WEST OF WASHINGTON, DC
Just getting my training on for the hikes out west.
Today, I hiked Sky Meadows with Ellen and Lori.
Sky Meadows is a Virginia State Park, about an hour west of Washington, DC. The trailhead is located at the site of an historic colonial farm site - I love architecture (especially houses) and seeing how people live in different times and different places, so this site is particularly cool for that reason. Plus, it has restrooms. Five stars.
There are lots of well-marked trails in the park, some temporarily merging with the Appalachian Trail. The trails are rated moderate and have some beautiful views from the top, with sweeping pastoral vistas.
Afterwards, we had lunch in Marshall, VA at Field & Main and oh my gosh, it was so good! I didn't take a picture of my food because I'm not a good blogger. Or a good Instagrammer. Or a millennial. So you'll have to take my word for it.
As good as the menu is, we were equally impressed with two unique COVID-inspired moves that none of us have seen anywhere else.
First, Field & Main built these little full-service private outdoor dining cabanas. They are heated and cooled and would be fun for a small group of friends (or even a romantic dinner?). These definitely aren't your mama's temporary tents with gas heaters - Field & Main really put some thought and money into these babies.
The second COVID-inspired move: when we sat down at the table, we saw what looked like individually wrapped white mints on the table. Turns out ... not mints. The server came by and poured a sanitizing solution into a small bowl. You open the "mints" and drop them into the solution and they instantly expand into little towelettes to wipe your hands (and the table, if you're a germophobe like me). We loved it and each took turns dropping our "mints" into the water to watch them expand, like little kids with those grow toys. (Remember those?)
And of course, I didn't take a video. (Again, bad blogger, bad instagrammer, Gen X.) But in retrospect, they were probably more entertaining in person anyway, especially for three easily amused women.