Glamping has been on my bucket list for a long time. It just sounds so fun and magical! I’ve seen pictures of gorgeous yurts on Instagram, but I never thought I could afford such a luxury…until I stumbled upon Shenandoah Crossing.
In January, we purchased a time-share sampler package from Blue Green Vacations. They offer tons of different resorts and accommodations, but wanted to ‘spend’ our points by staying in a yurt at Shenandoah Crossing in Gordonsville, Virginia.
(Check out our 8 Tips for Glamping at Shenandoah Crossing for more info about the resort and lessons we learned while glamping for the first time.)
MC Canvas Tent Bell Tent Yurt with Stove Jack Zipped Removable Floor for Glamping Truck Car CampingCamping Cot, Adjustable 4-Position Adults Reclining Folding Chaise with Pillow, Outdoor Portable Lounge Chair Sleeping Cots Bed, Perfect for Camping, Pool, Beach, Patio
We planned our visit during the kids’ spring break in early April. Unfortunately, the weather was still cold and a little snowy.
I looked up things to do near the resort but didn’t come up with enough to keep us busy for the whole weekend. Most of the suggestions were hanging out at the pool, riding horses, boating, and hiking. However, the snowy weather made most of these options impossible. I was afraid that the kids were going to be bored.
But that fear quickly dissipated as soon as we arrived at Shenandoah Crossing. There wasn’t enough time to do everything that we wanted to do!
What We Did in a Long Weekend at Shenandoah Crossing:
Saturday
Restaurant & Arcade
Our drive from Fort Liberty to Shenandoah Crossing was a little over 4 hours. After we checked in and unpacked our things, we needed something to eat.
We had dinner at Izac’s Tavern, a casual restaurant (and bar) in the resort’s Lodge. The food was okay, a little over-priced in my opinion, but worth a few extra bucks not to have to drive to Gordonsville in the snow.
After dinner, we took the kids downstairs to the arcade. The arcade is small, but the kids didn’t seem to mind – they loved it! It kept them entertained for more than an hour with only $20 worth of tokens.
They played air hockey, pinball, racing games, and won toy dinosaurs, bouncy balls, and stuffed animals from the claw machines. After they were finally done playing, we headed back to the yurt and stayed up late playing more games before bed.
Dream House Outdoor Waterproof Cotton Canvas Family Camping Bell Tent (Beige Cotton Canvas Tent, Diameter 4 Meter)Funny Camping Hair Messy Bun Outdoor Glamping Queen T-Shirt
Sunday
Playground & Mini Golf
My original plan for Sunday was to go hiking at Shenandoah National Park. However, Saturday’s snow closed down Skyline Drive, making the hikes I planned impossible. I was left scrambling for something else to do.
The kids couldn’t wait to ride the horses at the Equestrian Center (on-site at the resort), but when we got there they were on a break for lunch. So, we spent a little time at the playground.
After the playground, we hit up the mini-golf course. This mini-golf course is also on-site at the resort and is free for guests. The kids loved it!
Horseback Riding
After completing all 18 holes, we headed back to the Equestrian Center. The pony rides (for kids 8 and under) were perfect for my girls! There are trail rides for older kids and adults. This service isn’t free, but each pony ride was only $8.
Our guide, a sweet gentleman named Sam, was great with our kids and the horses. He also gave us advice about things to do at the resort and where to find the best BBQ in Virginia! (Spoiler: It’s right down the road in Gordonsville!)
Visit Monticello
The weather was beautiful and the roads were clear, so we drove to Monticello in Charlottesville, 45 minutes away. Monticello is the historic home of founding father, Thomas Jefferson. (This is What I Wish I Knew Before Our Monticello Visit.)
We were unsure of this excursion with 2 young kids (5 and 7), who are not interested in history at all. However, we are SO glad that we decided to go. It was so much more interesting than we ever expected!
Monticello: The Official Guide to Thomas Jefferson’s WorldTouring the Shenandoah Valley Backroads (Touring the Backroads)
Dinner & Pool Time
After we toured Monticello, we drove back to Gordonsville to have dinner at the Barbeque Exchange. This BBQ restaurant was featured on Food Network’s show Man Fire Food and it’s easy to see why. Our food was delicious and worth every penny!
With full bellies, we headed back to the resort to change into our swimsuits and FINALLY get in the indoor pool and hot tub. (Our kids had been begging us the entire time we were here.)
We spent 3 hours soaking our tired muscles in the hot tub and playing Marco Polo in the pool, before going back to the yurt to watch some cartoons and get some sleep.
Monday
The Dreaded Sales Pitch
It was our check-out day and we were sad to end our first glamping experience. It was the coolest camping we had ever done.
After checking out we had to go to the preview center for a ‘meeting’ with the Blue Green staff.
We didn’t have any plans to purchase a timeshare. (Not because Blue Green isn’t great – our experience with the sampler was wonderful, but because we are not in a place, financially, where vacations are a priority.) Even though we told them this up front, they told us that we HAD to stay for an hour.
So, we did.
We politely listened to the entire sales pitch and still told them no. Apparently, that was not enough. The sales guy had to go get his manager, who gave us her spiel…so that we could also tell her no.
It was a colossal waste of time and we ended up being there much longer than an hour. However, they did give us a $25 gift card before we left, so I can’t complain too much.
Waterfalls of Virginia & West Virginia: 174 Falls in the Old Dominion and the Mountain State (Best Waterfalls by State)The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Virginia Hiking: 41 of the Best Hikes in Virginia
Our first glamping experience was truly one of a kind!
There was so much to do at Shenandoah Crossing that we didn’t even need to leave the resort to have a good time. If I could change anything, I would have scheduled our trip during the summer, so that we could hike and enjoy the lake and the outdoor pools.
I highly recommend this resort and Blue Green Vacations if you’re looking to buy a timeshare. Both of our experiences with them have been wonderful…despite their pushy salespeople.
