I found a charming converted farmhouse in Hico, WV, just ten minutes away from the park, and booked us five nights the week before school starts and days before Iris's first birthday. We ended up leaving one day early but not because we weren't enjoying ourselves, more so because the kids were missing the comforts of home and we felt that we had accomplished all that we could in the days we were there.
We went with the best of intentions - brought a hiking backpack for Iris - but we didn't end up doing much hiking. The park is actually quite large so to be at one part and get to another might take an hour by car. The driving was tiring (and boring) for the kids and of course, the drives there and back were long, too. We also had to get back to the house for milk/food and naps for Iris so that put a hamper on spending too much time away from the house.
It also rained our first day in town so we didn't do much but relax at the house and get settled. That was also challenging as the house was not equipped with toys and things for Aura to play with. At some point we went to Walmart and got her play-doh. There also wasn't a lot of safe space for Iris to crawl and explore so we were mostly holding her or had her in the high chair/play pen. There was a lovely sun porch that we spent a lot of time in during the day as a family and Evan and I chatted out there after the kids had gone to bed. There was also a nice sitting area in the back that I wish we could've taken more advantage of but it was kind of buggy out there so we didn't.
I did see deer almost every day we were at the house. The first morning I saw a mama deer and her two fawn run across the lawn and then snack on apples. I suggested to Evan that the airbnb hosts must've snuck onto the property and thrown apples out back to attract the deer for us. I guess I expect or anticipate more from airbnb hosts than what's realistic because upon further investigation I saw that there was an apple tree on property. Evan and I had a good laugh about that. I saw three young bucks one evening and then one giant buck (at least an eight pointer) one night, who got spooked and took off as soon as he spotted me looking at him.
There were a lot of challenges on this trip trying to balance the needs of both kids and also, get out and do things that we wanted to do and get the whole family on board. That said, it was important that we did it this way so that we can know definitively that we can do it as a family of four. I honestly don't think much would've been different or better had other hands been available. It might've been worse because there wasn't as much space to spread out as I had thought prior to our arrival. I also don't think we would've had much time to ourselves which would've potentially been the goal had my parents been around, for example. The only real difference is that we were scurrying around a little bit more, just as we would at home, and we had to clean up the house ourselves on the way out.
Traveling as a family of four should only get easier as next time we won't need to make formula and we probably won't need as much equipment like the playpen, highchair, etc. The bigger Iris gets the easier everything else will get. We did discover, however, that having a potty-trained child doesn't necessarily make things much easier. On the drive there Aura said on three different occasions that she needed to pee. The first time we pulled out her old Minnie Mouse potty and I put in a liner on the side of the highway (it was the only place to stop at the time). She got her pants down and sat but then couldn't go. We kept driving until we found a rest area and then Evan took her into a family bathroom with her special, kid-sized toilet lid. She wouldn't go then either. Finally, about an hour outside of our destination we pulled off into a parking lot and I put her in a pull-up (a leftover one we had in our hiking/baby bag) and she peed. Later when we got to the house, with everything set up properly, she had an accident and peed all over the floor. Nothing like that happened again but it was a good reminder that being potty-trained doesn't necessarily translate to no problems!
We were able to change Iris's diaper in the car on several occasions but she's in a very wiggly stage so had a fit literally every time we changed her, whether that was on the bed, couch, or passenger seat of the car. She's even giving us a hard time on her changing table at home. Oy vey!
With Aura the thing I felt the worst about is that despite being difficult here and there I do think she would've been game for some of the available activities. On our best day as a family, when we visited the Sandstone Falls, I know Aura would've loved to have spent a nice chunk of time dipping her feet in the New River, throwing rocks, just goofing off. Unfortunately, because it was such a long drive to get there, almost immediately after we walked out on the boardwalk to see the falls, we had to then turn around and head back to the car because Iris needed a food pouch and shortly after, a nap. Again, I do think this stuff will get easier as Iris gets a little older and the kids' needs and wants align a little better. They both like being together and playing together but with Iris's current feeding and nap needs, they're not on the same schedule yet.
