We have a confession. One of the main reasons we invested in Fayetteville – buying and renovating the building that now houses Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals – was because we loved the food. Seriously. We both have enthusiastic palates. A few of our favorite Fayetteville dishes include Brussel sprouts from Secret Sandwich Society, homemade […]

Yearning for a fun getaway but still a little nervous about traveling? We get it, and we’re here to help. In this post, you’ll find a list of New River Gorge activities that get you outside in the fresh air and beautiful sunshine. No need to worry about group activities, close quarters, or social interactions. […]

Without a doubt, the best view of the New River Gorge Bridge is from the end of the Long Point Trail. While it is the Instagram-worthy spot at the trail’s terminus that gets most of the attention, the journey has other merits, and there are a few things you should know in preparation for this […]

The New and Gauley Rivers offer some of the best whitewater rafting experiences in the United States, if not the world. But the New River Gorge has many other adventure activities. In fact, the New River Gorge is also considered to be one of the premier rock climbing and mountain biking destinations. Even so, you […]

The New River Gorge may be best known for its world-class whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and adventure activities but it’s the lush Appalachian forest that makes this place so enchanting. This hardwood forest is ecologically diverse, rich in cultural and natural history and packed full of recreational opportunities. The New River Gorge National River encompasses […]

There’s something so charming about Fayetteville, West Virginia, the small town that sits on the rim of the New River Gorge. Sure, the forest that surrounds Fayetteville is enchanting (so enchanting that the National Park Service purchased 70,000 acres in the 1980s to create a National River), but the small town itself has a lot […]

We spend a lot of time in the New River Gorge hunting for mushrooms. When we’re not hunting mushrooms we’re usually talking about hunting mushrooms, which often prompts people to ask us why we enjoy it so much. Sometimes, we fear, they soon regret asking because we can go on and on about the many, […]

Of all the New River Gorge National River trails, The Endless Wall Trail has the most character and diversity. From the serenity of an ancient Hemlock forest to the pulse-quickening views from atop the cliffs overlooking the Gorge, it provides the casual hiker with a taste of everything that makes The New River Gorge National […]

Limited Edition Print Promoting art and artists from our home state is not only our passion, it’s in our business plan. Each year we dedicate a portion of our vacation rental income to the purchase of West Virginia art to add to our collection at Lafayette Flats. For this year’s art purchase, we decided to […]

One half of the duo that owns Happy Tree Coffee – Meghan McCool – is related to one half of the duo that owns Lafayette Flats – Amy McLaughlin. Meghan’s grandmother, Annabel Day, and Amy’s grandmother, Louise Johnson, are sisters. Both Annabel and Louise know a thing or two about coffee. Annabel always fired up […]