Fun Adventures Going Off the Grid

A couple of years ago, my family and I decided to do the "staycation" for a change.  It was all the rage - since airline and gas prices were so high (some things just don't ever change.)  We also decided to stay close to home because my youngest child was just born and there was something comforting about being so close to the familiar in case of some type of emergency.   We decided to go to Huddleston, Virginia - which is about an hour from Roanoke - and book a place right on the water overlooking Smith Mountain Lake.  For me, it isn't a summer vacation if you're not right by a body of water.  I can't relax without it.  I know, weird.  But call me a water rat (as my dad did when I was a kid, my nickname was nat, fat the water rat - and yes, I'll never recover from it) because my summers as a kid were spent swimming either at a pool, lake or in the ocean. My father was the one who suggested Smith Mountain Lake.  He had heard of it and wanted to check it

In my travels I come across people who really amaze me.  That recently happened when I stopped in at the Draper Mercantile in Draper, Virginia. This quaint country store is located in Pulaski County Virginia. You may remember back in 2011, it was in the media spotlight when a series of tornadoes  hit here destroying many homes and businesses.  But this historic little gem was spared, and the woman --who had a dream and a vision to rebuild this historic place and bring people here from near and far-- has brought it back to life. The woman behind it all is Debbie Gardner and I liked her the minute I met her.  This is a woman who isn't afraid to dream big. And she gets things done. She bought this mercantile back in 2008 when it was literally falling apart.  Debbie also owns and runs a property management company called New River Retreat.  These beautiful rental homes are bringing people here to vacation.  Problem prior to the mercantile renovation was, once they got here, t

Just saw this the other day and I thought it was a great little reminder. 

I'm brand new to this blogging thing.  I decided to start this blog because my job frequently takes me on the road and I thought it would be fun to chronicle my adventures along the way.  I decided to call it "off the grid" since that's exactly where I usually end up.  But one lazy afternoon at the community pool,  I came to realize the name also has another meaning.  Going "off the grid" can mean simply - disconnecting.  Ditching the phones and tablets that we're all so focused on and pay attention to what's happening around us. I am really making a concerted effort to do this myself - especially when I'm with my kids.  And let me tell you, after a recent scare with my 3 year old in the baby pool, I'm glad I am. My daughter is 3 and she loves the pool.  Not the big pool.  The "little" pool as she likes to call it. She also loves hanging onto any type of flotation device she can get her grubby little hands on.   One afternoon she

I have a love/hate relationship with the game of golf.   I love it because when you’re on the golf course, you think of nothing else but your game.   The hatred comes when I play it.   I’m not good.   But I so WANT to be good.   And I found a place where you’ll definitely love/hate your game.   You’ll love it because of the incredible golf course and all the beautiful views you'll encounter at each hole.   You’ll hate it because it is an extremely difficult course and will definitely challenge your game.  It is located in a great area – in the heart of Carroll County, Virginia not far off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s called Olde Mill Golf Resort and you’ll be driving along thinking there is absolutely no way there is a golf course nearby – when suddenly you stumble upon it. This truly is a place where time seems to slow down a bit, and where you find yourself forgetting all your worries. On our recent trip we played a few holes, tried some of the amazing cuisine at