Virginia Travel Blog

There’s even more to love about our Shenandoah bed and breakfast than just the romantic atmosphere, luxurious amenities, and delicious breakfast. One of the best parts about staying with us at L’Auberge Provencale is our Shenandoah, Virginia location where there is always something to do! We have compiled a list of the best of the best activities to check out this season. Each of these 5 things will fill up your spring and take you into summer. If you still haven’t decided when to plan your Virginia getaway, be sure to plan it around one of these spectacular events.

Travel just half an hour from the inn to experience the 91st Virginia Gold Cup in The Plains, VA Saturday May 7th. Join 50,000 other spectators and be up close for the biggest horse event of the year! Participate in one of the Virginia Gold Cup’s honored traditions and compete in the Tailgate Contest. Be creative and choose a tailgating theme with decorations and special food and drinks. Keep it fun and easy or go all out… it’s up to you! Set up a small picnic or large tailgate spot and enjoy the day.

Do you have a special mother in your life who deserves to be celebrated? Take her out for Mother’s Day at the wonderful La Table Provencale for a memorable meal. Enjoy a delicious four or five course meal and selections from the chef’s tasting menu. With farm to table style dining and the freshest ingredients, you will savor every bite of delicious cuisine. Book a table here for May 8, between 12-7pm.

Soak up the local culture and get inspired with Art at the Mill in the quaint town of Millwood. Stop by May 7-8 and experience one of the best known art shows in the area. Thousands of artists and buyers come out every year to appreciate the local artistic talent.

Celebrate the the blossoming spring season at the Virginia State Arboreum’s Annual Plant Sale, May 7-8. You won’t find a larger collection of gorgeous, high-quality plants anywhere else. Growers will be at the sale to provide expert tips and information and to help you find just what you’re looking for. One of the biggest and best plant sales in the country takes place just 2 minutes away from our Virginia bed and breakfast, so don’t miss it!

If you will be staying with us June 6-12 and are looking for an authentic and historical Virginia experience, attend the Upperville Colt & Horse show; it’s the oldest horse show in the nation! This show has featured incredible displays of jumpers, breeders, dressage, side saddle and more since 1853. Luckily for our guests, the show is located just 18 miles from the inn and we consider it a must-see for all of our guests.

Now that you have a full spring itinerary full of activities, all that’s left to do is book a stay with us in Shenandoah, Virginia. We look forward to hosting you!

The earliest of flowers are springing up and the greening of the fields has begun.  The vineyards will be starting to show their new shoots and the earliest of the wildflowers will be here in just a few weeks.  Snow bells are in bloom and the crocuses and tulips are starting to shyly poke their green leaves through the mulch reaching towards the sky.

The ground hog saw his shadow and with that good news, spring is on it’s way.  It is a great time to visit the Shenandoah National Park and the Virginia State Arboretum at Blandy Farm where the little critters are creeping out of their winter dens and life is renewing and rejuvenating.  Birds are making their spring migration and we have seen our first robins!  Hiking and biking are best in the spring when the air is still slightly crisp and the sun warms the day.

Easter is just a few weeks away and at L’Auberge Provencale we are delighted to start to use the bounty of our surrounding farms in our restaurant and brasserie. Our friends at Shenandoah Seasonal are already in full swing providing us with organic vegetables and we are happy to report our farmers of gmo free, free range chickens, ducks, pork and beef are able to provide us again with the freshest and best.

Apple Blossom Time in the Orchard

Reserve early for Easter brunch and don’t forget Mother’s Day is just around the corner.   So hop over the mountain and get out of the city to reunite with natures promise at our romantic Virginia bed and breakfast.

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Find Everything Historic’s (Easton, MD) own Meggen and Peter Taylor!

During thier stay in December 2015, The Taylors got to sit down for a fantastic dinner with co-owner and InnKeeper of L’Auberge Provencale, Celeste Borel.

Laughter, stories of history of the inn, and a touch of raspberry spice filled the air from the aroma of a 2013 Pinot Noir, Talley Vineyards, Rincon.

Meggen Taylor described  “[t]he whole L’Auberge experience [as] a family affair, just as it should be at an inn of this caliber”

To read more from our featured article in Southern Living magazine click here!

Forever Memories for Mom

Celebrate the most important woman in your life and enjoy the beautiful Shenandoah Valley at La Table Provencale restaurant for Mother’s Day Dinner. Produce and fresh herbs from our garden and surrounding farms make this farm to table dinner a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the wine country of Virginia.  Al fresco dining in season.

To make her day even more joyous, we invite you to book a night in one of our rooms or suites! Upon arrival in her room, Mom will find atop her pillow a single long-stemmed rose and eight delicious chocolate covered strawberries to be enjoyed. Then, we invite you to take an afternoon stroll along 172 acres of 5000 living tress at the nearby Orland E. White Arboretum, also known as the State Arboretum of Virginia, while they host their annual native plant sale, and bring home a memory to grow!

Dinner seating  from 1:00-7:00 PM, Sunday, May 8th, 2016.

Book Your Stay | Book a Table

Weddings can be a lot of work. In the midst of planning you may be wishing you had some extra help. To ease your anxiety and get you inspired for the big day, we want to share something special, a glimpse into some of the breathtaking weddings we have helped coordinate. 

Stephanie Ascari Photography

Stephanie Ascari Photography

Stephanie Ascari Photography

These couples have made special memories that will last a lifetime at our Virginia bed and breakfast. With breathtaking indoor and outdoor space for dancing and being with family and friends, customized menus, and room for 70 guests, the perfect Virginia wedding is easy to create.

For over 30 years we’ve been taking the stress out of weddings by helping to coordinate all facets of your day of matrimony from the rehearsal dinner, to the ceremony, to the reception, and to the last champagne toast. All you have to do is say “I do!”

Here are some photos of the happy couples we’ve been fortunate enough to help over the years. Each one has a unique and beautiful story to share about their wedding and you will too! When planning gets stressful, always remember that this is an effort made out of love for the one you will be standing across from at the altar! Let us take care of the little details so you can relax and enjoy one of the most important days of your life!

Stephanie Ascari Photography

L’Auberge Provencale offers a picture perfect venue and classically beautiful grounds, ideal for taking wedding photos that you will cherish forever. We would be honored to help you plan your special day. From the venue, menu, reception, and photos, we can get you the wedding of your dreams down to every last detail, without the stress.

Mona Botwick Photography

View more Virginia wedding photos or start to plan your wedding today.

Caroline Lima Photography

Construction is a long and slow process here at L’Auberge Provencale. We are looking forward to the opening of our new brasserie style bar and lounge.  Look for news about the grand opening.

Here are some behind the scenes photos as the progress unfolds!

Follow this link to our facebook page to check out our progress – Click Here

Lately, we’ve been getting a lot of questions on exactly what is going on at the Inn. Well, long story short we’re expanding because our guests love our food and service!

That being said, the current state of renovations is focused on the heart of our Inn: the kitchen.

We’ve more than doubled the capacity of our walk-in refrigerator/freezer to hold more of the local produce we know you’ve grown to love and expect from our farm to table restaurant. Then, we’re introducing service stations for our front staff members to use that will enhance your dining experience in the restaurant. If you didn’t realize yet, our chefs need plenty of room! We’re also adding more work stations for our chefs to experiment and create culinary works of art. Most of all, we’re creating a beautiful environment for chefs and guests to collaborate! We want to show you where and how your food is crafted and once the renovation is complete, our doors will be open!

Be on the lookout for updates on our renovation. As we continue through this process, we’ll explain more about the next phase of our addition: the bar and lounge!

L’Auberge Provencale has teamed up with Tesla Motors to provide an increasingly desirable amenity; Tesla Destination Charging.

One of the driving principles behind L’Auberge Provencale is a commitment to the environment. In the 1980s, the Inn introduced several green-initiatives that have carried into the way it operates business today. Many of its sustainability efforts, including the local garden that supplies its restaurant with fresh vegetables and fruit, have attracted eco-conscious guests and contributed to the success of its business. When Select registry approached L’Auberge Provencale with the opportunity of installing Tesla Destination Charging, there was no doubt that it needed to participate. The addition of Tesla Destination Charging is part of several efforts implemented by the Inn to lower its carbon footprint while providing a special convenience to its guests.

