B & H
Things to Do
Hunter's Head Tavern
This English-style tavern is under common ownership and sources its food from nearby Ayrshire farm, the certified humane and organic passion project of Sandy Lerner, co-founder of Cisco Systems. Hunter's Head mixes local ingredients with British traditions. The 18th century home turned restaurant could not be a more charming place to wash down classic pub fare like shepherd's pie and french dip au jus with a cold beer or cider.
The Ashby Inn & Restaurant
Long regarded as one of Northern Virginia's best restaurants, you can enjoy a meal made from the freshest seasonal and local ingredients either on the patio overlooking the green hills or inside the atmospheric 19th century inn. The popular brunch menu is filled with dishes like local Ossabaw pork loin schnitzel or a smoked salmon Benedict. Wash down your meal with a visit to some of the area's best wineries (such as RdV), just a stone's throw away.
The Red Fox Inn & Tavern
Established in 1728, the Red Fox Inn & Tavern is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Middleburg. Elizabeth Taylor and U.S. Senator John Warner, a local Virginian, often dined together in the Tap Room during their courtship and after their marriage. Hollywood’s finest regularly entertain friends here, notable ones have included Joan Woodward, Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Robert Duvall, so if you choose to have a bite here, you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with a famous neighbor. The food gets rave reviews. If you're hungry, try the four-course prix fixe option.
The Conservatory at Goodstone
For the ultimate luxury foodie dinner, look no further than the Goodstone's latest restaurant offering set inside the resort's newly renovated glass conservatory. Celebrated chef Jan Van Haute and his team offer guests an elevated dining experience featuring ingredients drawn from the Goodstone's own onsite farm and gardens. You can choose between the chef's tasting menu or the four course prix fix, the latter of which provides 3-4 options per course. With an impressive wine list of over 820 labels, it is no wonder the restaurant won Wine Spectator's 2020 "Best of Award of Excellence" for its wine program and has been named one of the "100 Best Wine Restaurants in America."
Red Bar Sushi
If you need a break from American style fare, locals rave about Red Bar's sushi. A partnership with Best Thai Kitchen means you can enjoy the best of both menus if you choose to order out. The lunch specials are a particularly good deal!
Best Thai Kitchen
Another great option if you've had enough New American and are craving some more exotic flavors, Best Thai is one of two Thai restaurants in Middleburg and seems to be the local favorite. If you order out, you can also choose items from Red Bar Sushi.
Middleburg Common Grounds
You'll be hard pressed to find a Starbucks near our venue. If you need your morning caffeine fix, try Middleburg Common Grounds. They serve breakfast, lunch, local beer and wine, and a special blend of coffee roasted just for their little café. The breakfast and sandwiches are popular, especially the "Blackboard Specials" such as gumbo, pulled pork, and brisket sandwich. From Mondays - Saturdays, 4pm - 6pm, you can find discounted prices on beer and wine.
La Table Provencale
This romantic, critically acclaimed restaurant inside L'Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast serves up modern French cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, including herbs, fruits and veggies from the property's very own gardens. You don't have to be a guest of the B&B to book a table here, but you will need a reservation in advance. For the full experience, the prix fixe, tapas-style Chef's Tasting Menu is the way to go. For a more casual experience, the Bistro Bar offers brasserie style fare.
Field & Main Restaurant
Set in a restored Federal-era house, Field & Main was started by two veteran chefs of the nearby Ashby Inn and has made many best restaurant lists since its opening. The menu features classic American fare at reasonable prices, with ingredients carefully sourced from the surrounding local farms and a thoughtfully curated wine list which highlights the regions best vintners. Be sure to also check out the Red Truck Bakery across the street for dessert.
Red Truck Rural Bakery
A beloved bakery that gained national recognition after a visit by President Obama, some of the Red Truck's unique specialties include 160-proof moonshine double-chocolate cake, sweet-potato-and-bourbon pecan pie, and bourbon cake that includes honey-sweetened root beer and Montmorency cherries. If you can't make it, we will have some of the pies at our wedding. If you can, take away a bag of the legendary granola dubbed the best in North America by the Travel Channel or the bakery's newly published cookbook so you can replicate the experience back home. You can also visit the original location in Old Town Warrenton.
The Apple House
The Apple House has been a landmark stop since the 1960s. If ever you doubted that Virginia is serious apple country, a visit to this little place is sure to clear things up. The main draw are the crunch-skinned apple butter donuts plastered with sugar. The next best things on the menu, after the apple-butter donuts, are the apple fritters – sugar-glazed and full of fruit – and baked apple dumplings with caramel glaze.
