Hansel and Gretel would only dream of stumbling upon Salamander Resort & Spa. Seemingly out of a storybook, the luxury resort is a fairy-tale place where purses get their seat during meals, yoga is practiced on horseback, and gourmet s’mores are on the dessert menu.
After a three-day site visit to the Forbes Four Star-rated resort that opened in 2013, I left with a newfound appreciation for thoughtful service and attention to detail. Every detail was noticed, from a take-home version of the essential oil used during my massage at the spa to the pecan scones left bedside during turndown each night. Every resort employee I encountered met me warmly with a genuine smile.
Though it sits on a secluded, 340-acre lot in Virginia Horse Country near the tiny town of Middleburg, the Salamander is surprisingly accessible, I discovered. About a one-hour drive west of the distractions of Washington, D.C., the resort is only 35 minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport; plus, two private airports also are within a 30-minute drive, making it a significant draw for financial, government, insurance, and consulting groups.
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