Respites
Every now and then you just need to get away! And in this current economic climate you need to be able to do it without placing additional strain on your budget.
One easy and fun way to get away is the take little respites to nearby places; to those places I like to categorize as instant “breathers”.
One such place that I visit often is the beautiful historic village of Middleburg, Virginia, located about 40 minutes from Washington, DC. The drive out route 50 from DC is a beautiful drive as you pass a couple of wineries and through a great little town called Aldie, Virginia. One word of caution when passing through Aldie, please obey the speed limit because they are on the job and you will be ticketed. On your way to Middleburg, you might also want to take a quick stop in Aldie to check out a couple of antique shops.
What I love about Middleburg is that although you are in the country, there is definitely a lot to take in, with endless shops and tiny restaurants. And while you are exploring, be sure to turn down the alleys and side streets to make sure you don’t miss the hidden treasures.
On many occasions when my husband and I are looking to get away and not spend a lot, we will typically visit a bed and breakfast inn. As you will recall, I owned an historic inn and fine dining restaurant a few years back and so I know a lot about inns.
My favorite inn in Middleburg is a small inn just as you enter the city limits by the name of, The Middleburg Country Inn. It is quaint, very well-maintained, beautifully appointed and they serve a wonderful homemade breakfast that is sure to please even the most discriminating palette.
We visited recently and were served a wonderful breakfast. I helped myself to a scrumptious omelette, local fresh fruit and whole grain toast. My husband had the traditional southern breakfast with “real” grits y’all. Coming from the south, I think the worst creation ever made is instant grits. These were the real deal, so if you love grits, be sure to ask for a serving. Another added compliment was a nice slice of the owner Joanne’s lemon pound cake. She shared that it was her mother’s recipe. Now if you know anything about me, it is dangerous to share any dessert with me — I take no prisoners when it comes to good dessert. I owned a bakery and I learned very early in life how to bake a good cake at the feet of the master, that being my grandmother. The pound cake served by Joanne was light, not too lemony and it melted in your mouth. This was definitely a winner.
The inn has a total of 8 beautifully-decorated rooms and there are beautiful gardens in the rear of the inn that surround the veranda and adjacent grounds. I think the thing I love most about the inn however, is this is truly a place where you can go to “breathe”. It is historic, but not stuffy, beautiful, but not overly expensive (prices range from $180-$230 per night, which includes breakfast and other compliments). To learn more about the inn, please visit their website at www.middleburgcountryinn.com.
And if you are looking for great places to shop in Middleburg you won’t be at a loss for variety. One favorite is Crème de La Crème which carries French and Italian home and garden décor. Among some of the items carried are beautiful French table linens, bistro tables & chairs, handmade dinnerware and they even have a lovely stationery section, for those of us who still think it is important to pen a note every now and then.
Middleburg, Virginia and the Middleburg Country Inn — a definite “Breather”.