Carolinian

Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Life

Media Credit: ASHLEY VONCLAUSBURG/THE CAROLINIAN $90 for a lakeside cabin is a deal even a college student can't turn away.

"What do you want to do this weekend?" says hypothetical boyfriend.

"I don't know, what do you want to do?" replies hypothetical girlfriend.

"We could go to that party off of Walker."

"Where?"

"I think we went there last week. Or maybe that was off of Spring Garden."

"Oh."

"Well then what do you want to do?"

Sound familiar? Ok, Greensboro can be fabulous, but the weekend routine does grow stale after awhile. What else is there to do for the relatively monetarily challenged college student? How about a cabin on a lake, a tour of a wine vineyard, a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a plethora of scenic views? How about it all for under a few hundred dollars? Yes, the place does exist, and it's only an hour and 15 minutes away.

Fairy Stone State Park is located in Stuart, Virginia and is 65 miles from the UNCG campus. The nearly 5,000 acre park opened in 1936 and is deemed home of the famous fairy stones: the naturally occurring, tiny, cross shaped rocks that can be found throughout the park.

During the summer tourists flock from as far as Italy and Germany to enjoy the beautiful Virginia scenery, boat and swim in the lake, and search for fairy stones. But autumn presents equally appealing opportunities. The foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains is breathtaking and a host of activities exclusive to fall season begin, all within miles of the park. Here's a first-hand guide to an inexpensive romantic weekend in the Blue Ride Mountains.

Leave Friday afternoon to start your mini-vacation. During Fairy Stone Park's mid-season (Labor day until Nov. 20) a one-bedroom lakeside cabin can be rented for $90 a night. So waterfront lodging will cost $180 for the weekend, but that includes a kitchen, living room, bathroom and one hell of a view. Less expensive sites can be rented as well.

Once you've unpacked, take Friday evening to relax and walk around the park. There are a variety of nature trails around the lake to provide a leisurely evening stroll. Since being economical is at the top of many students' lists, stop by the grocery store before getting into the park and pick up some food for dinner. Most cabins have screened in back porches, so make dinner together and then enjoy it outside with the sunset over the lake.

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