Weddings

5 Romantic Inns Where You Can Escape From DC in Three Hours or Less

Image courtesy Salamander Resort & Spa.

Perhaps the stress of wedding planning has got you down and you just need to get out of town for a weekend. Maybe you’re looking at your calendar and realizing that after taking off a week for the wedding itself, there’s no more vacation days left for the two-week overseas honeymoon you’d had in mind. Either way, these five local inns and resorts are here to save the day—or days, depending on how many you’re able to devote to your minimoon. To put together this list of A+ getaways, we consulted an expert in the field of romantic vacations: Perfect Honeymoons & Holidays Travel president Jim Augerinos.

Bartlett Pear Inn

Easton, MD; 1 ½ hours away by car

70 miles from downtown DC, this husband-and-wife-owned inn is far enough away from the bustle of city life but close enough for a day trip. Foodies can dine at the inn’s restaurant, which serves gourmet-style farm-to-table dishes (many of the menu items are locally sourced and the bread is baked in-house), and water lovers can kayak at the nearby Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Keswick Hall and Golf Club

Charlottesville, VA; 2 ¼ hours away

Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Keswick is the perfect combination of history, scenery, and activity. History buffs can tour Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the surrounding gardens (a 15-minute drive away), wine lovers can venture to one of the many vineyards Charlottesville has to offer, and sports enthusiasts can enjoy golf, tennis, or a dip in one of the property’s three pools. 

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Farmington, PA; 3 hours away

Adventurous couples, take note: At Nemacolin, you can zip-line at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour, tackle a climbing wall, play combat paintball, and participate in the resort’s Jeep Off-Road Driving Academy, where you’ll take on parts of a 20-mile rugged-terrain course. A bonus for architecture fans: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater lies 12 miles northeast.

Salamander Resort & Spa

Middleburg, VA; 1 hour away

At Salamander’s luxury spa, newlyweds can indulge in full and half-day couples’ packages that include facials, full-body massages, and access to a private couple’s suite. (While there, make time for the heated tile lounge chairs outside the steam room.) The resort’s equestrian center has 22 stalls and a riding arena. Not into horses? You can walk to charming downtown Middleburg, the perfect place for daytime window shopping.

The Tides Inn

Irvington, VA; 3 hours away

A go-to spot for oyster lovers, water lovers, and for couples who want to honeymoon somewhere calm and relaxing. Schedule a private sunset cruise around Carters Creek, take a paddleboard yoga class, treat yourself to a sea algae scrub at the spa, or explore the Virginia Wine Trail for a day.