The 5 Best Hikes in West Virginia for Amazing Views

Many of the best hiking trails in West Virginia lead to some of the most scenic vistas on the East Coast. Here are the 5 Best Hikes in West Virginia for Amazing Views...

Spring has arrived, and I am ready to break free of this serious case of cabin fever that I have and get back out there on the hiking trails! Hiking is something that I decided to take up a few years back as part of my journey to a healthier lifestyle. 

Hiking also happened to come with the bonus perk of becoming a great way for my then teenage son & I to connect & bond over our shared love for nature & outdoor photography.

With so many great hiking trails within a 3 hour drive of us, it can be hard to narrow down our list of must-do hikes each spring. summer, & fall. But one thing I always look for is the reward of completing our hike. 

Sometimes that reward is a cascading waterfall. Or maybe some out of the way, abandoned ruins. But my favorite reward after a long or challenging hike is a breathtaking view. 

And when it comes to hiking trails that lead to the best views, you just can't beat West Virginia hiking. In fact, many of the best hiking trails in West Virginia lead to some of the most amazing scenic vistas on the East Coast. Views that are most definitely worth breaking out the panoramic mode on your camera for...

Two Reasons You Need to Plan a Visit to Weston, West Virginia

If you ever needed a reason to plan a road trip to Weston, West Virginia, then I have two for you- the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum & Lambert's Vintage Wines...

I know when most people think "road trip", the small town of Weston, West Virginia probably doesn't even cross their minds. Unless you happen to be into ghost hunting and paranormal activity, you may have never even heard of the infamous now closed mental hospital there. 

And you may be hard pressed to find the handcrafted wines that the quaint Lambert's Vintage Wines produces at a wine shop or liquor store near you. But scores of weddings, events, and celebrations are booked at that local owned winery tucked away at the end of a gravel road from visitors across the country each year. So much so that Lambert's is already booking weddings and events into 2016!

On a rare all day date with my husband and my sister and her fiance, we decided to head 45 minutes south down I-79 to Weston for the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum's opening day of the year. Ghost hunts and tours are offered all year round per reservation, but the asylum opens to the general public for tours in April of each year. 

The asylum offers two types of tours to the general public- historic/heritage tours and paranormal tours/ghost hunts.  Since this was our first time visiting the asylum and my husband and I happen to be history buffs, we all decided on the 90 minute historic tour.  Plus, we wanted to take advantage of the special deal being offered only to West Virginia residents with a photo ID just during the month of April- $10 off the the 4 floor historic tour. ;) 

Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels

You only need 2 ingredients & about 40 minutes to bake up a batch of these easy to make, protein-packed Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels...

This dairy packed recipe was created in partnership with the ADA Mideast. As always, all thoughts & opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Since I have been on a kick lately to eat healthier, I have made it one of my goals to incorporate more low fat Greek yogurt into my cooking & baking. Not only it is one of my favorite ways to lighten up some of my go-to recipes, but Greek yogurt also happens to be high in protein (aka, keeps me feeling fuller for longer) & packs a nutritional punch with dairy's 9 essential nutrients. 

(CLICK HERE to check out some of the differences between Greek yogurt & regular yogurt.)

Since I love using Greek yogurt in my baking, I decided to give the latest foodie trend a go- making soft & fluffy bagels using only two ingredients, self-rising flour & protein-packed Greek yogurt! 

Yes, I was a little skeptical myself at first. But after baking up a batch of these Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels, I am definitely a believer now...

Homemade Pepperoni Rolls

Inspired by a classic West Virginia recipe, spicy pepperoni is enveloped in a soft yeast roll in these Homemade Pepperoni Rolls...

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Every city and town, every state has a food or dish that they are just known for.  

For Philadelphia, it may be the cheese steak. For Texas as a whole, it may be barbecue.

But for my home state of West Virginia, it is the pepperoni roll.  

I have lived and traveled outside of the great mountain state, but there is nothing out there anywhere that is quite like the fresh baked and homemade pepperoni rolls that comes from the local bakeries and home kitchens of my home state.

The now-iconic Lay's "Do Us A Flavor" campaign has returned, and they are wanting YOU to come up with a potato chip flavor idea that best represents your hometown or state. :) 

What will my entry be? A pepperoni roll flavored potato chip, of course! You can find out why my flavor idea has to be the best one by baking up your own batch of my homemade pepperoni rolls... ;)

Drink Like a Local in Charlottesville, Virginia with Cville Hop On Tours

Offering guided winery, brewery, cidery, & distillery tours, Cville Hop On Tours takes the guesswork out of planning your next boozy tour of the Charlottesville, Virginia area...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Charlottesville & Cville Hop On Tours. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Oops, I did it again... ;) I planned, hosted, & attended my second ever local bloggers retreat in Charlottesville, Virginia last month. Some of you all may recall my first Sip, Dine, & Shine retreat in Charles Town, West Virginia back in 2016. This year's venue may have changed, but it was awesome to get the ole gang back together again (Erin from Delightful E Made, Brianne from Cupcakes & Kale Chips, & Karyn from Pint Sized Baker). Nicole from Mediavine & Or Whatever You Do joined us as well on this year's retreat, and boy we were glad to have her!