Three Blacksmiths
Washington Post’s 2019 Spring Dining Guide rated Three Blacksmiths number four out of its top 30 newcomers in the DC Metro area. The $128 fixed price, multi-course tasting menu varies from week to week based upon what local farms supply. The restaurant has only 20 seats and one evening seating time, Wednesday through Saturday. Needless to say, this is a "special occasion" restaurant and reservations should be made well in advance.
Mt. Defiance Cider Barn
This cidery produces classic and craft ciders that range from traditional farmhouse blends of dry cider to innovative, new concoctions infused with ginger, honey, and blueberries. All ciders are made from local Virginia apples, including ‘antique’ varietals which are lesser known for general consumption, but have long been utilized for the production of cider. These include Ashmead’s Kernel, Grimes Golden, Gold Rush and Arkansas Black – which, despite its name, is deep red in color and grows beautifully in Virginia soil. Also on the menu: spirits like apple brandy, dark, amber and white rums, and absinthe made with Virginia-grown herbs like Grand Wormwood, Hyssop and Lemon Balm. You can also visit their location in Leesburg.
Wild Hare Cider Pub
A boutique micro-cidery that uses local fruit from their apple orchards in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley to produce classic hard ciders as well as ones that reflect seasonal flavors. Conveniently located in downtown Middleburg, you can pair your cider with some of their delicious BBQ if get hungry. Other locations include historic Leesburg (set in an 1840s log cabin) and Warrenton.
RdV Vineyards
RdV Vineyards produces two (and only two) world class Bordeaux-style wines in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and has become the darling of the professional wine press, collecting an impressive pile of accolades from all the heavies — the Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Dave McIntyre (the Washington Post), Food & Wine Magazine, and José Andrés. The tasting experience includes a generous taste of each wine, plus a Charcuterie plate of local meats and cheeses. RdV only makes around 2,000 cases of wine per year, and wines are only available through their wine club, direct sales at the winery, and at a handful of high-end area restaurants.
Delaplane Cellars
One of the most respected wineries in the region, Delaplane Cellars is nestled on Lost Mountain, overlooking Northern Virginia's Rural Historic Crooked Run Valley. Delaplane produces carefully crafted wines made only from 100% vinifera varietals grown in Virginia. The 2017 Williams Gap recently won a Governor's Award. When it comes time for harvest and production, the owners are influenced by French winemaking techniques, only using pristine fruit and typically aging wines in French oak barrels. Currently, Delaplane Cellars has six wines on their tasting menu including a Sauvignon Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Viognier, Rosé, and two estate Bordeaux-style blends (their specialty).
Linden Vineyards
Many of Virginia's top winemakers learned their craft from Jim Law, owner of Linden Vineyards. His mentorship of other vintners has earned him a reputation as the East Coast's Mondavi, and his wines helped put Virginia on the map when many felt great wines could not be produced in the state. Wine Spectator dubbed him "a one-man repudiation of market-driven winemaking, a soft-spoken gentleman farmer who fastidiously tends 30 acres of hillside sites, the assortment of vines trellised according to three different systems." Today, Law’s Linden Vineyards makes about 4,000 cases annually, mostly red Bordeaux-style blends, as well as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, from his three vineyards. Although Law eschews contests, his winery regularly makes lists of the best wineries in the United States.
Glen Manor Vineyards
Situated on a western flank of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Glen Manor Vineyards is one of the most acclaimed wineries in the state. The surrounding mountains, ranging between 1400 and 3400 feet in elevation, form a glen which gives the vineyards a unique environment. The vines grow high on very steep mountain slopes characterized by deep, well-draining, and rocky soils. The land has been in winemaker Jeff White's family for over 100 years. The outdoor patio area is calm and peaceful offering breathtaking views of the mountains, including Skyline Drive of Shenandoah National Park (the winery is only 6 miles from the Front Royal entrance). Glen Manor specializes in Bordeaux style red blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc.
Rappahannock Cellars
Recognizing the promise in Virginia wines, the owners of Rappahannock Cellars moved their family’s winery from the Santa Cruz mountains of California to the Blue Ridge Mountains in 2001. Since that time, they have established Rappahannock as a leader at the forefront of the Virginia wine industry. The Cabernet Franc in particular earns rave reviews from Wine Enthusiast. From sweet wines to the dryer Bourdeaux style blends, there is a varietal to suit everyone's tastes here. You'll consistently find Rappahannock's wines earning accolades and awards at the state level and beyond.
Pearmund Cellars
Situated in Broad Run, in the foothills of eastern Fauquier County, Pearmund Cellars is a geothermal winery located on a farm that dates to the 1740s. Owner Chris Pearmund and Executive Winemaker Ashton Lough, one of the most decorated wine teams on the East Coast, produce award-winning wines year after year. Pearmund boasts the oldest Chardonnay vines in Virginia, and this varietal is what the winery is best known for. In addition, Pearmund produces Viognier, Riesling, Late Harvest Vidal, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Ameritage.
