"Back up a little, and tell us about this place.This hunt-country inn is housed in a stately stone building right off Middleburg's historic main drag. Established in 1728 (and listed on the National Register of Historic Places), the Red Fox keeps 18th-century romance alive with traditional Piedmont furnishings, and a large collection of sporting bronze and oil paintings. Who else is likely to be staying here?Politicians and Hollywood-types will sneak away for a long weekend here, but the crowd consists mostly of D.C. empty nesters on quick getaways. Tell us about the digs.Some rooms are named after the region's enormous estates and have fireplaces and separate sitting areas. Nearly all rooms have antique four-poster beds and are decorated in shades of wheat with brown, blue, or sage accents. For those seeking extra privacy, consider The Gardener's Cottage, a secluded one-room cottage nestled behind the rest of the property. The Carriage House was renovated and opened to the public in October 2019. It’s the newest building here with cast-iron soaking tubs in all three of the suites How about the little things, like the mini bar, or shower goodies? Anything you want to shout out?Toiletries are from C.O. Bigelow—a luxe touch in such a small inn. Freshly made cookies laid bedside also show a hospitality that feels downright personal. Anything else we should know?This is one of the oldest inns in America, which means some modern luxuries—like an elevator, for example—don't exist here. Additionally, some rooms have lower ceilings. Another tip: make a reservation for dinner at the tavern (they don't do lunch), which serves simple, solid American food, much of it prepared with local ingredients and paired with Virginia wines. Why should we choose to stay at the Red Fox?Despite its age, the Red Fox is sufficiently modern, with enough quirky charm to fit in with the rest of wonderfully wacky Middleburg." - Laura Ratliff
