Living like a Local on Vacation: Blue Ridge Mountains Edition
Bold Rock Cidery and Taproom
Traveling locally doesn’t necessarily mean we should only travel to places close to where we live, although we certainly encourage exploring your state or region. When we recommend traveling “locally,” we are referring to a mindset of directly supporting the people and places in that community by being mindful of where we stay, shop, and eat, and of course, what we do! Plus, living like a local when traveling often results in a better experience full of special memories that can’t be recreated.
Travel and tourism contribute more than $2 trillion annually to the global economy according to the World Tourism Organization. Imagine what this impact could have on the places we visit and love if we ensure the money we spend stays local?
Recently, we took a trip to Nellysford County, Virginia, right smack in the Blue Ridge Mountains where local is the way of life. Several factors made this trip special. We got to explore more of our beautiful state, meet interesting locals, and contribute to the local economy. Best of all, this trip happened because we were gifted a stay at the Fenton Inn. Gifting experiences is one of the most sustainable things you can do for the environment and the economy. And it strengthens our mental and emotional health because experiences usually involve connecting with others, whether through an event, travel, or an activity.
The Fenton Inn is owned by Lilia and Will, one of the friendliest couples in the state, and with a gorgeous property in the mountains, it wasn’t hard to relax in the comfortable and colorful accommodations they provided. The hosts knew the area well, and had several recommendations and helpful pamphlets to help us explore the county during our stay. Our money didn’t just support them – it supported all the locals they employ and source their needs from.
When traveling, ensuring our dollars directly support local businesses prevents leakage by stopping money from flowing out of the community to international corporations who do nothing to sustain the community. When our money stays in the communities we want to support, like Nellysford County, it’s directed toward:
Protecting natural and cultural resources
Infrastructure, education, and clean water
Small, local entrepreneurs who are invested in their community
Fair wages for local employees
Plus, our money benefits more than the business we’re buying from because our money is re-circulated in the local economy and supports the hiring of local employees. Our stay at the Fenton Inn also helped the local farmers who supplied the food at the restaurants in the area and people employed at the myriad of orchards, breweries, and local shops.
The Good Tourism Institute shares that tourism is responsible for 1 in 11 jobs worldwide. That’s a big deal and means we can make a large impact whether we’re visiting a charming small town or an exciting big city.
We can directly the benefit the community we’re visiting by:
Booking a stay at a local establishment instead of a hotel chain.
Eating and drinking at local restaurants, cafes, and bars instead of national chains.
Hiring local tour guides who actually know the area.
Signing up for local experiences to get to know the people in that community and learn what’s special or different about the area we’re staying in.
In Nellysford County, we stayed at the Fenton Inn, ate and drank at Paulie’s Pig Out, Silverback Distillery, Bold Rock Cidery and Taproom, and Blue Toad Hard Cider – not to mention Lilia and Will provided an amazing homemade breakfast. While in town, we hiked part of the Appalachian Trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains, visited Dickie Brothers Orchard, which had pick your own peaches and apples in addition to a farm store with homemade jams and pickles, and stopped into Mountain House Trading Co., a local shop that sells products made from the honey and wax of their bees as well as other locally made goods. We were in local heaven!
Silverback Distillery
Everywhere we stopped, we spoked with the local owners and employees, learning about what they do and what they love about the area. We even got a bit of beekeeping 101 at Mountain House, a real treat!
Although this was a unique experience, it’s easy to create local adventures by staying with the locals and finding small businesses and activities in the community. Look for local music, festivals, and other activities. When it comes time to book a new trip, do some research and see what opportunities lie in wait at the destination. It will be one of your most amazing trips and benefit everyone you come into contact with.