Middleburg Hunt
The Middleburg Hunt is the local mounted fox hunting association, founded in 1906. The origins can be traced to the great international foxhunting match between A. Henry Higginson’s Middlesex and Harry Worcester Smith’s Grafton hounds in 1905. The match was arranged to settle a dispute between the gentlemen concerning the superiority of their respective English and American packs of hounds. Mr. Smith’s American hounds decisively won the match. The hunting during those two weeks of the match as well as the consequent newspaper publicity established Middleburg as the axis of the Hunt Country of America, since the hunting took place largely in the area near the village. Today, the famous pack of hounds numbers 40. You'll likely catch site of the local members riding together in their traditional scarlet attire with apple-green collars if you keep an eye out on Monday, Thursday or Saturday mornings. A list of farms the group crosses in Middleburg and Aldie is available on the hunt website.
National Sporting Library & Museum
Founded in 1954, this renowned research library and fine art museum highlight the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. Angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeplechasing, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching and wildlife are among the subjects one can explore in the organization’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives and art collection. There are over 1,200 objects in the museum, featuring paintings, sculpture, works on paper and decorative arts by American, British and European artists over three centuries. NSLM offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions and family activities throughout the year and is open to researchers and the general public.
Middleburg Antique Emporium
Considered one of the premier antique dealers in the Northern Virginia area, Middleburg Antiques Emporium prides themselves on diverse offerings and reasonable prices. Offering rare and hard-to-find pieces, as well as a large selection of housewares, furniture and art work, the emporium houses 45 dealers to ensure the best selection possible.
Shenandoah National Park
With more than 500 miles of trails, Shenandoah National Park is a hiker’s paradise. Enjoy the rewards and challenges of hiking to mountain summits and cascading waterfalls. For specific hiking trail recommendations, visit: https://visitshenandoah.org/poi/10-hikes-from-skyline-drive/
Skyline View Drive
The Skyline Drive is a scenic drive that runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and is the only public road through the Park. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the Park on a clear day, though you certainly don't need to drive the whole length to experience the scenery. The speed limit is 35 mph, so feel free to roll down your windows, feel the breeze, and experience every curve and turn of this beautiful drive. There are nearly 70 overlooks that offer stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west or the rolling Piedmont to the east. You can enter Shenandoah with your vehicle at only four places along Skyline Drive. The entrance closest to the area where our wedding is taking place is the Front Royal Entrance Station, near Rt. 66 and 340.
State Arboretum of Virginia
The State Arboretum of Virginia is part of Blandy Experimental Farm, a research field station for the University of Virginia. The Arboretum collection includes the largest variety of boxwood cultivars in North America and more than half the world's pine species as well as a Virginia Native Plant Trail, an herb garden, extensive collections of perennials, a native plant meadow, and more. The collection emphasizes native trees and woody shrubs and their exotic relatives. The Arboretum has an exceptional collection of conifers, maples, oaks, and buckeyes, and is renowned for its Ginkgo Grove - gorgeous in October. A 3-mile loop drive, walking trails, and a 4-mile bridle trail offer many choices for visitors. The arboretum is open to the public dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, at no charge.
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns is the largest cavern system in the eastern United States, and the third most visited, trailing only Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Two bodies of water, Dream Lake and Silver Sea, lie within the caverns. The Luray Singing Tower, at the entrance to the caverns, is a carillon 117 feet high with 47 bells ranging from 12.5 pounds to 7,640 pounds. In 1956, a “stalacpipe organ” was constructed in the caverns by placing rubber-tipped plungers next to 37 stalactites to produce sound, making it the largest natural musical instrument. The caverns were made a federal natural landmark in 1978.
Tea at Historic Rosemont Manor
We considered having our wedding at this gorgeous 1811 Georgian manor, situated on a knoll overlooking 60 acres of park-like grounds in the Shenandoah Valley. The grounds were the site of many Civil War skirmishes, including the Battle of Berryville. The mansion's rooms and suites are named for the historical figures that have visited Rosemont: Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, and Johnson, famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, physicist Albert Einstein, and military icon Admiral Chester Nimitz, just to name a few. The tea service is a great way to visit. Rosemont chefs carefully plan a three-course menu, preparing sandwiches, scones and sweet treats that complement each of the teas served. Teatime at Rosemont is very popular, so be sure to book well in advance.
Oatlands Historic House & Gardens
Operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark, Oatlands was established in 1798 by George Carter, a grandson of Robert "King" Carter. The house is considered one of the finest Federal period country estate houses in the nation. The property encompasses 360 acres in scenic easements including America's oldest restored propagation greenhouse, circa 1810, and a magnificent four acre English terraced garden. Oatlands offers guided tours of the mansion, and self-guided tours of the grounds and garden.
