The Blue Ridge Mountains, true to their name, appeared as a distant silhouette of sapphire peaks. As we dined outdoors, hummingbirds flitted by, and fat rabbits scampered across the grassy lawn. Our weekend getaway at Mountain Lake Lodge, situated at 3,800 feet in southwestern Virginia, rewarded us with panoramic country views, mountain breezes, forest hikes, and river kayaking. Work-weary urbanites, my husband and I craved a restorative getaway in nature.
Mountain Lake Lodge, as we had learned before, was the ideal place to go. The historic resort sprawls on a 2,600-acre nature conservancy in Pembroke, Virginia, outside of Blacksburg. A 1936 sandstone lodge overlooks a campus of wooden cabins and cottages, newly renovated in 2022. The property exudes a comfortable feel, serves tasty farm-to-table fare at Harvest (try the rack of lamb and the chicken) and pizza at an outdoor pub.
