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October 18, 2012

Our Mini-Honeymoon: Part 1!

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Hello friends – Matt and I are back in DC as of last night after a lovely mini-moon! Our only complaint was that it went by way too quickly, as vacations always seem to. 🙂

On Sunday morning after breakfast with our families and some close friends, Matt and I left straight from our wedding venue (Rosemont Manor in Berryville, VA) and headed out to Fort Lewis Lodge in the mountains of Virginia!

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This place was pretty much paradise. Rustic but romantic. Casual and cute. In the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but eat, sleep, and enjoy the great outdoors. Perfect for a little getaway for a few days before returning to reality!

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Fort Lewis Lodge is nestled in the middle of George Washington National Forest about 4 hours south west of DC. We first heard about it because a friend of a friend is the son of the owners. Matt met him out in DC one night and was saying how we were looking into mini-moon spots; he recommended his parent’s place. The reviews online were amazing and we were sold!

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The drive to the lodge was gorgeous. Lots of winding country roads, farms, and big open space. The inn is owned by a husband and wife team; when we arrived, John, one of the owners, was hanging out outside. We chatted with him for a little while and then asked where to check in. “You just did!” was his reply. And we knew this was going to be an awesome trip. 🙂

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We spent Sunday relaxing and recovering. We were so wiped out from our exciting weekend! We took some time exploring the property and strolling around. So beautiful out there.

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One of the most awesome things about the lodge is that they feed you both breakfast and dinner every day – it’s included in the room charge. Breakfast was at 9 a.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m.; every night from 6:30 to 7:30 there was a happy hour at “Buck’s Bar”, which is an adorable little room next to the main dining room at the lodge.

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John served as the bartender while his wife, Caryl, cooked the food. We were definitely the youngest people there this week by about 30 years, but we had a great time chatting and making new friends every night. We quickly became known around the lodge as “the newlyweds”!

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Here’s the main dining room building next to the bar – so adorable!

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And here’s the dining room where we all ate! You can see the big kitchen in the back of the photo – Caryl was always found bustling around in there.

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Dinner and breakfast were both served on the breakfast bar in the dining room, buffet-style; when it was ready they rang this bell outside to alert everyone. 🙂

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The food at the lodge was AWESOME. Delicious home cooked meals. My favorite meal was dinner the first night – sadly I didn’t get a photo, but it was a really good pork chop, a barley salad, various veggies, etc. Delicious! Another night we enjoyed grilled steak and crab cakes. YUM.

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In addition to eating and resting, Matt and I also got in a lot of outdoor time! We were lucky that the weather was amazing and the fall foliage was stunning. Stay tuned – I’ll share some more pictures and adventures in part 2, coming soon! 🙂

I hope you’re all having great weeks!

- anne
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you might also like:

Our Mini-Honeymoon: Part 3!

Honeymoon Highlight: Ziplining!

Honeymoon Highlight! El Silencio Lodge: Hiking Adventures

The Final Honeymoon Highlight: Scuba Diving!

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25 comments
  • Mary @foodandfunontherun
    October 18, 2012 · 10:49AM:
    That looks like the perfect place to unwind from getting married! I remember how tired I was after my wedding, and visiting a beautiful place like that seems absolutely perfect! And the best part - you have a big honeymoon to look forward to in a couple of months! So awesome!
    Reply
  • NYC Fit Girl
    October 18, 2012 · 10:51AM:
    It looks like an amazing mini-moon! I love outdoor fun vacations! Congrats again to you and Matt!
    Reply
  • Michelle @Peachy Palate
    October 18, 2012 · 10:54AM:
    Looks like such a gorgeous quaint and restful place....! Just what you guys were after I'm sure! I have to say it one more time...Congratulations!!!
    Reply
  • Krissy @ Shiawase Life
    October 18, 2012 · 10:55AM:
    How fun! Glad you had a relaxing time :)
    Reply
  • Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie
    October 18, 2012 · 11:14AM:
    Congrats on your wedding and a beautiful mini moon!! It looks like an absolutely beautiful place and I don't think there's a better time to be there than now with the leaves all changing. I love East Coast falls.
    Reply
  • Diana
    October 18, 2012 · 11:16AM:
    That looks like such a beautiful and relaxing place! I love how they do the home-cooked food, and it looks so tasty, too. Glad you had a good mini honeymoon! And congratulations again! :)
    Reply
  • Adventurer October 18, 2012 · 12:22PM:
    Looks awesome. Great choice. Thx for sharing...
    Reply
  • Renie October 18, 2012 · 12:25PM:
    Beautiful. I love the mountains and the country. My husband and I are leaving Monday for Hawaii for our 45th anniversary on 10/23. Congratulations Anne and Matt.
    Reply
  • Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More
    October 18, 2012 · 12:27PM:
    Looks like a great place to relax!
    Reply
  • Grace @ Grace Dishes
    October 18, 2012 · 12:30PM:
    Gorgeous photos! Congratulations again. I love the idea of a mini-honeymoon right after the wedding before the actual honeymoon. Any reason to spend more time with your honey is a great idea to me :)
    Reply
  • Zulma Reyes October 18, 2012 · 2:46PM:
    Wow!! that´s place looks really amazing! so cute, so romantic...House in the Prairie. Thanks for sharing again.
    Reply
  • Pat Elsberry October 18, 2012 · 3:57PM:
    What a beautiful, relaxing place - perfect for a mini-moon!!! Congratulations to you both!!
    Reply
  • Life's a Bowl
    October 18, 2012 · 4:10PM:
    That lodge looks so cute! I'll have to share it with my hubby and hint to a mini weekend getaway ;)
    Reply
  • Lauren
    October 18, 2012 · 4:36PM:
    Yay! So happy you guys had a wonderful time! Can't wait to see/hear more.
    Reply
  • Doty October 18, 2012 · 5:22PM:
    Looks like a perfect place to relax and re-energize. Very charming ...
    Reply
  • Quincy Brown
    October 18, 2012 · 5:28PM:
    Plac looks great...I might have to my wife their for our anniversary in march. Thank for th pics and information.
    Reply
  • Sierra @ Posh Meets Pavement
    October 18, 2012 · 6:12PM:
    What a find. I love going just a couple hours away, but feeling like I'm a world away. When is the mega-moon?
    Reply
    • Anne P
      October 18, 2012 · 7:12PM:
      Lol mega-moon - I love it! It's in Costa Rica :)
      Reply
  • Sloane @ Life Food and Beer
    October 18, 2012 · 6:51PM:
    That place looks amazing. I miss the fall! I do not get much of that in South Florida!
    Reply
  • Elle | nutritionella
    October 18, 2012 · 7:24PM:
    I'm living vicariously through you. This post was the best part of my day! :)
    Reply
    • Anne P
      October 18, 2012 · 7:51PM:
      Aw :)
      Reply
  • Erica @ For the Sake of Cake
    October 18, 2012 · 8:32PM:
    How adorable is this place?! Can't wait to see more photos!
    Reply
  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More
    October 18, 2012 · 8:35PM:
    What an adorable little lodge! Congrats again. :)
    Reply
  • Carrie @ Fitness and Frozen Grapes
    October 19, 2012 · 7:02PM:
    That B&B sure does look like paradise; they can really be hit or miss, and yours looks like a big hit!
    Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

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