If horseback riding is not your thing, don't worry. The ranch staff will take you Jeep trekking instead.
Scott Suchman
"We're Marriott's best kept secret," says Lanier Cate, general manager of the Marriott Ranch in Hume, Virginia, about 60 miles west of Washington, D.C.
You'd expect to find hotels, resorts, and restaurants under the Marriott International corporate banner. But a small bed-and-breakfast within a 4,200-acre working cattle ranch?
Founder J. Willard Marriott, Sr., bought the secluded spread in 1951 and rode these hills until his death in 1985. It's now used primarily for corporate retreats, special events, and weddings. Leisure travelers come to relax at the homey Inn at Fairfield Farm, ride horses, and appreciate the joys of country living.
Guests can choose from 10 rooms at the inn, 4 of which are in the James Marshall Manor House. The redbrick house features high ceilings and windows with expansive views of the rolling hills. The Carriage House offers three rooms for those expecting a more Marriott-like experience, while the Baroness Cottage boasts a Western feel.
Lanier estimates that some 6,000 guests come through the gates each year just to ride horses. The ranch stables 45 horses and offers regularly scheduled trail rides. Special equestrian events range from twilight dinner rides to three-day Western adventures. Guests can also fulfill their City Slickers fantasies during a daylong longhorn cattle drive.
At a Glance
"Hidden in the Blue Ridge" is from the July 2006 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.
Printed from:
http://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-east/blue-ridges-best-kept-secret-00400000005623/
Copyright © 2013 Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy ( Your California Privacy Rights). Ad Choices