We just got back Sunday from an enjoyable three-day, two-night stay with our family at Pembroke Springs Retreat in the Northwestern part of Shenandoah Valley. This bed & breakfast inn is beautiful and set in the tranquil countryside with a beautiful view of the green mountain landscape, but it has a very Japanese style flavor! They have two large Japanese-style indoor baths which are fed by natural spring water (like an onsen), guests enjoy delicious homecooked Japanese meals, and walk around in yukata and slippers after soaking in the baths. There are five guestrooms available, the largest of which is the Sunrise Room which is decorated and furnished to look very Japanese. Our family had the pleasure of staying in two of the guest rooms this past weekend — the Sunrise Room and the Oak Room (since we had seven people including the baby). My parents and sister had been there before, but this was my first time going!
We left early Friday afternoon, and the retreat was only an hour-and-half drive away from our home in Northern Virginia.
Arriving at Pembroke Springs Retreat
The view of tranquil Shenandoah Valley
the porch of the Retreat Guest House
The front steps of the inn. The house has a rustic country feel on the outside.
Bed in the Sunrise Room
Shoji screens open to show the view outside.
Table with chairs on the tatami floor. The floor underneath the table is deep so you can dangle your feet while you sit.
The bed in the Oak Room
Yukata robes laid out for guests.
Snuggling with obaachan upon arriving.
Mio is so excited to be here!
The doors to the two baths.
We soaked in the bath after dinner. It was so relaxing!
I didn't bring my camera into the bath (for fear of getting it wet), but here is a photo of the bath from their site!
Mio with her ojiichan, both in yukata.
Playing board games with the siblings at night.
A delicious Japanese-style breakfast with salmon the following morning.
Some of the family at the breakfast table.
Fresh fruits for dessert!
After breakfast, we took a walk around the retreat property.
Mio needed ample protection from the sun!
There were lots of chickens in the coop.
...and a peacock on the roof!
Miwa and Mio outside the barn.
Afterwards, we drove around the surrounding area and picked up lunch. Mio slept the entire time in her car seat and didn’t wake up until we got back to the inn.
Mio waking up with bed hair... lol.
Dinner was kicked off with a delectable tempura appetizer.
For the main course, we had ginger chicken buffet-style. It was so good, I went back for seconds!
Flan cake with ice cream and berries in Cointreau sauce for dessert!
In the evening, Mio practiced standing up with her auntie. She firmly plants her feet on the ground and attempts to stand up on her feet! We have a feeling she might start standing up on her own before she even learns to crawl.
Fish for breakfast the second morning. All the meals were so colorful!
The ladies of the Yokoyama family
Before leaving the retreat.
We had a really lovely time at Pembroke Springs Retreat, and will definitely be back again! I am hoping that we can go again as a family — this time, with Dan too — perhaps when we are back for the winter holidays. It really was such a perfectly peaceful getaway!
