The Plains
Just outside the Washington, DC metro area, in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia horse and wine country, The Plains has retained the charming character of a small village, but with many amenities that delight both residents and visitors alike.
The first thing you notice on Main Street is the signpost that tells you you’re 52 miles from Washington and, in case you’re seriously lost, about 2,500 miles from Los Angeles, 3,900 miles from France, and 7,300 miles from Shanghai, among other places. Then you notice the wonderful array of shops on both sides of the street.
Shops of The PlainsCrest Hill Antiques & Tea Room, 540-253-5790, www.cresthillantiques.com
Vintage furnishings, fine gifts, English-style tea room
Peyton’s Place, 540-253-5800, www.peytonsplacefurniture.com
Eclectic furniture, art, accessories, gifts, plus interior design services
Hunt Country Yarns, 540-253-9990, www.skeins.com
Yarns, knitting and needlepoint supplies; trunk shows, workshops & classes
The Bittersweet Garden, 540-253-5700, mark@traceryart.com
Garden accessories, plants, landscape design
Zig Zag Gallery, 540-253-5364, www.zigzagtheplains.com
Contemporary paintings, sculpture, fine crafts, unusual toys, classes and workshops for children and adults
Forlano’s Market, 540-253-5456, www.forlanosmarket.com
Gourmet deli, pizza, fresh-baked breads, cooking classes, wine-tastings, specialty foods
Enid Adams Design Studios, 540-253-5678, http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/enidadams
Wearable art (scarves, ties, jewelry), art glass, framed mixed media
Live An Artful Life, 540-253-9797, www.liveanartfullife.com
Fine art gallery, paintings, pottery, silks, and glass.
Halfway between Middleburg and Warrenton, The Plains is also steeped in equestrian tradition. Great Meadow Events Center, which hosts the annual Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup, polo events, horse races, the annual Middleburg Horse Show, among other events is a short ride from Main Street. Just down the road is MadCap Farm, a 65-acre estate open for instruction in riding, jumping, polo, and dressage. The area’s agricultural heritage is on display at the Archwood Green Barns Farmers Market, which offers fresh local produce, eggs, baked goods, cheeses, wool, and meats on Sundays from April through October. The Corn Maze in The Plains is a popular autumn attraction featuring a giant corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, animals, and country store, open on weekends from September through November.
The village is also home to The Plains Pharmacy, the Afro-American Historical Association & Museum, The Grey Horse Inn, and up-scale restaurants like Girasole and The Rail Stop (once owned by actor Robert Duvall).
Fauquier County is also known for a number of excellent vineyards and wineries, old-fashioned country inns and bed & breakfast establishments, farm and garden tours, and a thriving artists’ enclave that includes painters, potters, sculptors, and glass and fabric artists, among others.
For more information about local points of interest, go to www.VisitFauquier.com.