The Inn at Little Washington

Located an hour-and-a-half outside of Washington DC, The Inn at Little Washington is in the middle of rolling farmland in Washington, Virginia.

Patrons of the Inn are referred to as pilgrims; it is a destination for those seeking relaxation and a culinary excellence. Likely nothing else would bring them to the area, as there's not much to the town except for a couple of tiny shops. After a drive several 1/2 mile in each direction from the Inn, and a quick walk up and down Main street, I was glad we had only booked a single night at the Inn to celebrate my husband's birthday.

There is no sign for the Inn - located on the corner of Middle and Main Streets -only four distinctive flags and an attendant welcoming visitors. Our car was valet parked across the street in the church parking lot while we were escorted inside. There is no paperwork to complete; instead we were greeted with glasses of champagne (sparkling cider for me) and shown around the Inn.

Joyce Evans, a London stage and set designer, conceptualized the interior without ever setting foot in the Inn. Her drawings - indicating precisely how each room should be decorated - are now framed and adorn the walls. The attention-to-detail is impeccable. Every nook and cranny of the 18-bedroom Inn is decorated from floor to ceiling. With a combination of luxurious and whimsical decor, the Inn is fantasy-like in its presentation - creating almost sensory-overload. Beautiful fabric drapes the ceiling in one of the dining rooms, creating a theater-like ambiance. Parisian lampshades add dramatic flair to another. A fanciful mural depicting jungle scenes graces the walls of the lounge, while framed photographs of great American chefs decorate the seating area at the top of the stairs.

No two rooms in the Inn are alike. Ours featured a balcony - accessible by climbing two steps and ducking through the luxurious silk drapes - that looked out over the main street. Victorian knickknacks, lush fabrics, and period pieces - many purchased in England - complete the decor.

Following a quick perusal of the gift shop and tour of the town, we settled into the parlour for afternoon tea. A menu of more than two dozen loose leaf teas was presented; I chose a lemongrass, coconut and ginger tea, while my husband opted for the earthy Long Ching green variety. Both were served in traditional Asian teapots, and poured into delicate bone china tea cups.

Accompanying the tea was a platter of sweet and savory treats: smoked salmon and cucumber open-faced tea sandwiches; sweet biscuits topped with Virginia ham; tiny lemon and raspberry tarts; orange scented biscuits served with clotted cream, lemon curd and ginger honey; ginger cookies with pear jelly; and an absolutely amazing oatmeal raisin cookie topped with Kosher salt. Luckily I had thought to book a later dinner reservation, allowing us to enjoy tea service without worrying that we would spoil our appetite for dinner.

After tea service, we were invited to select the table at which we wanted to dine that evening. We also spent some time perusing the 92-page wine menu in advance of our evening meal. More will be written about our dinner in a separate post.

Breakfast is included with the price of the room. When we discovered it only consisted of granola, yogurt, dried fruit and a basket of miniature muffins and croissants, we opted to spend the additional $25pp for an a la carte breakfast entree (I am pregnant after all!). Along with our coffee and tea, we enjoyed a "flight of juices" - granny smith apple, blood orange, strawberry kiwi and pineapple coconut - each extraordinary in color. The croissants are baked overnight at the Inn and served with homemade jams - cinnamon fig, mixed berry and raspberry. For my main course, I chose the Lobster Omelette with Rainbow Salsa and Hash Brown Potatoes, while my husband selected the Eggs Benedict. Both were delicious and beautifully presented, though given the size of the portions - and the price of the rooms - they should have been included as part of the complimentary breakfast.

The Inn at Little Washington is a truly special place. It is easy to understand why the Mobile Travel Guide continues to award the accommodations at The Inn at Little Washington its highest accolades - Five Stars. The service and attention to detail is impeccable, the decor is magnificent, the food is among the best you'll find at any hotel or inn. Situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where there is no cell phone reception, the Inn is - above all -a relaxing retreat. If I lived in the D.C. area, it would likely be on my short list for weekend getaways.