Less than one hour from Washington, DC, you can find one of the best small towns in America, Middleburg, VA. This tiny town is known as the “Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital”, but we found it to be much more. It’s the perfect mix of relaxation, good food, and luxury. We went for a couple’s trip but it’s also a great destination for a classy girls’ trip or a leisurely family trip.
From nationally recognized inns to luxe resorts, destination dining, and wineries, you’ll find all the information you need in this guide to plan your trip to Middleburg, Va.
The Best Inns and Resorts in Middleburg, VA
The Salamander Resort and Spa
We stayed here and absolutely LOVED our time at the Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg, VA. There was so much intention put into the hotel to make guests feel like they are at home, but only better. There is luxury in every corner and country opulence exudes from the lobby to the rooms yet it’s incredibly comfortable. This was intentional. So much so, the beautiful wooden floors were designed with items under them so that they creak like a home.
The Spa is very relaxing and will leave you feeling rejuvenated. There are a ton of hotel activity options. You can do trail rides, cooking classes, ziplining, and much more. The food at the restaurants is so delicious. With many of the ingredients coming from the onsite garden, local butchers, and farm, you taste the freshness in every bite. There are complimentary Audi cars and drivers to take you around town. The service is wonderful.
The cherry on top is that it is owned by a Black Woman, Mrs. Sheila Johnson. She named it The Salamander because a salamander symbolizes transition and the ability to face challenges and flourish in adversity. And, even though she was experiencing a difficult season in her life when the resort was being developed, she was determined to come out better.
The Red Fox Inn & Tavern
This is the most conveniently located inn; it’s within walking distance from restaurants, breweries, and boutiques. There are twenty-two unique inn rooms, suites, and cottages to choose from. Perhaps, the most special thing about the inn is its history. Its family owned and over 275 years old, making it the oldest continually operated inn in the US. Over the years, President John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and Tom Cruise regularly spent time at the inn.
The restaurant located inside of the restaurant is considered destination dining. We enjoyed the restaurant and with so much history, we are interested in checking out the accommodations on a future visit
Goodstone Inn
This luxury hotel sits on a 265-acre estate and has 18 guest rooms and suites that include both cottages and houses spread out throughout the estate. If you are looking for a historical feel, you’ll love the French and English decor of the rooms. Depending on when you go, there is a glamping experience available. Call or email the hotel if you are interested in this option.
This hotel is best known for its farm-to-table dining experience. So be sure to check it out if you stay here. While this accommodation option is the farthest from town, it’s still only 15 minutes away from downtown Middleburg.
Best Middleburg Restaurants
Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill
Best Surf & Turf that I’ve ever had. The service, especially our waitress, Anna was amazing! They also have some tasty mocktails for all the non-drinkers and pregnant mamas.
The Red Fox Inn & Tavern
We did the Spring Tasting Menu. It was a great chance to try things we don’t regularly eat like quail, duck, and beets. The service was great and we loved that the restaurant has so much history. As mentioned earlier, it’s over 275 years old, making it the oldest continually operated inn in the US.
King Street Oysters
This restaurant is lowkey but really good, especially the crabcake sliders! LJ had 3 orders of chicken fingers so that’s also saying a lot, lol. They have a happy hour with $1 oyster and $5 food and drinks from 3-6:30 PM every day.
Red Truck Bakery
This bakery is a favorite of Oprah’s and has been recognized in several magazines for being one of America’s Best Small Town Bakeries. President Obama even shouted this delicious bakery out. We had the rum cake and brownies and thought they both were good. We would have tried more things if they weren’t sold out 🙁 Get there early or order online the night before to have the best selection!
Field & Main
One of the best seafood curries that I’ve had in America! I totally thought I was in Thailand for a minute. LJ enjoyed the chimichurri skirt steak.
Pro Tip: If you are going on a weekend, book a few weeks out to get seating in one of their outdoor cabin.
Market Salamander
Think Italian market with Southern flair. They have a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. We had the best country breakfast here!
Mocatinas
The cutest dessert and gift shop! We wanted some of everything but went with the s’more macaroons. So good!
If you want more details on each place, check out our Best Restaurants in Middleburg, Va article.
Things to do in Middleburg, VA
Middleburg Wineries
Virginia has a RICH history when it comes to winemaking. The state started planting grapes in the 1600s when the colonies were found and were finally successful in the early 1900s. Today, there are over 280 wineries, 28 wine trails, and 10 winemaking regions. Travel magazines like AFAR compare it to Europe and Steven Spurrier, a British wine expert and champion of French wine said, “Virginia is the Europe of the United States.” Furthermore, Virginia sits halfway between Europe and California and we learned that the wines embody that unique position in the world! The most noteworthy Virginia wines include Chardonnays, Cabernet Francs, Petit Verdots, Viogniers, and wines made from the state’s native Norton grape.
