Hidden View Bed & Breakfast: A Destination In & Of Itself in Loudoun County, Virginia

The Hidden View Bed & Breakfast can provide the most luxurious home base as you explore the Loudoun County, Virginia area, but it is also a destination in & of itself- perfect for a girls' trip, a couple's getaway, or when you just need a few days of "me time" to yourself...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Loudoun. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I know that when you typically start to plan a trip or a weekend getaway you end up booking a room somewhere to simply serve as your home base while you explore the area. You want a clean and comfortable place to sleep and shower, maybe a pool on premise, and perhaps a free continental breakfast. Booking the accommodations is a starting point, but not usually the thing you are looking forward to most about your upcoming travels.

That cannot be said about the guest rooms at Hidden View Bed & Breakfast in Hillsboro, Virginia. In fact, you could possibly spend most of your time during your visit to Loudoun County in your room and exploring the grounds of this beautiful bed & breakfast and be totally content... but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. Not when there is so much to see and do in the area, but that is for another blog post. ;)

Booze & Brews with a View: 8 Must-Visit Wineries & Breweries in Loudoun County, Virginia

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary in Loudoun County, Virginia...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Loudoun. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

After almost a year of Covid-induced homebody-ness, I was finally ready to venture out on a girls' trip last month. A little road trip to one of my favorite areas of Virginia became the obvious choice for our first girls' getaway in over a year. Not only is Loudoun County home to some of the best wine country in the state of Virginia, but their local foodie scene has recently seen an explosion in growth when it comes to locally owned and operated breweries and distilleries as well. 

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary (responsibly, of course!) in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County boasts over 30 breweries, almost 40 wineries, and about 7 distilleries & cideries, but that number continues to grow every year.

While our two and a half day girls' getaway didn't allow us to try every winery, brewery, and distillery in the county, we did get to visit at least 8 on the list. All 8 of these wineries & breweries (plus 1 distillery!) had to meet certain discerning criteria to make it on our girls' trip list ;) :

• They had to have plenty of outdoor spaces and seating. I mean, what is seriously better than being able to sip on a glass of pink bubbles or enjoying a cold draft beer on a patio or deck?
• They had to be locally owned and operated.
• And being nestled in the rolling, green foothills of the Shenandoah, a beautiful view was definitely a must!

A Family Friendly Guide to Virginia Wine Country {Where to Stay}

I know a bed & breakfast and Virginia wine country are probably not the first places you think of when considering where to the take the family for a road trip or vacation.  Usually those venues are reserved for couples and romance, right?  

In some cases, yes.

But there are family friendly bed & breakfasts out there!  And even family friendly wineries {gasp}... but more on those later this month. ;)

Recently we stayed at the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn in Middleburg, Virginia for a couple of nights during my son's spring break.

The main house of the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn

The Briar Patch is conveniently located directly off from the main highway that runs through downtown Middleburg, the John Mosby Highway (yes- easy to find and get to which is pretty important when you may or may not have some travel weary kiddos along!).  It is also wonderfully located for possible day trips to Washington, D.C., Manassas, or Harpers Ferry.

The inn is equipped with a pool, a hot tub, and satellite TV in the main house.  Oh, and have I mentioned that they are also pet friendly in case you need to bring your furry family member along? ;)

My husband and I actually stayed here almost two years ago on a little romantic pre-baby girl getaway.  We stayed in the main house that time.

But for our family friendly stay, we were given the cozy cottage for our two night stay...

(Most bed & breakfasts have policies against children of certain ages staying in certain rooms or areas of their establishment, if they even allow them at all.  Children younger than 8 are not permitted to stay in the main house at Briar Patch, but children of all ages are welcome at their cottage.)

The cottage at Briar Patch is equipped with a full kitchen and spacious living space.  Perfect if you were to plan a longer stay.  We all loved the bright, open rafters throughout the cottage.  They even had the cottage stocked with toys for baby girl, and a pack 'n play set up in the bedroom.  There was a fold out futon in the main living space which was perfect for my teenage son. 

My favorite room just may have been the bathroom for that gorgeous, deep sink-in tub. ;)

Barn & stables behind the Briar Patch- yes, they have horses! :)

A hot breakfast was served in the main house both mornings during our stay.  I am not going to lie- this just might have been one of my favorite things about our stay at Briar Patch.  A delicious breakfast, freshly brewed coffee, and a beautiful view?  And I didn't have to lift a finger?  Awwwwww... yes. :)

The daffodils at Briar Patch provided the perfect backdrop for baby girl's Easter photo shoot. ;)

We had such a lovely and relaxing time at the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast.  They were so generous and accommodating to our little family. I really cannot thank them enough.  I had emailed them about receiving their off-season rate since we were missing it by just one day, and one of the owners went above and beyond that simple request for our short stay in Middleburg.  I truly cannot express enough gratitude to them.  :)

If you are looking for a romantic getaway, a breathtaking wedding venue, or a just a lovely place to stay during a family trip through Virginia wine country, I cannot recommend the Briar Patch and their staff enough. 

Psssttt... the cherry blossoms will be blooming soon!  Virginia wine country is gorgeous when in full spring bloom.  I believe we only missed that by about a week or two.

Of course if your travel plans do not take you to the Loudoun County, Virginia area, then be sure to research bed and breakfasts in the area that you will be staying at before you just book that room at a cookie cutter hotel.  Often times, B&B's will run budget friendly specials and packages.  And never be shy about calling or emailing an establishment about a special request- you just may receive a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. :)

*The opinions above are strictly my own.  Yep, all 100% me, myself, and I.  I was not obligated to and was not compensated for this post.  I just really appreciate the hospitality and generosity that was afforded to myself and my family during our stay, and wanted to share our experience with my readers.