Wine country stays

Consider staying in Paris -- Paris, Virginia, that is. The Ashby Inn & Restaurant is only a 10-minute drive from Delaplane Cellars. It's a great place to spend one night or a weekend after visiting Virginia's wineries and driving through the countryside. The inn offers 10 charming rooms on three acres -- six rooms in the main house and four in the school house. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Take time out to rent a bike and pedal quietly around the peaceful grounds or drive 20 minutes to the nearest golf course.

For a more upscale hotel experience and a romantic getaway, try the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant in Middleburg. It's a bit pricey, but for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries or Valentine's Day, you won't be disappointed.

The property sits on 265 acres of rolling pastures in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are 18 rooms in six separate cottages. The rooms are beautiful and well-appointed, some with Jacuzzis. There's also a common area downstairs, a full kitchen with utensils and refrigerators stocked with bottled water. Get a room on the top floors for better views. The restaurant serves great food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Take a stroll around the property, swim in the pool, and here's a tip: Grab a bottle of wine and a blanket and pick your spot on the sprawling pasture at sunset. Watching the burnt-orange sun slowly dropping behind the mountains is a perfect end to a great day.