The Hostel Experience

What it's like to stay overnight at this hostel

Staying at hostels is a great way to travel and sightsee on a limited budget, while meeting lots of interesting people of all ages. (And if you are fortunate enough to have an unlimited budget then hostelling is still a great idea!) This particular hostel is ordinarily CLOSED DURING THE DAY from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, although this closure policy can sometimes be waived by the Manager. While you are waiting for the hostel to open, you can sit on our porch, or you can park at the hostel while you hike or bike. Of course, if you're staying for more than one night, you can leave your stuff inside all day.

Although our prices are very low, we provide you with quite a lot. We have 26 bunkbeds here divided between the male (14 beds) and female (12 beds) dormitory rooms. Also, there are two smaller bedrooms (5 beds in one and 5 in the other) for couples or families who would like more privacy, for a TOTAL OF 36 BEDS. If you would like to prepare meals here, we've got a LARGE KITCHEN fully equipped with refrigerators, stoves, microwave oven, conventional ovens, pots, pans, plates, cups, silverware, et cetera. All you need to bring is the food, and there are supermarkets nearby. Alternatively, there is an inexpensive RESTAURANT (tel. 301-695-8181) less than a quarter mile from the hostel, and PIZZA delivery is also available (tel. 301-834-9999).

In the evening, you may want to sit around a CAMPFIRE outside, or join other guests in the hostel's roomy LOUNGE area which consists of several cozy sofas, a large working fireplace, stereo, bookshelves full of (you guessed it) books, easy chairs, assorted board games, et cetera. There's a large DINING TABLE situated between the kitchen and the lounge area. We have plenty of FANS to cool you off in summer, as well as central heating. The hostel is equipped with a large restroom for each gender, with a total of five SHOWERS and six stalls.

QUIET TIME starts at 11 PM, and this policy is actively enforced in order to make sure that everyone gets a good night's sleep (the hostel manager resides on the premises). Each bed comes with a mattress, blanket, and pillow. Linen is supplied (sleeping bags are not permitted). A WASHER and DRYER are available too, for a small fee. CAMPING is permitted here and the campsite is located where our lawn meets the forest (therefore when you pay to camp here you should not expect a secluded site).

There's presently a good deal of equipment here for the use of our guests, including VOLLEYBALL, FRISBEE, and BARBECUE grill. Also, we have a BICYCLE and inner TUBE, which are to be used with caution and at your own risk.

We ask that our guests be considerate of each other, and that they try to leave the hostel in a clean and neat condition.

Free wireless internet access is now available at our hostel!

The people who stay here are as varied as the human race. We are a "youth hostel" only in the sense that you must be YOUNG AT HEART to enjoy staying here. Generally speaking, we often host hikers, bicyclists, European and Australian students on vacation, boy and girl scout groups, church groups, and school groups. We hope to see you out here soon, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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