The Claiborne House Blue Ridge Blog

Welcome to Franklin County Virginia!

2011-07-05T17:17:52Z

A few photos of interest of our Franklin County Virginia known as the "Wettest County in the World"

The real license plate of course says Virginia

Fully loaded with Franklin County's finest

The back seat

Infamous Shooting Creek

Early Spring heading out to The Blue Ridge Parkway and Shooting Creek Road

Now I think you get picture.

Come on out and see us in Blue Ridge Country Virginia!

VIRGINIA IS FOR "REAL AMERICANA" LOVERS

Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway. We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

What I am about to show you might shock you Virginia!

2011-06-30T18:26:32Z

You know we have the Claiborne House Picnic on the Parkway Package, and the last time I promoted it I showed the picnic basket near an awesome waterfall at one of our rivers. Now I am here to show you another favorite place of mine which is at a nearby lake. CHILL OUT WITH US AT THE CLAIBORNE HOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST!

What, you didn't know we had a lake nearby? Well I have news for you, we have TWO OF THEM! I took these photos as a teaser to show you a fantastic picnic spot I will only give you directions to if you purchase the Picnic Package and stay with us!

I took these 4 photos today from the same spot...water temp is mid 80's, yes mid 80's, no sharks and no jellyfish!

I thought of y'all today as I kayaked this gorgeous lake. I thought about the guests who for lack of a better word, can find nothing to do around here, after I painstakingly add page after page to this blog.

Did you know I have written 603 articles to this blog since its inception July 15, 2007. The very first article titled "Coon Dogs and Corn Dogs." You have no idea how inncredible this part of Virginia is, this place is a scenic and recreational gold mine!

skipping stones

floating

kayaking

picnicking and kicking back

I hope you will take the time to "chill out" and dip your toes in the water. Y'all don't know what you are missing! No outlet malls, no theme parks, this is a getaway Blue Ridge Style.

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

VIRGINIA IS FOR SOUTHERN FRIED LOVERS

2011-06-24T17:03:37Z

Snappy's Lunch

Southern Food: 10 Restaurants off the Eaten Path

Read the article and see the list from Frommer's here.

We had two couples here on Motorcycles from Wisconsin travelling the Blue Ridge Parkway "America's Favorite Road" this week. Their next stop was Mt Airy NC (aka Mayberry, Andy Griffith's home town). One of the popular places in Mt Airy is Snappy's Lunch for a fried pork chop sandwich. As you hear me say over and over ad nauseum PORK IS THE MEAT OF THE SOUTH. If you want bbq, it is going to be pork! More specifically pulled pork that has been slow cooked and smoked, AND with coleslaw on top of the meat between the two buns!

Explaining to our guests that North Carolina is a state divided, many people say "Oh South Carolina and North Carolina?" I said, No, it is divided east and west by it's barbecue sauce, one side of the state brags on it's tomato based bbq sauce and the other is vinegar based. I will let you find out which is which!

Back to Snappy's - According to Visit Mayberry. com Snappy's Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 5:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and Thursday and Saturday 5:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sunday Closed. Open for tours and breakfast and lunch. Call 336-786-4931. (Don't shoot me if you go there and they are closed, this is the South y'all, stuff happens!)

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is about an hour 30 minutes drive to Mt Airy NC.

VIRGINIA IS FOR SOUTHERN FRIED LOVERS

Fishin' is hot at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia!

2011-05-31T15:03:11Z

Our delightful guests Pat and Tim stayed with us last week and caught their limit of Striper at Smith Mountain Lake!

Pat with two of her fish near the Dam at Smith Mountain Lake

On Friday they went on a fishing charter with Captain Todd at The Shad Taxi (click here for Fishing reports.)

Catch and Release with Capt Todd

Pat and Tim came back with a huge bag of filleted Striped Bass and could not praise Captain Todd enough! They said the other boats fishing Smith Mountain Lake seemed to gravitate toward Captain Todd as they knew he would land the fish. HE DID!

Pat was thrilled with some of the larger Striper that they returned to the water to breed, and took home the smaller tastier fish. She sent some photos so I could share their fun with y'all!

Smith Mountain Lake is about boating, swimming, sailing, picnicking and lest anyone forget FISHING!

Smith Mountain Lake is a very healthy large lake, we have an hydroelectric dam owned and operated by AEP. The lake was dammed in 1960. We currently have televised bass tournaments at Smith Mountain Lake as well as wake-board and other recreational water tournaments, wine festivals, vintage boat shows and plenty of other activities!

