This weekend, the hubby and I escaped to a quaint little Bed & Breakfast, Prospect Hill, for the weekend. This excursion was my Christmas present and we planned to use it on my Birthday, in January, to double dip a little. However, our plans were put on hold when the B&B closed due to inclement weather…thank you #WinterStormJonas. Even though my birthday didn’t go quite as planned, I had the day off from work and a gorgeous white birthday…complete with 2 feet of snow fall!!

Of course, Prospect Hill was booked up for all eternity, so we were put on a waiting list. Eric actually found an awesome deal on Groupon that allowed us the best available room for two-nights, 2 free wine tastings at Keswick Winery, and of course breakfast both mornings…all for the cost of one night in their basic room- SCORE! We were now determined to get the best room and were prepared to wait for it. Finally, after two months of waiting- the cutest cottage opened up!!! We booked IMMEDIATELY!! I couldn’t wait 🙂

We lucked out that this B&B was not only close by (only an hour drive from our house- perfect for a weekend getaway) and was less than 30 miles from Charlottesville, which is full of local eats, wineries, and festivals. I knew we were in for a great weekend!

Upon arriving at Prospect Hill, one of Eric’s first comments was- “I wonder if they do weddings here?” It’s a beautiful old plantation house tucked away in the outskirts of Louisa, VA. It really would be a great location for a small wedding! They don’t host weddings there regularly, but with the right wedding planner (*cough-cough*) and budget- anything is possible! 😉

Eric’s comment ended up setting the theme for our weekend adventures! Everywhere we went, I thought- man this would be a gorgeous spot for a wedding or related festivities. We explored 3 different wineries in the Charlottesville area and ate a 3 different local spots in the downtown area. All of the places we visited were wonderful for different reasons and they could all be used for festivities during your wedding weekend. I have listed the places we visited, what we liked, and what they’d be perfect for during your wedding celebrations.

The Whiskey Jar:

This is Eric’s new favorite restaurant! For anyone who loves good food and whiskey- this is your spot. It’s super laid back, relatively quiet, has a neat bar area, and the food was killer. I got the quail and waffles…umm…SO good. Eric got their pulled pork sandwich and he was in heaven!

Perfect for: engagement celebrations, post rehearsal dinner drinks for the gents, or even post reception drinks for wedding guests

Keswick Winery:

Of the 3 wineries we went to on Saturday, I liked the wines here best! We left with a bottle of Touriga, my favorite red on their tasting menu this weekend! The tasting room was quaint and super pet friendly, which I loved! Also, their events spaces are gorgeous…Keswick Hall is simply stunning (pictured left)!

Perfect for: bridal showers or bachelorette party festivities and wedding ceremonies and/or receptions.

Trump Winery:

Perfect for: wedding ceremonies and receptions

Blenheim Vineyards:

This vineyard is actually owned by Dave Matthews- how cool! Not surprising since it’s in Charlottesville, but I didn’t know it existed! I loved this winery. Very relaxed, rustic, and welcoming. I felt like I could have stayed there for hours…especially knowing they have food trucks on the weekends!! I don’t know about y’all- but I love me some food trucks. The wine was all good- very easy drinking wine perfect to please a variety a people at any gathering.

Perfect for: engagement celebrations, bachelorette party festivities, rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies and receptions

Bella’s:

This cute little Italian restaurant, serves classic dishes family style! I LOVE sharing food. Any chance I get to split a meal with someone sends me into a happy dance…I have no clue why haha. Eric, on the other hand, hates sharing food! At Bella’s he didn’t have a choice- everything they make comes on a plate for 2 or for 4- my dream come true! We enjoyed a delicious Grilled Gorgonzola Salad that was to die for!! My mouth is still watering. Followed by their Chicken Piccata, which was a special that night. Talk about some cute Lady & The Tramp moments…loved it 🙂 The whole time I was there- I couldn’t help but think that this was a perfect rehearsal dinner spot! Good news is- they do off-premise catering…so even if you can’t host your event there…they come to you!

Perfect for: engagement celebrations, bridal showers, and rehearsal dinners

Seriously- we are so lucky to live in a state that is filled with so many gorgeous places! Whether you’re wanting a mountainous backdrop, the smell of an ocean breeze, a cityscape, historical landmarks, or beautiful pastures in the countryside- Virginia has it all!

#VirginiaIsForLovers