Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/453610
12 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • February 2015 M y husband and I have been staying at bed & breakfasts and inns for over 10 years. We've been to B&B's in San Francisco, Charleston, York Beach and several in Central Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay area. We prefer the warm, homey feel of a B&B compared to the more sterile, highly trafficked environment of commercial hotels. There is such a wide variety of B&B and inn styles to choose from and several within a short drive of Fredericksburg. When choosing a place to stay, "guests have the ability to select a B&B or inn that really fits their particular lodging preferences," says innkeepers Orquida and Dan Ingraham of Afton Mountain Bed & Breakfast located in the heart of wine and craft beer country near Charlottesville. "The large majority of our guests are couples in their 30s, 40s and 50s, either celebrating a birthday or anniversary, or just looking to escape to the country for a relaxing, romantic weekend." If you're looking to add some romance, you may opt for more private and romantic spaces. A guest could choose a room with a fireplace, a Jacuzzi tub, a private porch and/ or add wine and cheese/chocolate packages to their stay. Innkeepers are readily available to talk with guests if they so choose, to find out their preferences for local activities and make dinner reservations. "Couples getting away for a weekend are our most common guests. They have often found a sitter or a family member to watch their children and they are going where they cannot be disturbed," said co-owner and innkeeper Sherri Fickel at Hopkins Ordinary located in the historic village of Sperryville. "And with restaurants within walking distance, there is a relaxed, unhurried feel so couples can truly enjoy each other and not think about the logistics of getting from one place to another." BY NIKKI DUCAS Bed & Breakfasts Get Away From It All for a Romantic Weekend One perk for couples that choose to escape to a B&B is the ability to relax and enjoy breathtaking scenery together. Afton Mountain Bed & Breakfast Afton Mountain Bedrooms Hopkins Ordinary