T+L’s Resort Evaluation of Salamander Middleburg, Virginia

From the second I arrived at  Salamander Middleburg, I felt a way of calm. The sprawling 340-acre resort is surrounded by the rolling hills of Virginia’s horse and wine country, and, all through my four-day keep, I discovered myself respiratory a bit of deeper, strolling a bit of slower, and relishing the little moments.

Simply an hour outdoors Washington, D.C., however a world away from the frenzy of the capital, the resort affords an expensive hideaway with crackling fireplaces, farm-to-table eating, wide-open views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a spa that begs you to cancel your plans. It’s the sort of escape that makes you go searching and surprise why you don’t do that extra usually.

My mornings began with breakfast at Harrimans, the resort’s signature restaurant, or a comfortable in-room unfold. I spent afternoons unwinding on the spa, sipping Virginia wine at a close-by winery, or collaborating in on-site actions like zip lining and axe throwing. My evenings included dinners on the resort or within the close by city of Middleburg, simply down the street.

On my first day, I visited the stables. The 14,000-square-foot barn is house to 22 stalls, and it’s open for company to discover. I ended up using a candy and regular horse named Teddy, and we set off on a good looking guided trip by the resort’s trails, that are additionally used for mountain climbing and biking.

Salamander Middleburg is the imaginative and prescient of entrepreneur and BET co-founder Sheila Johnson, who sought to create a vacation spot that celebrates Virginia’s equestrian heritage whereas delivering distinctive hospitality. Paying homage to an English manor, however with Southern attraction, it’s the flagship property of the Salamander Collection, which additionally contains Half Moon in Jamaica and Salamander DC.

All through the resort, you’ll discover delicate nods to foxhunting, equestrian-themed components, copper and bronze accents, and barn-inspired constructions. The resort’s lounge options high-beamed ceilings and overstuffed chairs that invite you to sit down, sip, and keep for quiet conversations over a glass of wine or morning espresso. There isn’t any rush to verify your cellphone or energy by a to-do listing. As an alternative, there’s an ease that’s uncommon and deeply refreshing.

Beneath, my full evaluation of Salamander Middleburg.

The Rooms

The resort’s 168 visitor rooms and suites, designed by Thomas Pheasant, improve the sensation of a rustic property with soothing pure tones. Lodging characteristic spa-inspired loos with twin sinks, multi-jet showers, pedestal tubs, and fireplaces in choose rooms. Every room opens onto a non-public stone terrace or balcony overlooking manicured grounds. For an elevated keep, the Proprietor’s Suite offers expansive dwelling and eating areas, two fireplaces, and curated items from Johnson’s private artwork assortment.

I checked right into a 575-square-foot Deluxe Queen Property Room with a hearth, and loved the format, which included areas to loosen up, work, and dine. Two wardrobe closets flanked a vanity-style mirror and bench, whereas a beneficiant desk with a rolling chair made it straightforward to get some work finished. Cushioned benches sit in entrance of a comfortable half-tester queen-size mattress framed by swish copper-hued material. A sitting space close to the balcony turned out to be the right spot for morning espresso, afternoon tea, or a night glass of wine.

Meals and Drink

Gold Cup Wine Bar is an inviting spot for an off-the-cuff chunk or a relaxed dinner with a menu that features tempura sesame cauliflower and miso-glazed black cod. Open every single day from 11 a.m. by late night, the restaurant has a billiards desk, dwell piano music on Friday and Saturday nights, and a seven-seat bar. I ordered the spicy tuna and Gold Cup sushi rolls, lychee margarita, and a trio of single scoops of cherry coconut, lychee, and guava orange sorbets.

Harrimans is the resort’s signature eating vacation spot, the place most of the dishes are ready with merchandise sourced from the resort’s backyard or close by farms. The à la carte breakfast has one thing for each style—from classics like pancakes and omelettes to pastries and health-conscious fare like smoothies, avocado toast, and acai bowls. The resort’s buffet-style Sunday brunch is among the area’s finest, that includes cooking demonstrations, a made-to-order omelette station, and a dwell jazz ensemble.

For dinner, the restaurant serves a wide range of seafood, plant-based, and beef dishes with worldwide influences. I attempted the freshly baked sourdough bread, chargrilled octopus with Italian butter beans, pea and lobster mezzaluna pasta, and an attractive raspberry and keenness fruit dessert with almond sable, passionfruit gel, meringue, and mascarpone ice cream. 

Actions and Experiences

The resort excels at serving to company reconnect—with themselves, with nature, and with their sense of journey. Throughout my keep, I made a decision to strive axe throwing and archery for the primary time, and I used to be hooked. I additionally soared by the treetops on the resort’s zip line course.

