A Girl's Weekend in Winchester, VA
During her previous biannual visit this past August, my mom wanted to go someplace new for a weekend getaway. Having been to Winchester, VA before, I knew it would be the perfect place for a girls weekend with her and my sister. Winchester is less than 2 hours away from DC and just 30 minutes from the tip of Shenandoah National Park. Read on to find out my weekend itinerary. Pictures taken by either my sister or by me when I visited in December 2023.
We stayed at the historic George Washington Hotel, built in 1924 it comes equipped with a pool and hot tub to top off the beautiful architecture. It's also located just a couple blocks from Old Town Winchester which makes it an ideal location. There were also a couple weddings staying at the hotel at the same time so I recommend booking early.
Our first stop after checking in Friday evening was the Roma Old Town Pizzeria. A favorite of mine featuring wood-fired pizza and rotating craft beer. We followed it with ice cream at the Red Fox Creamery just up the way.
The next day we woke up early and opted for breakfast at the hotel followed by a quick trip up the road to what we deemed the "Goth House," an all-black house. We then took a side trip up to the Virginia Farm Market to pick up bakery items and canned jams before heading down to the State Arboretum. The Arboretum is a former plantation now owned by The University of Virginia and is completely free. There's an easy walk through the park that took us by blooming flowers, bees, and butterflies.
After a quick trip back to the hotel for a nap, we were refreshed and went down to Shenandoah to visit Reitano Vineyards, a beautiful new winery nestled in the hills. Being next to an airfield we were able to watch paragliders and skydivers make their way back down. We finished the day with a stop in the beautiful Handley Regional Library and shopping around Old Town where you can find local crafts and souvenirs.
The following day we again ate breakfast at the hotel then headed out early for Harpers Ferry, where we had booked an early river tubing down the Potomac. I recommend booking early before it fills up. The water was the perfect temperature and the weather thankfully cooperated. We then stopped in to Harpers Ferry for a quick visit around the historic sites and some shopping. I always recommend the True Treats Historic Candy Store which has a selection of candies from various decades. Finally, we finished the trip with lunch at Harpers Ferry Brewery which has an amazing view of the river and hills.
What are your favorite stops in the area? Let me know in the comments and don't forget to subscribe to updates!
