How Our Mountain Getaway Evolved
Last year, some friends from Margaritaville who knew the Virginia wine country well planned a trip to explore the Charlottesville area wineries — and invited us along as a group of five couples. We stayed at The Farmhouse at Veritas (link: the-farmhouse-at-veritas.com) in the heart of Virginia wine country.
It was a trip Tim and I had talked about for years, and this time we finally went. The long weekend included a brief visit to Monticello and several wineries in and around Charlottesville. We had such a great time and quickly realized we’d only scratched the surface. We left saying we’d definitely go back the next year to see more.
When we came back still buzzing from the fun, Kathy and Paul said, “Please include us next year!” We made sure they were added to the planning, and just like that, our little group grew to six couples.
Then came the hiccup — and it was a big one. The week that worked best for most of the group didn’t work for the Miers or the Kahns. Trying to coordinate six couples was like herding cats, and when the dust settled, the dates were locked for the first week of October. Perfect for everyone else… except us. We’d be in Peru, and the Miers would be in New York. The later part of October would have been ideal, but at that point, the plans had already rolled forward without us.
Debbie had been talking with me and Barb about doing a trip together, so when the idea of a mountain getaway closer to home came up, it felt like the perfect fit. Brevard was a newer discovery for Tim and me, and we were excited to show it off. Debbie’s husband, our local hike leader, would love the area too — waterfalls, mountain trails, and plenty of scenic drives to explore.
We found a super-nice four-bedroom house on VRBO, so we had room for one more couple to invite. The benefit of going later in October is you take a chance of hitting peak leaf season — and that’s always a welcome bonus.
Over the next couple of months, everyone we considered was either traveling or expecting company. We knew we wanted to find someone we all got along with — and it would be a bonus if they’d never been to the area before.
But then — more hiccups. The house we booked was sold, and Debbie injured her knee. For a while, it looked like we might have to cancel altogether. Thankfully, her injury wasn’t as bad as it first seemed, and she made a quick recovery after surgery. We promised there’d be no grueling hikes, and she was determined to make it work — and she did!
One night at the Bandshell, we got to talking with friends and found out the Crisafullis were also free that week. Just like that, the new plan took shape. Bob and I found another great house — more centrally located — that gave us easy access to Brevard, Biltmore, Hendersonville, Asheville, and all the nearby wineries.
After a few twists and turns, our fall getaway was officially back on track.
Here is the amazing house which has nearby properties to rent as well.
https://www.5seasonshomestays.com/property/yzNsWgQCCmGSHaWIz9zo
Here is the Airbnb link:
https://www.airbnb.com/l/Y3Sf3zK7
The VRBO link:
Before the trip, we held a little planning session to draw for our rooms and go over the itinerary. The forecast called for rain most of the week, but none of us cared — this house had everything: a home theater, game room, corn hole, jacuzzi, sauna, putting green, and bocce ball. We figured even if the weather didn’t cooperate, we’d have plenty of ways to relax and laugh our way through the days.
Happiness is Possible 