A good trip with some close girlfriends can do wonders. I recently visited DC to celebrate my birthday and it was the perfect weekend getaway filled with adventure and relaxation.
Hotel Accommodations
We stayed at The Riggs DC and the property has so much character, being it's a former bank. There’s a beautiful floral accent wall and a colorful head board that pops soon you enter the room.
I read online the bathroom is small and I agree. It wasn't a deal breaker for us but I'd call the property to see if they have larger bathrooms based on your room level.
The property is within walking distance to shopping and dining so pack you comfy shoes. If you have Amex, view their hotel accommodations first. This property was on the list and was cheaper than booking directly.
Ground Transportation
We landed in DC on a Friday around 11am and were picked up by Drederick, the owner of SSMG Concierge, in a CT5 and it was the perfect size. I booked the ground transportation from the airport and the libations tour for two package. SSMG is a concierge company so they booked the wine tours based on a questionnaire I completed which made everything easy.
Wine Tour
The first stop was Delaplane Sellars. It was about an hour from BWI airport and was beautiful. We ordered their new charcuterie board to accompany our wine tasting and sat on the patio. Since we went on a Friday, it wasn’t crowded and we were able to learn more about the property from the owner.
What I liked about Delaplane was we could customize our charcuterie board and it was fresh. As a non-pork eater, I've gone to wineries where the meals are pre-packaged and there aren't other options. The customization made a big difference for me. Overall, we had a great experience.
Next was Capstone’s Vineyard and it’s owned by Theo and his family. Capstone offers a unique, personable experience. Theo and his wife have only been open for six-months but have been in the business over a decade. He has an amazing story as he was a cancer researcher now turned vineyard owner and is beyond passionate. We learned so much from Theo during our tasting. His brother is a chef and they are planning to host a wine and dinner pairing in October. I’m glad Capstone’s was on our list of stops.
Crimson Lane Vineyard’s view is breathtaking and the decor is absolutely stunning. From the oversized swings on the patio to the basket of blankets tucked in the corners just in case you get chilly, those little details elevated the experience. We enjoyed a 6 flight wine tasting coupled with homemade empanadas and hummus. I could have sat on the patio for hours. The staff was fantastic and my favorite wine from the evening was Petit Manseng.
Molon Lave Vineyards was our last stop. They stay open until 8pm on Fridays and we both tried their homemade sangrias. We relaxed outside on the patio, listened to the music and enjoyed the view.
On Saturday we did tons of exploring, sight seeing and walking. We went here for breakfast and I recommend you make reservations because it was full when we arrived. We ordered the seafood dip as a starter and split the breakfast burrito as the entree.
We walked down a few blocks and stumbled across a cute community yard sale. We purchased some jewelry and Jacoya found records for her player. After that we did this and then found a nearby rooftop with Frosé.
For dinner we went here. I didn’t know they had an East Coast location so when this popped up on Open Table, I knew we were going here. Make sure you book reservations and try the pomegranate martini.
For this trip I purchased this and it was a life saver. I've used it twice since May and it's holding up perfectly. I was tired of packing three separate bags and then constantly looking for a bag while traveling. With this I just grab and go. I'm all about simplifying life and I highly recommend this item.
Exploring has renewed my spirit. Every month I'm dedicating time to explore locally or abroad solo or with family and friends. From taking cake making classes to seeing Machu Piccu, I'm dedicated to experiencing life firsthand, rather than talking about it. As I travel and learn I'll keep sharing my experience with you. Hoping to inspire you to simply live.
Much love,
soqweenly