Start a conversation with the phrase “Virginia is…” and listen as travelers playfully respond: “for lovers.” The famous slogan — named “one of the most iconic ad campaigns of all time” by Advertising Age (right up there with Pepsi) — first appeared in a March 1969 bridal magazine touting the attributes of honeymooning in Virginia.
Indeed, the Commonwealth state — with its rolling hills and horse farms, waving Blue Ridge Mountains, wineries, and watery sea and bay towns — offers myriad natural beauty, Michelin-starred restaurants, and top-tier hotels.
Having grown up on the Mason-Dixon line — infused with southern traditions like sweet tea, sugar magnolias, and “Bless her Heart” idioms — Virginia has always been near to my heart. Winchester was where — as a majorette in high white boots and I Dream of Jeannie ponytail — I marched in the annual apple blossom parade; Shenandoah, where I played deep in the forest with my childhood friend (who took me on all of her family vacations), and Virginia’s backwater towns where I discovered fresh oysters and crabs, and fell in love with Misty of Chincoteague. Unearthing Virginia’s most romantic hotels, (many of which I knew from childhood), was both a nostalgic delight and a sweet reminder that Virginia truly is for lovers. Among the state’s most romantic hotel offerings:
The Clifton, Charlottesville

True confession: In the late 1980s I was invited (by a friend of the then-owners who thought I would make ‘the perfect innkeeper’) to visit this 100-acre property just outside Charlottesville. Despite my complete enamoration — especially the two-story carriage house with wood-burning fireplace and down-feather bed where I stayed — I was not offered the position. (Sleeping through the 4:30 a.m. breakfast alarm did not bode well.) Despite my debacle, The Clifton has remained steadfast on my grown-up, Virginia-is-for-lovers list. I’ve returned numerous times over the years, observing its evolution from small, enchanting inn to elevated and elegant hotel. Originally built in 1799 as a classic colonial-style home for Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, Martha and her husband, this romantic white-pillared, 20-room hotel — with its waterfall infinity pool, lush gardens, and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains — feels more like a private country estate. In 2018, the current owners engaged the award-winning Blackberry Farm design team to reimagine the Inn’s interiors; while sprucing up the outdoor features which include a private lake, walking trails, an infinity pool and hot tub, a croquet lawn, and sprawling gardens. Reserve one of the spacious rooms or suites in the manor house, or opt for a stay in one of the outlying cottages (including my two-story carriage house) before heading off to a romantic dinner at 1799 Restaurant, helmed by Michelin-starred executive chef Matthew Bousquet.
Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection, Meadows of Dan

Just the name — Meadows of Dan, a nod to the waving meadows near the banks of the Dan River which flows through the area — conjures a feeling of romance and allure. Set on a corner of forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains not far from North Carolina, Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection spans 12,000 glorious river-and-gorge acres. Wind along the ten-mile driveway to reach the stunning property, once a private hunting lodge, before checking into your “room” — a luxurious log cabin or red-cedar treehouse, designed in France by renowned treehouse architectural firm La Cabane Perchee. Explore the trails by bike or on foot, play a round of golf on the resort’s championship course, fish the freshwater streams, and slip into the dreamy Auberge Spa for the ultimate (3.5-hour) signature treatment comprised of a mineral-salt exfoliation, 90-minute massage, and 60-minute facial. Savor a romantic dinner for two at Leatherflower, the new signature restaurant, part of a recent renovation by the renowned Chad Dorsey Design, before heading to the observatory — a silver, silo-like structure next to the main lodge — equipped with a powerful telescope perfect for stargazing.
The Inn at Little Washington, Washington

Foodies adore The Inn at Little Washington. Located in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains (near Shenandoah National Park), The Inn was established in 1978 by chef-owner Chef Patrick O’Connell as the first (and only) three-starred Michelin restaurant in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Chef describes his classical French technique and style as a “romantic dinner party in a private country house from another era.” Rooms are just as decadent. Drawing from his own background in theater, O’Connell enlisted London stage and set designer Joyce Evans to spin magic to the hotel’s 23 guest rooms and suites. Most romantic: the Mayor’s House, a two-story, private cottage with a walled garden, wood-burning fireplace, and bathroom decorated in blue and white, hand-painted Portuguese tile.
The Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs

Deeply rooted in history (scores of U.S. Presidents have stayed here) and set high in the misty Allegheny Mountains near the West Virginia border, The Omni Homestead Resort is also surprisingly romantic. Think gleaming colonnades, spacious rooms with stand-alone bathtubs, French doors leading onto balconies overlooking the mountains, and slow dining on entries like cast-iron seared filet mignon and Allegheny trout almondine, followed by campfire s’mores. The hallmark of the stay comes, though, in the romantic (yet medicinal) soak in the thermal Warm Springs Pools — recently restored as part of a $4 million renovation and now part of the Omni Homestead property. Housed under an octagonal structure (originally built in 1761), the healing thermal pools remain at a natural body temperature year-round and contain an unusually high level of mineral content.
Keswick Hall, Keswick

Built originally as a family home turned country club turned hotel, Keswick Hall — once owned by Sir Bernard Ashley (widower of designer Laura Ashley) — was completely refurbished and reopened in 2022. Set amidst rolling vineyards and just a few miles from Charlottesville, the hotel features a soothing color palette of blues, whites, and creams, its own custom-formulated scent called Dawn Meadow — a blend of grass, locals herbs, and flowers, created by Red Flower — and an impressive curated art collection including some of Sir Bernard Ashley’s original pieces. Golf on the Pete Dye–designed course, play tennis or croquet, and relax afterward with a signature massage or vinotherapy facial in the spa before heading to Marigold by celebrated celebrity Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
The Tides Inn, Irvington

There’s not much to do in the white-picket-fenced, coastal town of Irvington (population 398) in Virginia’s Northern Neck peninsula. And that’s exactly the point. Start the romance by checking into one of the soothing, blue-on-white hued suites overlooking the water at The Tides Inn, set on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay where birds (osprey, eagle, heron) outnumber guests. Cruise Carter’s Creek, disappear into the spa for unexpected Asian-inspired treatments like cupping and Thai Table massage, and heat things up with a visit to the hotel’s own oyster reef. Aboard a traditional watermen’s boat, visit an oyster farm, pull up oyster cages, and back on land, watch as a waterman grills them to perfection.
Salamander Middleburg

Set amidst rolling horse farms and lush vineyards just an hour outside Washington, D.C., Salamander Middleburg offers a genteel and luxurious escape. The spa is especially romantic and top-notch (and one of Travel Curator’s favorites). After an afternoon at the onsite equestrian center — spent riding or simply communing with the horses — head into the spa for the 90-minute Grand Cru Massage that begins with a grapeseed scrub, or try the wine-enriched Pinot Noir Body Wrap. End the day side-by-side in an intimate cooking class before retiring to your suite replete with a soothing earth-and-cream color palette, deep pedestal tub, and French doors opening to a private terrace or balcony.
The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond

For a romantic tête-à-tête in the state’s capitol, look to The Jefferson Hotel (circa 1895). Long known for its stunning and landmark common areas, The Rotunda and Palm Court lobbies (famous for their Tiffany stained glass ceilings), the hotel is also home to posh, apartment-like suites, complete with door bells, foyers, and sitting rooms. Enjoy afternoon tea or the decadent Sunday Champagne brunch. For a high-glam stay, reserve the Jefferson Suite, home to a grand piano (once played by Frank Sinatra), French doors leading to a marbled balcony, king-sized bed and deep-soaking tub.
Feature image courtesy of The Clifton. We may earn a commission from booking links on this page.