As a travel writer, I have been visiting Wintergreen for over ten years. Of all the places I have been paid to visit, Wintergreen is the only one special enough for me to return to again and again. After all those years of visiting, we recently decided to purchase a condo for our family. And the one we were lucky enough to buy - on a mountaintop overlooking the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountain ranges in the distance - is by far the most beautiful we had ever seen. We call it HighRidge Retreat.



I knew I wanted one of the Wintergreen's newest buildings, which have the best views in the entire resort. I also insisted on a condo that did not require a long, icy walk from the parking lot to the front door (many of the older condos have long wooden boardwalks with steps that can get slippery in the winter.) In addition, I didn't want to lug my bags up many flights of stairs once inside the building. HighRidge Retreat is just a few steps up from the front door: it's basically a ground-floor unit, but since the building is built into the mountain we are actually on the second floor. So we have the best of both worlds: fantastic views for only eight steps.



At HighRidge Retreat, the spectacular vista outside is complemented by a comfortable and luxurious interior. The living room features a suede couch, two matching swiveling recliners for watching the sunrise, a small desk for journal writing, and a wet bar. A gorgeous piece of driftwood hangs over the fireplace. There is also a TV with cable and HBO, a VCR/DVD player, as well as interesting books and unique board games and puzzles. (I recently worked as a professional toy tester.)



We have just added a DSL internet service to the condo -- ours is one of the first Wintergreen properties to be wired. (Most renters have to go down to the Mountain Inn to access the web.)



This Non-Smoking, No Pets condo sleeps four: the master bedroom features a romantic Queen-size bed, a television, an intimate deck with two comfortable chairs for viewing the evening sky, and a master bathroom with double sinks and a romantic two-person Jacuzzi tub. (Very very few Wintergreen condos or houses have such a luxurious tub.) The second bedroom, painted a cheery yellow, has two Twin beds with cherry wood headboards and its own bathroom. There is also a small writing desk.



The dining room with a view seats six comfortably, but in warm weather you might want to dine al fresco on the deck. The well-equipped kitchen offers a full complement of cookware and appliances including a microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, crock pot, and more.



HighRidge Retreat is just a few steps from the Devil's Knob Golf Course and tennis courts, as well as the Devil's Knob Grill. It is down the road from the Wintergarden Spa and the nature center, while skiing, childcare, and other amenities are but a few minutes away. The slopes are about a mile down the mountain: you can drive and park by the slopes, but the easiest thing to do is take the free shuttle that comes by our parking lot every 15 minutes. The schedule is posted at every stop, so you never have to wait more than a few minutes.



You don't have to wait ten years to find HighRidge Retreat, as I did. You have already arrived!