Property at a Glance: The Inn at Mountain Quest

To call The Inn at Mountain Quest “secluded” would be a grand understatement: the turn-of-the-century white-clapboard inn sits on 450 acres in the midst of the Allegheny Mountains. To get a feel for the property’s massive size, head to the top of the inn’s four-story observation tower. From here, you can see vast rolling green pastures, punctuated only by red barns and the horses, llamas, and longhorn cattle that live on the working farm (some options include a tour of the farm for two). You’ll have lots of time for relaxation, whether you’re reading selections from the inn’s 27,000-volume library or exploring the hiking and cross-country skiing trails.

• Complimentary hot breakfast with stick-to-your-ribs foods such as biscuits and gravy, pancakes, french toast, and made-to-order omelets.
• Themed rooms: Guest rooms have playful motifs, such as safari and aviation, along with private bathrooms and TVs with DVD players.
• Best hangout spot: the recreation center, stocked with a pool table, arcade games, and a jukebox
• Learn to de-stress with the relaxation package included in some options. It features a guided meditation session and a discussion on the quest for happiness.
• See the stars on clear nights from the observation tower.
• Award winner: The Inn at Mountain Quest received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2013 and 2014.
• Downhill skiing is only 25 miles away at Snowshoe Mountain

Pocahontas County, West Virginia: Hiking, Biking, and Skiing in the Alleghenies

Located about 150 miles east of West Virginia’s capital city, Pocahontas County is surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains. One of the best ways to explore the region is on the Highland Scenic Highway. The 43-mile drive takes you through the Monongahela National Forest and leads to the Falls of Hills Creek and a handful of scenic overlooks. In nice weather, you can pedal the Greenbrier River Trail—the paved biking route follows the river for 78 miles. Along the way, stop to admire the old-fashioned wooden bridges or fish for bass and trout in mountaintop creeks. 

Nearby Snowshoe Mountain is abuzz in winter, when you can go skiing and snowboarding on more than 60 trails. But there’s more to do here beyond the snowy-weather months. Come summer, you can hike, bike, and golf on the mountain. A few miles west of here, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park lets you ride vintage steam-powered locomotives to re-created logging camps and lookout points high in the mountains.

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