Richmond in Bloom
Explore more than 50 acres of spectacular green space at Richmond’s Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and take advantage of a yearlong celebration of horticultural displays, art exhibits (including works by artist-in-residence Kyle Epps), live music and more in celebration of the garden’s 40th anniversary. In addition, a variety of classes and tours make their debut in 2024, including Botany & Ecology; Beekeeping, Birding & Bugs; and Plant Play: Make & Take Workshops.
Lush displays of peonies, irises and roses will appear in succession throughout May and into June. With nearly 2,000 blooms in Ginter’s 9,000-square-foot Cochrane Rose Garden, you can find dozens of rose varieties from around the world. Visit May 18 and 19 for the Richmond Rose Society Show and get advice on growing roses. Weather affects bloom times. Check the garden’s social media for updates.
Adding sound to your sight and scent experience, the Groovin’ in the Garden concert series returns after nearly a decade to the rose garden’s terraced lawn. The alt-country and folk-infused rock band Carbon Leaf kicks off the season on May 30. Tickets begin at $38. In addition, Flowers After 5 concerts (included with admission) showcase local and regional musicians on Thursday nights (except May 30, July 4 and Sept. 19). Leashed dogs are allowed to attend on the second and fourth Thursday nights.
Numerous peaceful paths and woodsy trails wind past sculptures and blooming flower beds. Climb the stairs of the new Klaus Family Tree House for expansive views of the gardens and lake below. If you have little ones who need to cool off, head to the new splash pad in the Children’s Garden.
The botanical garden is open year-round, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $20; $15 age 65 and older or military; $10 ages 3-12; free for members and children younger than 3.
Double your exploration time in the gardens with an overnight stay at the nearby Museum District Bed & Breakfast (museumdistrictbb.com), where you can relax on a big front porch.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond, Virginia, 804-262-9887, lewisginter.org
A Groovy Getaway
The new Little Mod Hotel, steps away from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, is a retro escape for aficionados of 1960s style, parents traveling with teens on a college visit, or a graduation weekend. Opened in September 2023, this midcentury modern property is flush with vintage vibes. Each of its 15 guest rooms includes a pistachio-colored minifridge, a record player with a wide range of albums (from Elvis and the Beatles to Ray Charles and John Coltrane)—and a phone that looks like an old-fashioned rotary dial but works by push buttons. King bed or double queen configurations are available and include a small sofa or two chairs, along with light-filled bathrooms done up in colorful tiles. Five larger Studio King rooms have a full-size fridge, microwave and wet-bar area.
Don’t miss breakfast or lunch at The Mod Pod, the hotel’s on-site Airstream-turned-food-outlet. Order an açaí smoothie and try one of the popular breakfast tacos (filled with egg, chimichurri, avocado, pico de gallo, pickled onions and your choice of a protein), or opt for a waffle cone stuffed with steak, red pepper crema, avocado and roasted vegetables. Rates begin at $189 per night. Pet-friendly rooms are available.
Little Mod Hotel, 207 14th St. NW, Charlottesville, Virginia, 434-443-3207, littlemodhotel.com
Chestertown Charm
Located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Chestertown is home to many 18th-century Georgian- and Federal-style homes, and the vernacular-style White Swan Tavern bed-and-breakfast. A 2023 renovation completed by the inn’s new owners combines the
old-world charm of antique and reproduction furniture with modern amenities, including updated guest bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers. The inn is a short walk to the town’s waterfront and Washington College (founded in 1782, it was the first college chartered in the sovereign United States), plus restaurants, art galleries, shops and a Saturday morning farmers market.
Each of the inn’s six period guest rooms and suites has a comfortable bed with luxury linens and decor that is a nod to the property’s history. The spacious John Lovegrove Kitchen room—named for the 1730s shoemaker whose one-room dwelling was the lot’s first building—is a guest favorite for its rustic brick floor, exposed-beam ceiling, cozy seating and elegant bathroom.
While most small inns have guest rooms with a single king or queen bed, White Swan’s Wilmer Room is ideal for a family or friends getaway, with two four-poster double beds and a sitting area with views of the heart of Chestertown.
Rates at White Swan Tavern begin at $150 and include coffee and tea any time of day, plus a hot breakfast to enjoy in the dining room or on the shaded back patio or front porch.
White Swan Tavern, 231 High St., Chestertown, Maryland, 410-778-2300, whiteswantavern.com
This story appears in the May/June edition of Bethesda Magazine.
