You can bike, drive or even walk, into Historic Todd...only five miles to enjoy fresh baked muffins and coffee with Emily at the Todd Mercantile. Need a few basics or a meal try the Todd General Store. If you are looking for activities, Rivergirl Fishing Company is there in the old train station, and Kelly will be glad to take you fly fishing, or drop you in for a leisurely paddle or tube down the oldest river in North America. Biking on the Railroad Grade Road is also a popular pastime along the river in Todd (see the Rivergirl for rentals). The Elk Knob State  Wilderness Park (elev. 5600 ft.) is a short drive away and a hike to the top provides  an incredible panoramic vista as well as a keen view of the Long Hope Valley which is considered one of the biological crown jewels of the Southern Appalachians, overshadowing even the Great Smoky Mountains for its diversity of plant life. Weather permitting the lodge provides a great view of the sunrise across the rim of this high mountain valley each daybreak. Ashe and Watauga County are home to many parks, including Mount Jefferson, Grandfather, the New River State Park, Moses Cone and the NC game-lands at Three Top Mountain, the Peak Mountain and a thousand plus game-land acres a ten minute hike up the creek from the lodge.  The winter months provide opportunities for cross country skiing as well as down hill at one of our numerous local slopes. Of course for many the lodge is the destination : a place to revitalize, a place to deepen relationships, a place for play, learning and inspiration. The Longhope info can also be found on  http://www.vrbo.com/168908 “