Hiking the Endless Wall Trail

Hugging the rim of the New River Gorge for about 2 miles, the Endless Wall Trail in West Virginia provides hikers with breathtaking vistas by way of its many rocky overlooks and steep cliffs...

My son & I's latest hiking adventures brought us to to the New River Gorge area of West Virginia. Hiking the Endless Wall Trail was actually my son's idea as he first heard about it when he went white water rafting on the New River with his dad earlier this fall. He came home from his weekend of zip lining and rafting all excited about the hiking trails he had also been told about in the area. We finally made the drive down on a beautiful Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago once his high school cross country season had officially ended.

The Endless Wall Trail is about 2 1/2 miles long total if you do the entire loop. But some hikers opt to make it into a moderate in and out 2 mile hike from the Fern Creek or Nutall Trailhead parking lots to the Diamond Point Overlook and back. This is what my son and I opted to do even though we went off the main marked trail a handful of times making our total hike closer to the 3 mile mark. 

Hillbrook Inn & Spa- A European Style Country Inn in the West Virginia Hills

Enjoy a taste of European charm & elegance with a side of country hospitality at the Hillbrook Inn & Spa, a bed & breakfast tucked into the hills of eastern West Virginia...

The Hillbrook Inn & Spa graciously provided the accommodations for our blogger retreat. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I attended & hosted my first ever blogger retreat earlier this month. Yes, folks- I planned and hosted a local blogger retreat! :)

The idea had been nagging at me for well over a year, and when an idea nags at me that long I know it is the universe trying to tell me something. So I listened, and in February I got in touch with my fellow food blogger friend, Karyn from Pint Sized Baker and brought her on board with the retreat planning. After a few months of legwork and networking and emails, Sip, Dine, & Shine 2016 had become a reality. 

We chose the Harpers Ferry area of West Virginia as it was an easy drive for all those invited. That was one thing I really wanted in a blogger retreat- no plane tickets, no travel hassles, no added expenses, no fuss. 

Just a little getaway with a few like-minded (& very talented) food bloggers in a laid back, country setting where we could sip on wine, chat all things blogging (and all things not blogging as well), and return home & to our blogs rejuvenated, inspired, and ready to shine.

Guesthouse Lost River- A Mountain Getaway

Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors makes the Guesthouse Lost River the perfect weekend getaway...

The Guesthouse Lost River graciously hosted my husband & I for a weekend getaway. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia just south of the eastern panhandle lies a tranquil & picturesque getaway from everyday life. Though the Guesthouse Lost River has been welcoming guests since 1982, innkeepers Gary Robinson & Jesse Halpern have been taking this bed & breakfast to a whole other level of relaxation & sophistication since 2012. They have expanded the original 6 room inn into a 16 room lodge with 3 separate cottages, as well as opened Lost River Valley's first fine dining restaurant within the main building.

When my husband and I were offered a chance to stay at the Guesthouse for a weekend getaway, we jumped at the chance. We had not visited the quaint mountain town of Lost River before, but found ourselves intrigued as we were browsing the Guesthouse's website. Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors were more than enough to convince us to make the 2 1/2 hour drive.

Hiking the Maryland Heights Trail

The Maryland Heights Trail, a 4 mile hike just off from the Appalachian Trail, is a challenging hike with rewarding views of Harpers Ferry and the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers...

Since my son & I's visit to Harpers Ferry last fall, we have been talking about hiking the Maryland Heights trail that takes you across the Potomac River and up rocky & steep paths to Overlook Cliff in Maryland. 

Harpers Ferry in West Virginia is to not only mere minutes from the Maryland and Virginia borders, but it also happens to be at almost the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail that spans 14 states between Maine and Georgia.

We are about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Harpers Ferry, so my son & I decided to drive in the day before our hike and stay overnight at a local bed & breakfast on the hillside just above Lower Town. The photo below was taken on the deck of the B&B right before my son & I left on our trek. 

Our destination? The cliff you see above and just to the right of my head... 

5 Unique Things to Do In & Around Harpers Ferry

Get off the beaten path and do something a little different during your visit with these 5 Unique Things to Do In & Around Harpers Ferry.  And bonus? Most of these are free to do!

The first time I visited Harpers Ferry, West Virginia was in May 2011. My husband & I had just got married, and we decided that a weekend getaway to this quaint, historical town would make the perfect little honeymoon. 

From our very first visit there almost 5 years ago, I think it is safe to say that I fell in love with the town, the breathtaking scenery, and the historical charm of Harpers Ferry. I have been back three times since, and I have two more trips to the area planned for this coming summer. 

Harpers Ferry is located at the confluence of the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers making for breathtaking views and scenery from just about any viewpoint in the town. It is also conveniently located within walking/driving distance of three different states- Virginia, Maryland, & of course, West Virginia. 

The town is rich in American history serving as the site of the infamous John Brown's Raid in 1859 and playing a key role in the Civil War, changing hands between the Union & Confederate forces 8 times in 4 years.

If you have never been to Harpers Ferry before and are planning a visit soon, here are a few things you need to know about the town ahead of time: