For this Road Trip, we focus on the quaint town of Middleburg, Virginia — the nation's "Horse and Hunt Capital.”
In this itinerary, you’ll find
🐴Local Attractions
🍽️ Restaurant Recommendations
🍺 Winery picks
🛏️ My Top Accommodation Picks
- and more-
Time Needed: 1 day, with an optional overnight + extra activities
Distance from DC: Around 40 miles
Best time to visit: Year round
Best suited for: Couples, Girlfriend Getaway, Friends… and feel free to bring your dog. Middleburg is very dog friendly!
Middleburg is an upscale rural escape that's just about an hour away from the nation's capital. Its historic district dates back to the 1700s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, countless boutiques, cozy cafes and historic inns make for a downtown that’s just made for strolling.
Couple that with dozens of nearby wineries, sweeping views of horse-filled pastures and one of the DC region’s nicest luxury destination resorts… and you’ve got yourself a road trip!
DAY 1
Stop and Shop at Aldie
The drive from DC is typical (traffic, subdivisions, strip malls) until about 8 miles before you reach Middleburg. At that point, the traffic dissipates and you're left with gorgeous pastoral views of fields with rolling hills.
Before you reach Middleburg, you'll pass through the super-small village of Aldie, established in 1810. With a few shops and a historic mill, it would be easy to pass right through. But stop and explore two Aldie gems, and you'll be rewarded with good wares at great prices... and a couple big personalities!
The Aldie Peddler is a wine shop owned by Wally, the former Mayor of Aldie. Wally's boisterous greeting -- "Y'all've been here before, haven't ya?" -- welcomes many visitors, most local, some just passing through.
The shop boasts 100 wines under $10, and while that may be a bit of an overstatement, the Peddler's worth a stop for some wine tasting and chitchat with Wally.
Next to the Aldie Peddler is Bella Villa, an antique shop that feels like an Anthropologie-esque boutique. Run by Rosanna Smith, a feisty and energetic Italian who tells it like it is, Bella Villa is full of rustic, whimsical and elegant items.
My favorite pieces were a golden duck perched on an aqua crushed velvet arm chair, a series of flying pig statuettes and gorgeous antique books with jewel-toned bindings.
Add to
Details
Window Shopping in Middleburg
Middleburg's downtown historic district is just about a half mile long, so in theory you should be able to see everything fairly quickly. But, not so fast! All of the stores here are really unique and it's easy to lose track of time as you wander through those that pique your interest.
One tip: Definitely don't resist striking up conversation with the storekeepers-- they're all too eager to share some local history and recommendations.
This is horse country, so it's only fitting that Middleburg's home to this 4,000 foot shop, once called "the best equestrian shop in the country" by Southern Living Magazine. Even non-riders will appreciate the sheer variety of merchandise.
The store offers everything from traditional English-style equestrian garb, as well as accessories like hunting horns, sandwich cases and flasks.
This reasonably-priced clothing and accessories boutique is now a local chain with 15-some locations in the DC-area.
However, here in Middleburg is where Lou Lou first got its start and the town has both Lou Lou and Lou Lou Too, which focuses on accessories.
Add to
Details
Lunch
All of this shopping is sure to work up an appetite! There are a few standouts for catching a casual bite to eat along Middleburg's main street. Or, consider getting your food to go and create a picnic to take on to your next stop...
Evoking feelings of an outdoor cafe in a European village, Market Salamander has been a local staple in Middleburg for years. It's a gourmet eatery with soups, sandwiches, daily specials and a number of picnic-worthy wines, cheeses and charcuterie. ($)
Light fare like sandwiches, salads and an extensive list of coffee drinks are on the menu at Common Grounds. Inviting touches like leather armchairs, a roaring fireplace and paintings of traditional horse hunts give this coffee shop a cozy lodge-like feel. ($)
Add to
Details
Wine Tasting at Greenhill Vineyards
Less than 2 miles from downtown Middleburg lies one of Northern Virginia's newest wineries, Greenhill Winery.
Opening in late August of 2013, Greenhill has already become very popular, and it's easy to see why. Here you get the quintessential Virginia winery experience, including award-winning wines like the 2009 Blanc de Blancs (an effervescent sparkler) as well as world class views of the Virginia countryside.
Winemaker Sébastien Marquet is both knowledgeable and passionate about his craft, and it shows in his high-end wines that showcase Virginia's grapes to their fullest. Tastings are just $20, and wine's also available for purchase by both the bottle and glass.
Add to
Details
Happy Hour at Salamander Resort
After nearly a decade of challenges, in August 2013, the Salamander Resort & Spa finally opened with much pomp and circumstance. For day trippers, it's worth stopping by Salamander to sneak a peek for yourself.
In the winter, there's no place more inviting than the resort's library. Dark woods, comfortable leather chairs, walls full of books, and a roaring fire in the center of the room make for a heavenly escape from the cold.
And no matter the season, head to the bar and grab a glass of wine (they give hearty pours!) and a cheese plate from the bar menu and challenge your traveling buddy to a board game before heading back home to the real world.
At this point in the itinerary, it would be easy to turn around and head home. If you live in DC, within an hour, you'll be home in time to catch up on your primetime shows on the DVR. But, if you're looking for a more immersive escape, why not spend a night at Salamander?
It's not cheap (rates run around $ 675/ night) but the rooms are warm and comfortable, with glamorous touches like gigantic bathtubs, fancy toiletries and evening turn down service with butterscotch and walnut scones instead of chocolate. With some extraordinarily comfortable beds and really good black out shades, you’re sure to have a truly spectacular sleep.
The only "miss" is the resort’s flagship restaurant, Harrimans. It's characterless, and drab. Skip it and head back into town if you're looking for a fancy dinner out. (Some good dinner places include the French Hound, the Red Fox Inn and Tavern or the restaurant at Goodstone Inn.)
Add to
Details
DAY 2
Brunch
The next morning, head to brunch at the historic Red Fox Inn and Tavern, the oldest building in Middleburg.
This nearly 300 year-old building retains much of its historical charm, with ornate paintings of horses and hunting events, weathered wood floors and multi-rooms (each with a fireplace). The historical touches provide ambiance but it's not a gimmick. The food is upscale American… and it's really, really good.
Add to
Details
National Sporting Museum
The final stop on our tour of Middleburg is a place that celebrates the tradition and heart of the town's horse and hunting culture: the National Sporting Museum.
Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted by a dramatic 10-foot piece by famed horse-sculptor Nic Fiddian-Green and is just one of many beautiful sculptures and paintings. Admission is free, and it's worth a quick walkthrough before you say farewell to Middleburg and head back to DC.
Museum - General Admission - $ 10
Senior Citizen / Youth (13-18) - $ 8
College Students with ID / Children -
Free!
Library - Free!
Add to
Details
I hope you enjoyed your trip!
Make sure to follow me at @packdsuitcase on Instagram and TikTok and definitely tag me in your photos-- I'd love to see pictures of your adventures in Middleburg!
Hi 👋 I'm Chris!
I'm known as a traveler who creates quick, satisfying road trips that can easily be done in a weekend from a mid-Atlantic home base. My work has been featured on sites such as Huffington Post, Gadling, Travel Channel, Trip Advisor Insights and Go Girl Guides.
Throughout my page, you’ll find itineraries for the best quick-trip mid-Atlantic destinations, with special emphasis on showing the awesome side of lesser-known places and experiences. From the hottest spots in town, to the hidden gems that go under the radar. I’ve found that the best itineraries include a mix of both.
Let me help you have weekend travels worthy of the Monday morning water cooler… without having to take a lot of time off of work.
Also, please stay in touch-- follow me on all platforms at @packdsuitcase ✨
Let's go! 🚙
