(Part 2 of our May vacation)
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We stayed one night at the Mimslyn Inn, which is listed in the national registry of historic hotels. We had a delightful dinner in their Speakeasy restaurant, located in the lower level.
The following morning, we toured Luray Caverns. It took us an hour to walk the 1.25 mile path in the 3.4 acre cave. If you like stalactites and stalagmites, this is the place for you. It was amazing to me as a child and was still amazing to me as an adult. It was very damp and water drips from the ceiling. Yes, you do feel the drops on your head.
Dream Lake is the most incredible part of the caverns. It's difficult to believe, even when you are standing right there, but the entire bottom is just a reflection of the ceiling on the surface of the water.
Our family has always talked about the 'bacon drapery' we saw at Jewel Cave in South Dakota. Finally, we saw some again!
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We dubbed that little guy in the middle, 'the Christmas tree.' We were able to see it multiple times as we wound around all the paths. Pictures truly don't do the cave justice.
After being at Mammoth Cave National Park last year, I did have concerns that this cavern might be cheesy, considering it was privately owned. The only thing odd about the experience was this organ near the end. There are giant wires wrapped around some of the formations and a man plays a song on what they call the great stalacpipe organ. Honestly, I didn't really understand it!
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| Although it didn't seem related, there was also a Car & Carriage Museum next door, included in the admission fee. We were actually impressed with the number of exhibits. |
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| I though this European carriage from the mid-1700's was really neat. I've never seen anything like that before. |
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| The following day was my birthday! To celebrate we went to two vineyards in the Charlottesville area. One was Jefferson Vineyards. |
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It was a beautiful day to sit outside.
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We also visited Keswick Vineyards. I liked these little flight boxes and the snacks.
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This was the view from our patio table.
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The scene of the crime: behind this fence were some trailer bathrooms. I've been in similar ones at outdoor weddings and concerts. It's like a real bathroom, with a toilet and a sink, only they're portable. I entered, turned the lock, did my business, and washed my hands. I then unlocked the door and attempted to open the door but nothing happened. I pushed, I pulled, I threw my body against the door and it did not budge. I started to freak out, but fortunately, I had my purse with me which held my phone. I called my husband and thank God he answered because sometimes outdoors, it's hard to hear. He came to my rescue and managed to open the door from the outside. I have no idea what the problem was, but he said he would have looked for me . . . eventually!
The final part of the trip will be next post.
Have you ever stayed at a historical hotel? Opinions on cheesy tourist attractions? Have you ever been locked in a bathroom? |
Those photos inside the caverns are outstanding! I love the lighting - the shadows and highlights.
ReplyDelete"but the entire bottom is just a reflection of the ceiling on the surface of the water." --That's amazing!
And I wonder if the guy playing the organ is there to create a musical ambiance; adding to the "feel" of the cavern?!?!
That carriage reminds me of something from the movie, 'Dangerous Liaisons'. So cool!
" I liked these little flight boxes and the snacks." -- FAB-U-LOUS setup! Wish I could have been there to share in the wine and board!
"He came to my rescue and managed to open the door from the outside." --- Yikes! I would have freaked too!
-I've never stayed in a historical hotel, however, living in Philadelphia, we have so many of them.
-Having lived in Orlando, Florida for 15 years, yes, I've seen many cheesy tourist attractions. The town is FILLED with them. LOL
-No, I've never been locked in a bathroom. But I have been stuck in an elevator. In fact, TWICE! Once, for almost an hour. The second time, for 30 mins. NOT fun.
Thanks for sharing your trip, my friend. Have a super great weekend! X
The entire time we were in the caverns, we kept saying it didn’t look real. It was like a movie set! The organ thing was strange. He waited until there was a group in the ‘room’ and then played one song and then we left. It didn’t even sound that good to me. Lol! That carriage DOES look like it’s from Dangerous Liaisons! Being stuck in an elevator for an hour would be horrible. Normally, I’m not claustrophobic, but things like this are too much. Enjoy your weekend, Ron!
DeleteWow, those caves look so cool! What an interesting trip. One of my girlfriends was once locked in a toilet stall that had those privacy doors, so like, from floor to ceiling. She didn't have her purse with her - had left it at the table - and had to ask for help from the first person who came in, who happened to be a nine year old girl. She still will not go alone to a bathroom at a restaurant now! They had to send in someone to break the lock. IMAGINE.
ReplyDeleteOk, that’s terrible! I would have lost my mind! I wonder if that 9 YO was traumatized too?? I’m always going to take my phone with me from now on.
DeleteHappy belated birthday! That carriage does look neat.
ReplyDeleteThere's a restaurant we go to in Mt. Pleasant where the door to the women's restroom seems like you should push to get out; the handle, the hinges, everything looks like you should push, but it's actually pull. There's always someone (I'll admit one year it was me) who starts freaking out and beating on the door.
Thanks, Danielle! That is crazy about the bathroom door. They should have a sign on the inside of the door to let people know. It’s easy to freak out over something like that. Always great to see you!
DeleteThe historic hotel looks really cool. I've never stayed in one. I saw something similar to that cave while on my honeymoon in Barbados. It was really cool to see. Not sure that an organ would've enhanced the experience. That part seems really odd. Fortunately, I've never been locked in a bathroom. The views from the vineyard are beautiful. I look forward to hearnig about the rest of the trip.
ReplyDeleteWe’ve stayed in a lot of historical hotels and will do it again in a few weeks. They are always so grand, though mostly just the common areas. A cave in Barbados sounds really cool. Yes, the organ was just bizarre.
DeleteI love the cave pictures!
ReplyDeleteIt was a neat experience.
DeleteI WOULD HAVE HAD A PANIC ATTACK IN THAT BATHROOM. I'm so glad you had your phone!! I sometimes go to the bathroom without my purse. You've now convinced me to always take my purse to the restroom. 🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteBacon drapery. I can't unsee it now.
This trip sounds like a lot of fun. And I love that you got to spend your birthday at a winery with a view! Happy belated birthday!
My heart was going a mile a minute in that bathroom. I almost left my purse at the table with Middle Child, because my husband had gone up to the building to get food, but I fortuitously took my purse with me! I will from now on as well!
DeleteIsn't bacon drapery a cool thing? It became a family joke, so it was fun to see again. I purposefully scheduled the entire trip so that we'd have a free afternoon on my birthday for wineries!
Happy Belated Birthday!! Looks like you had a lovely time. Other than the trip to the bathroom. I would have freaked out. I'm not claustrophobic but panic at the thought of being stuck in a room, elevator, etc. The fear is real! The photos are all gorgeous. I'm glad you had a nice time and enjoyed your birthday at the winery. Can't wait to see more of your travels.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a freaky few minutes. And thank you!!!
DeleteI'm down for any and all cheesy tourist attraction. The cheesier, the better! SPAM Museum? Check! Carhenge? Check! World's largest ball of twine? Well, not yet...but it will get a Check! someday, mark my words.
ReplyDeleteI like ones where there’s something to do, rather than just go stand by it for a photo op.
DeleteGreat photos, Bijoux! The caverns look awesome and I understand how photos cannot do some locations justice. You just have to be there.
ReplyDeleteLove those old cars and carriages!
I've hit some pretty old hotels in my time, but naturally I can't think of one at the moment.
I've never been locked in a bathroom, but it is a big fear of mine. Whenever the door at any public restroom doesn't open instantly I freak out, convinced I'll have to call the SWAT team for help. That has yet to happen and I'd like to keep it that way.
Happy travels...
Thanks, Rob. I don’t think I ever even thought about getting locked in a bathroom, but now it’s going to run through my head every time I step into one. Ugh.
DeleteHave you ever stayed at a historical hotel? Yes, a few. Always unique. Many quite grand.
ReplyDeleteOpinions on cheesy tourist attractions? Sometimes worth a stop, but only if they're free.
Have you ever been locked in a bathroom? Yes, at a party at a friend's house. My friend's husband had to get a ladder to climb up the side of the house to get into the bathroom with me to open the door with tools. It was a very old house.
The historical hotels are amazing. We’ve been fortunate to stay at some world class ones through my spouse’s work. The cheesiest place we’ve ever been was a dinosaur place for kids near Lake Erie. I think it was built in the1950’s. We were all cracking up. That’s awful about the bathroom incident!
DeleteFirst, a belated happy 🎂 birthday to you Bijoux and looks like you had a great getaway to celebrate, aside from the bathroom mishap. Yes, we have stayed in a historic hotel, but right now I am hard pressed to recall the names and, of course, we live in a historic mill. We have gone on tourist attractions, most recently on train rides in PA. Our thoughts are that they are "one and done" We have only gone to an underground cave one time on our cross country road trip and that was plenty for me, another one and done. Never been locked in a bathroom and know to always have a phone with me. Glad your husband came to your rescue!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I think I remember a few posts you’ve done about historical hotel stays. Yes, some things are definitely one and done. My husband didn’t get to travel as a child, so I’ve had to relive a number of experiences, but I don’t mind. Good thinking to always have your phone with you!
DeleteThe Luray Caverns look amazing. I'd love to do the tour! We have the Marble Arch Caves here in NI, but the Luray Caverns look like they're more spectacular. Re historical hotels, we've stayed at the San Cassiano Hotel in Venice which is part of the historic building “Ca’ Favretto”, home of the 19th-century painter Giacomo Favretto. Re cheesy tourist attractions, when we did a tour of the Canadian Maritimes, we were taken to the Anne of Green Gables house which neither of us had any interest in but it is apparently a big tourist attraction.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick! The caverns really were amazing. Completely covered with formations. We were quite surprised at how beautiful it was. I bet the hotel in Venice was amazing to see and experience. I did love the story of Anne of Green Gables and the miniseries, but I can see how the house would be a bit touristy.
DeleteHappy Belated Birthday! What a great 2nd part to your trip. I like cave trekking, but I have never heard of bacon curtains before. How neat that looks! Yikes to the bathroom situation though. I'd be stuck because I always forget to take my phone with me.
ReplyDeleteThe carriage is so neat! You should tour the Studebaker museum if you're ever in South Bend. They don't have anything like the carriage, but some of those old cars are pretty cool.
Yes to cheesy tourist attractions. I'm one that you have to add extra hours onto a destination because I tend to veer off course for roadside attractions and cool spots that I hadn't originally intended on stopping.
The bacon drapery is cool. They also had flowstone, but no cave popcorn. My dad loved caves, so I’ve been to a LOT. The best was Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. I will have to remember about the Studebaker museum. Maybe a detour if we ever get to the Indiana Sand Dunes? I like the roadside attractions more than my husband, but I’ve talked him into a few.
DeleteThe Dunes are lovely, but be prepared for your calves to burn if you walk up them! They do have stairs though, but it's still quite a trek. I haven't seen much of New Mexico. We've only drove straight through it the two times I've been there, but I'd love to go back and just take it all in. Carlsbad Caverns I have heard so much about, so I'd for sure put that at the top of my list of destinations to see while we're there!
DeleteWe did Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan; I wonder if it’s similar? I had an aunt and uncle that lived in Albuquerque when I was a teen, so we did a big family trip out west to see them and traveled all over NM and AZ. One of my best family memories.
DeleteI have not been to Sleeping Bear Dunes, but honestly, I think once you've seen one sand dune, you've seen them all. I was pissed when we went to Death Valley and Jason mapped us to their dunes. I was like, "um, we see this back home. couldn't you have taken us to something we haven't seen before?" lol
DeleteYou're probably right!!!
DeleteI would love to visit a cave, any cave, but my husband has claustrophobia and he wouldn't go! I should just go by myself but whatever....! Looks fun though! We have never stayed in a historic hotel. I do kind of like cheesy tourist attractions. They can be fun!
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people are freaked out by caves, but they are a lot bigger than a bathroom, so they don’t freak me out at all! LOL! Maybe your grandkids would enjoy a cave with you!
DeleteLooks like a wonderful time and glad you had a great time celebrating your birthday month. Thanks for sharing with us and hope this birthday month was one for the ages.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteMy brain is still trying to digest the Dream Lake photo. WTH? I remember seeing Bacon Drapery at a cave...I think in Colorado. That might be the time my husband had to depart early in the tour because of his claustrophobia.
ReplyDeleteWeird about the Organ/cheesy part.
Happy belated birthday; so happy you spent it at a Winery. (and not locked for hours in the toilet!)
Crazy about you getting locked in the bathroom. I fear that without my phone, it would be an hour before someone came looking for me!
I know! It was hard to believe I was looking at water when I was standing in front of Dream Lake. I was tempted to reach out and touch it! It said it was only 20 inches deep at its deepest part. I bet it was Colorado; you don’t forget bacon drapery! LOL! That bathroom was tiny and I was not happy. Maybe the humidity caused the door to swell and get stuck. It was weird.
DeleteNow the Luray Caverns is something that I would have gone to see. I like that sort of thing. I went to the Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park a long time ago. I mostly remember the half mile hike to get to the cave and the half mile hike to get back to our car. I don't know how it is now, probably safer but the trail leading to the cave was narrow and if you slipped and fell it was right over the side of a mounatin and there were no hand rails or safety guards of any kind. That hike was a little scary.
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy, Mary. As a kid, I remember having to walk down a ton of steps to get to Mammoth Cave. Last year, we rode a shuttle bus to the entrance! I’m going to have to google Crystal Cave to see what it’s like now.
DeleteOh dear! Being unable to exit the bathroom would have ended me. I'm not much for caves but Luray does look interesting. The Mimslyn Inn and Speakeasy Restaurant would have been my favorite part of that trip! I hope you had a truly happy and memorable birthday! xoxo
ReplyDeleteLuray Caverns was truly amazing. And we couldn't get over how good the food was in that Speakeasy restaurant. They were very accommodating to Middle Child, who is lactose intolerant. The chef made her a different sauce for her butternut squash ravioli, which I thought was really kind. I had the salmon and it was delicious.
DeleteLocked in a bathroom, oh my!! Thank goodness you were with hubby and he could get the door open. I'd have probably freaked out a bit and there would have been some yelling. lol
ReplyDeleteWe've been to Luray Caverns a couple times and thought it was wonderful. We walked thru the car museum last time and it was interesting.
Going to vineyards on your birthday, well that's wonderful. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.
~Mary
Thanks, Mary. The bathroom thing freaked me out for sure. That’s great that you’ve been to some of the places in this post!
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