Broadlands

Day Trips

You’ll arrive in Broadlands and check into a charming countryside inn nestled among rolling hills. The crisp morning air is filled with the scent of pine and blooming wildflowers. Take a leisurely walk along the property’s private trail to stretch your legs and get a first glimpse of the region’s serene beauty.

After lunch at a farm-to-table café, embark on a guided orientation tour of Broadlands’ central green and community gardens. Learn about local heritage, sustainable agriculture practices, and meet friendly residents. Finish the tour with a coffee in the sun-drenched courtyard while watching butterflies flit among the blossoms.

Dine at a cozy tavern serving roasted root vegetables and locally raised meats by candlelight. Enjoy a live acoustic performance of folk music as the sun sets behind wooded ridges. Return to your room to wind down with a locally crafted herbal tea and soft linen sheets.

Wake up to birdsong and savor a hearty breakfast of homemade pastries and farm fresh eggs. Grab your daypack and set off on a guided hike around Lake Chesopeian’s western shoreline. The trail meanders through hemlock groves and offers panoramic views of glassy water reflecting morning mist.

Pause at a sunlit meadow for a gourmet picnic basket filled with artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and seasonal fruit. Relax on a blanket under oak trees while enjoying a chilled lemonade infused with mint. Afterward, rent a paddleboat for a gentle cruise around the lake’s secluded coves.

Return to the lakeside pavilion for a sunset yoga session led by a local instructor. Then savor a casual barbecue featuring grilled fish caught that afternoon and accompanied by fresh salads. Gather around a bonfire with s’mores fixings and swap stories under a canopy of stars.

Start with a traditional Southern breakfast at a restored 19th-century general store. Wander through Broadlands’ quaint historic village, stopping to admire Victorian cottages and antique shops. Chat with local artisans demonstrating woodworking and quilting techniques.

Enjoy lunch at a heritage inn, sampling heirloom tomato soup and cornbread made from centuries-old family recipes. Visit the Broadlands Museum to delve into the area’s colonial past and view interactive exhibits. Then stroll along brick sidewalks to discover hidden courtyards and a charming water fountain.

Dine at a farmstead bistro offering a seasonal tasting menu paired with regional wines. As dusk falls, take a guided lantern-lit ghost tour through cobblestone lanes. Cap the night with a nightcap at a speakeasy-style bar featuring live jazz.

Rise early for a hands-on cooking workshop on a working organic farm. Gather freshly foraged herbs, eggs, and vegetables to learn how to craft artisanal breads and preserves. Enjoy sampling your creations alongside other participants.

Share a communal lunch under a pergola draped in grapevines, complete with crisp salads and homemade lemonade. Tour the farm’s greenhouse and learn about sustainable pest management. Participate in planting heirloom seedlings to take home as a memento.

Dine at the farm’s candlelit barn restaurant where the chef transforms produce into gourmet plates. Listen to a local storyteller recounting folk legends as you sip a signature cocktail made from farm-distilled spirits. Wind down with a sunset stroll through lavender fields.

After a light breakfast, drive to a nearby boutique winery nestled in rolling vineyards. Join a cellar tour to see oak barrels and learn about the wine-making process from grape to bottle. Sample a crisp sauvignon blanc while overlooking dewy vines.

Enjoy a leisurely vineyard picnic featuring gourmet sandwiches and charcuterie. Participate in a blending workshop where you create your own red wine blend to bottle and label. Explore the scenic grounds on a vintage tractor ride, stopping for photos among sunlit rows.

Return to the winery for a sunset tasting flight paired with artisanal chocolates. Dine on an al fresco terrace as the sky turns rose and gold, accompanied by live string quartet music. Head back to your accommodations sipping a glass of your custom blend under the stars.

Set off in the pre-dawn darkness for a hot air balloon launch above Broadlands’ patchwork farmland. Watch dawn break in a kaleidoscope of colors as you float silently over misty fields. Celebrate your landing with champagne and fresh pastries in a scenic meadow.

Head back to town for a late breakfast at a cozy café serving cinnamon waffles and fresh fruit compote. Spend the afternoon exploring local artisan markets, sampling honey, jams, and handcrafted pottery. Stop by a beekeeping demonstration to learn about conservation efforts.

Relax at a spa for a soothing massage using lavender oil harvested from nearby fields. Sip calming herbal tea in a quiet lounge as soft piano music plays. End the day with a light dinner of vegetable risotto and roasted Brussels sprouts.

Fuel up with granola bowls and cold brew coffee before mounting a rented e-bike. Cycle the Broadlands Greenway, passing through forest corridors and alongside gentle creeks. Pause at overlooks to watch resident bald eagles and great blue herons in flight.

Enjoy a riverside picnic featuring smoked trout and crisp seasonal greens. Continue along the trail to a hidden waterfall, perfect for a refreshing dip in natural pools. Return the bikes and browse a visiting wildlife photography exhibit in the visitor center.

Dine at a riverside lodge offering pan-seared trout and roasted root vegetables. Gather by an outdoor firepit for a narrated stargazing session led by a local astronomer. Sip hot mulled cider as constellations emerge overhead.

Join a morning pottery class at a sunny studio overlooking the countryside. Learn wheel-throwing techniques and glaze your own mug to take home. Chat with the potter about the region’s clay sources and traditional methods.

Indulge in a chef-led cooking demo featuring local seafood and farm-fresh produce. Participate in crafting your own dessert alongside fellow travelers. Afterward, tour a small distillery to sample spirits infused with native botanicals.

Attend an intimate theater performance in a restored carriage house showcasing local playwrights. Dine on light tapas and craft cocktails during intermission, mingling with actors and directors. Conclude with a moonlit walk through lantern-lit gardens accompanied by cello music.

After a lakeside breakfast of omelets and fresh fruit, head out for a guided kayaking adventure. Paddle through peaceful inlet bays and spot turtles sunning on logs. Your guide shares tips on aquatic ecology and local wildlife habitats.

Try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding or rent a small sailboat to explore the lake independently. Break for lunch on a floating dock, enjoying sandwiches and iced tea. Take part in a friendly regatta race organized by the marina.

Return to shore for a lakeside seafood boil under a canopy of string lights. Feast on crab legs, corn on the cob, and spicy sausage with backyard-style sides. Cap the evening with live bluegrass music and dancing on the deck.

Pack your bags and savor a final hearty breakfast of pancakes drizzled with wild berry syrup. Walk through the nearby wildflower preserve for one last dose of fresh country air. Capture morning light on dewy blooms as a perfect send-off.

Enjoy a farewell lunch at a gourmet deli with freshly baked sandwiches and artisan sodas. Spend a leisurely hour browsing the local bookstore for keepsakes and travel guides. Reflect on your adventures over a cup of rich hot chocolate.

Gather at a hilltop pavilion for a celebratory multi-course feast prepared by a renowned chef. As twilight deepens, join a guided stargazing session using high-powered telescopes to view planets and distant galaxies. Raise a final toast to your immersive Broadlands experience under a blanket of cosmic wonders.