A few weeks ago, Yale and I celebrated a quick 2-night stay at the Salamander Resort in Middleburg, VA for our babymoon. When researching babymoon destinations, we wanted somewhere within a 2-3 hour drive from Baltimore. The Salamander had always been on my radar, and when they offered pre-black Friday promotions in November, we jumped at the opportunity.

We decided to stay at the Salamander for 2 nights in mid-December, which was absolutely magical. The whole hotel was decorated for Christmas, and there were festive activities each night we were there. It is the perfect destination because it is great for both couples and families (dogs too!). We were saying we’d love to come back next October for our anniversary with our little one! We stayed in one of the resorts Dressage Suites, which was perfect for the 2 of us.

Going into this little 2-day retreat, I had no clue what to expect, and did very little research on Middleburg in general. I reached out to my audience on Instagram asking for suggestions, and they were super helpful (more on those below!). I will say, coming to Virginia wine country while pregnant might not have been our best decision. When we come back, I think it will be fun to explore all of the local breweries and vineyards, which many of you suggested we check out. I think you could spend an entire day hitting a few different vineyards, which we hope to do next time!

Nonetheless, we had the best time walking around Middleburg, which is the cutest little town. It is also a 30-40 minute drive from Leesburg, which is the home to several of my favorite antique stores like Lucketts and Rust & Feathers. We did make a stop at both shops on the Thursday morning of our stay!

Ok, back to the Salamander. Something that really appealed to us about the resort were all of the walking trails and outdoor activities available. We took long hikes both days we were there, before enjoying the outdoor fire pits with a beverage (beer for Yale, seltzer with grapefruit juice for me). The Salamander also offers bike rentals, horseback riding, zip lines, archery and axe throwing, and other fun activities. The horse lover in me was in heaven, and we even got to see cute little Cupcake, the resorts mini horse!

The resort is also known for their spa. We sadly did not take advantage of this amenity, since I am pregnant and felt like I wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy the services (although they do have a prenatal massage!). Again, next time we return, I am DEFINITELY getting a massage!

Something Yale and I definitely took advantage of were the free afternoon milk and cookies. Their homemade cookies were so delicious, we certainly went back for seconds both days. I love when resorts offer little homey touches like this. They also have beautiful seating areas, restaurants and a great bar that was always serving customers. It definitely seemed to be a spot that even locals utilize for dining and events with friends.

Middleburg is also known for great shopping, which I was excited to learn! There were so many cute shops that you recommended we stop into. Some of those were Creme de la Creme for homewares and gifts, Tully Rector (upscale women’s fashion), The Fun Shop for gifts, Nature Composed (plants, florals and gifts) and more. I also stumbled upon Courtney Kennedy, a gorgeous women’s clothing boutique that was right up my alley. This was my favorite shop by far!

And of course, a babymoon wouldn’t be complete without delicious food! You guys gave great recommendations for restaurants in the area. On our first day, we grabbed pizza for lunch at Knead Wine which was absolutely delicious. We also purchased a bottle of wine to save for after baby arrives. Highly recommend checking this cute little wine and pizza shop out if you are in the area.

For dinner on night one we had a delicious meal at King Street Oyster Bar. There are several different locations in the DC/VA area, and we were so glad to have chosen this restaurant for dinner. This Baltimore girl got the crabcake, and Yale went with fish. We split their fried donut holes for dessert…and I am still dreaming about them!

On night two we stayed local and ate at Harriman’s Restaurant at the Salamander. Our meal was absolutely incredible, and the ambiance of the restaurant was great. I got the fried chicken dish (omg it was HUGE), and Yale got their short rib pasta.

Some other dining recommendations you had for us were: Red Fox Inn & Tavern, The Upper Crust Bakery, Market Salamander, Hunter’s Head Tavern, The Wine Kitchen, Common Grounds, Girasol, FIeld & Main, Tuscarora Mill, Side Saddle Cafe, Melt, Thaiverse, and Goodstone Inn. For vineyards, you suggested Stone Tower Winery, Chrysalis Vineyards and Green Hill Winery (we’ll definitely be coming back to visit these!).

I cannot say enough great things about the Salamander and Middleburg in general. Highly recommend 2-3 nights here, and we will certainly be back!