My parents are both from the beautiful Rockbridge County area in Virginia. My mother grew up in Buena Vista, Virginia, which is a small city, and my father grew up in Natural Bridge, Virginia, which is not much more than a tourist destination. Though my mother's family has either died or moved away from the area, my father still has several siblings who live in Natural Bridge, as well as Granny- his 97 year old mother and my grandmother. Needless to say, since Granny is not getting any younger and she's still sharp as a tack and a real hoot to be with, we like to visit her as often as possible. Sometimes, everybody gets the same idea at once and we can't all stay with Granny or other relatives. Natural Bridge is also the one place in the world that feels most like home to me, and I'm sure that some of my relatives feel the same way. That's when the Natural Bridge Inn and Conference Center really comes in handy.

I have spent many, many nights at this hotel over the past twenty years or so-- in fact, I've experienced many firsts there. I've also seen its decor change dramatically- very much for the better, I might add. For years, my Uncle Brownlee ran this hotel and my Uncle Carl ran the attractions (Natural Bridge, the caverns, and the wax museum). Then in the late 80s, the hotel was bought by new owners and they brought in a new manager. My Uncle Brownlee ended up moving on to a new job at nearby Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia; however, despite no longer being its manager, Brownlee is still involved with the hotel. He and his friend Donnie play live music in the Colonial Dining Room every week, usually on Fridays. If I'm there too, I generally end up having a few beers in the bar and singing with them! Anyway, enough reminiscing from me. My readers want details about the joint, I'm sure. I'm probably one of the best people to provide them.

First of all, it's important to note that Natural Bridge is more than just a hotel. It's really more of a resort than just a place to sleep. Natural Bridge Inn and Conference Center has been serving people since 1833, although the current building was built in 1963. There are accommodations to suit most peoples' budgets, though, and that makes it a neat place to visit. The hotel is the most expensive option, but the rooms within it are priced differently. For example, if you were to request a room with a balcony or even one that faces the front of the hotel, you would pay more than you would if you requested a room on the backside of the hotel-- even though the rooms are pretty much identical. You're paying extra for the view, which is decent, but probably not worth paying extra for. The rooms with balconies are located only on the second floor. It might be worthwhile to pay extra for them, but perhaps only when the weather is good. The rates also change according to the day of the week and the season. You'll pay more on Friday and Saturday nights than you will Sunday through Thursday. You'll also pay more in the warm months than you will during the winter and fall. The current rates for hotel rooms are:

Balcony (Sun.-Thurs.)- $109.95 (Fri. and Sat.)- $129.95
Mountain View (Sun.-Thurs.)- $89.95 (Fri. and Sat.)- $109.95
Standard (back of the hotel) (Sun.-Thurs.)- $84.95 (Fri. and Sat.)- $109.95

If you're reading this review at a time other than June 10-November 7, be sure to refer to this webpage http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/rates2.html for the correct rates. The prices above reflect the most expensive time of year.

The hotel rooms have been newly redecorated in a Colonial style. Rooms generally have two queen sized beds in them, but rooms with king sized beds are also available. Smoking and non smoking rooms are also available. I've always found the beds to be very comfortable; in fact, when the hotel was renovated, my parents actually bought a mattress and some furniture from there. The rooms include two sinks, one in the bathroom and one directly next to the bathroom, near the closet. The two sinks come in handy if you're sharing a room and one person needs the toilet or the shower and the other person wants to brush his or her teeth! The televisions are hidden away in very handsome armoirs.  You open the armoir and the TV rolls forward. Basic cable TV is included and at one time, so were premium channels. However, premium channels have gone the way of the dodo bird in the Natural Bridge hotel. Each room includes a coffee maker and an ironing board. High speed internet access is available in some of the rooms. Local phone calls used to be free, but I noticed during my last stay that the hotel has started charging 50 cents for them now. A small laundromat facility is located on the ground floor in the hotel and there are plenty of vending machines scattered about the property. There are also plenty of conference rooms available for those that visit the area for business purposes.

A less expensive option is to stay in one of the cottages. I've never seen another hotel offer this type of accommodation, but I think it's pretty cool. In fact, the last few times I've stayed at Natural Bridge, I've stayed in one of the cottages. The cottages are located on a hill on the other side of the hotel property and each one is named after a southern capital city. Each cottage is actually a small brick building that consists of four to six guest rooms. The rooms are a little smaller than the ones in the hotel and most of them lack bathtubs (there's a shower instead). The cottages have not been renovated, so they look pretty quaint on the inside-- the showers and bathtubs are still porcelain and tiled in black and white; the hotel showers/bathtubs are fiberglass. These rooms generally include two full sized beds, a coffee maker, a television, and an ironing board. The rooms in the cottages are not as pretty as the hotel's rooms, but I find them pleasant because they are more quiet, private, and parking spaces are located directly outside. Rates for June 10-November 7th are $59.95 for Sunday through Thursday and $69.95 for Friday and Saturday.

