11 Best Hotels in Central and Western Virginia, Virginia

This elegant Tudor Revival building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1882 by the Norfolk and Western Railroad. The richly paneled lobby has Florentine marble floors and ceiling frescos. Its formal restaurant ($$$–$$$$) serves regional Southern cuisine. A $6.5-million renovation of guest rooms and suites includes new furnishings, flat-screens, and Sweet Dreams beds. The Market Square Bridge, a glassed-in walkway, goes from the hotel to downtown attractions.

Built in 1928, this restored hotel in historic downtown combines old-world charm with modern amenities. The charming lobby has a fireplace, but the rooms are definitely contemporary Colonial in style. With more than 100 rooms, the hotel also has an indoor pool, fitness center, business center, lounge, restaurant, and conference facilities. The historic past is reflected in the lobby's period decor.

Federalist and Italianate architecture are joined by a hall in this bed-and-breakfast (and working vineyard), combining houses from 1832 and 1882. This 13-acre property is 15 miles south of Monticello and close to several top wineries, and their own vineyard is known for its pinot noir. All of the rooms have been recently renovated, with the addition of luxury linens and Arbonne toiletries. Dinner is served in the dining room by reservation Wednesday through Saturday, and a substantial breakfast is included in the room rate. The inn even keeps its own hens for true farm-to-table organic eggs.

Occupying five restored buildings at the same site as the Waterwheel Restaurant, the rooms of this state historical landmark inn are in a Colonial Virginia style. Four units are in the original miller's house; others occupy the former blacksmith's shop, hardware store, gristmill, and cottage. Some of the rooms have fireplaces and patios, and each has its own unique decor, from Colonial cottage chic to modern rustic cabin charm. A continental breakfast is included in the rate. The Inn is at the border of The Homestead resort property so you can easily walk up and explore that area. It's also within walking distance of shops and a convenience store.

Midway between Winchester and Belle Grove Plantation, the Inn at Vaucluse Springs sits on 100 acres of rolling orchards. The 200-year-old Manor House serves as the gathering spot for an elegant three-course breakfast and end-of-day socializing. Six private guesthouses sit on the property, including the Old Mill House, which was once an artist's studio, and the Gallery Guest House with panoramic meadow views. Innkeepers Neil and Barry Myers are known for their genial Southern hospitality. Snacks, tea, and a hearty organic breakfast are included in the rate.

A row of trees guards the privacy of this circa-1888 B&B decorated in a Victorian style and set on a large yard at the edge of the "Old Town" district. The sunroom and back patio are built for relaxation. Ask for Room 4; it has a lace-draped canopy bed and a turret sitting area with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains looming over Main Street. Room 2 has a fireplace. The restaurant's menu changes daily, its components supplied by many small, local organic farmers.

The first hotel on this site was built in 1828, but visitors have been attracted to the Natural Bridge since Colonial times. Within walking distance of the spectacular rock arch of the same name (there's also a shuttle bus), the Colonial-style brick hotel is in a beautiful location as well as numerous recreational facilities. The hotel is similar in style to The Homestead resort but is a fraction of the price. Long porches with rocking chairs allow leisurely appreciation of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and rooms are done in a Colonial Virginia style.

Just two blocks from Winchester's pedestrian mall (which is a major selling point), this charming historic house is furnished with period pieces, and two of the rooms have working fireplaces. A full breakfast, well-stocked pantry for snacks and sodas, and free parking are included in the rate.

This unpretentious, peaceful lodge is so popular in the fall that reservations are accepted beginning October 1 for the following year (but it's open year-round). Every room looks out on Abbott Lake from a private terrace or balcony, and their interiors have a folksy quality. Nestled between two of the three peaks of its namesake, the lodge was built in 1964. In nonwinter months a complimentary bus takes you to Sharp Top Mountain if you prefer not to hike, and you can see the same mountaintop from the lodge's Lake View Restaurant. Rooms do not have telephones and both cell service and Wi-Fi are spotty. There are pet-friendly rooms available in one wing.

This is a great place to get away any time of year, 25 miles southwest of Charlottesville (via I–64, U.S. 250, and Route 151). With 6,700 acres of forest, six restaurants, and three golf courses, Wintergreen is more like a community in itself than just a resort. Skiing and snowboarding are the central attractions, with 20 downhill slopes and five chairlifts. One of the golf courses, Devils Knob at over 3,800 feet, is the highest in Virginia. Accommodations at the resort include everything from studio apartments to seven-bedroom houses. Most rooms have fireplaces and full kitchens; the wood exteriors of the housing units blend into the surrounding forest.

At the highest point on Skyline Drive (3,680 feet, milepost 41.7), with views across the Shenandoah Valley, this facility has lodging that ranges from rustic cabins and motel-style rooms to suites. This resort is one of three different properties within the park: Big Meadows Lodge (milepost 51.0), originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is in a spectacular setting surrounding by grassy meadows full of deer and wildlife. Lewis Cabins (milepost 57.5) is the real deal—very rustic cabins for an authentic outdoor adventure. Since these three properties in the park are in sought-after locations, you'll need to book up to a year in advance. There's no air-conditioning, but days above 80°F are rare at this altitude.