Yummy Reservations and Delightful Destinations!

Yes, I know it’s already March, but I’m so excited to share with you my little adventure and “delightful destination” this past weekend that originated as a Bed & Breakfast gift certificate my husband gave me for Christmas.  The recommendation came from our nephew and his wife who had a great experience.   So, in the midst of our busiest time of year – tax season – we took a much-needed weekend break and drove to Waynesboro, Virginia to stay at The Iris Inn.   You’ve got to check out their wonderful website at www.irisinn.com and you’ll want to start packing your bags.  I will say though, even with all the great pictures and information on their site, nothing prepared me for the treat we had in store.

First, I would like to mention that between business and pleasure trips over the years, my husband and I have calculated we’ve stayed in more than 60 different Bed & Breakfasts/Inns.  Because we’ve experienced so many places, we tend to compare and understand what it really takes to impress us and other guests.  We definitely have our favorites!   Even innkeepers, many times, don’t always understand it’s in a lot of the little things that make up that truly memorable experience.

Well, The Iris Inn hit the top five on our list.  Why was this one so perfect?  Many times, it’s about first impressions, isn’t it?  As we drove up their driveway, the property is a Wow factor!  The main lodge is amazing with its architecture, lighting, and porches adorned with chair hammocks and inviting steps that draw you to their main entrance – a double glass door with an etched iris on each.  They also have “cabins”, which are in front of the property, are solid, well-built and more modern than what I anticipated.

The next “first impression” is how we were greeted.

Heidi, one of the owners, was right there in her office, welcoming us with her warm smile; and I felt she was genuinely happy to see us.  As she was checking us in, her husband, Dave, waved a friendly hello from behind their wine bar at the other end of the room, serving other guests.  I immediately felt at home.  My hubby and I were invited to partake in some wine and cheese, which they serve every afternoon. Yeah!

Between the glow of the fireplace, the large comfortable chairs to relax in and quite a few intimate tables also set up in this huge room, the atmosphere was warm and cozy.  I even eyed a jar of cookies on the other side of the room (some things I just have a natural radar for).

I was impressed – and this was only the beginning of a relaxing weekend away.  The Iris Inn is located in the Shenandoah Valley area, so there is lots to do and some amazing views of the Blue Ridge mountains, even in the midst of the grayness of the winter.  If you decide to stay in one of their cabins, you might just not want to do anything at all.  Our cabin (they have 6 total) had a king size bed, a small kitchen, large and comfy recliner chairs, gas fireplace, large screen television, a huge bathroom with walk in shower AND heated floors in the bathroom.  We had our own private deck with rocking chairs and a hot tub.  Depending on the season and which cabin you reserve, the view is incredible of the mountains and valley.

After we sipped (well, almost) our welcoming glass of wine and enjoyed some cheese, we dropped our bags off in our cabin and drove a short distance, into the town of Waynesboro, for dinner.  More about that in my next blog.  There’s so much that The Iris Inn has to offer, I wanted to focus on that experience alone.

After an enjoyable dinner, we just curled up in our recliners, lit the fire from the wall switch and vegged out the rest of the evening, in anticipation of tomorrow.  Breakfast is served in the main house from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.  We were the first guests to arrive and again greeted warmly by our hosts.  All the small tables were set for breakfast in the main room, the fire was going, fresh flowers on each table, and a professional menu awaited us.  The bar where the wine had been served the night before, now held glass pitchers of fresh juices and ice water.  The other side of the room was set up for coffee and hot tea.  The menu has a great selection as you can see, and you can even order more than one of their main selections on the menu.  They love to spoil their guests!  We both ordered Eggs Benedict on croissants, which was fabulous; and we took our time to savor the food and enjoy good conversation about our plans for the day.

After our more than satisfying breakfast, we set out to explore.  At the entrance of the main house, there are lots of brochures and ideas of things to do in the area.  Dave, Heidi and their staff are also very helpful in making suggestions. Make sure you do a little planning, if you can, when you make your reservations.  The Iris Inn has some great packages that include arranging wine tours, spa treatments and they will even pack you a special lunch for the day if you opt for hiking the area trails.  Whatever you choose, they are very accommodating and always with a smile!

Unfortunately, Sunday was here before we knew it.  But in just those two days, The Iris Inn provided a haven for us to re-connect, forget about the stress, take in some awesome scenery and consume some great wine and spirits which the area is known for.  (Again, more about that next time)  The weather was a little too cold to enjoy sitting on our private screened in porch; but we did bundle up in our cozy robes (also provided by the Inn) and take a relaxing soak in the hot tub.   When we were saying our goodbyes, I noticed this sign displayed in the main house.  I will remember, from this weekend, just how important these words are!  Finally, I would like to extend a huge thank you to Dave, Heidi and their whole staff for creating a weekend we will not soon forget.  We promise – we will be back (and hopefully you will seriously think about making this your next DELIGHTFUL DESTINATION!