New weekend getaways for food lovers near D.C.
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The new Salt & Meadow at the Tides Inn. Photo: Courtesy of Kate Thompson Images
Dreaming of a summer escape? You don't need a flight to feel transported at one of these new getaways fit for food lovers — all under 150 miles from D.C.
The big picture: Several inns and B&Bs with a foodie focus are popping up in the region, plus some exciting new culinary (and poolside!) draws at old favorites.
Hotel Heron, Alexandria
8 miles from D.C.
Take a staycation in Old Town's strapping 134-room hotel, a high-design remake of a 1920s property that opened in June. Curated in-room bars allow guests to mix drinks in their Frette robes, but the real action is at Alexandria's only rooftop cocktail lounge, Good Fortune.
- Downstairs, Kiln restaurant serves refined, wood-fired Mid-Atlantic fare from Jean-Georges alum Matt Maienshein. There's a big emphasis on local sourcing — country hams or Chesapeake oysters — and most dishes get a fiery touch from the hearth.
Goodstone Inn, Middleburg
50 miles from D.C.
The gorgeous country inn isn't new, but for the first time, they're opening up their picturesque pool to non-hotel guests courtesy of ResortPass. Day visitors can lounge and sample from the newly revamped poolside menu, which includes summery cocktails with fruits and herbs from the inn's garden, sandwiches, and salads. Weekday passes are $35, and weekends are $55.
- The inn just tapped James Beard-anointed chef Paul Verica to run its restaurant, which is open to guests and visitors alike.
Ironclad Inn & bourbon tasting, Fredericksburg
53 miles from D.C.
Sleep and sip at this bed and breakfast, set in an 18th-century home in historic downtown, which also sports a whiskey tasting room. Nine rooms, some original to the Federalist-era mansion, each include a bourbon cart for tippling and Southern-style breakfast.
- The King family opened the B&B in May and is behind Ironclad Distillery in Newport News. They built a tasting room for their whiskeys and classic cocktails at the inn, where guests can sample bourbons at the coppertop bar or in the walled garden.
Salt & Meadow at the Tides Inn, Irvington
126 miles from D.C.
The popular Chesapeake Bay resort on Virginia's Northern Neck has a new lure: a stunning coastal restaurant overlooking the water. Chef Kyle Perkins draws from local farms and rivers for dishes like blue crab agnolotti and Seven Hills tenderloin, plus indulgences like crispy potatoes and caviar.
- Guests can get in on the action with experiences like visiting oyster reefs and learning about crabs. Or better yet, head to Rappahannock Oyster Co. (a 15-minute drive) for super-fresh bivalves at Merroir overlooking the oyster farm's beds.
What's next: We've got our eyes on an incoming foodie destination in Virginia.
The Inn at Vaucluse Spring, Shenandoah Valley
83 miles from D.C.
Former Belgian embassy chef Jan Van Haute took over this 200-year-old estate and natural spring and is transforming it into a European-style escape on 44 acres. Plans include 15 luxury suites, six guesthouses, two on-site restaurants (one fine dining, one brasserie), a spa, and a pool. ETA: early next year.