8 Romantic Getaways in Virginia | Chesapeake Bay Estuaries to Vineyard Stays

A stay at The Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club offers much more than just prime access to the Virginia Beach shoreline. Built in 1927, this stalwart property was one of the first hotels along the waterfront and has played host to ten U.S. presidents and celebrities, including Liz Taylor, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Judy Garland and more.

A four-year, $85 million renovation helped retain the glitz and glamor of the Roaring Twenties with elaborate moldings, soaring ceilings, and glittering light fixtures. Re-opening its doors in 2018, this iconic hotel now also features its own distillery, Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, which comes complete with a rustically chic tasting room to try the bourbon, rye whiskey and vodka being made on-site.

Couples looking for relaxing, romantic getaways need not look any further. The 6,200 square foot spa offers indulgent massages with aromatherapy, facials with aquamarines and quartz crystals, a Himalayan salt room, as well as two couples suites, one with a private soaking tub.

One of Virginia’s most luxurious properties, The Jefferson Hotel has been exuding an air of old-world charm since it first opened its doors in 1895. Expect to be astounded by the Tiffany stained-glass skylight that dominates the lobby, flanked by imposing marble columns and an impressive grand staircase, believed to be the inspiration for the one in the Hollywood classic film, Gone with the Wind.

More than a century later, and this centrally located Richmond grande dame still evokes the feelings of romance. A year-round romance package offers lovebirds sparkling wine upon arrival, breakfast in bed, and fresh flowers specially designed by the property’s in-house florist.

On Sundays, the expansive Rotunda lobby serves up some of the state’s freshest seasonal ingredients at brunch, reminiscent of the lavish spreads of a bygone era. Sip on champagne and explore the extravagant buffet spread—the bounty of the Chesapeake is on full display with smoked salmon, mussels, oysters on the half shell and poached shrimp— all while listening to the soothing sounds of a live jazz trio.

Chesapeake Bay and its estuaries are home to over 3,600 different plants and animals, including one of the region’s most famed shellfish: oysters. Chesapeake Bay oysters are not just considered to be a state delicacy, but are also an essential part of the ecosystem, providing a natural filtration system to the Bay’s waters.

Set in the quaint town of Irvington in Virginia’s Northern Neck peninsula, The Hope and Glory Inn is situated along the state’s Oyster and Wine Trail, offering guests an ideal romantic vacation complete with fresh oyster tastings and wine pairings from its 6-acre winery, Dog and Oyster Vineyard. An intimate, prix-fixe candle-lit dinner for two at the on-site restaurant, The Dining Hall, showcases the best of the area’s locally sourced ingredients like Rappahannock River oysters, jumbo lump crab and rockfish.

Set in a former schoolhouse, the cozy property features quaint rooms and cottages, some with balconies and patios that overlook the lush countryside property. A romantic seasonal boat tour on the property’s boat, True Love, offers a chance to experience life along calm inlets, frolic on pristine, white-sand beaches, and observe the numerous birds and wildlife that inhabit the peninsula.

Located on the state’s Eastern Shore, Chincoteague Island is one of several Virginia barrier islands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Home to pristine stretches of unspoiled beaches, rugged coastline, marshes and wetlands, the island serves as the main entry point to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, a 14,000-acre wildlife preserve located on the adjacent Assateague Island.

After a morning spent biking to the refuge to watch the wild Chincoteague ponies gallop through the verdant fields next to the beach’s sandy dunes, head back to Refuge Inn for an afternoon of wellness and relaxation. This scenic property may offer only nine rooms, but they’re certainly well equipped with amenities for romantic getaways, no matter the time of year—the pool is covered and heated in the winter months, as is the hot tub, while the dry sauna helps relax the muscles and reduce stress.

And if you require another dose of Chincoteague ponies, their pasture is home to three ponies—Mooney, Luna and Martha—who love nothing more than to be loaded up with sweet treats.

Views of rolling country hills and dense green farmland welcome you as you make your way toward Wedmore Place. Set on a 300-acre farm, the property is also home to a 50-acre vineyard called The Williamsburg Winery, which has been producing wine since it was first founded in 1985.

The comprehensive wine tasting—inclusive in the room rate—offers an introductory course into the journey of wine from grape to glass followed by a seated tasting of several wines, including wines like the 2017 Cabernet France, a fruity and lingering red blend, and the 2017 Merlot, a floral and lightly oaky vintage, made exclusively from grapes grown at the vineyard.

Relax in European-chic rooms and suites, complete with wood-burning fireplaces that are perfect for the chilly fall nights. Meals at Café Provençale, the elegant on-site restaurant, feature a seasonal, farm-to-table menu with vegetables, sprouts and herbs sourced from the café garden.

Fiery sunsets along the Potomac River and fine dining in the town center are just some of the romantic vacation ideas for couples to do in Old Town Alexandria, one of the DMV’s oldest neighborhoods. A stay at the Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa serves as the perfect contemporary juxtaposition for the charm and quaintness that radiates out of Old Town Alexandria.

A quick getaway from Washington, DC, the neighborhood oozes in charm and romance as you take a walk down the iconic cobblestone streets of Captain’s Row or shop for fresh produce at the nation’s oldest farmers market, operating on Market Square since 1753.

Indulge in the spa’s honeymoon package, which comes with over an hour and a half of pampering for two, before dining on French-inspired cuisine at BRABO, the on-site brasserie by Chef Sebastien Rondier—highlights include the salmon tartare with green apple and whipped horseradish, as well as the pan-seared sea bass with potato gratin, maitake mushrooms and topped with a lemony, brown butter emulsion.

Nestled in Virginia’s rugged Blue Ridge Mountain range, the Bavarian-style Fenton Inn offers couples a chance to get to know each other in a remote, rustic setting. In the winter, guests are encouraged to spend their days skiing down the soft, powdery white slopes of the nearby Wintergreen mountain resort.

The spring, summer and fall are best explored on foot, with a walking stick in hand—the Appalachian trail and numerous hiking trails of the enchanting Blue Ridge Mountains are no more than a mile away.

A complete Bavarian village with its own town square, clock tower, bakery, theater, spa and gift store, the property is as much a calming getaway as it is an architecture lover’s dream. Hardwood floors, exposed-beam ceilings, custom doors and handmade beds are all milled and made on-site from wood procured from the property’s trees.

Your romantic gateway to the Shenandoah Valley begins with a stay at L’Auberge Provencale, a quaint French inn that offers guests the finest experiences from Provence, whether it be hospitality or food. This historic B&B, once a former farmhouse, features elegant rooms and suites with ornate antique furnishings and luxe French linens. Upgraded lodgings add fireplaces, living rooms and some even offer private balconies that overlook the serene Virginia countryside.

Indulge in three-, five- or a Chef’s tasting menu at the fine dining restaurant, La Table Provençale, that’s focused on Modern French and American cuisine— think cured hamachi served with soy buttermilk, dash brother and tapioca crackers, or Atlantic swordfish with beans, sun-dried tomato, shiitake mushrooms, and an atypical Provençal-style green olive pistou.

For a more casual vibe, the property’s on-site bistro, Le Bar, offers craft cocktails and beers, as well as moules frites and a charcuterie platter. There’s a distinct farm-to-table philosophy for both dining establishments, and all the herbs, vegetables and fruits used come from the inn’s bountiful garden and orchards.