Being a straight and narrow beach lover, I usually am not too impressed with the mountains. But this weekend Mother Nature did her best to impress me.

My family enjoyed a stay at the historic Hotel Roanoke, nestled perfectly in the on-fire-with-fall-color Blue Ridge Mountains.  The drive to Roanoke from Northern Virginia was shockingly amazing. And the hotel was just as impressive. 

The Hotel Roanoke is 125 years old. She was built in the height of the railroad area. Entering the grand lobby, with its soaring paneled walls, is a trip in a time machine. I was instantly reminded of another historic hotel from the same era, the Athenaeum in the Chautauqua Institution, where worked for three blissful summers in my college days.

After being closed for years, a major renovation created the current state of the art Conference Center. The guest rooms have been more recently upgraded. Designed by Jillian Van Dresser, originally from Blacksburg, the new décor perfectly blends a traditional atmosphere with the contemporary aesthetic expected in what is now a Hilton Hotel.

Spa services, excellent dining and impeccable service, The Hotel Roanoke is an affordable luxury and within a few gorgeous hours from DC.