When planning a vacation with extended family in a rural setting, luxurious accommodations and amenities often aren’t the norm.
However, alternatives to ‘roughing it’ do exist.
Among them is Aurora Pointe, a spacious chateau tucked in the mountains of West Virginia’s Canaan Valley, land designated as a National Natural Landmark for the beauty of its forests and fauna.
When first learning of the opportunity for a stay at the retreat, owned by Slopes to Sands Dream Vacation Homes, an operation with several plush properties in the U.S. and Mexico, I scoped out the details online.
Winter skiing and summer water activities, both nearby options during times of accommodating weather, weren’t available in October, the month of our planned trip.
Nonetheless, multiple options for relaxation and entertainment presented themselves.
From ventures into the Appalachian Mountains during the height of scenic foliage season to a generous cache of high-tech theater and gaming equipment provided indoors, there were plenty of choices to keep all nine of us – with age groups ranging from toddlers to seniors – engaged.
As is often the case, planning the trip pumped up the fun factor some weeks prior to our departure. A few family gatherings dedicated to working out the details allowed us to prepare an organized game plan as well as build anticipation for the experiences ahead.
Comprehensive information online made it easy to familiarize ourselves with the layout of the home, which included seven bedrooms.
It was helpful claiming bedrooms in advance, thus saving time upon our arrival. And although several eateries were not very far from our mountainside location, a state-of-the art kitchen containing a large Teppanyaki grill convinced us to cook all of our meals in-house.
Fortunately, my son-in-law, Pete Kavalecz, is a professional chef with vast experience using commercial grills. Bringing along exotic ingredients used to create an elaborate stir-fry dinner on the evening of our arrival made the celebration of my daughter’s 30th birthday very special. Other pre-trip arrangements included taking advantage of a linen service offered through the rental. Rather than packing up pillows, sheets, blankets and such, we opted to split the $150 fee for the service, which was well worth the convenience.
The morning of our departure our three-car caravan took off with nary a hitch. Drive time from Concord Township to Davis, West Virginia, is about five to six hours, depending on traffic and delays caused by road construction.
Information provided by Slopes to Sands not only suggested the best routes for the trip but also gave turn-by-turn directions once GPS systems no longer picked up signals in the mountainous area.
Upon arrival we delighted in yelps of excitement from the children as they discovered the theater and gaming rooms. That matched the satisfaction of the adults as we explored the bedrooms appointed with regally dressed beds on elevated platforms which gave excellent vantage points for panoramic outdoor views. The bathrooms, some equipped with Jacuzzis, easily served as mini-spas where one could while away hours winding down from the stresses of everyday life.
With nine in our group, there was room to spare, as the ch teau’s bedrooms can accommodate 16 people plus four more on queen-sized air mattresses.
A well-thought-out design separates the home’s three distinct levels. The ground floor is equipped with an Xbox 360 console, movie theater-style seating and a 16-foot screen along with two bedrooms and adjoining Jack and Jill bath. Knowing they’d be eager to get busy with the amenities after awakening each morning, my 6- and 12-year-old grandsons chose to bunk there. Not only did the selection prove beneficial for them, but the adults were able to snuggle in for a bit more restful sleep on the center level, as the boys remained happily occupied.
The top floor, sporting a great room with two fireplaces, expansive dining room and kitchen, sauna, outdoor deck complete with barbecue grill and seating, served as our central gathering spot.
To illustrate the attention to detail designers used when building the home, outside deck railings are composed of transparent glass, giving guests an unobstructed view of Mother Nature’s beauty.
After becoming acquainted with our surroundings and taking in the spectacular dinner show presented by our resident chef, some of the family crew decided to relax in the hot tub on the deck before retiring to bed. Again, thoughtful design provides a door from the deck to an indoor hall with a bathroom, thus saving carpeting and furniture from wet feet and towels.
The next morning, eager to delve deeper into our surroundings, we took advantage of a golf cart housed in the attached garage. Traversing somewhat rugged paths, we discovered beautiful vistas, a horse farm, Timberline Ski Resort and other residences scattered over the mountainside.
Another outing, this time by car, took us to Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center within the Canaan Valley State Park. The modern, well-appointed facility offers the use of indoor and outdoor pools, an 18-hole championship golf course, fitness center and spa treatments, covered outdoor ice skating and more. Fees are not included with rental of the home so those choosing to use the amenities should be prepared for additional costs.
With plentiful opportunities for fun at the chateau, including a shadowbox theater complete with props the children used to full advantage, most of our time was spent playing indoor games and walking about the surrounding property. The shutterbugs in our group were thrilled with countless photo opportunities presented by the expansive scenery.
However, those so inclined may choose to travel a bit farther for visits to Dip Creek Lake, Seneca Rocks, Nelson Rocks Outdoor Adventure Center or other locales.
