Afton, Virginia
Located in the George Washington National Forest, Gracewood is a retreat from the mental and emotional activity of everyday life. The house was recently remodeled as a comfortable setting for couples or small families who want a break. We hold meditation retreats here twice a year, so it would work well for a writer or artist or a contemplative. Yet it is relaxing and healing for anyone.
Upstairs is a full modern kitchen with new appliances. We made the cottage so nice that one of us could live there comfortably if we chose to do that. There is also a dining set and a comfortable full size futon couch. (Many futons are not that comfortable. We own an organic mattress company, so the mattress and frame are the best.)
Downstairs is a queen size mattress and two comfortable Ekornes chairs (stressless chairs). We use Savvy Rest organic bedding.
Within 12 minutes are several breweries, wineries, and a cidery.
The property is 39+ acres, with 1/2 mile along Meriwether Creek. The volume of water varies with the season, but the feeling of energy is always powerful, calming, and clearing. There are about two miles of well maintained, private trails suitable for hiking or running. Trails are well marked, and a map is available.
Over the course of eight years we have seen a few bears, raccoons, groundhogs, bats, lots of box turtles, a few snakes, a wide variety of birds, along with plenty of deer and other wildlife. We took pictures of what appeared to be bobcat tracks one winter, but we haven't caught sight of the nocturnals.
Please note that there is no television, although we do have fiber optic for internet which is pretty fast and reliable. Cell service inside the cottage is intermittent, although right outside it is usually pretty reliable. So it's relatively easy to unplug.
Also note that the main queen size bed is downstairs, and the bathroom is upstairs if you get up in the night.
There are wonderful musical events spring to fall. Skiing at Wintergreen in the winter.
Live music at our charming farmer's market in Nellysford on Saturdays May to November.
For COVID prevention we wash the soft materials. For hard surfaces where COVID can survive longer, we thoroughly wash them and then disinfect them with natural disinfectants. We pay our cleaning help well, and they do an excellent job.
Upon your arrival you'll see that our house is close to the cottage, but there is landscaping next to both buildings; and the cottage is actually quite private. It's likely that you won't see anyone on our 40 acres during your stay.
Absolutely wonderful stay in a beautiful part of Virginia.
The property was set away from the rest of the world. It was beautifully serene with hiking trails and a wonderful stream. I thoroughly enjoyed relaxing and having the quiet downtime. It was what I needed!!! The host were wonderful and left me to my own time, but were very helpful when needed.
My experience was top tier. As a house keeper it is hard to find places that are actually clean and this place was! It was absolutely adorable, the view from the window was beautiful, it was quiet and exactly what we needed. My favorite part was the two chairs in front of the big window, made my whole weekend and I could’ve stayed there forever. Thank you!!
My husband and I came to VA for a friend’s wedding and stayed here. It was awesome and the property owners were very helpful and responsive! We would stay here again!
This was our second stay at Michael and Heather's lovely cottage. I highly recommend it! The place is immaculate and the kitchen is fairly well stocked with equipment. Note that Afton and the surrounding area do not have a lot of restaurants, so we cooked in breakfast and dinner every day but Sunday night, when we picked up ribs and sides from Paulie's Pig Out, which is a little over a mile from the cottage - very good and reasonably priced. Michael is a super accommodating host - he drove us to a trailhead up the road from his house. The cottage is situated in the forest, and is very quiet and peaceful. It was perfect for our long weekend away.
Absolutely one of the best cottages we have ever stayed in. The hosts were incredible and very welcoming. Would definitely recommend this place for peace and serenity.
Cleanest property I have ever stayed in! Location is excellent for hiking and wineries. Beautiful trials on property. The perfect place for a getaway!
The cottage was beautiful inside and out! They have done a spectacular job landscaping and developing walking trails. Wish we could have stayed longer. Kind, peaceful energy.
The property was extremely clean and our hosts were very welcoming!!! The location was perfect tour all of the breweries and wineries in the the area. We will definitely return
We had a good stay here.Very clean and all the amenities were supplied. Wasn't aware the property owners lived next door. That wasn't a problem for us but didn't catch that when booking. May want to know that if you're looking for total seclusion.
Amazing getaway to really unwind and be in solitude with nature. A true tranquil space. It has everything you need and then some! A real recharging station! Thank you!
My husband and I were just looking for a quick getaway for the weekend and this was perfect!
This is a gorgeous, well maintained property that I could retire on! The trails are just beautiful and the house is as clean as could be. We will definitely be returning. The fresh mountain air was just what we needed!
Michael and Heather are some of the best hosts we’ve encountered. They were kind, responsive and knocked hospitality out of the park. The unit was clean and comfortable. There were thoughtful details throughout in an incredibly peaceful place. If you are looking for a true getaway with incredible hosts, I could not recommend this more.
Loved it
My husband and I had a great experience at Gracewood and would recommend staying there to any friends or family visiting the area!
We loved our stay at the Gracewood Cottage. Michael and Heather are fantastic hosts, and are extremely accessible, since they live next door. The area is so quiet and peaceful. We really enjoyed getting out and walking the trails that they had thoughtfully marked on the property. The Cottage is beautifully decorated and thoughtfully appointed throughout. We went to the Blue Ridge Rail Tunnel trail, Crabtree Falls, Crozet (Smoked Taproom and Grill was really good), Humpback Rocks. We checked out a few wineries. We would definitely stay here again! [Cook's Notes: I do this for all VRBOs, I cooked in every Breakfast and Dinner, there are few dine-in options that are close by, however, we ordered ribs and sides from Paulie's Pig Out one night, and it was superb. The kitchen had most everything I needed. Bring a good knife, and any spices/sauces/seasonings you may need (there was salt/pepper, and someone left a bag of Jasmine Rice). There is a small grocery store in Nellysford (IGA) and the Dollar General actually has a surprising array of dry goods and baking needs. The closest Kroger is in Waynesboro, so plan accordingly. ]
Well furnished and very clean. Peaceful. Close to Blue Ridge Mts.. If you are also looking for hiking, mountain biking, and great breweries and cideries along with great food, this is the place!
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