It’s often said that there’s no place like home for the holidays, but it’s also no secret that those months of gifting and hosting can take their toll. So after the last piece of New Year’s confetti has been swept up and the last relative has said their goodbyes, there’s zero shame if you want to get away for some much-earned rest and relaxation.
While beach vacations tend to steal the spotlight, these four wintry getaways within a four-hour drive of Tysons present plenty of opportunities to truly appreciate the beauty of the season. You can don you ski gear and zip down a mountain, bundle up in a cabin á la Cameron Diaz in The Holiday, or unwind with a luxury spa treatment. Whatever your ideal winter wonderland looks like, these destinations offer amenities and activities that will help you recharge.
Camelback Resort
301 Resort Dr., Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Drive time from NoVA: About 4 hours
Rates start around $199/night
Not everyone sees the wintry weather as something to hide from: If you find yourself itching to experience the snow and crisp air instead of bundling up indoors, Camelback Resort is exactly right for you. Located in the Pocono Mountains, this luxury resort is paradise for adventure-seekers and winter sports fanatics.
Skiing is the name of the game here. There are 39 ski trails and 42 snow-tube lanes over a total of 166 acres, and the resort’s snowmaking system ensures that there will be enough snow on the ground even when Mother Nature doesn’t participate. Anyone can try their hand at skiing here; the Ski & Ride Academy offers lessons for beginners ages 4 and up, and Camelback has partnered with the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports to offer accessible ski lessons for individuals with disabilities, ages 5 and up.
While you could probably fill a whole vacation with the slopes alone, skiing doesn’t even skim the surface of the activities in store for visitors of all ages. A three-level treetop adventure course allows adrenaline junkies to fly along zip lines, climb ropes, and balance on tightropes in a three-hour session; other escapades include a mountain coaster and two different ziplines (the coaster and one of the ziplines are even open for after-dark adventures!); and the Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark has 13 different waterslides, including the new Mountain Mayhem slide, which features lights and music for an immersive experience — and the indoor park is included in your room fee.
The resort offers suites in a variety of sizes so you have a calm space to relax and unwind after a full day. There are several eateries, too: Berrelli’s Italian Chophouse for a higher-end dinner; the ski-in, ski-out Trail’s End Pub & Grille; and Café Bar & La Colombe for a caffeine fix, to name a few.
Hillbrook Inn & Spa
4490 Summit Point Rd., Charles Town, West Virginia
Drive time from NoVA: About 1 hour
Rates start around $197/night
If your vision of a perfect winter getaway takes place in the sort of idyllic, snow-covered cabins that one might expect to see in the pages of a storybook, Hillbrook Inn can bring that picture to life. The bed-and-breakfast’s design and its surrounding grounds have an undeniable charm, making for a thoroughly picturesque setting.
Contributing to the inn’s sense of wonder is the rich history surrounding it. The land was owned and farmed by George Washington in the mid-late 1700s, and each of the buildings on the property has its own intriguing story: The main inn was built in the 1920s by General Frank E. Bamford, while the Hawthorn House was built around 1833.
When choosing where to stay, guests have the option of residing in the main house, one of four cottages, and in the newly renovated Gatehouse building, all of which are located in the primary portion of the property; or they can stay at the Hillbrook farmhouse or Hawthorn house, both of which are located within 2 miles of the rest of the buildings.
The dining options are on the higher end, courtesy of chef Jan Van Haute, who brings Belgian influences to the gourmet menu. It’s great for a special occasion, or if you’re looking to splurge on a nice dinner during your stay.
With the sort of relaxing amenities offered right onsite, you might not even feel the need to wander off the grounds. The Gatehouse Spa offers a full docket of rejuvenating treatments: You can pick from à la carte massages, facials, and cosmetic services, or you can select one of their packages to be pampered to the fullest extent. But if you do feel like exploring elsewhere, you’ll find yourself in a quaint small town, just minutes away from the Virginia Wine Trail, where you can stop into vineyards like 8 Chains North and Walsh Family Wine for tastings.
Yurt Glamping in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Afton, Virginia; Exact location provided after booking
Drive time from NoVA: About 2.5 hours
Rates start around $185/night
To escape to the outdoors and catch stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, try your hand at glamping in this rustic yurt. Staying here will let you get the outdoorsy feeling of camping, but it’s sturdier and provides more shelter from the elements than a simple tent or RV (plus central heating and an indoor fireplace), making it a more comfortable option for a winter trip.
You’ll be in a secluded area that provides the kind of peaceful reprieve you may be looking for — but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. The location of the yurt and the property it sits on provide a great opportunity to explore the outdoors. Guests can take a hike to the Humpback Rocks or the Appalachian Trail right from the property, and while it will likely be too cold for fishing on the pond, you can still stroll around and watch for wildlife. For winter sports enthusiasts, Wintergreen Resort is close by, with 26 slopes for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
The rental is also within a short distance of several wineries and breweries, including Devils Backbone, Blue Mountain Brewery, and Veritas Winery. And where better to enjoy a bottle of wine or a few beers than gathered around a campfire? There’s a 400-foot deck in the back of the yurt with an outdoor fire pit for keeping warm and making s’mores — just be sure to bring your own firewood to keep it lit. The hosts also provide a charcoal grill for cooking, so long as it is used a safe distance from the yurt.
Know before you book: The hosts note that the road up to the yurt is uneve and rocky — they recommend taking four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicles, especially if there’s a chance it might snow during your stay.
A McHenry Home from Stay BnB DC
McHenry, Maryland; exact location provided after booking
Drive time from NoVA: About 3 hours
Rates start around $279/night
For something cozy and on the rustic side, but that still refuses to compromise luxury, a modern cabin rental is the way to go. Plus, unlike a large resort or hotel where you’ll have to share the views and amenities with other guests, a rental property allows for a secluded, personal getaway. This house in McHenry, Maryland, fuses the log-cabin style and aesthetic with city tastes.
This location is best suited for a family getaway or a group retreat. The listing notes that the cabin can sleep up to 12 guests at a time, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. There’s even a dedicated office space with Wi-Fi, which makes for a convenient spot to work from “home” during the trip. It’s also important to note that the rental has a four-night minimum, so book it for a longer stay rather than a weekend trip.
This is a ski-in, ski-out location, so visitors interested in taking a run down the nearby mountains can hop on a lift right from the backyard. Nearby in McHenry, you can visit Deep Creek Lake or go golfing at the Lodestone Golf Course. For meals, you can take advantage of the full kitchen (one of the benefits of renting a whole house) or make your way into town to try some of the local restaurants, like Mountain State Brewing Company, known for their microbrews and wood-fired flatbread pizzas.
Even if you just want to curl up by the fireplace with some tea and a good book, it’s impossible not to admire the mountain views from this location. Wide windows throughout the house make it so you can feel surrounded by the outdoors no matter where you are, and two large patios are also ideal for taking in the views. Possibly the best part? That hot tub.
Feature image courtesy Camelback Resort
This story originally ran in our December issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