Patio rooms are also available. I'm assuming these are the rooms located in the "motor lodge", which is an annex to the hotel. I haven't stayed in one of these rooms in a long time, but I remember them being appointed like the cottage rooms. Rates are $75.95 for Sunday through Thursday and $89.95 for Friday and Saturday.

Natural Bridge has a lovely "Colonial" dining room that offers a buffet breakfast every morning. There was a time when guests could order a la carte, but sadly those days are over. The breakfast buffet costs about $10 and offers the same food every day: scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon grits, biscuits and gravy, homefries, cereal, and fruit-- it's your basic heart attack on a plate Southern fare. Dinner is also available with a seafood buffet on Friday nights and a prime rib buffet on Saturday nights. A lunch buffet is offered on Sundays. When I checked the dining room's webpage on Natural Bridge's website, I noticed that the breakfast buffet was listed as offered from April to October. I usually stay at the Bridge in November and the breakfast buffet has always been offered then. I don't know if they've stopped offering the buffet during the winter or not; however there are a couple of local restaurants nearby (by car) that offer breakfast.

The hotel also has a nice bar called the Red Fox Lounge. It's usually open at 5:00 and closes when the live entertainment is over or when the last customer leaves (usually by 10:00). I've always found the bar well stocked with beer, local wine, and liquor. I've also made friends with the bartenders, who are generally friendly local folks or students at nearby Washington and Lee University.

Natural Bridge offers several attractions that are great for kids. The Natural Bridge itself is located beyond what my family has always referred to as "the Gatehouse". The Gatehouse is really a big gift shop that offers t-shirts (and other tacky gifts), locally produced wine, candy, ice cream, a cafeteria, and tickets for the attractions. On the lower floor, there's an indoor pool, a mini golf course and arcade, and a post office. The pool is usually not tended by a lifeguard. During the summer, the back door (like a big garage door) is opened and guests can sun themselves in a sandy area located just beyond the pool. Tennis courts are also available; they are located by the cottages.

Tickets for the attractions can be purchased in the Gatehouse. Guests can buy them separately for each attraction, or they can purchase combination tickets that allow them admittance to all of the attractions. I'm a big fan of the caverns, which are usually open from April to October. Natural Bridge is also a very awesome sight. My sister was married under it in 1987. Highway 11 runs over the bridge and there are large barriers on Route 11 that prevent motorists from gazing at the beautiful sights below. On most nights, visitors can go down to the Bridge and watch the "Drama of Creation", which is the story of Genesis coupled with lights and music. Here's a special note to those of you who have health issues- there is a shuttle bus that can take you to and from the Bridge (the walk to the Bridge is steep and inaccessible by wheelchairs). There's a small cafe at the bottom of the hill that is generally open during the summer months and there are plenty of places to stop and rest, but the hike around Natural Bridge is long. Bear that in mind if you have trouble walking long distances.

The wax museum is interesting. One of my ancestors, Bar Tolley (a locally famous bear hunter), has been immortalized at the museum. "The Last Supper", which is the story of the betrayal of Christ, is the final exhibit. Patrons can sit in a small theater and watch and listen as a recorded voice relays the story while lights are shone on the exhibit. The Natural Bridge website also advertises two other attractions: the toy museum and the monster museum. I haven't seen either of them, so I can't comment.

Of course, if you want to skip the touristy stuff at Natural Bridge, you can travel to nearby Cave Mountain Lake and go swimming, or if you're lucky and have an inside connection, you can hit one of the local water holes and go swimming. The water at any of these locations is freezing because it comes from the mountains! Last summer, when my husband and I visited the area, we saw a black bear. Be careful if you venture out into the woods! Lexington, Virginia is also nearby and offers other things to do, including some pretty great shopping.

If I have to list any cons, it's that sometimes the staff at Natural Bridge is less than attentive. If you're used to top of the line, excellent service, you might not like this hotel. However, I've always found that the service was decent, if not stellar, and the people are friendly. Also, the hotel doesn't accept checks, so bring cash, a credit card, or a debit card; all major cards are accepted. There is an ATM located at the Gatehouse if you'd rather pay cash.

I love relaxing in the Natural Bridge area, and since it's located only a couple of miles from Interstate 81, it's convenient for me to visit. I find that going to Natural Bridge helps clear my mind and body of stress-- it's like a private little hamlet, far away from the traffic, noise, and pollution of Northern Virginia. Of course, the place is more special to me because it's the birthplace of generations of my family. Someday, I'd love to own property in Natural Bridge, but for now, the hotel serves as a great home away from home when everybody visits at once and my extended family doesn't have room to accommodate them.

Website: http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/bridge.html

Recommended: Yes