I hear the ranch is doing some LivingSocial deals now, but they really need to get themselves out there and market more to the D.C.-metro area. We stumbled across the Marriott Ranch via Google search when looking at nearby places for a weekend getaway out of the city that wouldn't be a complete drain because of the long drive. Believe it or not, this beautiful, serene getaway is less than an hour drive from Fairfax (take the Marshall exit from I-66).
The ranch is just a fun, relaxing experience from the beginning. When you turn in the main driveway leading up to the manor house, you'll likely have to stop the car for a couple of minutes and wait for a cow to get out of the road. We were lucky enough to see a couple of calves up close for feeding time.
The checkin process was quick. A nice older lady gave me the key as she showed me around the manor house and the surrounding grounds. We stayed in the Fairfield Suite, which was very nice and allows you all of the bed-and-breakfast amenities of the manor house without living in a room off a hallway with a bunch of other tenants (a few of the suites, including Fairfield, are in the carriage houses out back, only a few steps from the manor house front door).
Need a snack or somewhere to relax with a good book? The kitchen has a full stock of popcorn, granola bars, cereal, chips, etc., along with water, wine, beer, champagne and such that you are allowed relatively unlimited access to at any time during your stay (I say relatively because I imagine at some point they might try to herd you out of the kitchen, but I never actually saw this happen, even on my third or fourth trip for pretzels). The innkeeper hosts a wine and cheese reception from 4 to 6 p.m. in the the piano room each evening -- I have no idea where they got the goat cheese I had, but it was absolutely earthshattering in its deliciousness.
Each morning, beginning at 8 a.m., you get a three-course breakfast. This was perhaps the part of the stay I was originally the most excited about, but it's also the reason for my review being four stars instead of five. The first course -- pastries... to die for. They make some of the best pastries I've ever had. I am especially a big fan of the zucchini muffins and the blueberry scones. The second course: fruit. A good variety, and different, both mornings. I liked the second morning best because of the perfectly ripe blackberries and delectably tart pineapple.
But the third course is where the breakfast sort of struggles. We had pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs one morning. There's no option to get an egg fried or poached, for example, they just bring out the meal of the day to you. The bacon was good, but I really prefer turkey bacon myself. The pancakes were the best thing we had in the third course both days, but I would've expected -- with all the other high-end stuff coming out of this kitchen -- something other than plain old white flour pancakes. Buckwheat or something, perhaps? Blueberries in them? I dunno. Seemed like a cop-out. The second morning's third course also fell flat -- grits, sausage patty, sausage link and -- yet again -- scrambled eggs. I typically love grits, but these had cheese mixed in... so much so that it was very overpowering and overwhelmingly heavy. The sausage patty was dry, and the link had a weird flavoring to it. The eggs -- well again, yay, you can make scrambled eggs! Congrats?
So what do you do at the ranch when you're not enjoying filling up your tummy? How about a spot of tea in J.W. Marriott's library? Checking out the various historical memorabilia from the Marshall family? (Yes, as in John and James Marshall.) Enjoying the countryside vistas and wildlife?
Well, there's also satellite TV, comfortable beds and a smokehouse where you can enjoy a cigar, play a game of poker or warm up by the fire. The ranch is surrounded by wineries and boasts its own horse stables about two miles from the manor house. We also went on a two-hour trail ride, and the staff there was very friendly, professional and helpful -- which was good for me, as a beginner horse rider.
Overall, the ranch is a moderately priced, quiet getaway from the traffic and noise of the D.C. area. It's a great place to enjoy a book, take in the farm life and get served a good meal by friendly folks. Heck, if they had WiFi I would've stayed another day and teleworked from the beauty of Hume, Va. I highly recommend Marriott Ranch... and here's your pro tip: Be on the lookout for dishes of Andes chocolates stashed around the manor house. read more