Happiness is....a sing along in the lobby….no this is not an actual activity at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA but what happened Sunday evening. After a wonderful dinner, we retired to the lobby for after-dinner drinks as the pianist created a lovely setting. We found our little sitting area and got cozy. Mom had her beloved Brandy Alexander, Daddy a Drambuie, the rest of us actually too full from dinner but happy sipping water and taking it all in…..
Part of the fun of these vacations is people watching. Public spaces are so homey and in the midst of the coming and goings….part of the allure is taking in others shared family time. I’m doing that right now as I type from the front porch. It is morning and everyone seems to be setting out on adventures!! I’m loving this alone time with my computer and the setting. The screen door bangs and like the library in college I look up thinking I’ll know who is coming out. My brother and Mom just departed on a mini adventure to find a local airport.
So last night we were delighted by well-dressed children, often with a big ole bow- making their way up and down the corridor. One stopped delighted with the music and made a request- a sweet whisper in the pianist's ear. Next thing we know- Do A Deer was being played and we all couldn’t resist- sing-along. It didn’t last long and just like life nothing is perfect- the sing-along included Christmas music for some….but then another sweet child came along and danced to a lovely rendition of some song I can't recall but was lovely taking the pianist back to her repertoire. Although she obliged us with “take me out the ball game” and on cue, Peter and the cousins emerged. TMO is his lullaby. Then she played Edelweiss- Sally’slullabye- as well….Joe and I danced to Moonriver…A lovely first night of Family vacation.
I pick this back up home in Ohio, wishing we had just one more day in Virginia as a family. More reflecting: The Homestead is a great place for groups and as we discovered this year for our age children. They were a merry band and truly only joined us for meals. They happily made their way to and from pools, activities and just hanging out together and meeting other teens in similar situations and young workers from all over the globe! It was nice to have accessibility for Daddy too- he joined us at the spa and the pool. Our past vacations are a challenge as beach navigation is difficult. Our meals were delicious. Service this year had its extremes. Some wonderful staff and I will share this with the hotel made sure we were well cared for, however a number of times things just seamed off- bartenders taking too long to serve and not happy to be where they were. Yoga not offered and lack of care the disappointment this caused. The spa amenities and setting are just wonderful- new to my bucket list- trying the natural hot spring pool there in the winter! Oh and golfing The Cascades course. Joe thinks I'm ready for Old White at the Greenbrier by the way!!! And if you like to shoot- the gun club is gorgeous. I didn't shoot as well but loved being there with Joe and Matt.
Memories were made- the power went out- very "Shining" like walk to the spa that afternoon! All the texts family checking in on one another was very sweet. New this year was the guided hike. I was not excited to spend $30 a person but it was worth it. Fabulous lessons on fauna from our guide and loved the long hike along the gorgeous cascade waterfall/stream. Nothing is perfect and we know you take the good with the bad. The price and location were ideal for our family and this July vacation in my life on Newark-Granville Road. Three cheers for the Homestead and almost all of our family under one roof!
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| Cocktail, breakfast, tea- if these chairs could talk. |
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