The Best Hotels and B&Bs to Book Near Mount Zion Historic House, Virginia
The Smithfield Farm Bed and Breakfast has been in the same family for more than 200 years | Courtesy of Smithfield Farm Bed and Breakfast / Expedia
Virginia is one of the United States’ most historical states, and for digs fit for the founding fathers, look no further than these contemporary hotels and bed and breakfasts near the historic Mount Zion – bookable on Culture Trip.
Looking out over the felt-green fields of the Shenandoah Valley, Mount Zion is a handsome, 1771-built stone mansion and one of the oldest buildings in Virginia. But that’s not all this part of the country has to offer. Close by is the State Arboretum of Virginia, home to hundreds of different tree species and perfect for a romantic stroll. Alternatively, take in the kitsch Dinosaur Land, just 20 minutes away, with its roar-some models. Whatever you get up to, bed down in one of these lovely, hand-picked hotels.
The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
Hotel
Courtesy of The Ashby Inn and Restaurant / Expedia
The Ashby’s rooms are charming, furnished with 19th-century furniture, four-poster beds and handmade quilts and rugs. However, it’s the food at its restaurant that will have you writing home. Breakfast is served every day until 9:30am, but on weekends, it also offers brunch, when you can enjoy steak and eggs with home-made fries, washed down with coffee from local roaster Black Dog Coffee Company. After a day browsing the boutique shops in nearby Middleburg, return to your table for a dinner of pistachio-crusted salmon or seared scallops with braised cannellini beans.
L’Auberge Provençale Bed and Breakfast
Bed and Breakfast, Hotel
Courtesy of L’Auberge Provençale Bed and Breakfast / Booking.com
Styled like a relaxing French country inn – with added views of the Blue Ridge Mountains – L’Auberge Provençale has homey but refined rooms, some with open fires and garden views. Start each day with a dip in the seasonal outdoor pool, followed by breakfast in the sunroom, where you can feast on croissants, café au lait (remember the French theme here) and cherry crêpes with minted maple syrup. Indulge in a chauffeur-driven wine tour so that you can taste the various varieties grown in the lush Virginia hillsides.
The Inn at Vaucluse Spring
Hotel
Courtesy of The Inn at Vaucluse Spring / Expedia
At this deeply romantic spot in the Shenandoah Valley, you can take your pick from multiple accommodation options. Choose from the 18th-century coral-colored manor house with period-style furniture, or private, rustic cottages and cabins tucked away among the trees. You’ll love the sense of space, from comfortable sitting rooms to quaint porches and classic Adirondack chairs facing the Vaucluse Spring. Three-course breakfasts packed with local goodies are the norm here – perfect before a day of hiking in Shenandoah National Park.
Waypoint House Bed and Breakfast
Bed and Breakfast, Hotel
Courtesy of Waypoint House Bed and Breakfast
Waypoint House is a welcoming wood-clad, vanilla-painted B&B in Berryville, minutes from Winchester. It offers a selection of themed rooms, from the spacious Traveler’s Retreat with a double whirlpool tub and period pieces to the beachy Shore room with soft blues and whites and coastal vibes. Foodies will love the Saturday Clarke County Farmers’ Market, with stalls laden with fresh fruits, local honey, bottles of herb vinegar and sweet cider – perfect for popping in your luggage for a taste of Appalachia back at home.
The George Washington, a Wyndham Grand Hotel
Courtesy of The George Washington, a Wyndham Grand Hotel / Expedia
This good-looking red-brick Georgian Revival hotel is mere steps from shops and restaurants in Old Town Winchester. Pared-back, neutral-hued rooms mirror one another except for suites, which add grand four-poster beds. Sweeten your day with crème brûlée french toast and good, hot coffee at the wooden-floored George’s Food & Spirits before exploring. History buffs can follow the self-guided walking tour of Old Town Winchester, with 250 years of architecture and local history, passing quaint shops and cafes.
Smithfield Farm Bed and Breakfast
Courtesy of Smithfield Farm Bed and Breakfast / Expedia
White-painted sash windows framed by green shutters and a cheery red-brick exterior welcome you to this sustainably run organic farm near the Shenandoah River in Berryville. All three comfortable rooms feature well-trodden floorboards, four-poster beds and pretty armchairs set by windows with meadow and mountain views. Swing in the hammock, visit the pigs, goats, sheep and chickens, and gather apples in the orchard before following the estate’s own nature trail.
Courtesy of The Manor at Airmont / Expedia
Wine lovers will pop their corks for this romantic, sprawling B&B in Round Hill, about 6mi (10km) from Bluemont Vineyard and 16mi (25km) from Greenhill Winery & Vineyards. Brass bed frames and wooden four-poster beds grace the bedrooms with soft peaches and whites, and homey waffle throws. The grounds are worth a visit alone, lined with pristine lawns, terraces and sweet spots for planning day trips or just curling up with a good book.