Remote yet accessible, Keswick is located near Charlottesville, VA. Neighboring Monticello, Keswick is convenient to Richmond, Washington DC and even the NY area. This region is rich in history and academic tradition with the university of VA, James Madison’s Montpelier, James Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello are all close by. The greater Charlottesville area has a wide variety to offer to its visitors such as outdoor activities, restaurants, wineries, museums, boutiques, theatre, music, horseback riding, fly fishing, fox hunting, hot air ballooning and more!
Aside from the activities outside of Keswick Hall, Keswick itself has much to offer its guests as well. Keswick Hall has been restored and extended to create an intimate hotel-resort feel, perfect for romantics and explorers. Keswick Hall is an impressive 48-room country-house estate with its own Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole golf course and luxurious spa. Just some of the amenities that Keswick Hall has to offer are horseshoes, tennis, archery, croquet, game room, pool side dining, kitchen tours, a beautiful wine cellar, nature trails, fly fishing, movie library, Customized Vineyard Tours and Wine Tastings, water aerobics, gym, spa, infinity pool with underwater music, indoor/outdoor pool and much more. For those who wish to combine relaxation and pampering with fresh country air, it’s the perfect escape. With 600 acres of rolling countryside to do as you please, the sky is the limit.
My Thoughts:
Of all of the resorts that I’ve visited, this is, by far, my favorite. Upon driving up to Keswick Hall I felt like I had just entered the property of a luxurious Italian villa; it was absolutely stunning. Once I had a chance to explore Keswick Hall and its grounds I was even more impressed with the beauty and luxury at every turn. Our room had a private balcony (view above) which we absolutely loved. You could see the acres of beautifully landscaped property. We spent a good amount of time on this balcony enjoying the sun, the quiet, and sipping our sweet tea while reading a good book.
Aside from enjoying a beautiful room and view, we also had a chance to enjoy numerous other aspects of Keswick Hall. We had a chance to tour their newly completed wine cellar with Scott Meynig, who was a wealth of knowledge when it came to the wine cellar, Fossett's restaurant and their vast selection of wines. Starting at $300/person you can book a small party (up to 12 people), a romantic meal for two, or rehearsal dinner. Reserve this hidden cellar for the ultimate dining experience. Ideal for that special occasion, you'll be treated to a consultation with the Executive Chef and Sommelier, who will help you design a customized menu.
We also had a chance to dine at Fossett’s – Opened in June of 2004, Keswick Hall’s elegant yet casual evening restaurant features expansive three-sided floor to ceiling windows with spectacular open views of the estate’s pristine landscape and the Southwest mountains. The interiors, designed to be warm and refreshing, are accented with historical Virginia artwork, custom designed furniture, and original hand-painted murals. Fossett's operates by offering many smaller portion courses so you leave feeling pleasantly full, not stuffed, while providing the opportunity to taste multiple different items, and still room for dessert. Some of the courses we had a chance to try were the French onion tart, spinach salad with priscuito, braised lamb spaghetti, crab pasta and quail, and chocolate tart for dessert. My husband and I were both highly impressed with the combination of flavors and overall presentation. It was my husband's favorite meal all week!
 |
| Crab Pasta |
 |
| Chocolate Tart |
In addition to visiting the cellar and dining at Fosset's, we also had a chance to visit the spa and two of the three swimming pools. The first pool we visited was the outdoor inifinity pool which is kept at a constant temperature, which also plays music underwater, which is a first. The second was an indoor/outdoor pool (shown below). The indoor portion is open all year round, and it's outdoor half open in the warmer months. Right next to the indoor/outdoor pool is the spa, where we had a couple's massage. The massage therapists were very accommodating with intensity of pressure, places to avoid or focus on, so I would definitely recommend a spa treatment while you're here.
Now since this is part of the Romance/Getaway series, I wanted to also highlight that Keswisk would be a beautiful place to have a wedding or reception. Vineyards are very popular wedding sites these days, and Keswick has a wealth of options when it comes to getting married or holding the reception here. Ceremonies and receptions from 10 to 200 people can be customized to suit the ambience and vision of the couple, whether it is an outdoor gathering with stunning views of the rolling hillsides or a formal setting in the main ballroom. Please visit their e-brochure for more information: http://www.myonlinepubs.com/publication/?i=24841
Tel: 434 979 3440 or 800 274 5391
disclaimer: stay provided for review
I have been here and I must say I LOVED it. I really wanna go back someday. My family would love this place.
ReplyDelete