Less than 90 minutes from Washington, D.C. and you’re in rural Virginia, winding your way along sparsely populated country roads with views of verdant hills and horse farms. But it’s not all about slowing down and smelling the roses as you break from city life. Rather, a weekend in Rappahannock County combines the best of all worlds—intimate hospitality, hiking to waterfalls and panoramic views in Shenandoah National Park, wine tasting at acclaimed local vineyards and Michelin-starred dining. Here’s how to enjoy a weekend.

FRIDAY

2 PM: AMERICAN GRAND CRU AWAITS

No better way to kick off the weekend than with some champagne, right? You’ll be handed a glass as soon as you walk through the doors of RdV Vineyards. Armed with a mission to put Virginia wine-making on the map, this boutique winery has an artful yet precise approach to cultivating blends bearing the hallmarks of both Old World and New World reds. A horizontal comparative flight showcases RdV’s Lost Mountain blend alongside a Classified Growth Bordeaux and a renowned Napa Cabernet. $120 per person for a 1.5 hour visit, includes a seasonal cheese and charcuterie board in addition to property tour and tasting. Book reservations in advance via Tock.

4 PM: FREE TIME

You’ve only driven 90 minutes, but you may as well have flown out west. City streets and tall buildings have been replaced by quaint village homes, working farms and Blue Ridge Mountain views. Soak up the serenity and watch the sunset from an Adirondack chair on the lawn of your inn with a good book and a glass of local Chardonnay. Feeling antsy? Grab a bike and pedal down Main Street in Washington to scope out the latest works at Gay Street Gallery and Middle Street Gallery.

7pm: A TASTING MENU OR TWO

If you planned your trip more than six months in advance, then hopefully you scored a coveted table at Three Blacksmiths in Sperryville. Run by Jake Addeo (Bibiana Osteria’s former executive chef) and his wife Sara, this 20 seat gem offers a single 7pm seating featuring a rotating five-course tasting menu ranging from the likes of a smoked haddock cake with quail egg and caviar to a cardamon glazed kataifi filled with autumn olive mousse for dessert. $148 per person plus optional wine or zero-proof pairings. Open Wednesday through Saturday, reservations must be booked at 10am exactly 203 days prior to your desired date via their website.

If your getaway is more of a last minute thing (we’ve been there), see if you can’t nab a table at the Restaurant at Blue Rock. The four-course menu executed by Chef Bin Lu (formerly of Pineapple & Pearls) and accompanying wine pairings hardly feels like settling. $118 per person plus beverages. Open Thursday through Sunday, reservations are available up to 60 days in advance via Tock.

*Chef Jake Addeo plating gnocchi in the open kitchen. Image courtesy of Three Blacksmiths.*

Saturday

8 aM: BREAKING BREAD

If you can surmise an appetite after last night’s feast, chances are high your inn will be serving a delicious breakfast spread featuring locally roasted Central Coffee and farm fresh eggs. For a quick muffin or breakfast sandwich, however, head to Sperryville where you can find both at The Corner Store or Before & After.

9 aM: PROVISIONING IN SPERRYVILLE

The Corner Store offers a modernized take on an old fashioned country market. It’s the perfect spot to pick up local souvenirs like Virginia Diner salted peanuts or a botanical shrub from Wild Roots Apothecary. You can also stock up on hiking provisions including savory snacks, freshly prepared sandwiches, and house-made baked goods. If you’re having trouble deciding amongst the myriad of yummy smelling cookies, go with the “Park Ranger.” You won’t be disappointed.

10 aM: Shenandoah national park

Time to turn off your cell phone and work up an appetite for another tasting menu. Drive 20 minutes west to enter Shenandoah National Park at the Thornton Gap entrance. If you’re seeking panoramic views and a moderate hike, head two miles south to Mary’s Rock, a 3.7 mile out and back trail. But if rock scrambling and stream crossing is more your vibe, drive north to the Keyser Run parking area to hike Little Devils Stairs, a 7.4 mile strenuous loop. Left your hiking boots at home? Simply roll down your windows and enjoy the scenery along the famed Skyline Drive. $30 per vehicle to enter the Park.

*Autumn in Shenandoah National Park. Image courtesy of the National Park Service.*

1 PM: Pizza, Pizza

Don’t think you can make it ‘til dinner without another meal? Go back to Sperryville and visit The Corner Store’s neighbor, Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen. Order one of their signature pies to go and grab a seat at one of the picnic tables out back where you can unlace your hiking boots and refuel. $17-19 per 12” pizza.

3 PM: Whiskey Flight

Before you head back to your inn for a little R&R, make a pit stop at Copper Fox Distillery. Skip the tour (which is only available on weekdays anyways) and instead enjoy a whisky flight or hand-crafted seasonal cocktail in the riverside garden. No reservations required for tastings; families and dogs welcome.

6 PM: dinner at the inn at little washington

It would be sacrilegious to visit the area without dining at the acclaimed Inn at Little Washington, if you can get a reservation that is. Under the expertise of co-owner and head chef Patrick O’Connell, the Inn has received 3 Michelin stars and is the longest tenured Forbes 5 star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the world. Diners may select one of two five-course tasting menus inspired by classical French cuisine, one of which is vegetarian. Arrive early to enjoy a cocktail in the Inn’s Living Room and make sure at least one member of your party orders the optional cheese course to laugh over a visit from a rolling cow (named Faira) displaying over twenty different selections. While the overall experience may feel a bit commercialized to some, the creativity behind the dishes and wide selection of wine will not disappoint. $328 per person plus beverages. Open Wednesday through Sunday, reservations are available up to six months in advance via Tock.

Sunday

11 aM: Wine Not

You can’t end a weekend in wine country without wine, right? You could drive 20 minutes north for a quick glass of wine on the deck at Chester Gap Cellars before heading home, but we recommend traveling via Middleburg for an extended visit to Boxwood Winery or lunch at Tremolo. Opt for the Spring Board experience at Boxwood to enjoy a seated, guided tasting in the outdoor courtyard accompanied by a deluxe cheese and charcuterie board. Boxwood is adults only, open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am-6pm, reservations suggested via their website. At Tremolo, you can expect internationally-inspired small plates and an expertly curated wine selection courtesy of owner Jarad Slipp, formerly of CityZen and RdV Vineyards, who maintains a Master Sommelier distinction.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Set against local vineyards on eighty rolling acres, Blue Rock is the area’s newest country inn. Five rooms and a standalone farmhouse that sleeps 12 feature mountain chic decor. Rates from $379 per night, including a multi-course breakfast in the Restaurant.

*The inviting interior of Blue Rock. Image courtesy of Blue Rock.*

The Inn at Little Washington (309 Middle Street, Washington) has 23 ornately designed rooms and suites set across six different buildings. Rooms start at $934 and include a welcome cocktail, afternoon tea, breakfast daily, complimentary valet parking and a guaranteed dinner reservation each evening.

In Sperryville, The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm features five rooms and a standalone cabin on an 845 acre country estate. Rates from $309 per night with breakfast buffet included.

The White Moose Inn is a contemporary eight room bed and breakfast in Washington with impeccable service and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The separate cottage offers privacy and a wood-burning stove. Rooms begin at $324, which includes a two-course breakfast and happy hour daily.

36 Hours in Rappahannock County