Smith Mountain Lake is Virginia's second largest lake with 500 miles of shoreline. There is a state park on the shores of the lake as well as a few restaurants and marinas.

Isn't this a beautiful fish? Striped Bass caught by Tim at Smith Mountain Lake

VIRGINIA IS FOR FISH LOVERS

* Please check with contacts listed above for event times, dates and location, this innfo is brought to you to assist with your travel plans. We are not responsible for scheduling changes.

Fishin' is hot at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia!

2011-05-31T15:03:11Z

Our delightful guests Pat and Tim stayed with us last week and caught their limit of Striper at Smith Mountain Lake!

Pat with two of her fish near the Dam at Smith Mountain Lake

On Friday they went on a fishing charter with Captain Todd at The Shad Taxi (click here for Fishing reports.)

Catch and Release with Capt Todd

Pat was thrilled with some of the larger Striper that they returned to the water to breed, and took home the smaller tastier fish. She sent some photos so I could share their fun with y'all!

Smith Mountain Lake is about boating, swimming, sailing, picnicking and lest anyone forget FISHING!

Smith Mountain Lake is a very healthy large lake, we have ahydroelectric dam owned and operated by AEP. The lake was dammed in 1960. We currently have televised bass tournaments at Smith Mountain Lake as well as wake-board and other recreational water tournaments, wine festivals, vintage boat shows and plenty of other activities!

Smith Mountain Lake is Virginia's second largest lake with 500 miles of shoreline. There is a state park on the shores of the lake as well as a few restaurants and marinas.

Isn't this a beautiful fish? Striped Bass caught by Tim at Smith Mountain Lake

VIRGINIA IS FOR FISH LOVERS

* Please check with contacts listed above for event times, dates and location, this innfo is brought to you to assist with your travel plans. We are not responsible for scheduling changes.

Celebrate Life by Day and By Night at The Claiborne House in Virginia

2011-05-27T17:20:41Z

Experience The Claiborne House By Day and By Night

CELEBRATE LIFE
by day

Take the slow road the Blue Ridge Parkway

Picnic by a waterfall

by night

Romance in The Sierra Suite

Surprise your sweetie with a fruit & cheese platter

See our Romance Packages on our website to order any of the above.

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

NY Times article on Virginia's Crooked Road

2011-05-24T15:14:34Z

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is at the start of this fabulous mountain music trail!

Articles About Music

On Virginia's Crooked Road, Music Lights the Way

By SARAH WILDMAN

May 20, 2011

Through the farmland, pastures and one-light towns along Virginia's Crooked Road, there is a single, unifying sound: old-time, foot-tapping homegrown music.

Read the entire article here.

Rocky Mount is the official first stop on this music trail, the first kiosk with narration and history by Joe Wilson is just one block behind The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast. Rocky Mount and Franklin County Virginia have more weekly jams than any other community along this music trail.

Come on out and experience these Blue Ridge Mountains, meet the people and unique culture that makes this such an amazing place! While you are here, treat yourself to some mountains vistas, hiking, biking, picnicking as well! This is the South y'all, remember more battles were fought in Virginia than any other state in the Civil War, which began 150 years ago.

VIRGINIA IS FOR MOUNTAIN MUSIC LOVERS

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway take MP Exit 121 South near Roanoke. We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Rhode Trip Idea in SW Virginia!

2011-05-15T15:43:32Z

Bloomin' gorgeous, and where to see wild rhododendrons

For sheer drama, nothing beats the spectacle of Southwest Virginia's wild rhododendrons in blossom.

Rhodies along the Blue Ridge Parkway

It's that time again -- when these Southern Appalachians put on one of their two most spectacular shows of the year. The other, of course, comes in the fall, when the hillsides become a colorful abstract canvas, drawing visitors from around the world.

Springtime is rhododendron time.

Spring in the mountains has other charms, from the pastel colors of early April to the balmy afternoons of June. But for sheer, over-the-top spectacle, nothing compares to thousands of wild rhododendrons in bloom.

See this entire article from Roanoke Times here

Excerpt:

Mabry Mill

One of the best -- and easiest -- places to see the late-blooming rosebay rhododendron is along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mabry Mill. The rhododendrons in those parts typically start blooming late in June, although times vary. The equally spectacular flame azaleas, which are also considered rhododendrons by plant taxonomists, bloom orange on this stretch of the parkway in early May, James said.

"That is just a glorious display," he said.

One sure-fire way to find out what's blooming up there is to call Mabry Mill and ask. 276-952-2947.

