Orange County is situated across a stretch of peaceful countryside along the Virginia Foothills. Located just two hours from Washington DC, this secluded yet accessible countryside escape makes for the perfect weekend getaway. A Region steeped in history, the area has more recently become known for its charming small towns, wineries, and boutique inns. Here’s our guide to planning and making the most of a weekend getaway in Orange!
Check in to The Inn at Willow Grove
The Inn at Willow Grove is a reimagined historic lodge brimming with decadent style and southern charm. The historic estate turned boutique hotel greets its guests with an idyllic grand entryway and its towering Jeffersonian style columns. A reservoir of calm green pasture blankets the property’s 40+ acres of colorful and well-manicured grounds and offers guests room to roam and unwind. Inside, Willow Grove is designed with a refined southern aesthetic and is packed with luxury touches.
The property features 25 lavish guestrooms and cottages to choose from, each with its own singular charms & features. During our stay we stayed in Weavers Cottage, which is located just a quick stroll from the main estate. Our cottage was packed with luxury features such as a private porch overlooking the gardens, a plush king size bed with goose down bedding, a fireplace and spa-style bathroom.
Our stay at Willow Grove was defined by its small yet perfect surprises- a glass of champagne at check in, turndown service with tea in the evenings, and fresh coffee accompanied by a warm bag of fresh beignets delivered to our door each morning. A stay characterized by its thoughtful touches, fresh countryside air, and contemporary southern style. Continue reading to learn more about The Inn at Willow Grove’s very own on property restaurant, Vintage, as well as the Inn’s ‘Millhouse Spa’.
What to do & see in Orange County:
Shop & Dine in Downtown Gordonsville
Gordonsville may be tiny, but it is also the epitome of what I consider to be small town magic. Packed with the perfect blend of small shops, local art galleries, and a few fantastic dining options. Here are a few of my favorite spots I discovered in town:
- Shop Vintage clothes and apparel at Folkling
- Grab a coffee & pastry at Krecek Kakes Bakery & Coffee Shop
- Wander through some fantastic local art galleries Annie Gould Gallery & Cavallo Gallery
- Shop antiques at Lindenlaan Antiques
- Grab a bite to eat at The BBQ Exchange
- For hand crafted local goodies check out Raindrops in Virginia
- Take in a little history at The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum
Explore Orange County’s very own European style garden shop & lunch market
The Market at Grelen is set on a 1000-acre tree nursery tucked away just far enough from the rest of Orange County to feel perfectly secluded. The main shop and marketplace at Grelen are surrounded by eye catching vistas and views that extend to the blue ridge mountains just on the horizon.
Inside you’ll find a charming garden shop which spills out back with its many trees and flowerpots for sale to visitors. The market offers a farm to table menu stocked with house-made, regional dishes and goodies. Grelen has a buzzy, atmospheric feel to it – like you just discovered the best kept local secret, despite knowing it’s no secret at all. In addition to lunch & shopping Grelen also offers visitors a variety of hiking trails on property, as well as seasonal pick-your-own fruit opportunities. Click here for more on visiting The Market at Grelen.
Go for a round of Skeet Shooting at Rounton Farm -
Located just a ten-minute drive from the Inn at Willow Grove is Rounton Farm, a family owned property that offers a variety of outdoor adventures for adults visiting the area wanting to try something new. We decided to try our hand at Skeet Shooting, which if you aren’t familiar with, is a sport in which shotguns are used to aim at clay pellets that are projected mid-air.
I am personally the last person anyone would expect to be found at a shooting range of any kind for recreational fun, but after this experience I will say that skeet shooting is absolutely an exception to that rule. Rob, our instructor, was extremely patient and made us feel fully comfortable learning the basics on gun safety, shooting and aiming. When it came down it, I will say I wasn’t the most proficient at hitting the targets, but we had a fantastic time attempting to.
For more info on booking a skeet shooting session at Rounton Farm click here and keep an eye out for a new upcoming adventure coming to the farm in 2021- Axe Throwing!
Opt for a Spa Day at The Inn at Willow Groves very own Mill House Spa
If skeet shooting is a little too fast paced for your ideal weekend getaway, opt for a spa day at The Inn at Willow Groves very own, Mill House Spa. Housed in a chic red barn on property, the 3000 square foot day spa features luxury amenities perfect for a day of unwinding, these include a relaxation room for before and after treatments, steam showers, a fitness center, and even a salt water pool.
The spa menu offers a wide variety of services, from massages and body scrubs, to facial treatments and waxing. I highly recommend indulging in a Millhouse signature massage during your visit, it was the perfect blend of varying massage techniques, hot stones, and aromatherapy – as far as relaxing goes, this delivered in spades.
Food & Drink:
Vintage at The Inn at Willow Grove
We had the pleasure of dining on site at the Inn at Willow Grove’s Vintage twice during our stay for a fabulous dinner and Sunday brunch. Vintage encompasses an elegant farm-to-table dining experience with a modern twist. This Forbes Four Star rated restaurant offers a gourmet rotating menu and in staying true to Willow Grove’s focus on elegant and thoughtful touches – the attention to detail was unparalleled.
For dinner we started with lump crab cakes and white stone Virginia oysters topped with a revelation verjus, cucumber dill, lime caviar, and pink peppercorn. For main entrees we ordered Sea Scallops with Pork Belly and the Filet Mignon. From beginning to end, the flavors and presentation of these dishes were simply divine. The Vintage also delivered on a phenomenal brunch spread, I especially recommend trying the French toast brick.
Iron Pipe Ale Works
If you’re thirsty for some local brews, head over to Iron Pipe Ale Works – a locally loved, hidden gem located in Historic Orange. Not only is Iron Pipe Ale Works one of Virginia’s newest breweries, but they also serve up delicious brick oven pizza if you’re looking for something yummy to pair with your beer! We tried a handful of beers – but these were our top 3 favorites:
- OC Light – An Orange County Special! A perfect light lager for sitting on the porch and taking in the views
- Notorious P.O.G – A passionfruit, orange, guava sour that starts off tart, but ends sweet. (This was Brit’s favorite!)
- Betty Wit – A light and crisp Belgian Wit with spicy notes of orange and coriander.
A big thank you to Orange County Tourism for generously hosting us during our visit. All recommendations and reviews remain genuine, these opinions are my own. Check out the official Orange County tourism website here for more getaway inspiration and start planning your visit!