We all stayed in a restored 1790 cabin tucked away at the end of a long gravel driveway about 45 minutes outside of Charlottesville. And while we certainly loved the seclusion & peacefulness of our rental home, it definitely made us all appreciate the fact that we had decided to book a winery tour with Cville Hop On Tours even more! It was definitely a much better choice than trying to pile all of us into one of our cars & winging it on our own to try & explore the local winery scene. ;)

Banana Split Ice Cream Pops

These cool & creamy Banana Split Ice Cream Pops are made with just 3 simple ingredients- vanilla ice cream, cold milk, & fresh fruit. A perfect frosty treat for summertime!

This dairy packed recipe was created in partnership with the ADA Mideast. As always, all thoughts & opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

The countdown to summer break is on in this house! My youngest has less than a month left of school & then the summer fun will officially begin. 

We have road trips, lazy days at the local pool, tennis camp, and nights by the fire pit making s'mores already on our summer break agenda. I also see lots of fun homemade popsicle making in our summertime plans starting with this recipe for these layered Banana Split Ice Cream Pops. 

This cool & creamy frozen treat is made with just 3 simple ingredients: vanilla ice cream, cold milk, & fresh fruit. And they come together in no time at all with a little help from your blender. 

Not only are these ice cream pops fun & 100% kid approved, but I can also feel good about treating my kiddo to these thanks to the high standards of safety & quality being enforced by our local dairy farmers. 

In a world where we seem to be constantly hearing about contaminated foods & recalls, it is reassuring to know that dairy foods are the among the safest & most highly regulated foods out there.

Creamy Summer Fruit Pizzas

Topped with creamy ricotta & mascarpone cheeses, juicy peaches, & sweet blackberries, these sweet & savory personal sized pizzas are perfect for summertime...

This delicious recipe was created in partnership with the ADA Mideast. As always, all thoughts & opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

"Summer, summer, summertime... Time to sit back and unwind." Okay, I know, I know. It isn't quite officially summertime yet. We are still 19 days away from that. 

But it certainly feels like summertime around here already. Temperatures have been in the balmy 80's most of this week, and my oldest's summer break from school started this past weekend. So for all intents and purposes, let's just say that summer has indeed arrived, k? ;)

Aside from the warmer weather and evenings around the fire pit, I most look forward to summertime for the flavors of the season. 

Sweet, juicy fruits and berries come into season. My basil plant overflows with bright green, fragrant leaves. And my mind starts spinning with delicious recipe ideas inspired by the sweet, fresh flavors of summer. 

These Creamy Summer Fruit Pizzas are the very embodiment of my love for perfectly ripe summer peaches and juicy blackberries. When they are paired with creamy ricotta & rich mascarpone cheeses and a little fresh basil, the end result is delicious, no fuss pizzas perfect for summertime...

5 Tips for Curbing Road Trip Motion Sickness

Kick nausea to the curb on that next road trip with these 5 Tips for Curbing Road Trip Motion Sickness...

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I think that it goes without saying that I love to travel. Whether taking road trips with my family or flying solo across the country for a foodie adventure, I love the thrill of exploring a new place. :) But what many people probably don't know about me is that I have suffered from some serious motion sickness ever since I was a kid. 

In fact, I still vividly remember the summer that my grandparents embarked with my sister and I on a mission to visit a different area of West Virginia each week while we were off from school. Though I love the fun memories we made that summer, I mostly still remember those day trips because of how many times I had to ask my grandpa to pull the van over because I felt absolutely nauseous. 

You see, we do not have very many straight roads on the back hills of West Virginia. In fact, there are a lot of hairpin turns on our roads through the hills and mountains. We have another name for those types of turns, but I will spare you that term since I like to keep things PG-ish around here. ;)

Motion sickness has followed me into my adult travels as well. Mountain highways still make my stomach turn. Rough waters while in a small boat leave me darting for the side railing. And I once even had to grab that little white bag as the plane was landing on the runway in Denver. Talk about a walk of shame as I exited that plane!

Over the years, I have learned some methods and tips for helping to curb that motion sickness making for much more pleasant travels for all involved. The tips below are more specific to road trips, but you could employ almost all of these in any instance where you are experiencing nausea due to motion sickness...