Morven Park
Morven Park is a 1,000-acre historic estate and horse park in Leesburg. Located on the grounds are the Morven Park Mansion, the Winmill Carriage Museum, formal boxwood gardens, miles of hiking and riding trails, and athletic fields. The park is also home to the Museum of Hounds and Hunting of North America with displays of art, artifacts and memorabilia about the sport of foxhunting. The Mansion, once the home of Thomas Swann, Jr., governor of Maryland during the Civil War and Westmoreland Davis, governor of Virginia during World War I, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Virginia Historic Landmark.
George C. Marshall's Dodona Manor
Dodona Manor is a historic house museum in Leesburg. It is nationally significant as the former home of George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the United States Army during World War II, Secretary of State, President of the American Red Cross, Secretary of Defense and namesake of the post-war "Marshall Plan." It is now owned by the George C. Marshall International Center, which has restored the property to its Marshall-era appearance of the 1950s. Much of the money for the purchase and renovation was donated by European nations that had benefited from the Marshall Plan. Dodona Manor is unique among historic houses because over 90% of the furnishings and memorabilia in the house were owned and used by the Marshalls and were obtained from Mrs. Marshall's heirs.
Long Branch Estate
Long Branch Historic House and Farm is located on 400 acres of land, with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Built in 1811, the home is now on the National Register of Historic Places and the property serves as a horse retirement farm. Long Branch by a non-profit foundation established by the last private owner, who worked to restore the home to its former glory. In addition to the gorgeous interiors, the tree lined drive up to the mansion is absolutely stunning in the fall.
Aldie Mill Historic Park
Built in 1807, Aldie Mill survives today as Virginia's only known grist mill powered by twin waterwheels. For more than 150 years the mill ground for markets along the East Coast and overseas. President James Monroe was an early customer while living at nearby Oak Hill. The mill provided grain for soldiers and their horses during the Civil War. The mill’s tandem metal waterwheels are fully operational, making it possible for visitors to watch live grinding demonstrations when water levels permit.
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park is a unit of the National Park Service that preserves the site of two major American Civil War battles: the First Battle of Bull Run, also called the First Battle of Manassas, and the Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Battle of Manassas. It was also where Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson acquired his nickname "Stonewall". The park was established in 1940 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. More than 700,000 people visit the battlefield each year. The Henry Hill Visitor Center, on Sudley Road by the south entrance to the park, offers exhibits and interpretation regarding the First Battle of Bull Run, including Civil War-era uniforms, weapons, field gear and an electronic battle map.
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
Set on 3,700 acres, this National Historic Park was created to preserve the site of the Battle of Cedar Creek as well as Belle Grove Plantation - both significant Civil War sites. Belle Grove was most notably used as a headquarters by Union General Philip Sheridan during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 and was at the very center of the pivotal Battle of Cedar Creek. After a surprise attack by Confederate General Jubal Early in the early hours of October 19, 1864, General Sheridan quickly regained the territory, securing the Valley for the Union. Visitors can take an interpretive walk on the Morning Attack Trail to learn about the battle from a park ranger, or a self-guided audio tour. On select Friday evenings during the summer and fall, the park presents a series of specialized tours called “History at Sunset" that cover a wide variety of subjects related to the park and its history and give visitors an opportunity to see sites not normally open to the general public.
Battle of Cedar Creek Reenactment
The Battle of Cedar Creek, which took place on October 19, 1864, marked the zenith of the Shenandoah campaign and was an important turning point in the Civil War. The Union victory marked the end of significant Confederate resistance in the Shenandoah Valley. Every year on the third weekend of October, the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation hosts a reenactment event on the original fields in Middletown, Virginia. If you are a Civil War history buff and plan to make a longer trip out of our wedding, you may want to witness this living history event (or you can really get in on the action by registering as a participant on the foundation's website). The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation of the Battlefield and the education of scholars and the general public. All proceeds go towards this mission.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry is the site of abolitionist John Brown's 1859 raid on the First Federal Arsenal. The now National Historic Park changed hands eight times during the war. It became the base of operations for Union invasions into the Shenandoah Valley and Stonewall Jackson achieved his most brilliant victory here in September 1862 when he captured 12,500 Union soldiers. At the majestic confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers—where Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia meet—Harpers Ferry National Historical Park encompasses 4,000 acres of parkland, including battlefields, 20 miles of hiking, and a restored historic district with exhibits and museums. Here you can hike, bike or stroll the quaint streets, see a living history demonstration, attend a workshop, or enjoy a guided tour. Whether you like history, nature or recreation, you will love Harpers Ferry.