There are so many hidden gems in DC and amazing day trips not far from the city where you can adventure to. But if you’re looking for a great weekend getaway a few hours away, this little known resort near Washington DC will be your new favorite summer destination.
The Omni Homestead Resort is in Hot Springs, Virginia, just four hours south of Washington DC.
Situated in the mountains of Virginia, the Homestead has actually been in business for 250 years. They are the perfect spot for relaxation and recreation.
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The Omni has many different activities that everyone of all ages will enjoy.
For relaxing, you can relax by the pool or float down the lazy river.
Or you can play in the water play zone or head done one of their waterslides.
Golfers can get in multiple games at the two 18 hole golf course on the property. There’s also a putt putt course for those with shorter attention spans.
Food is never a problem at The Homestead as they have four restaurants and several grab and go eateries.
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If relaxation and rejuvenation is your style, The Homestead has a world class spa and two of the best hot springs in Virginia flow through the property.
For the adventurous, there are various hikes close by, kayaking, segway tours and much more.
Nature lovers will adore the horseback riding and can even take falconry lessons, learning about these beautiful birds of prey.
And if you’re competitive, the Homestead has a shooting club, paintball, lawn games and archery!
No matter what you love to do or how you want to spend your weekend away, you can find at The Homestead. It’s the perfect place for a summer getaway!
When I was a kid – eight or nine years old – my family and I traveled from Cincinnati to St. Louis during that wonderful week between Christmas and New Year's. We didn't travel alone; my grandparents piled into the minivan, too, and in St. Louis, we met up with my uncle, aunt, and three cousins, who drove in from Tulsa.
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Meet me in St. Louis, we did... several years in a row, in fact.
The 12 of us visited the Gateway Arch (of course), and the town's many tourist attractions, but for me, what stands out most was the hotel at which we stayed: the Embassy Suites. I'd never been anywhere like it: the mezzanine had fountains and koi ponds; there were dazzling glass elevators that provided endless entertainment for us kids; the hotel had a doorman, concierge, and in-house pianist; room service came on silver platters, and the hotel bar offered bottomless Shirley Temples with extra cherries (charged to my grandparents' room, of course).
For me, this hotel was the gold standard by which all subsequent hotels would be measured – and none ever measured up.
Until 30 years later, when I checked into the Mayflower Hotel with my 13-year-old. I'd booked us a standard suite for a fun-filled weekend in Washington D.C.; I knew the Mayflower was historic, and the pictures were certainly alluring, but what sold me was the hotel's proximity to the White House and National Mall.
I've stayed in "historic" hotels before, and oftentimes, it's a euphemism for, well, the kind of place that's a little rough around the edges, with unreliable heating and skeleton keys and paper-thin walls. You sacrifice certain comforts for location; I wasn't prepared for how much of an impact the Mayflower would have on me, how the Mayflower Hotel would become an inextricable part of my Washington D.C. experience. How, in giving Embassy Suites vibes but with the remarkable history and undeniable glamour of its own presence, the Mayflower Hotel would emerge as the best place I've ever stayed.
My kiddo and I arrived at the Mayflower bright and early on a beautiful fall morning. We'd successfully navigated the Metro from Ronald Reagan International Airport; the Blue Line took us from the terminal to a stop just a couple blocks from the hotel.
It was early, and I knew our room wouldn't be ready, but wanted to check in so we could stash our bags at the front desk (a travel tip I learned from my favorite travel guru).
As Julian and I approached the Mayflower, we were both gobsmacked by its striking appearance. The gilded details and well-dressed doorman made for quite a first impression, and as we entered the lobby, we were amazed at the beauty of this historic hotel.
Having been up since 3 a.m., we were both a bit worse for wear, and I was a little worried at the first impression we were making. My worries were quickly laid to rest, though, as a front desk clerk gave us a warm smile and ushered us over to check-in. We were handed complimentary waters while she checked us in, and, to my astonishment, she said our room was ready and began going through the perks available to us as hotel guests.
The perks? We had a $25 restaurant/room service voucher, $10 Uber credit, and one complementary D.C. trolley pass per day. I wasn't expecting these perks and was delighted by these amenities. With keys in hand, we wandered over to the elevator and rode up to our third-floor suite.
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Our room was luxurious but not gaudy, with the kind of pristine touches you'd expect from an Autograph Collection hotel (the Mayflower is managed by Autograph Collection Hotels, a division of Marriott International – super helpful if you're a Marriott rewards member!): crisp white linens, impossibly fluffy towels, tasteful decor, etc. Small touches and embellishments in the rooms and hallways – glittering chandeliers, beautiful artworks, rich color palates – make the Mayflower feel simultaneously accessible and awe-inspiring. The bespoke wallpaper with signatures of the hotel's famous guests was a fun conversation point in our room!
