A Mother/Daughter long weekend in Rappahannock County
 

My mom (62) and I (32) wanted to enjoy a long weekend away together over the MLK holiday. After doing quite a bit of searching we decided to stay close to home (we both live in Virginia) and have a weekend "away" in our home state.

My mom found a place called "The House on Water Street" and we had a wonderful experience. http://www.thehouseonwaterstreet.com/
We contacted the owner, Barbara, and told her our plans. She was immediately responsive and actually put together an entire weekend plan for us. It was fantastic.

You rent the whole house (three bedrooms) and they provide all the breakfast items in the fridge and freezer. So you get a bed and breakfast experience but the privacy of a self-cater rental. We actually ended up eating mostly our own stuff for breakfast but we enjoyed the tea and granola that were available. And the croissants and bagels in the freezer looked tasty.

The house is great, there's a gas woodstove in the living room that you can turn on to enjoy, there's a TV and DVD/VCR with a selection of movies and DirectTv. There is wifi. There are plenty of books and magazines to look through while you relax. There are two bathrooms, one with tub and shower, one with a clawfoot tub. And the gardens around the property look like they would be really nice during Spring/Summer/Fall. There is a little Sprinhouse porch-like area that must be great for reading in warmer weather. The only negative about the house is that the stairs to the bedrooms are <i>really</i> steep and narrow. Anyone with mobility issues might find them to be too much.

Here is the itinerary prepared for us:

Friday:
Arrive about 4 p.m.
6:30 Dinner at Blue Rock Inn

Saturday:
10 a.m. – Noon - stained glass workshop

Afternnon: explore Sperryville: walk to the shops
at the historic Schoolhouse (Coterie, Knit Wit Shoppe,
Double Eagle Antiques and Lighting, Monkey Business).
Walk or Drive to River District Arts at Rappahannock
Central, Middle Street Gallery, Old Rag Photography,
Copper Fox Antiques. Tour Wasmund’s Copper Fox
Distillery. Drive to Beech Springs Farm and Gift Shop,
Sleepywood Furniture and Old Way Gallery.

Sunday

9:30 am – noon: one hour massages at the house.

1 pm – 5 p.m. Winery tour (with chauffeur):
Gadino, Gray Ghost,
Narmada and Little Washington winery.


7:30 p.m. Dinner at Thornton River Grille

Monday:
Check out at 11 am

We didn't follow it exactly--the massages had to be cancelled because the therapist had the flu. Barbara tried to find someone who could fill in but wasn't able to. The other change was that we did not eat at Thornton River Grille--the menu didn't appeal to us once we got there and looked at it.


Everything else was great. I wouldn't return to Narmada winery but the others were nice.

That sounds like a lovely weekend, schlegal1. I've wanted to do a chaffeured wine tour in Virginia.

How was the stained glass workshop?

DId you think about dining at the Inn at Little Washington? I have not been there but it is on the bucket list.

The Inn at Little Washington is wonderful.

My first husband was one of their original employees and lived in Little Washington during HS.

Depending on when the OP and her Mom decided to go, on a holiday weekend reservations may have been impossible.

Every couple of years Dh & I go up for a night (usually spend one night in Culpeper and the next in Little Washington) and have dinner and stay the night and have breakfast (the unsung hero of the Inn) the next morning.

It's nice that Little Washington has grown into a town with lots to offer.

The stained glass workshop was fantastic. We made Moravian stars and they turned out exactly as they were supposed to (which was rewarding). The teacher was great and told us a lot about stained glass work.

I had never done a chauffeured wine tour. I never even thought about it being possible. It was great! No worries at all about tasting. The chauffeur drove my mom's car, which was cheaper than renting a town car or limo. I recommend it. I am looking into it as a possibility for a trip to the Bourbon Trail.

I am a vegetarian and, therefore, The Inn at Little Washington is not an experience that is "worth it" to me.

In fact, that was why we left Thornton River Grill--meat-heavy menu. They had mushroom risotto on the menu that night but mushrooms are the only veggie I dislike. Bad luck. They offered to make me a special veggie salad but since it was just my mom and I, it wasn't one of those times I wanted to pay a lot for a basic veggie meal in order to be sociable--especially since my mom is not big on things like pork, beef, and duck, which were some of the other entrees. But every local we met said it is their fave restaurant so mom and I were clearly in the minority.

Blue Rock Grill was fantastic, though! Two veggie entree options (and not just the usual veggies in pasta option, either!), warm hospitality, a lovely fireplace, good cocktails. Loved it.

And Copper Fox distillery was a cool tour. No tastings but really interesting. Got me geared up for the trip I am planning in March to the Bourbon trail in Ky.

schlegal1, have you ever been to It's About Thyme in Culpeper? We loved it and they have nice veggie options.

I have heard great things about it, Janet, but have not been.

We go about once or twice a year. We discovered it back in the day when my stepdaughter was horse showing.

Great trip report, thank you for sharing it! Took notes on what you & your mom did and saw for future reference....

The county takes its name from the Rappahannock River

Birdie,
North Mountain Vineyard and Winery in Toms Brook, and Shenandoah vineyards in Edinburg have several special events and tastings throughout the year. Shenandoah usually has Valentine's Day dinner with a wine with each course. We enjoyed the wines from both locations while living in Woodstock.

There is another off I-66 in Linden that is popular also but I don't remember the name of it and have never been there.

Thanks so much to this mother/daughter team for their kind words. Sperryville is a delightful village in an exceptionally beautiful rural county and just the right setting for a getaway. My husband and I take great pleasure is helping people create a weekend that is unique to their interests. The joy that people experience is our reward!