Middleburg is the perfect place to explore Virginia’s rich wine culture. Below are few wineries to put on your radar.
Chrysaliswine Vineyard
This vineyard specializes in growing Norton, a native Virginia grape and making wines from it along, with other tested European varieties. They offer wine flights consisting of four wines from their current lineup during the week and they have one of the largest selections of food of vineyards in the area. Here is the menu. They do not allow outside food or drinks.
Boxwood Winery
This vineyard primarily plants the traditional Bordeaux varietals, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blac, and they are all ENTAV certified. They offer light fare such as baguette sandwiches and cheese and charcuterie boards. You can also bring outside food.
Greenhill Vineyards
This vineyard is 21+ . They are best known for their Blanc de Blancs. So much so that in 2016, it was included in the Oscars $200K ‘Everyone Wins’ gift bag, along with a complimentary tasting at the winery. FLOTUS Michelle Obama visited the vineyard and was a fan of the Seyval Blanc. They also allow outside food and sell light fare like the cheese and charcuterie boards.
Canva Vineyards
Canva Vineyards is family friendly and welcomes well-behaved and leashed pets. They are best known for their award-winning Rose, and it’s usually available May through October. They also allow outside food and sell light fare like the cheese and charcuterie boards.
Other Vineyards..
Stone Tower Vineyard
Both red and white grapes of USA and French varieties are grown at Stone Tower and they are well known for offering educational artisanal wine-making tours. This vineyard is about 30 minutes from Middleburg but we are including it because it is one of the most popular vineyards in the area. We went and must say the views are gorgeous, especially at sunset.
Their food menu includes firewood pizza and lots of hearty items like pulled pork, briskets, wings, ribs and mac & cheese.
Finally, check out the Virginia Wine website to learn more about the wine and vineyards and to plan your wine adventure in Virginia. With this tool, you can input your address and it will show all of the vineyards near you.
Middleburg Breweries
If you want to explore new beers and breweries, Middleburg also has you covered! Below are a few located in the town of Middleburg.
Cultural Activities in Middleburg
National Sporting Library & Museum
Since you are in hunt country, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about it. The National Sporting Library & Museum houses archives, an art collection, and rare books on wildlife, fox-hunting, polo, horsemanship, steeplechasing, flat racing, and much more. You can also find exhibitions, educational programs, and family activities throughout the year.
There is no admission fee to the library, the museum charges $10 for adults and $8 for youths (ages 13-18) and seniors, and free for children under 12.
Morven Park
This is about a forty-minute drive from Middleburg but worth a visit if you are a history buff and/or plan to explore Leesburg within your trip. You can go hiking here, explore the museums and watch a polo match. This 1,000 acre property is larger than Central Park and includes a Greek Revival style mansion, boxwood gardens and an Equestrian & Event Center. From 1918-1922, it was the home of Westmoreland Davis, a progressive governor of Virginia and farmer. The two museums on the grounds are the Carriage Museum which features restored 19th century horse-drawn carriages and the Museum of Hounds and Hunting.
Adventure and Self-Care
As mentioned earlier, we loved the Salamander Resort. Beyond the wonderful accommodations, there are enough activities to keep you busy for at least a week. Here’s a link to the full activity list and pricing.
Ziplining | Falconry | Disc Golf | Fishing |
Archery and Axe Throwing | Trail Rides | Basketball | Swimming |
Cooking classes | Hiking | Biking | Tennis |
If your body and mind are in need of some relaxation and care, look no further than The Salamander Resort and Spa. This luxury spa offers massages, body treatments, facials, hair and nail services. We did a couple’s massage and felt completely rejuvenated afterwards. We love that after the service, you can hang out in the outdoor heated pool or sit by the fire and sip champagne while overlooking the beautiful Salamander views. We did the latter and it felt like a picture-perfect moment.
You can find a full list of the spa services here.
Shopping in Middleburg
From boutiques, jewellery, art and home decor, you’ll find cute shops in Middleburg that are “1 of 1” or “1 of few.” Below you’ll find links to some of the most popular shops and here is the link to the full shop list.
Boutiques
Art and Antiques
Home Goods and Souvenirs
Events
Middleburg has a variety of both annual and episodic events throughout the year. Below you will find the most popular annual events and a link to the Middleburg event calendar to look up the episodic events.
Middleburg Spring Races in May
Virginia Wine Month in October
Middleburg Film Festival in October
Christmas in Middleburg in Early December
Here is the Middleburg event calendar to see what episodic events may be happening during your visit.
We hope you enjoy your time in Middleburg! If you’d like to keep your Virginia adventures going, check out the Virginia Tourism website for information on other cities.
This post was sponsored by the Virginia Tourism Corporation. All opinions are our own.
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