The Mayflower opened in 1925, and in its nearly 100-year tenure, it's hosted many an American icon, celebrities, and politicians: Charles Lindbergh, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Ronald Reagan, to name a few. The hotel's Edgar Bar & Kitchen is named for the former director of the FBI who reportedly dined there every day for 20 years.
Today, Edgar Bar continues to draw D.C. politicos and powerful figures, as well as casual diners and hotel guests. It's fancy but not fussy; Julian and I felt right at home in the restaurant, though we did make an effort to dress up when we went – it felt wrong not to!)
In addition to the hotel's acclaimed restaurant, the Mayflower has 27 event rooms that have been used for a variety of noteworthy events over the years. Outside one of the ballrooms, a plaque describes an infamous tale involving Winston Churchill, a state dinner, unpredictable acoustics, and a whispered joke that... carried.
These guests and their stories are part of the bones of the Mayflower; something in the air that just makes it feel important.
Of course, in a town like Washington D.C., pretty much every building is important. On the roughly half-mile (2,625 foot) walk from the Mayflower to the White House, you'll pass noteworthy places such as Farragut Square, the Renwick Gallery, the American Red Cross Headquarters, and the Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters, each nestled along cobblestone sidewalks separated by impeccably landscaped patches of lawn and mature trees. The history and importance of D.C. is palpable, an electric current through the air.
As the longest-operating hotel in Washington D.C., the Mayflower is an inextricable part of this extraordinary town. When you stay here, you're not only getting elegant, easy luxury and extraordinary hospitality, you're becoming part of the Mayflower's story, too.
There is no denying that Washington D.C. is full of history. While I love exploring the capital’s monuments and museums, I personally love being immersed in history by visiting the destinations where historic events actually occurred — like The Watergate Hotel, the luxury space synonymous with America’s most notorious political scandal. While you can visit the Watergate Complex for yourself anytime, history truly comes alive when you book a stay at this luxury hotel.
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On a whim — and thanks to an unused credit card perk (we're looking at you, American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts) — we booked a room at The Watergate Hotel for a chilly December Saturday to experience the history and luxury of this D.C. icon for ourselves.
The Watergate Scandal forced Richard M. Nixon to become the first — and for now, the only — United States president to resign from office.
On June 17, 1972, five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters in D.C.’s Watergate Complex. The investigation eventually led to the Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP) and the president himself. Two years and 69 indictments later, on August 9, 1974, Nixon stepped down.
Watergate became one of the most notorious scandals in American history, and decades later, in 2016, the Watergate Hotel opened its doors again, beckoning visitors to explore.
Nestled along the banks of the Potomac River, The Watergate Hotel is unlike any other you’ll find in the city. With avant-garde architecture that was considered scandalous when it opened in the 1960s, this one-of-a-kind hotel pays tribute to its storied past in every detail.
From creative room keys stamped with the phrase "No Need To Break In" to Watergate Rules in the elevators that nod to the scandal (No. 5: Make sure the recorder is off), the unique history of this destination comes alive around every turn.
The hotel is also as luxurious as they come. As soon as we walked into the lobby, we were greeted with luxe decor everywhere we looked, from glittering accent walls and polished floors to beautifully decorated Christmas trees.
As soon as we completed check-in and got to the room on the 12th floor, we were in awe.
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While the room itself was stunning, it was the balcony and view outside that really stole the show.
You'll also find stunning views from the Top Of The Gate rooftop bar, but if you're looking to stay warm, you'll want to opt for The Next Whisky Bar and its outside igloos or the Firebird restaurant.
While it's not as convenient as other D.C. hotels in terms of museums and monuments, this waterfront hotel is in an excellent location.
The Watergate Hotel is within walking distance of Georgetown Waterfront Park (pictured here) and all of the shopping and restaurants found along Main Street, as well as a ten-minute walk from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop. It's also next door to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts if you're planning to see a show.
After exploring Georgetown for a few hours as the sun went down, we hung out in our hotel room for a bit before ordering room service — a cookie skillet, bottle of wine, and pizza for our toddler. Absolutely delicious!
In the morning, we enjoyed our complimentary breakfast in the on-site Kingbird Restaurant and made our way back home since it was dreary and wet. It was the perfect low-key, but luxurious, overnight escape. This was my first experience booking through American Express' Fine Hotels & Resorts program, and I was incredibly impressed. Not only were we upgraded upon arrival, but we also received welcome goodies in the form of sparkling water and snacks, as well as a $100 Experience Credit and free breakfast for two. This made a luxury escape relatively affordable.