MEET VIRGINIA SHE'LL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY!

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is a lovely scenic drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway from Mabry Mill. We hope you consider staying with us during this spectacular spring show!

LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR BAD COFFEE!

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway, take MP 121 the Roanoke Exit South. We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Picnic on The Parkway Romance Package in Virginia

2011-05-09T19:18:07Z

It's a Blue Ridge Day!
Discover treasure on Main Street
Stopping for a picnic along the Parkway
Sipping sweet tea by the lake

Picnic on the Parkway at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast

We gotchya covered:

Rocky Mount is a designated Main Street Community
At The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast we have a Picnic On The Parkway Package that includes a gourmet lunch for two in picnic hamper. Learn more here.
Sipping tea by the lake? Which lake? We have TWO! We are the "LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES" here in Franklin County. Smith Mountain Lake with its 500 miles of shoreline, fishing, swimming, skiing, boating, and Philpott Lake with its rural rocky outcroppings and citation fishing, boating and exploring! Water temps in July are a warm 84 degrees and NO SHARKS!

GET ON OUT HERE TO BLUE RIDGE COUNTRY VIRGINIA!

LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR BAD COFFEE! Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

Places to Stay at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia

2011-05-04T17:17:38Z

500 Miles of Shoreline Makes Smith Mountain Lake a Virginia Aquatic Recreational Gem!

Experience Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, it's closer than you think!

SEASONAL INFORMATION

Unsurprisingly, the peak season at Smith Mountain Lake is from June to August, with the attendant high prices and crowds. However, this is when the weather around the lake is also at its warmest, and the surface water temperature reaches the upper 70s Fahrenheit. The middle periods cover the four-to-six weeks before and after the summer high season (May and September for the most part), which reflect the best balance between good weather and reasonable prices. However, the low season at Smith Mountain Lake starts by mid-October. While the weather might be chillier, the mid-to-late autumn period brings with it the scenic, changing colors of the Virginia forests and price discounts ranging from 25-to-50 percent.

STATE PARK CABINS

Smith Mountain Lake State Resort Park has 12 cabins for rent --11 two-bedroom and one three-bedroom -- with eight of the two-bedroom cabins enjoying views of the lake. Other than camping, these cabins are the sole lodging choice at the state park. All cabins come with rustic furnishing, fully equipped kitchens, fold-out couches in the living room, a picnic table and barbecue grill situated outside, and wood-burning stoves with complimentary firewood. Guests at the state park's cabins also enjoy free use of the park's boat ramp.

MARINER'S LANDING

Located on a peninsula about a mile to the east of the state park, Mariner's Landing is a resort community with a convention center. One-, two- and three-bedroom rentals in the community are available in high-rise condominium buildings or smaller buildings or houses along the lakefront.

Article excerpt from Travel Tips in USA Today - click here to read entire article. Photo fromVirginia.org visit Virginia.org to help plan your next vacation or weekend getaway!

Relax on our southern porch

Now if you wish to stay in an historic bed and breakfast with a 130 foot wrap around porch in quaint little main street Rocky Mount Virginia, then please consider staying with us at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast. We are not waterfront by any means, but half of Smith Mountain Lake is in our county, so we enjoy this lake and water activities. We have a county park that has NO ADMISSION FEE and bathroom, public white sandy beach and even a beautiful fishing pier. Ask your innkeeper for directions!

Let me cook your breakfast!

TRIVIA - What About Bob starring Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray was filmed at Smith Mountain Lake.

Smith Mountain Lake is 84 degrees in Summer and NO SHARKS!

VIRGINIA IS FOR MOUNTAIN LAKE LOVERS

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway. We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121. We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS in Virginia

2011-05-02T11:03:24Z

We Salute You!

WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, and more accurately The Leete Family Innkeepers want to say THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO PROTECT OUR LAND AND ENSURE OUR FREEDOM.

Tony Spent 10 years in the Royal Australian Navy, and Shellie was married to the service for 5 of those years, we know how special a reunion can be. Reignite that first love here, we innvite you to stay with us in these Blue Ridge Mountains.

To honor those active duty military we offer a 25% Discount. Come home safely!

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

Get your fill of hot biscuits and hot bluegrass at our Rocky Mount VA Dairy Queen!

2011-04-25T11:06:04Z

Dairy Queen and Bluegrass go hand in hand in Rocky Mount, VA where you get your fill of hot biscuits and hot bluegrass! Rocky Mount Dairy Queen hosts the DQ Band every Thursday morning (Sept thru May) from 9-10AM. They make a fine biscuits and gravy!

