Virginia is for Lovers
There are so many romantic adventures in Virginia. From the Beaches to the Mountains, and everything in between, there is literally a world of opportunities. And here’s an idea for how you can capture the entire beauty of Virginia in a week.
First, start with the Capitol of Virginia, the City of Richmond, which is rooted in history. We recommend staying at a classic boutique hotel like Linden Row Inn in Richmond’s downtown. It is walking distance to several great restaurant’s like Max’s on Broad. For the beer lover, Richmond is home to SEVERAL breweries. We recommend starting with Hardywood and Triple Crossing, the two breweries that paved the way for Richmond’s brewery scene, and then venture from there to other breweries in Richmond’s Scotts Addition neighborhood. Then head to Shockoe Bottom for an evening filled with nightlife fun. We recommend just about anything in the 17th Street Market, there are so many great watering holes like Rosie Connolly’s and Havana 59. They never disappoint. Be sure to find time for the many great museums like the Valentine Museum or the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. And if you can squeeze it in, stop by St. John’s Church for a reenactment of Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech.
Next, head to the small town of Culpeper, which is the quintessential Small Town U.S.A. We recommend staying at the Culpeper Center Suites and having dinner at Flavor on Main. There is also a brewery and a couple bars in walking distance. If you’re looking for the dive bar experience, check out the Davis Street Pier.
After that small town feel, head to the Shenandoah Mountains for a hike. We recommend Old Rag Mountain, which is just 45 mins from Culpeper. Plan for a full date, but it is totally worth the views at the top. Take picnic and maybe a bottle of Virginia Wine… which leads me to the next day of adventures.
Plan to end the night at the always amazing Boars Head Inn in the quaint town of Charlottesville. Schedule a spa visit for the next morning and have a healthy breakfast. The next stop on your Virginia visit is a vineyard tour. Virginia Wines are consistently ranked among the best in the world and it’s not by mistake, Charlottesville is Thomas Jefferson’s backyard, which as you may know, he was America’s ambassador to France during the Revolution and America’s first Secretary of State. There are so many great vineyard in the Charlottesville area, but we highly recommend Early Mountain, Barboursville, and King Family, probably in that order, as that would land you back at Boar’s head for your second night of stay.
After the Mountains and vineyards, take 64 East until it ends to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. There is a plethora of hotels, but if you want to stay in style, we highly recommend the newly renovated Cavalier Hotel, which is just a stone’s throw from the ocean. Here you can just relax on the beach, take a romantic stroll on the boardwalk, find some awesome seafood options, and then maybe end the evening at Waterman’s for one their classic Crushes!
For more information or pictures, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @thebowtieddj or shoot me an email at hello@bowtiedexperiences.com. As always, follow #BowTiedTravels for all the fun. Thank you for reading!