Salamander Resort

Since we had not been on a wellness break for a while it was time to refresh our minds and bodies and check out something new.The Salamander Resort situated in Middlesburg VA was the destination for our getaway. The resort is situated about an hour from DC and so the nearest airport is Dulles. Driving to the resort is like venturing into another world, passing many quaint little towns with vineyards, horse stables and vast fields.

When you drive up to the property it feels like you have arrived at the manor house in the middle 360 acres of land. There is plenty of parking at the resort and they even have electric charging stations for the eco friendly cars. As we walked  up to the main entrance, we were surprised to see a line of Audis parked. These are Salamander Resort’s hotel cars that can take you to certain destinations that you require. You just need to arrange it with concierge. 

Walking into the resort we felt right at home as it had that warm and cozy feeling. Fitting perfectly within our visiting during the Christmas holidays, there was a big Christmas tree in the middle of what I would call a living room. This is actually the reception area that extends  to a lounge bar and restaurant. As you walk to check in, there is another room that resembled a library which also looked inviting and cozy. All we could think of doing is grabbing a book, have a hot drink and sit by the fire!

The rooms at the resort were very spacious, especially our double room and the decor exuded equestrian from the painting, materials used and colors. The amenities within the room were very well kept and top-notch, including the beds, linens, and spa-like shower. We loved the bathtub!!!

View from balcony

Most of the time at the resort was spent outside discovering the various trails around the property. Most were less than a mile but it was great to just breathe in the air and detox from social media and the day to day grind of life. 

This resort is also able to entertain kids. For kids, the option for both indoor and outdoor pools is fantastic. There are plenty of lawn games to choose from and 3 fire pits to keep warm (large chess boards, frisbee golf and basketball court). Inside the fitness gym there is also a foosball table and a ping pong table. Many of the extra activities are at an extra cost so it’s worth planning ahead and setting a budget so you don’t experience sticker shock. The resort also has art classes, horseback riding and golf, there are so many options. So this can keep all the family entertained.

As we were focused on being in the outdoors on this trip we did not experience the spa. So I guess we will just have to do another trip. We did however use the fitness center and were quite impressed with the equipment they had available. We were able to do a spin class on their Peleton bike (they have 2)  but there were also options to attend a yoga class and they had an indoor swimming pool where the dry heat sauna was located too.

We enjoyed the low key environment especially at the bar for dinner and breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant Harriman’s. The food was delicious and there was a lot of variety for kids and adults. The views were also great of grounds at breakfast.

We can safely say if you just want a quick getaway to be outdoors in nature, enjoy horses and continue you fitness regime Salamander is a great location to go to, especially if you want to get out of DC.