reviews* ami

[cwrose]

Thanks for the review! I will definitely keep this place in mind. I think that this thread was a good idea. I wish that I had something to add to it.

[dawna]

CBar:

Thank you for your in-depth review of The Jacob Shwartz House. I think this wonderful description of your accomodations should be included in their advertising schemes...it certainly made me want to be there!

I would like to take a week off in the fall and ride in The Shenedoah, and since I know that you are a horse person as well, I wonder if you had noted any B & B's in your travels that included accomodation for horses?

Thanks in advance.

Dawna

[CBar]

Originally Posted by dawna

CBar:

I would like to take a week off in the fall and ride in The Shenedoah, and since I know that you are a horse person as well, I wonder if you had noted any B & B's in your travels that included accomodation for horses?

Thanks in advance.

Dawna

Dawna--I told Virginia at the Jacob Swartz House about my "review" of her place, and she visited this site and found your question. She emailed me a recommendation for you:
"Whispering Pines Rest and Ride in Edinburg caters to travelers with horses. 540 984-3276 They offer a two bedroom (sleeps 6) fully equipped kitchen, one bath and living room. I think it's an apartment on the second floor of their home."

I don't know anything about Whispering Pines myself. I looked for a website for them but they don't seem to have one.

I did, however, find this link for travelers with horses. You will be in horse heaven when you open this:
http://www.bbonline.com/horse.html

I will be very interested to follow your travels with your horse.
Barbara

[dawna]

Barbara:

I can't thank you enough for this information...you have saved me so much work!

My plans, so far this summer, are Shane's event in Iowa this May, and one or two events in Wisconcin that our fashion expert, Jenna Thiessen, is associated with, and then Gettysburg in July, and Franklin in the fall. At some point, I'm hoping to spend a day or two with our Rebel sister Thea, in Alabama. My plan this year is to learn as much as I can and to desensitive Jesse to the sights and sounds of reenacting events, and then with any luck, there might be a group out there who would consider having Jesse and I join them next year.

And last but not least, I'm jet setting back to England in June to visit my beautiful daughter, April, (yes, I'm slightly prejudiced) who recently married and lives not far from our resident Brit, Bill Torrens.

Dawna