Les meilleures choses à faire à Middleburg, Virginie

Il faut un peu plus d’une heure pour se rendre à Middleburg, en Virginie, depuis Washington, D.C., mais on a l’impression d’entrer dans un monde totalement différent. À mesure que l’on s’éloigne de la ville et que l’on se rapproche des montagnes, la route quitte l’autoroute pour s’engager sur une route à deux voies qui passe devant des champs bucoliques, des murs de pierre et des vaches en train de paître.

Cette petite ville de retraite située à la lisière du Piémont de Virginie a longtemps servi de lieu de désintoxication au cœur de l’actualité. Historiquement, Middleburg a été le lieu où l’élite de Washington venait décompresser de sa vie quotidienne. La ville est suffisamment proche du district pour que les visiteurs puissent retourner rapidement au travail ou à la maison en cas de besoin, mais suffisamment éloignée pour qu’ils aient l’impression de s’échapper de la ville. Jack et Jackie Kennedy y ont vécu, tout comme Elizabeth Taylor et son sixième mari, le sénateur John Warner.

La première chose qui vous accueille à l’entrée de la ville, ce sont les panneaux indiquant la

National Sporting Library and Museum

(« sporting » signifie ici des passe-temps comme la chasse et le steeple-chasing). Middleburg est connue pour être une plaque tournante de ce type de loisirs axés sur les chevaux, mais la ville a bien plus à offrir que de simples aventures équines. Si vous êtes à la recherche d’un week-end idyllique où vous pouvez vous promener dans une petite ville, vous sentir glamour et amener votre chien, Middleburg est l’endroit idéal.   ;

Where to Shop

You could spend an entire day browsing Middleburg’s charming boutiques. Suitable for shopping with the whole family,

Brick & Mortar Mercantile

offers a range of locally-made and locally-themed items ranging from candles to mugs, coasters, and towels printed with funny—and a little risque—phrases. (The shop’s Campfire Mug reads « Definitely not coffee. ») It’s also the home of two parakeets, Brick & Mortar, after whom the store is named.

Les Jardins De Bagatelle

stocks an exquisite selection of French imports. For stylish homes,

Atelier Design & Decor

offers textiles and fixtures that will charm guests and serve as tasteful statement pieces. Garden enthusiasts will enjoy the plant and design offerings at

Nature Composed

and the adjacent restaurant

Provender

, which bills itself as « a garden kitchen. »

An added bonus: almost all of these shops are either dog-friendly or have a shop dog ready to greet you upon entrance.

Kids and fur-babies can find treats, too–the

PLAYroom

is an old-fashioned toy store full of educational and fun items. Nearby is

Chloe’s

, a clothing and gift store that also carries high-end gifts for fancy pups. And just up the block is

Scruffy’s Ice Cream Parlor

, serving street-side cones and specialty coffees with seasonal flavors.

For statement pieces with storied histories, the town is packed with shops sure to wow the serious antique hunter. Nearly every block downtown has one. Favorites include the

Middleburg Antique Gallery

and

Creme de la Creme

.

Where to Eat

When you need a break from shopping,

Knead Wine

, a Master Sommelier-owned wine and pizza shop, is a perfect spot for a midday bite. Knead offers take-out artisan pizza and a carefully curated selection of wine ($20 bottles on one side of the shop, $45 bottles on the other).

For a more leisurely sit-down experience, locals recommended

Tremolo

, a wine bar with small plates. The bustling

King Street Oyster Bar

is also not to be missed, especially for $7 happy hour specials. Other options include the quiet and historic

Red Fox Tavern

, which offers a prix fixe menu, and

Red Horse Tavern

, which serves classic pub fare.

Where to Drink

Middleburg sits in the northern Virginia Piedmont, which is an AVA-designated region prime for growing wine grapes. The combination of this microclimate and the wealth accumulated in the Middleburg community means that there are a variety of lovely wineries nearby if you want to do a tasting crawl. Check out

Greenhill Winery

,

Cana Vineyards

, and

Boxwood Winery

(just to name a few).

For the non-oenophile,

Mt. Defiance Distillery & Cidery

offers a wide selection of spirits and local ciders and has outdoor seating with a nice view of downtown.

Where to Stay

Treat yourself to a day of pampering at

Salamander Resort and Spa

. The rambling 340-acre property, owned by Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET, sits just outside of town and offers amenities including an equestrian center, indoor and outdoor pools, and tennis courts, in addition to a full-service spa. The resort’s restaurant,

Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill

, offers a seasonally-changing menu that includes local produce and meat.

For an elegant in-town stay that wont break the bank, the

Red Fox Inn

offers a historic experience right in the heart of downtown Middleburg.