Short tips to help plan your romantic getaway or first date.
If you’re in (or near) DC looking for an affordable getaway (or first date,) here’s some good news: there are enough wineries in Northern Virginia that you can easily plan a full day (or weekend) of wine tasting with local dining, lodging, and other activities – all for less than what you would spend on airfare alone on most other “getaways.”
Tasting Room at Rappahannock Cellars
If it’s just a day trip that you’re looking for, you can partake in most every activity that the weekenders are planning. If you’re planning a weekend away, a huge selection of great Bed and Breakfasts are at your disposal. Each B&B has an unique personality surrounded by a wide variety of local attractions. And not just “things to do,” but really – actually fun things to do. I mean, aside from hanging out for the heck of taking a break (which honestly, is incredibly undervalued these days,) there are some really cool activities to dive into. My favorite? Wine tasting.
Whether your here for the day or planning a weekend, planning the afternoon is the same.
Begin with how many wineries to visit. I recommend planning for three wineries. Sure, you can get to all six of the wineries you’ve heard so much about, but not if you’re planning on relaxing and enjoying your day. Odds are, you’ll find yourself spending a bunch of time at one of them, and you may not even make it to the third. Use these first few trips to find some wines that you really love, and focus on showing your sweetheart a good time. Besides, after a certain point, everything seems to taste great.
Next, figure out which wineries you’ll visit, and where you’d like to
Photo by eastcoastwineries.blogspot.com
“end up” at the end of the day. Focus on a particular area. You’ll spend less time driving, more time relaxing, and you’ll be able to fully absorb the local flavor. If this is your first date, don’t worry about visiting the “wrong” winery; a little vino and adventure go a long way towards making a great impression.
If you’re flexible on where you’ll eat dinner, make your first stop at the winery that’s farthest from home (to minimalism “end of day” driving.) If you plan to leave the city in mid-morning, make the second stop at a winery that serves food. And don’t forget to call ahead to find out if the winery is child and/or pet friendly.
Here are some resources for planning your Romantic Getaway.
Partners, Food, and Lodging map for our area
Search for Wineries on VirginiaWine.org
A list of popular Virginia Wine Bloggers
Take Away:
- Expect to spend about 1 hour per winery
- Plan on visiting about 3 wineries
- Relax, and focus on one area. It’s a great adventure, even for a first date.
- Try to make your first stop the winery that’s farthest from home, so you finish close.