Go back in the evening every 2nd and 4th Thursday for more bluegrass from 6-9PM. Everyone is welcome and there is no cover charge.

If you play something with "strangs" then bring it along and join in the jam! See the complete list of Franklin County's Crooked Road Weekly Calendar here.

Read more about the DQ Band here at the Roanoke Times. Stay at the lovely Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, Rocky Mount VA www.ClaiborneHouse.net As featured on Innteractive Inns.

One Virginia Bed and Breakfast is making a difference one flush at a time!

2011-04-21T17:19:46Z

"Outstanding, Ausgezeichnet, Magnifique, Pendientes, In Sospeso"

2011-04-12T12:26:32Z

ANOTHER EXCELLENT REVIEW FOR THE CLAIBORNE HOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST!

Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast

Date of review: Mar 7, 2011

"Outstanding, Ausgezeichnet, Magnifique, Pendientes, In Sospeso"

We had the distinct pleasure of staying at this 5-star B&B for one evening. Shellie and Tony are extraordinary hosts, caring, down-to-earth and very Genuine. Their B&B is immaculate, their suite exquisite, and the breakfast was a feast for a King. They are the total package and leave nothing to be desired, other than a longer stay. They have hospitality down to a fine art. This is indeed one of the Top three B&Bs we have had the pleasure to stay in. When in Rocky Mount, Virginia, you would indeed be missing out on a fabulous B&B experience if you didn't stay at the Claiborne House B&B.

See all of our reviews on Trip Advisor here

Yes Men Innjoy Staying Here Too!

Home cookin' is our specialty!

Gentlemen, start your reservations!

2011-04-04T17:28:30Z

FAN-tastic Guests here at The Claiborne House in Virginia!

Variety is the spice of this innkeeper's life...

NASCAR at Martinsville Speedway is a crowd pleaser!

I am here to share some guests info with you from this weekend and clear up some misconceptions. We had a full house of NASCAR FANS here for the Martinsville Speedway"paperclip." The weather was gorgeous 75 degrees with blue skies and full sun, a few of our guests returned with a red GT stripe on their face and neck.

Why do I love NASCAR weekends? The guests, it's all about the guests!

have forever heard the stereotypical comments by other innkeepers "NASCAR FANS? I WOULD CLOSE THAT WEEKEND!" They have no clue. Really they have no idea how wonderful our NASCAR guests are, so let's recap a few who were here this weekend:

Famous Wood Brothers are from here!

We had a couple from Ontario Canada who drove through white-out conditions in the NE for 12 hours to get to Virginia for this race. They plan their vacations around this "smallest oldest track" and most likely to "get tempers flaring" Martinsville Speedway. From here they were venturing on down after the race to Florida to go to the famousBarrett-Jackson Auto Auction. They cheered for Juan Pablo Montoya and their new favorite bad-boy Kyle Busch.

Next we have a couple who belong to the "Junior Nation" if you don't know what that is, then consider them thrilled as can be on Sunday when Dale Earnhardt Jr nearly won the race! They stay with us every Spring and love this race!

We also had the Aussie here for his first ever NASCAR race and he commented, and I quote "I expected a bunch of Yobbos at the track." Since I am married to an Aussie, here is my translation: pack of fools, drunken idiots or similar. He flew in from Singapore where he has been working for 4 months, to attend this race with his girlfriend, they drove down from Boston and arrived at midnight the night prior to the race. Of course he was hoping Marcos Ambrose the only Aussie in NASCAR would win, he came in 28th after hitting a wall, sorry mate!

A lovely couple who will be back in the Fall who root for Mark Martin and Tony Stewart.

So what did we have, FAN-tastic guests who loved every minute of their stay. We can't wait for the next race, it is the last weekend in October and we have a couple rooms open right now if you are inn-terested.

Gentlemen, start your reservations!
You can see our rooms here, you can book online here at any time from any place! Be warned we have early breakfasts typically on NASCAR WEEKENDS as everyone is up and revving to go! So if you want to stay here for a romantic getaway that weekend, the fun and laughter all over the inn might not be what you were after. These guests can then come back from the track and sit a spell on the porch and shoot the breeze. This common interest makes this a really fun weekend to be an innkeeper!

Shellie your innkeeper at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, Virginia - NASCAR COUNTRY. As always, I like to add "This ain't your granny's house!" (meaning we are not old stodgy innkeepers)