Spend time in a tiny dwelling close to Shenandoah. Photograph courtesy of Postcard Cabins.
Summer season is marked by seashore holidays and sunny journeys, however winter has its personal quiet magnificence, providing an opportunity to decelerate and benefit from the season (and possibly even some snow). Listed here are 5 getaways that embrace winter, whether or not that’s bundling up for a day outdoor or leaning into the comfy way of life.
For an energetic escape into nature
Distance from DC: 2 hours
If placing down your telephone and being current is certainly one of your 2025 resolutions, then think about kicking off the 12 months with a winter glamping session within the woods. Postcard Cabins (beforehand Getaway) is a sequence of compact tiny houses within the northern finish of Shenandoah Nationwide Park. They provide all of the enjoyable elements of tenting—a wooded website, a hearth pit, some peace and quiet—plus welcome perks comparable to a snug mattress, personal rest room with scorching water, kitchenette, and, importantly, heating. (As for that telephone? Every cabin has a lockbox you may put it in throughout your keep.) The cabins are additionally a terrific base camp for Bryce Resort, a hub for out of doors journey seven minutes away. The mountain resort gives just a few choices for winter enjoyable: 400 acres of ski slopes (in addition to classes), snow tubing runs, and ice skating. Finish your day again on the cabin, warming up across the bonfire.
For pristine stargazing
Primland | Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Distance from DC: 5 hours
It takes 5 hours to get to Primland, however when you arrive, you’ll really feel as if you’ve been transported a lot additional away from dwelling—particularly when the solar goes down and the celebrities start to peek out. The resort sprawls throughout 12,000 acres, and on account of its elevation, the property will seemingly have snow cowl. Bundle up for a snowy stroll via the forested grounds or for an exhilarating RTV drive on the in depth community of backcountry trails. The showpiece of a winter keep is a night spent in Primland’s state-of-the-art planetarium. A resident astronomer guides visitors via nighttime winter sky viewing and stargazing, utilizing a sequence of highly effective telescopes. Whilst you won’t have the ability to catch the Northern Lights on this nook of southern Virginia, you’re certain to have a brand new appreciation for this season’s starry nights.
For a comfy vineyard weekend
Distance from DC: 2 hours and half-hour
Deep in Virginia wine nation outdoors of Charlottesville, this charming bed-and-breakfast has been in continuous operation since 1820. The property options 5 cozy rooms plus a non-public cottage, and the brick-and-wood eating space channels the heat of a country tavern. There, visitors are served a multi-course breakfast with components from close by farms. The property abuts Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards (and shares the identical house owners), making it simple to take pleasure in a cold afternoon languidly transferring from wine tasting to s’mores on the inn’s out of doors fireplace pits, after which again to the homey lodging. Along with wine tastings, the winery additionally hosts seasonal cooking lessons, together with classes this winter on wood-fired pizzas and cooking in a forged iron.
For a winter wellness reset
Distance from DC: 2 hours
Embracing winter isn’t nearly snow: It’s additionally a time to reset. Jumpstart your wellness targets with a getaway that prioritizes sleep and rest at this luxe nation resort outdoors of Charlottesville. A dreamy slumber goes past the Swedish mattresses in every room. The spa gives the same old menu of massages, facials, and physique remedies, in addition to a therapeutic massage devoted to deep sleep with fragrant oils. Earlier than you compromise in for an excellent evening’s relaxation, tuck right into a candlelit desk on the on-site restaurant Marigold by Jean-Georges for seasonal, native dishes by a roaring fireplace.
For storybook small city vibes
Distance from DC: 4 hours
Even after the vacations, the inn’s vintage attraction and quite a few fireplaces really feel proper out of an old school basic comparable to Vacation Inn or White Christmas. The inn is operated by a pair—you’ll really feel such as you’re being welcomed into their dwelling—and the restaurant serves trendy takes on southern classics. Nurse a drink by the hearth whereas listening to jazz to heat up. Positioned within the idyllic Greenbrier Valley, the property gives easy accessibility to the gorgeous downtown space in addition to mountain adventures. If there’s not less than six inches of snow throughout your keep, find time for a scenic sleigh trip on the close by Greenbrier Resort.
