Heat Up Your Winter in Virginia

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-Virginia's mountain resorts, spas, and wineries make for great winter getaways-

RICHMOND - If you are planning a winter getaway, Virginia should be at the top of your list.  Home to four major mountain resorts, world-class spas, and more than 100 wineries with seasonal events, Virginia has exactly what you need to heat up your winter.

When the weather turns colder, Virginia's winter sports will get your blood pumping, with four mountain resorts that offer skiing, tubing, and snowboarding for beginners to pros all winter long. 

Wintergreen Resort, just outside of Charlottesville has announced a Learn to Ski and Ride Guarantee offer.  Beginners from the ages of two to 82 are guaranteed to learn how to stop, turn, and ride the lift in their first lesson from the resort's top-rated snowsports school - or the next lesson is free.

Massanutten Resort, in the Shenandoah Valley, is one of the only places in the country to combine outdoor winter fun such as skiing and snowboarding and an indoor water park.  Guests can hit the slopes and then trade in their ski boots and parkas for a swimsuit to catch a wave on the park's 250-foot, Avalanche waterslide. 

Enjoy the slopes in the historic setting of The Homestead Resort.  This luxurious retreat in Virginia's Allegheny Mountains has been a winter respite for guests since 1766.  The Homestead offers 45 acres of winter wonderland for skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling and boasts an Olympic-size skating rink.

Bryce Resort, also in the Shenandoah Valley, is a family-friendly winter destination, especially since opening the Ridge Runner's Tubing Park in 2004.  This 800-foot tubing run complements the resort's eight slopes built for skiing and snowboarding.

For visitors looking for a more relaxing way to heat up this winter, Virginia's spas are the perfect option.  Wintergreen, the Homestead, and Massanutten all feature renowned spas to soothe tired muscles after a day on the slopes, but there are other spa treasures scattered throughout Virginia.

Unique massage therapies including hot rock treatments will melt away the winter chills at some of Virginia's finest spas including the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville, the Tides Inn along the Chesapeake Bay, Lansdowne Resort in Loudoun County, the Poplar Springs Inn Spa in Northern Virginia, and Kingsmill Resort outside of Colonial Williamsburg. 

Anyone who prefers to heat up from the inside out should visit a tasting room at one of Virginia's 100+ wineries.  In celebration of the winter months, many of Virginia's wineries, such as Veramar Winery in Berryville, feature special, hot mulled wine drinks to toast up visitors in their tasting rooms. 

Wineries also host special events guaranteed to heat things up this winter.  Visit Tarara Winery for their Midwinter Blues' Blues. Every Saturday during January and February Tarara's tasting room will transform into a blues club with live music to accompany the wine tasting.  While there, be sure to visit the 6,000-square-foot Wine Maker's Cave. 

Chateau Morrisette, in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, will host Winter Wonderland dinners every Friday night through March.  Guests will enjoy a three-course dinner while sampling vintages from this winery that is as famous for its wine as it is for its mascot, a loveable black lab.

Make reservations now for the ultimate winter warm-up at King Family Vineyards in Crozet.  The winery will feature fireside wine tastings on January 27, complemented by a steaming bowl of Cajun gumbo served with hot French bread with guest chef Michael Bennett.
Virginia's mountain resorts, luxurious spas, and special wine events make the state the perfect place to heat up your winter.  For more information on winter fun in Virginia, visit http://www.Virginia.org/winter or call 1-800-932-5827.

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