Peaks of Otter Lodge has a wide variety of special events coming up throughout the month of February.  Not only do the events help drive interest in the property, room and meal reservations, and revenue during traditionally slow periods, but they also touch upon some of the key tenets of GreenPath, including Environmental Protection, Interpretation & Education, and Healthy Living.

The month begins with a yoga session with certified RYT 500 Instructor, Helen Maxwell.  As covered in a previous issue of GreenPath News, the practice of yoga truly is for All, and this session is open to all ages and skill levels.  Mat rentals are even available for those who may be new to yoga.  The relaxation, stretching, and mindfulness of the body that occur during the practice are all essential components of healthy living.

The Valentine’s Day edition of the Peak Perfection Vintner Dinner Series will feature wine pairings from Barboursville Vineyards, one of the top wineries in the United States.  Barboursville Vineyards is located within a mere 2 hours’ drive of Peaks of Otter and Aaron Fallon will be showcasing four of their award-winning wines alongside a four-course dinner prepared by Peaks’ Executive Chef David Moran.  Locally-sourced, yet still fantastic, wines are a hallmark of the Peaks of Otter dining experience.  The wines have a smaller transportation-related environmental footprint and help support the local Blue Ridge economy.

Also taking place on Saturday evening is another installment of the space-related presentations by NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador and adjunct professor of astronomy, Greg Redfern.  The first talk took place on January 17 and was standing-room-only, attracting 75 attendees.  Greg will be covering topics including the universe, the future of manned spaceflight, and the moon, as well as hosting guided stargazing after the talks.

The Lodge is also hosting a mid-month Orienteering Treasure Hunt to promote the numerous hiking trails around the lake.  Each team will be provided with a map and clues to find each ‘control point’ along the trail, where they must answer a trivia question, and then journey back to the Lodge to solve a word puzzle and find the treasure!  The Treasure Hunt is great for all ages, and the December event  attracted 60-70 visitors.

All of these events are new this winter, and if successful, will hopefully continue throughout the year.  For more information about these and other events at Peaks of Otter Lodge click here.