February 10th, 2010
The Bright Morning Inn prides itself on being pet-friendly, which means we allow quiet and well-behaved dogs. However, for folks vacationing in the Canaan area who aren’t staying at the Inn, there’s another lodging alternative: PetRated, a pet sitting and boarding service right in the heart of town run by local “dog whisperer” Judy Haverty. PetRated is more of a vacation retreat for dogs than a boarding kennel. Every day, twice a day, Judy and her charges pile into the Jeep and head for the woods, and for long walks in the trails surrounding town. In the summer, there’s swimming in ponds and creeks, and a shady side yard for lazy snoozing. In winter there’s snow: huge piles of it for jumping and rolling. At PetRated dogs swim, run and play together
Hanging out at PetRated in Davis
under Judy’s watchful care. It’s no wonder that every year more and more locals, and visitors, too, are treating their beloved pets to healthy outdoor education in our beautiful West Virginia hills.
Tags: dog boarding, dog sitting
Posted in Davis West Virginia, Davis summer vacation, Davis winter vacation, canaan valley | No Comments »
January 30th, 2010
Before the Bright Morning Inn was a lumberjack boardinghouse, long
- Red Spruce in Canaan Valley
before the town of Davis was built, these Allegheny highlands were home to a magnificent conifer forest. Help restore the majesty of that primeval forest by participating in this tree planting project on April 10th and 11th. Meet at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center at 10 a.m. and join a team of hearty souls as they plant spruce and/or balsam fir in early spring. Sponsored by the Refuge, WV Highlands Conservancey, Dominion Power and partners in the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative. For more information contact Susan Moore at the Bright Morning Inn 304-259-5119.
Tags: canaan valley, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Posted in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Davis West Virginia, Davis wildlife refuge, canaan valley | No Comments »
January 20th, 2010
Flower lovers, bird lovers, nature lovers of every description are invited to attend the 49th Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage held May 6-8 at Blackwater Falls State Park. This well-known event brings together wildlife experts, ornithologists, botanists and geologists from area universities and colleges who lead tours of well known flora and fauna hotspots such as Canaan Valley, Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks, Fernow Forest and Otter Creek, as well as lesser known “secret spots”. The small group tours help participants identify particular plants and birds and point out interesting flora and fauna. It’s a fun and informative weekend to experience early spring in the Allegheny mountains, offering lots of great cameraderie, and a special way to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with your favorite nature lover. To register for the event or for questions, contact Emily Fleming or Vickie Hash at the WV DNR at (304) 558-2754. For reservations for lodging at the Bright Morning Inn (less than a mile from the park) visit our website at www.brightmorninginn.com. This is a fantastic event for hearty souls who want to learn more about our beautiful area. Don’t miss it!
Tags: birdwatching, blackwater falls, botany, canaan valley, dolly sods, West Virginia wildflowers
Posted in blackwater falls | No Comments »
January 16th, 2010
Cutting a trench in front of Hellbender's Burritos
According to local weather guru Dave Lesher, whose records of Canaan Valley weather can be seen at http://canaanweather.4t.com/, the first nine days of January this year have been the snowiest ever for the past 66 years, which means some of the best cross country and downhill ski conditions in recent memory! At the Bright Morning Inn in Davis we’ve been shoveling, scraping and plowing, and then doing it all over again…to prepare for guests. The inn is mostly filled on weekends this month, but plenty of mid-week slots are open. If you haven’t tried mid-week x-c skiing at Whitegrass or Blackwater Falls you’re missing out on a pleasure mostly known to locals: peaceful woodland trails and a solitude that is sublime. And if you’re a downhill skier at Timberline or Canaan, midweek offers that rarest of benefits: non-existent lift lines.
Tags: blackwater falls, canaan valley, skiing, timberline, whitegrass, x-c
Posted in Davis West Virginia, Davis skiing, Davis winter vacation | No Comments »
December 1st, 2009
December at our Davis bed and breakfast means time to pull out the Christmas lights and stock up on salt — sidewalk salt, the kind that sits in sacks by the door to be sprinkled on nearby walkways. In snow country, plain old salt isn’t enough. Every year the town merchants collect money to pay someone to actually blow the snow out of the way, and this year it will be Tyler Elliott’s job. Once the snow flies, and it could be anytime really, Tyler will cut a swath down the two blocks of our main street, and keep it clear until spring. It’s miserable work, but not thankless. Every morning, as we walk down the cleared trench to the post office, we will think of Tyler and silently thank him for keeping the path clear and safe.
Tags: Davis, downtown, snow
Posted in Davis winter vacation | No Comments »
December 1st, 2009
In a place where winters are fierce, like this place, cozy is good. And Davis, WV has some of the coziest eateries around. In fact the Inn is surrounded by three of the best restaurants in the region – all within easy walking distance. On our right is Sirianni’s Café, which may be West Virginia’s most beloved pizza joint. It’s an institution, with fresh tasty salads, innovative pasta dishes and fresh and creative pizza choices. Across the street is Hellbender’s Burritos, with giant build your own burritos, lots of specialty burritos and homemade appetizers and desserts. On our left is Muttley’s Steakhouse, home of the $1.09/oz steak dinner on Thursdays and similar deals on Tuesdays. As for breakfast, the hands down winner is the Inn’s own restaurant, which is open to the public and rocks on weekends. The food is fresh, choices ample, and the best part: overnight guests eat for free!
Posted in Davis West Virginia | No Comments »
November 18th, 2009
November in Canaan Valley is a quiet time to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family and prepare for the winter ahead. Every month in Canaan is beautiful…and this month is no exception. The cold clear nights offer fabulous stargazing at nearby dark spots off Canaan Loop Road. When the leaves have fallen, the woods surrounding Davis become silvery grey and copper and the crisp dry air is perfect for hiking. But stick to the parks and posted areas near town, as deer hunters dominate the Monongahela Forest when deer season begins Thanksgiving week.
Posted in Davis West Virginia | No Comments »
Wildflower Pilgrimage May 6-8