The Meadow Villas (171 Meadows Drive West Warm Springs, Va.) offers a mountain retreat via three luxurious private villas that'll go easy on your budget.
Now through March, you can score the Ski, Stay and Play package at the Quiet Waters Villa for just $279 for three days and nights. Ski at the local Homestead ski hill or if you are a more advanced skier, Snowshoe in West Virginia is an hour away.
Located in the George Washington National Forest near the slopes of Warm Springs Mountain, these villas offer privacy and relaxation any time of year.
The Quiet Waters Villa is the most secluded and private. This one-bedroom villa has an indoor waterfall feature(!), gas fireplace and full galley kitchen. If the air filtration system doesn't make you feel relaxed then the mountain stream and meadows in the backyard will.
If you still need technology while on vacation, Quiet Waters has satellite, free WiFi and a DVD player. Need more bedrooms? Make this one bedroom villa a two bedroom by renting out the Outpost Bedroom (a ground-level bedroom).
Our favorite, the Tree House Villa, is a two-level loft with private deck ($110-$150 per night with discounts for stays longer than two nights). Inside you'll find a queen-sized four-poster bed with a pillow-top mattress, hand-painted drawer, and a writer's desk near a large window overlooking the forest and mountains. The bathroom features a deep soaking tub and shower combo. And did we fail to mention the sound of the mountain stream nearby? Oh, no, wait, we mentioned it right there.
The Tree House also has a fully stocked kitchen, a dining room and living room area, plus free WiFi, DVD/TV, sofa bed and high-end bedding.
Last but not least, we come to the Serenity Villa: the mother of all the villas. Just think of it as a house that your rich relative is letting you stay in (but not for free). It's got all the amenities you could ask for, including multiple decks, writers' nooks, hardwood floors, a sun room (with a fireplace, TV and satellite) and a full-sized kitchen with island.
Serenity can accommodate up to seven people (nine if you rent the outpost bedroom). Relax at the kitchen bar in the great room complete with bar stools and seating for six. The grand piano isn't for looks either -- go ahead and play (or try to).
The main-level bedroom has two single beds and a private bathroom. Upstairs, after you climb the spiral staircase, you'll enter a loft area that houses the master bedroom. The loft features a skylight (everyone needs some Vitamin D), a writer's nook and a large futon. Serenity is the largest floor plan, but feels quite cozy nonetheless, and it's sometimes available at a special one-bedroom rate.
Other than skiing, there's plenty more to do in the area, including visiting wineries, hiking, mountain biking, and exploring the historic Shenandoah Battlefield Area. You can also get some life coaching while you're there -- no, really. For reservations, call 717-951-3955.
