It’s OK to admit it. The work-play-stay-at-home grind has gotten to many of us. And while there’s nothing wrong with a staycation (hello, sunbathing and sipping cocktails in your own backyard), some nearby hotels and resorts are now open and ready to welcome you for a relaxing getaway weekend.
The Bellmoor Inn & Spa
Located just two blocks from Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, The Bellmoor Inn & Spa reopened its doors on June 1. Guests can stay in the recently redesigned boutique hotel, which is offering spa services, dining delivered to your door and access to its two outdoor pools (including one for adults only!). Enhanced sanitizing measures and social distancing, along with required mask-wearing in public areas of the resort, among other new protocols, have been put in place to ensure guest and staff safety. It’s the perfect place to retire after a day at the beach. // 6 Christian St., Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; room rates from $299 per night
The Tides Inn
The Tides Inn, a historic hotel on the Chesapeake Bay, reopened—after a multimillion-dollar renovation—in May. The newly designed, 66-room resort now offers four luxury suites, a makerspace featuring Virginia’s artisan community and dockside dining. While the spa remained closed as of press time, the resort’s other classic summer amenities (think bocce ball, tennis and bike rentals) are available by reservation. Its dining options, Chesapeake Restaurant and Fish Hawk Oyster Bar, both offer al fresco tables with social distancing in place, plus a new Nightcap Ritual in the resort’s aptly named View Room. And really, all we want is to sip a cocktail while looking at the water right now anyway. // 480 King Carter Drive, Irvington; room rates from $375 per night
Kingsmill Resort
Williamsburg’s Kingsmill Resort reopened earlier this summer and the resort, with its condo-style rentals featuring full kitchens, allows for an end-of-summer vacation while social distancing from other guests. Situated on 3,000 acres of waterfront property, guests have plenty of outdoor options at their fingertips, including Jet Ski and boat rentals, fishing, kayaking, golf, tennis and hiking. And, as of press time, the resort’s pool and lazy river were readying to reopen. Sign us up. // 1010 Kingsmill Road, Suite 5576, Williamsburg; room rates from $195 per night
Massanutten Resort
Family-friendly Massanutten Resort—worth the trip simply for the stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley—started a phased reopening in June. An array of fully equipped condo options allow for a socially distanced getaway. The sprawling resort’s two golf courses are open, along with its bike park, scenic chairlift for those aforementioned stunning views and other outdoor recreational activities. As of press time, Massanutten’s indoor water park was undergoing an expansion and had tentative plans to reopen this summer. // 1822 Resort Drive, McGaheysville; call 540-269-5607 for rates
Goodstone Inn
Goodstone Inn, in the heart of Middleburg’s horse country, has always been a go-to for Northern Virginians looking for a relaxing escape. Now, the luxury resort’s private cottages are an even hotter commodity thanks to social-distancing requirements. While at press time the inn’s restaurant remained closed, executive chef Jan Van Haute has created a new tasting menu that can be delivered to cottages or enjoyed outside, picnic-style. Guests can also enjoy 265 acres of hiking and biking trails, along with kayaking along Goose Creek. And don’t forget that Goodstone is surrounded by wineries, the perfect salve for emerging from a long season of staying at home. // 36205 Snake Hill Road, Middleburg; room rates from $350 per night with minimum stay requirements
This post originally appeared in our August 2020 print issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our Travel newsletter.