2 Best Hotels in Central and Western Virginia, Virginia

The 1987 movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed here, and the resort (Kellerman's in the movie) is still a popular summer getaway. Centered on the highest natural lake east of the Mississippi, accommodations range from spartan cottages to plush suites in a majestic sandstone hotel from 1930 (the resort itself predates the Civil War). You can also rent two-, three-, and four-bedroom cottages if you need more space for an extended stay. Atop the 4,000-foot Salt Pond Mountain, outdoor activities abound: you can hike, mountain bike, ride horses, swim, and boat within the 2,500-acre Mountain Lake Wilderness, which surrounds the hotel. The adjacent Jefferson National Forest offers even more recreation, including a segment of the Appalachian Trail. A 2012 renovation included a refurbishment of guestrooms and cottages and the addition of an aerial and zip-line adventure course.

This unpretentious, peaceful lodge is so popular in the fall that reservations are accepted beginning October 1 for the following year (but it's open year-round). Every room looks out on Abbott Lake from a private terrace or balcony, and their interiors have a folksy quality. Nestled between two of the three peaks of its namesake, the lodge was built in 1964. In nonwinter months a complimentary bus takes you to Sharp Top Mountain if you prefer not to hike, and you can see the same mountaintop from the lodge's Lake View Restaurant. Rooms do not have telephones and both cell service and Wi-Fi are spotty. There are pet-friendly rooms available in one wing.