L’Auberge Provencale joins a rapidly growing network of resorts in Tesla Destination Charging, including more than 160 other Select Registry properties throughout the U.S. This new program provides hotels, resorts, and restaurants around the world with charging equipment, and gives Tesla drivers the freedom to charge wherever they want to travel by replicating the charging convenience owners are accustomed to at home. (L’Auberge Provencale has one 80A Tesla Wall Connectors; guests charge for free and non-guests can charge for $15.)

“It’s been a little under a month since the charger has been installed and we’ve already seen a difference in customer attitudes. We’ve had several come up to us and ask us about it, and even more let us know that they’ll be back with their Tesla vehicles or other electronic cars to use the station! We’re always looking for ways to improve our guests’ experience here at L’Auberge Provencale. This is our opportunity to enhance our sustainable efforts and provide exceptional offerings to our guests, all while remaining one of the most technologically advanced bed & breakfasts in the area. Plus, I really love Tesla!” said Celeste Borel, Innkeeper of L’Auberge Provencale.

Tesla’s growing Supercharger network (now 400 stations along frequently-traveled highways) has inspired Model S owners to hit the road in increasing numbers. Owners can drive all day, charging for 30-40 minutes at Superchargers and then stop at night to stay at L’Auberge Provencale other quality-assured Select Registry properties, and other locations that have installed Tesla High Power Connectors. Tesla’s High Power Wall Connectors add 58 miles of range per hour, topping off Model S’s full 265 miles of range in just a few hours on a single charge.

Select Registry properties and other Tesla Destination Charging station locations are located on Select Registry’s website, Tesla’s interactive webpage, and will soon be featured in every Tesla vehicles’ 17” touchscreen through the navigation application to easily plan trips and locate the property. Visit www.teslamotors.com/findus for more information.

Photographs of the property and chargers are available upon request.

Friends and guests joined us to celebrate the upcoming birth of Baby Borel on Sunday, May 31.  Christian and his beautiful wife Ashley are expecting their first baby girl the first week in August, and of course, the grandparents are all a twitter in anticipation.  Lots of fun games from “Name the Baby”, to “Baby Price is Right” had everyone laughing on the beautiful May day.  The three hour event was planned by friends of Ashley and the two moms, Celeste and Susan and much participation in decorations from Sylvie and Crystal, friends of Ashley.  The expectant parents were certainly “showered” with wonderful gifts to welcome the new arrival.  We are all looking forward to the miracle of life to be bestowed on us in just a couple of months.

We were reminded that here at the Inn, we can host your baby showers, bridal showers, and bridal luncheon get-together’s  with flare and fun.  It doesn’t have to just be for girls.  Why not ask the men to join you?  That is what we did and all had a good time.  Just make sure to include some “man” food; like fresh Virginia ham biscuits and lots of cupcakes!

Here at L’Auberge Provencale we are constantly trying to enhance our guest experience and be conscious of our environment.  By combining leading edge technology and the forward thinking of Tesla with our commitment to provide outstanding service and offerings, we now have the ability to offer our guests a seamless and convenient charging experience during their stay.  As the only bed and breakfast or hotel in the area to have a charging station, we are offering a unique amenity in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains for our discerning and eco-conscious guests.

Tesla Model S owners are increasingly hitting the road.  Owners can drive all day, charging for 30-40 minutes at Superchargers and then stay the night at L’Auberge Provencale and charge their vehicles.  We have installed a Tesla high power connector charging station as well as a 40A universal station that all Electric Vehicles can use; Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Plug-in Hybrid and soon to be released electric vehicles from Audi, BMW, Volvo and others.

Our commitment to our country environment and Christian Borel’s love of cars, certainly “sparked” our decision to install the chargers.  So bring on those electric cars and enjoy the winding roads of our country lanes here in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.  To see other Select Registry properties that have installed chargers for an electric tour visit www.selectregistry.com.