Historic Garden Week

Historic Garden Week will showcase the Riddick House, Servants Quarters, and Spy Hill House at Stevenson Ridge along with other homes in the Spotsylvania area.  Come celebrate with us as we offer a two-day special!  Stay in one of our cottages on Monday, April 18 or Tuesday, April 19 and spend Tuesday visiting the beautiful homes and historic sites open for touring.  This special includes 2 tickets to Fredericksburg Area Tour and overnight accommodations for two at Stevenson Ridge.  Don't forget to bring your camera!

Spring Time Get-a-way

Finally spring is here! Flowers are blooming, the grass is green and the trees are full here at Stevenson Ridge. Take a break from your spring cleaning to get away for a night or two and breath in the fresh, clean air of Spotsylvania County. Take a walk through our woods or rent a kayak in Fredericksburg and explore the Rappahannock River. Kick back and relax for a while and stretch out in a hammock by our pond for a peaceful nap.Treat yourself to a well-deserved get-a-way and usher in spring the right way, by enjoying it!

St. Patrick's Day in Virginia

Photo by the http://www.examiner.com/

Celebrate St. Patrick’s day in Virginia this year and discover the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow here at Stevenson Ridge. Surround yourself with the green outdoors on our 87 acre property, and to celebrate St. Patty’s day, attend one of the events going on in nearby Fredericksburg. Choose from Blue & Grey’s Brewing Co.’s 8th Annual Saint Patricks day parade or join Capital Alehouse’s celebration downtown. However you want to celebrate, you’ll find you’ve come to the right place this March.

Wedding Planning 101

Weddings are a once in a lifetime event (hopefully!) and therefore can get pretty expensive.  Having planned my own wedding last year on a budget, I thought I would pass along some tips I learned... some on how to save money and others on how to make the day a memorable and successful one.

1.  SET A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT...  Figure out what you can afford, who will be chipping in and don't be shy about letting your vendors know your budget.  The worst you should hear is that the vendor cannot work within your budget and then should offer advice on where or whom you should look into. 

2.  PICK 1 OR 2 THINGS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU AND INVEST... To me, the food and entertainment were most important.  Therefore I spent a good chunk of my budget on those two things and wasn't so picky on all the rest.  To others, your pictures or wedding video may be most important, so you will want to invest in quality vendors in those areas. 

3.  DOUBLE DUTY... Do you like the idea of giving out favors but can't find it in your budget to give out gifts at your own wedding?  Find items to double as favors such as picture frames that are placecard holders, custom wine or martini glasses that can be used as bar glassware or small wildflower arrangements in an assortment of antique vases that decorate the tables.

4.  TO INVITE OR NOT TO INVITE... I read up on a lot of etiquette books regarding the proper invitation rules.  What I learned is that it is completely OKAY to not include "and Guest".  You should definitely invite the significant other of your guest if they are living together, have been dating six or more months, or are considered serious.  I just recommend sitting the single guests together so they do not feel lonely or out-of-place. 

5.  HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER...  For those of us who are not experienced in the art of event planning and don't know where to begin, then do yourself a huge favor and hire a wedding planner.  You will more than make up your cost through preventing contract mistakes, avoiding inexperienced vendors, receiving money-saving tips/expertise and most importantly, keeping your sanity!  If you are excited about planning your entire wedding but want to relax on your special day, then a Day-of Coordinator is perfect for you.

Hope this helps you in planning your special day!

Spring is in the air...

Getting tired of the cold, blandness of winter? Shake off the gloom of winter and enjoy an early taste of spring while staying in one of Stevenson Ridge’s intimate cottages. There’s a hint of warmth in the air and you could find yourself contentedly casting a fishing pole into our beautiful pond or just breathing in the freshness of the air from one of the cottage’s front porches. Travel into Fredericksburg and visit Bistro Bethem where you can have garden-fresh greens from a local grower and sip one of their new spring drinks. While savoring a delicious meal at the Bistro, take in the live music on Tuesday nights. Don’t miss out on the early days of spring, instead come where you can experience them to their fullest!

As February rolls in, it's looking to be another cold, dismal month. However, there is a way to save you from the winter blues! Come stay at Stevenson Ridge and find the escape you've been looking for, whether you want a romantic Valentines Day getaway, or just a winter vacation, one of our five cottages will fullfill all your needs. You can curl up beside a cracking fire or head into Fredericksburg for one of the many events going on this month. Enjoy the shops and eateries of historic downtown Fredericksburg, which is just minutes away from Stevenson Ridge. For Valentines Day, delve into chocolate at either Potomac Point Winery's Sinfully Sweet Weekend or Lake Anna Winery's Annual Death By Chocolate. Want to find more events around Fredericksburg while you stay with us? Check out www.visitfred.com/visitors/events for all the area's fun happenings.

PAII Innkeeping Conference

PAII hosted their annual Innkeeping Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, last week.  As new innkeepers, we were excited to attend.  We spent 3 days networking with other innkeepers, vendors and industry professionals.  Debbie and I attended the trade show and did a little shopping!  It was a learning experience for me and I plan to implement some of the great ideas that were shared.  Not only was the conference a success, we were able to enjoy the beautiful city of Charleston.  Charleston is known for its spectacular restaurants.  The Oak is one of our favorite restaurants and it wouldn't be a Charleston vacation without stopping by!   Debbie swears by the Oysters Rockefeller but I'm partial to the Scallops.  On Tuesday evening, I had the pleasure of joining a few other innkeepers for dinner at Anson Restaurant.  I would have given my first born or more realistically my movie collection (which I adore!) for the Key Lime Pie they served!  I debated getting a second helping to take home, but knowing that I would probably eat it in bed later that evening I stopped myself.  All in all, it was a great week and you will more than likely see its influence on your next trip to Stevenson Ridge.