Charlottesville, VA:
This incredibly dog-friendly destination is currently on repeat for us, and we are not mad about it! It’s a relaxing getaway to wine country, open spaces, and tasty food. We are sipping our way through the popular vineyards in Charlottesville, VA. We’ve already been told there are too many to cover so we’ll keep returning because this spot is just too good!
This was our third time visiting the area. Twice previously, we stayed at Keswick Hall (a luxury wellness resort and Hyatt property) – I will write about our visit there in a future post. But this trip we stayed at one of our preferred brands – Kimpton, The Forum Hotel – an IHG property known for their totally pawsome pet-friendly perks. They simply go wild for pets at no extra charge – no matter their weight, size, or breed! The Kimpton hotel brand doesn’t only accommodate pets; they welcome them with plenty of amenities so you can create joyful memories with your four-legged companions by your side.
It’s an easy road trip from where we live and only took us five hours to drive up early on a Sunday with a mid-way stop for Emma to stretch her legs. Since we couldn’t check-in to the hotel until 3 o’clock that afternoon, we went straight into wine country. We always do a mix of previously loved and new highly acclaimed spots – so this time we tried Septenary Winery as recommended, and it did not disappoint. We sat in their beautiful open lawn space with lounge chairs and tables to rest your bottles and snacks. The air was crisp and the sun blissful so we enjoyed the afternoon there until it was time to check-in to the hotel.
We were greeted with cocktails and Emma with treats at check-in. They offered her branded dog bowls and a bed but if you don’t already know, Emma travels with her own luggage and fully prepared so we kindly declined. While getting acquainted with the grounds and amenities, the bellman took our belongings to our upgraded accommodations.
Ok, I’ll pause here for a moment to give you a bit of background on our experience with making this reservation. Usually, I make reservations online through downloaded apps for frequently travelled chains. For some reason, I was not able to fully book this time. I called the hotel directly to discover there was a block on one of our preferred dates. After getting the scoop (scheduled maintenance expected to affect hotel guests), we agreed to proceed anyway. The front desk manager hard booked our stay and upgraded our room with a preferred nightly rate when we disclosed we’d be joined by our dog (due to the scheduled inconvenience). Already we were smitten with the place!
If you’re not already familiar with the Kimpton experience, they offer a nightly Social Hour (complimentary wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres) which we usually partake in with Emma. Yes, your well-behaved furry pals are allowed to join too (Yappy Hour is a thing at Kimpton)! The hotel also has several choices for on-site dining and cocktails. Because we were tired from traveling, we opted for a laid-back dinner on the night of our arrival at their tavern fare pub themed restaurant – The Good Sport (so good) – and off to a restful evening since I had planned a full itinerary for the week!
The Forum Hotel has an eclectic vibe and it is centrally located to flourishing botanical gardens, an arboretum, and The Rivanna Trail. The grounds could not have been more perfect for exercising Emma daily which was a main deciding factor for selecting this property – always is – since she requires regular therapy to maintain muscle weight (more about this on a future post). So, every single morning we started each day with a relaxing trail walk and ended it with a walk around the campus. A scene we thoroughly enjoyed, and Emma never got bored or tired of sniffing.
The hotel staff suggested and even gave us free tasting vouchers to Eastwood Farm and Winery which was on our list of new places to try. Their menu looked savory, and we decided to go for lunch. They had outdoor tables as well as screened porch seating options – both accommodating to dogs. We had a delightful lunch during our wine tasting experience and the farm grounds were perfect for walking off the calories. Do vacation calories count? Asking for a friend!
That evening we went back to the hotel for Pups on the Patio – a featured night dedicated to being able to enjoy dinner with your furry companions. Emma saw us grab her Molly Mutts bed and by the smile on her face immediately knew she was in for a treat – ‘We Night’ (otherwise known as Emma gets to join the pawrents for an outing)!
Next on the list, an oldie but goodie and top pick we have consistently hit every trip – Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyard. Absolutely cannot put into words how great this winery is – you simply must try it. From the food to their wines and especially the views and atmosphere, it’s no surprise it is one of the most loved by everyone in the region. We highly recommend one of each flight tasting and then pick your favorite bottles to go – the more you buy the greater the discount! Let me not forget to mention, dogs are welcomed inside their veranda where the breeze alone was enough to keep Emma happy. She made eye contact with passers-by for a pat on the head and complementary attention. Her pearl necklace is always a big hit.
Ok! So, by this point the pawrents made a much-needed reservation at one of the on-site restaurants in the hotel, Birch and Bloom. This elegant dining experience with farm-to-table fare made the perfect choice for our ‘Date Night’ (insert Taylor Swift’s verse from her song Fortnight….“I love you, it’s ruining my life,”….dedicated to missing our little sidekick Emma during the entire dinner). Still, we indulged in the beauty of this modern restaurant and tasted the bounty of Virginia through the fresh and locally sourced menu. Oh, I almost forgot….we were welcomed at the restaurant entrance by the host manager with complimentary champagne at our table.
This was meant to be a quick getaway for a couple of days and it was tough to leave. At check-out, the front desk manager and team said their farewells and gifted us a bag filled with snacks for the car ride back. Again, the customer service we experienced during our stay at The Forum Hotel was beyond the highest standards expected – not that we expected it at all.
A special thank you to James Miles (Front Desk Manager), Chance (from Task Force), Kelly (General Manager), Brandon (from The Good Sport), Andrew, Opal (in Food & Beverage), Thomas (from Birch + Bloom), and all the wonderful staff at this hotel who made us feel so welcomed and our stay memorable enough to write home about – or on this blog, I mean!