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.

French Onion Roasted Potato Salad

Your backyard BBQ guests will love this lightened up & flavor packed French Onion Roasted Potato Salad...

This delicious recipe was created in partnership with the ADA Mideast. As always, all thoughts & opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

It always seems like Memorial Day weekend is the weekend that officially kicks off summertime. It is the start of BBQ season. The first long holiday weekend of summer. The beginning of summer break from school for many of the kiddos. The first weekend that the local pool is open for the summer season. It also marks the start of summertime entertaining season for me.

The husband & I love to have family and friends over for a cookout or to celebrate summer holidays. We fire up the grill, break out the cornhole set, and prep the fire pit for s'mores making once the sun goes down. 

My husband often grills burgers & hot dogs or smokes baby back ribs to perfection in his smoker. And I am always in charge of the side dishes for our little summertime get-togethers. ;)

We almost always serve a traditional mayo based potato salad at our BBQ's, but I decided to change it up for the cookout we hosted for my son's high school graduation over the weekend. I lightened up our usual potato salad with a little Greek yogurt, but amped up the flavor by oven roasting the potatoes instead of boiling them & mixing in a packet of onion soup mix...

Loves Way Village: A Glampground Destination in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia

Enjoy the very best of nature and camping combined with the amenities and comforts of a clean and comfortable hotel room when you go glamping at Loves Way Village in West Virginia...

This post was created in partnership with Loves Way Village. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

While I do consider myself somewhat of an outdoorsy person, I am not one that is much for "roughing" it. I love finding a good hiking trail or paddling down a river in a kayak, but sleeping on the ground in the middle of the woods with no bathroom (or shower!) in sight? No, thank you. It just really isn't my thing. I'd would MUCH rather commune with nature in comfort. ;)

That is why I was beyond thrilled when the folks at Loves Way Village invited my sister and I to stay in one of their glamping tents a few weeks ago. We were able to hike and kayak and enjoy all of the beauty and adventure that the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia has to offer, but we still got to come back to a comfortable bed, air conditioning, a hot shower, and a soak in our own private hot tub each evening of our two-night stay at Loves Way.

I know that glamping has definitely become all the rage lately. Some may even call it a novel trend in traveling. But I do think that this fad in accommodations is here to stay, folks. You get all the fun of camping (think s'mores over a campfire, rainfall hitting the fabric of the tent lulling you to sleep, being close to nature), but without all of the dirt, and grime, and dealing with the elements. 

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. 

Booze & Brews with a View: 8 Must-Visit Wineries & Breweries in Loudoun County, Virginia

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary in Loudoun County, Virginia...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Loudoun. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

After almost a year of Covid-induced homebody-ness, I was finally ready to venture out on a girls' trip last month. A little road trip to one of my favorite areas of Virginia became the obvious choice for our first girls' getaway in over a year. Not only is Loudoun County home to some of the best wine country in the state of Virginia, but their local foodie scene has recently seen an explosion in growth when it comes to locally owned and operated breweries and distilleries as well. 

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary (responsibly, of course!) in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County boasts over 30 breweries, almost 40 wineries, and about 7 distilleries & cideries, but that number continues to grow every year.

While our two and a half day girls' getaway didn't allow us to try every winery, brewery, and distillery in the county, we did get to visit at least 8 on the list. All 8 of these wineries & breweries (plus 1 distillery!) had to meet certain discerning criteria to make it on our girls' trip list ;) :

• They had to have plenty of outdoor spaces and seating. I mean, what is seriously better than being able to sip on a glass of pink bubbles or enjoying a cold draft beer on a patio or deck?
• They had to be locally owned and operated.
• And being nestled in the rolling, green foothills of the Shenandoah, a beautiful view was definitely a must!

4 Reasons to Attend a Local Farm to Table Dinner

If you have never attended a farm to table dinner before or have been on the fence about whether or not you should attend one, then be sure to check out these 4 Reasons to Attend a Local Farm to Table Dinner...

This post was created in partnership with Taste of Blue Ridge. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Through my work as a food & travel blogger and my involvement with the local food & culinary scene in my area, I have been fortunate to have been able to attend a handful of farm to table dinners over the past few years. 

Although each featured a different venue & highlighted different local chefs & farms, one theme remained the same- a love for & focus on locally sourced, grown, & raised ingredients. 





If you have never attended a farm to table dinner before or have been on the fence about whether or not you should snag a ticket to your next local food event, then today's post is for you! :) Below I am sharing my 4 top reasons why a local farm to table dinner is well worth your time & the price of admission...

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: