Monday......

This past weekend Mr. Busy Bryant and myself visited Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County Virginia.  Wintergreen was playing host to the Super Spartan race and we were crazy enough to sign up!  Apparently though there were over 7,000 other crazy people so I don't feel so deranged.  Mark and I went with a team and staying in one of the most amazing places ever.  The view alone from the patio was worth going.

Our team mates are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met.  I can't say we did much running at the race.  It seemed like all we did was go straight up mountains and then straight down them...but we did laugh together...A LOT.  And I'm pretty sure we all cussed together the next morning as our sore muscles screamed for help!

Today we are back home...starting the work week, planning birthday parties, working on back-to-school projects and yes still nursing the screaming muscles.  Hope you had a great weekend my friends!

Nelson County Wine Country

This last weekend after some fun tubing The Busy Bryants did a little tour of a few of the wineries around Wintergreen.  There are several in the area but since we've already hit a few in the past we narrowed down our visits to three new to us wineries. 

Wintergreen Winery in Nelson County was our first stop since it was on the same road as the resort.  With signs along the road and arrows pointing to "wine here" you can find this winery easily.  Tastings are $5 unless you buy three bottles, then tastings are free.  Yea, ours were free :)  The tasting room is in a small building that is actually over 200 years old.  You would never know that with all that they have done to refurbish the building.  Behind the winery are picnic tables right next to a winding brook, so on those hot summer days you can sit by the cool water and sip your wine. 



Yea I think I could spend a few hours here sitting and sipping.



After leaving Wintergreen we headed back towards I-64.  I was using my Wine in my Pocket App to find the wineries but there are really enough signs along the road to tell you where to turn and how far to go.  Just down (or is it up) the road we made our second stop at Hill Top Berry Farm .  This is a "true to the fruit" winery.  That means if you taste blueberry it is because it's made with blueberries, not grapes with blueberry juice.  This winery also is in the business of making mead.  That is wine with honey as the sweetener.  I like the mead wines ok but Mark liked them better than the traditional grape wines.  The winery itself is a simple one story wood sided building with a long bar in the tasting room and a separate banquet room.  They do have a large covered pavilion area attached to the front.  The pavilion has it's own fire place and ceiling fans for cool weather and warm weather. 

The banquet room.



They were pruning the blackberry bushes the day we visited.



Our last wine stop of the day was just a little further up the road heading back towards I 64.  This stop was at Flying Fox Winery.  This has to be one of the smallest wineries and vineyards.  I literally laughed at the vineyard because it was so tiny!  But none the less they had good wines.  The tasting room is in a small wooden building the size of most houses (it probably was really just a house converted into a tasting facility) but it was cozy and I liked their taste in decorating.  They do have a small patio on the back with a few table and seats. 








The attached patio



 

We really enjoyed all of the wineries on this visit.  There was something at each one that I liked and wanted to tuck away in my memory to draw from on my rainy days.  A winding brook, an outdoor fireplace and a charming house winery :) Our day still had one more fun tid bit left in store for us...but I'll save that for another day!

Oh what a ride

This past Saturday The Bryants and some friends loaded up and headed to Wintergreen Resort.  I had already tried my hand at skiing many moons ago and I found that skiing is just NOT for me.  It takes a fair amount of coordination and my body just does not cooperate!  So this time we planned on just sticking to snow tubing :) 




Get ready to ride.

I had purchased my tickets about a week in advance online.  You can't purchase them much further in advance per Wintergreen's policy.  That way in case of a major warm up or they can't make enough snow they are not having to refund a lot of tickets.  And don't wait too long before getting tickets because they WILL sale out!  Tickets are $28 a piece and there are certain restrictions on size (check their website for all the info).  We arranged for the 10-noon tubing time.  At first I thought 2 hours seemed like it wouldn't be long enough....but trust me....it MORE than enough.  We got to the resort about 9:15 and got checked in easily.  We had to wait until exactly 10 before we were allowed on "The Plunge". 




Go ahead....take the plunge!



This girl is ready!



My biggest kid :)

They send everyone down their lanes at the same time and you get a count down before heading down.  Once down at the end you just grab your tube and head over to a conveyor belt that hauls you back up.





I'm glad I didn't have to climb up myself.

The Plunge park is right next to some of the skiing and just below one of the lodges.  You could easily head up for some hot cocoa or to warm up by the fire.  

The lodge.



Tommy keeping warm.

Just before the our session ended the zip lining open up.  I had already planned on us doing that but needed to purchase the tickets there at the resort.  Christy was more than excited about this.   I am going to have to keep an eye on that girl....she is my thrill seeker!





Waiting to zip line





The plat form






About to jump!

 
The zip lining is right next to the tubing park so you are not running all around the resort to get from one area to the next.  Mark and I also did the zip lining :)  It was pretty awesome!  It's $10 a piece to do this and for $15 you can go twice.  Before leaving the park we grabbed a quick bite then made our way one to the next stage of our adventure.  I'll cover that tomorrow. 

Me and the kidos.



The ski slopes.


It was an awesome day.  I was a little sore that night and the next day but not enough to not go again!  The kids loved it and seeing them grin and smile almost the whole day made everything totally worth it!