In case you’re on the lookout for one thing rather less adrenaline-inducing, Salamander Middleburg has a 3,500-square-foot health heart, an indoor pool, and a dry sauna. Friends can even join courses, akin to water yoga, Pilates, and meditation. Personal health classes and private coaching can be found for a further charge. The resort’s new out of doors pool and terrace have poolside service and embrace separate areas for kids and adults.

The resort leans closely into Middleburg’s moniker of The Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital, with its 14,000-square-foot equestrian heart, geared up with knowledgeable using enviornment and 9 paddocks. Friends can discover the encircling trails on horseback, take part within the resort’s equestrian packages, and even deliver their very own horses.

The nice and cozy welcome isn’t only for horses—canines are handled like VIPs, too, with canine-centric facilities like in-room beds and natural canine treats.

The Spa

On the 23,000-square-foot Salamander Spa, company can select from an intensive menu of remedies, together with the signature Calming Antara Ritual and Grand Cru Therapeutic massage. The sprawling wellness house options fragrant steam rooms, leisure areas, and a non-public courtyard with a heated infinity-edge pool and plush cabanas.

Earlier than my therapeutic massage, I soaked within the vitality pool, geared up with hydrotherapy jets, that sits beneath a surprising 14-foot domed ceiling. I additionally stretched out on the heated tepidarium loungers and lingered within the leisure lounge, sipping strawberry-infused water and snacking on mild bites. My 60-minute Salamander Signature Therapeutic massage left me feeling fully renewed.

Household-friendly Choices

Salamander Middleburg has 45 rooms with double queen beds and 12 connecting rooms and suites, appropriate for households. As well as, the resort has a kid-friendly out of doors pool. Kids below 9 years outdated obtain complimentary meals all day at Gold Cup Wine Bar, in addition to breakfast at Harrimans, when accompanied by an grownup visitor of the resort.

Dad and mom can drop off their children at Camp Salamander, a devoted program of enjoyable actions like scavenger hunts and crafts, obtainable every day for kids aged 4 to 10. In step with its equestrian theme, the resort offers kid-friendly horseback rides and interactive packages akin to Paint-a-Pony, the place kids find out about horse breeds and markings. 

A spotlight for a lot of is assembly Cupcake, the resort’s beloved miniature horse. When she’s not on the equestrian heart, Cupcake makes common appearances on The Grand Garden each Friday and Saturday to greet her adoring followers. Dad and mom can even be a part of the enjoyable with the signature Cupcake Cocktail from Gold Cup Wine Bar, topped with rainbow sprinkles.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort has eight ADA-compliant rooms, together with 4 with king-size beds and 4 with double queen-size beds. All have strobe lighting and audio hearth alarm methods, in addition to roll-in showers with raised benches, lowered vanities, and thermostats.

Salamander Middleburg is LEED Silver licensed, with many sustainable options built-in into visitor experiences and every day operations. Roughly 200 acres of the resort’s grounds are protected below a conservation easement. Its environmental initiatives embrace the planting of 150 bushes and the implementation of superior water and wastewater therapy methods.

The resort additionally maintains a totally operational on-site backyard, cultivated by the culinary crew, which provides contemporary, seasonal elements for Harrimans and visitor cooking courses. Efforts to attenuate the resort’s environmental footprint are ongoing, together with a major discount in single-use plastics. Not too long ago, refill stations had been put in on each visitor flooring, encouraging guests to refill their water bottles all through their keep. Moreover, three Tesla charging stations can be found for visitor use.

Location

Salamander Middleburg is positioned within the charming historic city of Middleburg, Virginia, roughly 45 miles from Washington, D.C. Based in 1787, Middleburg has been drawing equestrians, fox hunters, and political figures, together with U.S. presidents and dignitaries. The city’s streets are lined with Federal-style buildings, quaint boutiques, vintage outlets, and alluring espresso outlets.

Guests can discover native historical past on the Nationwide Sporting Library & Museum, sip award-winning wines at close by vineyards like Greenhill Vineyard and Cana Vineyards, and take scenic hikes and drives by the rolling countryside.

E book Now

Salamander Middleburg is a part of Most well-liked Resorts & Resorts’ I Prefer loyalty program. Members get pleasure from unique charges and reductions, early check-in and late check-out when obtainable, room upgrades, and complimentary WiFi.

The resort can also be included in American Specific’ Superb Resorts+Resorts portfolio, providing cardholders a $100 resort credit score, room upgrades, and every day breakfast for 2.

For the most recent seasonal packages and reductions, take a look at the resort’s website.

Nightly charges at Salamander Middleburg begin from $595.

Each T+L resort evaluation is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every resort chosen aligns with our core values.