Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia is my favorite summer getaway near Washington DC. It is a ski resort that offers, during hot summer time, a beautiful mountain view, pleasant cool temperatures, and plenty of mountain and lake activities for everyone.
Snowshoe Mountain is about a 4.5 to 5 hour drive from DC. There are multiple routes to get to Snowshoe mountain from Washington DC. The easier and more pleasant route is the one that passes Seneca Rocks and Green Bank Telescope.
Snowshoe Mountain bike park has wonderful terrain for mountain biking lovers. Mountain Biking events are frequently hosted here during summer. Whenever we visited Snowshoe mountain, we often passed by mountain bikers who were either part of a championship or just there to enjoy the exciting mountain bike park.
My favorite activity on Snowshoe Mountain is the lift ride. Two ski lifts are running regularly for several days per week during summer to support the mountain bike park and the Shaver Lake summer activities. The ride is always very pleasant and scenic. I could just take a book and ride on the lift, non-stop for a whole day.
Shavers Lake can be reached with a lift from the Village Center of Snowshoe Mountain Resort. There are many recreation activities by and in the lake that people can do, for example, a picnic dock, inflatable floating challenge course, paddle boats, kayaks, canoes…etc. There is also an easy hiking trail along the lake. This hiking trail also leads to other more challenging hiking trails to different parts of the mountain.
We tried a Segway tour one time. It was totally fun! It was like skate boarding, but facing forward. I was surprised how stable it was. We had a quick practice session on how to ride a Segway before we went onto the trails. The Segway zoomed along smoothly on the trails even on very uneven and rocky ground. So fun!!
We also tried horseback riding with the Autumn Breeze Stables one time. I rode on a sweet little horse. It was a peaceful and calm ride. The landscape was beautiful! I saw wild plants along the way and listened to the natural harmony from sounds of different creatures. I also saw a deer family sharing the peaceful world with us.
The Village Central is a fun place to hang around as well. There are many shops, if you need anything or forgot to bring something. I got a lovely swimming suit and a nice sweater in those shops. There are many restaurants for dining out. I especially like the ice cream shop by the lift in the village. Yum! There are also a zipline, a indoor swimming pool, a spa, a chapel, a small grocery store in and around the village. The hairdresser at the spa did a good job on my dad’s hair cut last time. I would like to have my hair done there next time! Oh, there are also places for renting bikes and gear. There are also hiking trails near the village.
I like going to Snowshoe Mountain in the summertime. It is a nice weekend getaway from Washington DC. The temperature is cooler in the mountain and there are way less people there in summer. It also feels great to wake up in the cool mornings with a grand mountain view. I felt that the whole world was all mine every time I visited Snowshoe Mountain Resort!
Snowshoe Mountain Resort Village
Shavers Lake
Autumn Breeze Stables
Seneca Rocks
Green Bank Telescope
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