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Blog

Learn and Explore: Stories and Guides

A running collection of articles tied to The Retreat at Crabtree Falls and the surrounding area, written for curious guests and friends.
A man and woman hold their dog in front of a sign for Retreat at Crabtree Falls, dog friendly cabins in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
travel

The Best Dog Friendly Cabins in Virginia: A Guide From a Fellow Dog Lover

The best dog friendly cabins in Virginia aren’t just the ones that allow pets. They’re the ones where your dog can actually relax, explore, and enjoy the trip as much as you do.  I run a vacation rental property in the Blue Ridge Mountains that welcomes dogs in our historic cabins and our five-bedroom lodge. Over the years, I’ve learned
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Beth-Anne Driskill

13 Oct 2026 • 6 min read

The Retreat at Crabtree Falls is one of the best mountain getaways in Virginia, combining options for couple escapes, family getaways, and even intimate wedding weekends all set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
travel

Best Mountain Getaways in Virginia: Find the Experience You’re After

I grew up in Nelson County, wandering the woods around what’s now The Retreat at Crabtree Falls. After several years away, I came home in 2016 to run the property my parents built. Since then, I’ve built up a working list of the best mountain getaways in Virginia. Virginia mountain getaways range from full-service resorts to quiet vineyard inns and
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Beth-Anne Driskill

23 Sep 2026 • 5 min read

A group of coworkers is having a great time strolling and eating ice cream thanks to good corporate retreat ideas.
Events

Corporate Retreat Ideas and Planning: A Guide for Whoever Got Handed This Assignment

The short version: The best corporate retreat ideas match the intent behind the retreat. Whether you’re planning a strategy offsite, a team-building weekend, a wellness reset, a remote-team gathering, or an executive realignment, this guide walks through seven vital steps. If you’re reading this, someone probably just told you to “plan the offsite this year.” Maybe they gave you a
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Beth-Anne Driskill

5 Aug 2026 • 7 min read

A multigenerational family walks across their front lawn during a family reunion planned after reading How To Plan a Family Reunion.
Events

How to Plan a Family Reunion: A Practical Guide

Bottom line: Wondering how to plan a family reunion? Start planning nine to twelve months out, lock in a venue that fits the kind of reunion you actually want — picnic, day event, or weekend stay — and decide who’s paying for what before you book anything. Keep reading for the details. There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles
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Beth-Anne Driskill

13 May 2026 • 9 min read

A couple experiences their perfect day after answering the question, "What is a micro wedding?"
weddings

What Is a Micro Wedding? A Simple Guide to Intimate Celebrations

Wedding trends are changing, and for many couples, bigger no longer means better. Instead of planning a large, traditional event, more couples are choosing celebrations that feel more personal, intentional, and meaningful. That’s where micro weddings come in. What is a micro wedding? If you like the idea of a smaller-scale celebration and want to understand the trend better, you’re
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Beth-Anne Driskill

1 Apr 2026 • 4 min read

Girls are laughing around a campfire at a glamping bachelorette party.
weddings

How to Plan a Low-Stress Glamping Bachelorette Party

Planning a traditional bachelorette weekend can sometimes feel as stressful as planning a wedding! Between coordinating schedules, managing budgets, and trying to plan something everyone will enjoy, things can get overwhelming fast. That’s one reason glamping bachelorette parties are trending. They offer a more relaxed way to celebrate — one where the scenery is beautiful, the pace is slower, and
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Beth-Anne Driskill

11 Mar 2026 • 5 min read

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Ready to Plan Your Mountain Escape?

Book your cabin along the Tye River and return home rested, renewed, and reconnected.