“It’s hard to go wrong on a porch worth writing about.”
People rarely have a bad time on a porch. I know I never have. Even the most redundantly crammed balcony on a decaying urban block is better than no porch at all! No matter the circumstance, a porch is a setting for fun, relaxation, reflection and fresh air.
PATC has an amazing and unique collection of some of the best patios and porches in the Central Atlantic United States.
Being in nature with the simple comforts of a sturdy chair and a solid floor is inspiring. Relaxing in the remote elements that come with a secluded mountain cabin is a luxury. For a true lover of nature, a secluded porch may be tame, perhaps the perimeter of the scale measuring your connection to the wild. But tame is good. Especially as the sun sets on a magnificent view in the cheerful company of good friends or rejuvenating seclusion of a solo retreat.
Below are some of PATC’s best cabin porches. You might just see your favorite cabin porch listed here, but you might not. This list is not a ranking, and the wonderment and beauty of your club’s collection of quality porches goes far beyond this list.
Stay tuned for a monthly update on some of our Cabin’s most exciting features. The next Cabin columns will highlight our cabins, their history, their charm and their main attractions. Your only job will be to decide which one to visit next.
- Horwitz Cabin
Horwitz is a magnificently secluded cabin with a private winding driveway and all the amenities and comforts of home tidily and proportionally shrunken to backwoods simplicity. Two large glass sliding doors separate the covered, screened-in porch from the interior of the cabin. In comfortable conditions the doors can remain open to give the entire pad an open-air extension. A beautiful southeast view of Virginia’s Piedmont presents itself when you step onto the porch and among the trees. The porch comes equipped with a table and chairs suitable for an intimate dinner or a lively discussion over morning coffee. In early spring vibrant Redbud trees sprinkle the property making the place easy to love and hard to leave.
- Vining Cabin
Welcome to the stately farm home of Rutledge Vining and the Vining family. The 660+ acre estate is a textbook example of 19th century Appalachian lifestyle with a taste of sophisticated charm. The handsome cabin with stone and log features sits perched among massive oaks on beautiful landscape. Sprawling views of the property’s meadow give the setting endless depth. The porch hugs the home from front to back with two large covered sections protecting the chairs and tables, cleverly arranged to accommodate your friends. The feel of Vining Cabin is a touch of old-world class you just don’t get at your local Walmart!
- Mutton Top
Despite the incredible view atop grassy bald, just high enough to see over the tree line to the east, Mutton Top’s porch is so carefully and uniquely crafted that the view is really just a cherry on top. The sprawling porch has several built-in features that ease you out of the surrounding nature and into some creature comforts. The large raised stone grille is a centerpiece to the outdoor covered kitchen with a built-in wood countertop for preparing and serving a meal. For after dinner there is a wide uncovered section of the porch outfitted with Adirondack chairs not only angled for proper stargazing but complete with flat armrests to balance your beverage.
- Doyles River
A trip to Doyles River starts with a scenic approach on Skyline drive. The short hike to the cabin along the Doyles River Trail brings you to an intersection with the cabin’s own footpath where the primitive home rests nearby quietly out of sight. The simple cabin offers bunks and a wood stove kitchen. The stone floor porch serves as the main hub for cabin relaxation. In addition to a sizable picnic table to organize your gear or prep your meals, the porch’s top attraction, a covered outdoor fireplace to light the night and warm your soul. Views fill the backdrop as you reflect on a refreshing day of mountain recreation.
- Argow
The wonderful view from Argow Cabin looks northwest towards the farms, villages and towns of the Shenandoah Valley with peaks rising left, right and straight ahead. The large covered porch flanks both sides of the front door and connects to the cold, north wind protected south corner of the cabin. The cleverly planned side porch captivates all who enjoy it. Large tables, hand crafted rocking chairs and natural wood railings are your setting to sprawl out and enjoy your meals, sip your coffee, read your book, socialize with your adventure companions and even dance into the night, all in a day’s work. Simply stated, Argow has a porch you don’t want to miss.