Still, we did have some very nice family moments even in the midst of some challenges. As I mentioned, we all loved the Sandstone Falls. It was a drive but it was absolutely worth it. Iris loved getting out of the car and was kicking up her heels and trying to fly out of our arms. Mentally she's so ready to walk and run around. Aura and I also trekked down (and then up) the steps at the Visitor Center for a great viewpoint of the New River Gorge Bridge and then we did it again as a family of four on our last night. On our last morning we took in one last viewpoint as a family at Hawks Nest State Park. No one else was there and it was cool and shaded. Just breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful. A weird, big flying bug caught a ride with us in the car so Evan pulled off to let it out. We didn't see it leave but we didn't see it in the car either so resumed our drive. Aura kept saying that the bug was still in the car and that Iris was playing with it but with a little smirk on her face. Evan and I jokingly said we didn't believe her, we all laughed, and moved on. About thirty minutes later the bug showed up on Aura's door and we all laughed because Aura had been telling the truth about the bug still being in the car (not about Iris playing with it). Evan pulled off again and we finally got it out.
We all ate the most Dunkin Donuts we ever have in our lives - every morning, in fact. It's a bit of a food desert there and despite trying at least two of the highly recommended restaurants in town - Pies & Pints (pizza and craft beer place) and Cathedral Cafe - we weren't overly impressed. We even tried out two of their local ice cream places but discovered that no one makes their own - they serve Hershey's! I imagine that in the ensuing years the tourism industry will pick up and with that, better food options. They've definitely got all the activities you'd want but the availability of good, clean places to stay and decent food could use some work. We liked where we stayed but don't think we'd stay there again because it wasn't entirely kid-friendly and the kitchen, barely functional. We had to wash bottles and the sink not only didn't have a garbage disposal but didn't drain properly. They even sent a repair-person to unclog it but we realized pretty quickly that it wasn't a clog, but the old plumbing, pipes, etc. that was the problem.
One of the trip highlights for me, aside from our time together as a family and the time Evan and I spent together on the enclosed porch, was doing the Bridge Walk. This was meant as a bit of an early 40th birthday present for me and also a personal challenge/facing my fears type of feat. Evan watched the girls while I did it solo. It was a nice group, twelve of us including our very sweet guide, Calila. I'm not really sure what I was thinking as I was low-level freaked out the entire time. I somehow had the presence of mind to be able to take pictures and even text but I could feel the tension and fear in my body every time traffic went over the bridge and the catwalk and everything surrounding us reverberated, which was pretty much the entire time! It was a little anticlimactic doing that without anyone there to celebrate with but I'm still glad I did it. The views couldn't be beat and no one will ever be able to take that accomplishment away from me.
All of that to say, I'd call this trip a sampling or taste of the area and we're interested in going back for seconds and maybe more. I could definitely envision the New River Gorge area becoming a repeat vacation spot as it offers so much to do. When the girls are older we'll hike, maybe white water raft, rock climb, etc. I'd also love to go in the fall. With SO many trees I'm sure the foliage is spectacular.
On our drive there we took a break in Natural Bridge, VA and stopped at the Virginia Safari Park for a drive-thru feeding. We got two food buckets (one for me and one for Aura) and they were snatched out of our hands within seconds. I lasted a little longer than Aura but when I resisted one alpaca's (or was it a llama?) overtures s/he promptly snorted green muck at us. It was pretty funny if a bit stinky. Evan wasn't too pleased! Then we closed our windows and just enjoyed the drive and observing the animals.
I had intended for us to visit Natural Bridge and even Dinosaur Kingdom II but we ran out of time. Iris started to get agitated with the slow movement of the car (she was ready to nap). We also skipped these options on the way back home in an attempt to power through and get home ASAP. Maybe next time.
Our first views of the bridge:
Everything leading up to and then doing the Bridge Walk:
The viewpoint from the Visitor Center:
The amazing view from Fayette Station Road:
Sandstone Falls:
Morning fog from Hawks Nest State Park:
We were able to stop at Wright's Dairy-Rite in Staunton, VA for lunch on the way home. We actually tried to go there on the way to New River but they were closed. These things are never as good as you expect or hope them to be. We didn't even get milkshakes. The corn dogs were yummy though!
