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By Root 1008 0

in the country (circa 1835), sells organic beef, pork, lamb and produce from nearby Sunnyside Farms as well as gourmet condiments, imported cheeses, and wines. Nearly everything in the store is original, down to the wooden counters that were tracked down after they’d been sold. We tried something we’d never had before: Torta, a sheep’s milk cheese layered with roasted red peppers and basil pesto. Scrumptious! You can pick out a gourmet sandwich or salad from the cooler and eat outside on the backyard patio under an umbrella table. Open daily, 10:30 am-6 pm. (337 Gay Street, tel. 540-675-1074, www.sun­ny­side­farms.com)

That’s it for dining right in Little Washington. Nearby Sperryville has several restaurants – the Blue Moon (tel. 540-987-3162) is fun – and in Flint Hill, The Flint Hill Public House (tel. 540-675-1700) and Four & Twenty Blackbirds are real treats (tel. 540-675-1111).

Lodging

The Inn at Little Washington has 14 bedrooms and suites, each decorated in a unique way with European fabrics and antiques. Breakfast is served in the glassed-in porch looking out onto a courtyard; just ask and you can have a picnic lunch packed for a drive in the country. Rooms start at $350 per night during the week and go up to nearly $900 on peak weekends. There are no televisions, but ask for anything else and your wish will be granted. (Middle and Main streets, tel. 540-675-3800, $$$$)

If you can’t afford to stay at the inn, but want to soak up some of what draws celebrities to Little Washington, there are several great bed & breakfasts in town:

Fairlea Farm Bed & Breakfast is a five-minute walk from town to a fieldstone manor house overlooking a sheep farm, gardens and mountain views. Three guest rooms and one suite with fireplace, all with private baths. The hosts will set up a horseback trail ride for you. (636 Mt. Salem Avenue, tel. 540-675-3679, http://bnb-n-va.com/fairlea.htm, $$)

Arrivals at the Foster Harris House are greeted with either fresh iced lemonade or hot apple cider, depending on the season. The 1900 country Victorian B&B has mountain views, fireplaces, whirlpool, and five guest rooms with private baths. (189 Main Street, tel. 800-666-0153, www.fosterharris.com, $$)

The Heritage House B&B is an 1837 manor house where the rooms are decorated with heirlooms and afternoon tea is served in the parlor. All private baths; full gourmet breakfast. (291 Main Street, tel. 540-675-3207, www.heritagehousebb.com, $$)

Middleton Inn is an 1850 home on five acres with mountain views, eight fireplaces, four bedrooms with private baths, and full breakfast served. There’s also a guest cottage with fireplace and Jacuzzi. (tel. 540-675-2020, www.middleton-inn.com, $$$$)

Pet-friendly: The Gay Street Inn B&B welcomes dogs with advance notice and no extra fee, but they must be on a flea protection program. The restored 1860s stucco farmhouse has four guest rooms with views of the Blue Ridge. It’s furnished with some pieces made by the innkeeper, Robin Kevis, who’s also a carpenter. Donna Kevis, a graduate of Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts, prepares the breakfasts. They have a cat of their own and a chocolate Lab named Kaulua. Children are welcome. (160 Gay Street, tel. 540-675-3288, www.gaystreetinn.com, $$)

Information

Town of Washington, tel. 540-675-3128, www.town.washington.va.us.

Rappahannock County, www.rappguide.com, for information about lodging, dining, things to do, weather reports and the like.

Event

Trinity Episcopal Church’s annual house tour the third weekend in October is a great time for leaf peeping as well as peeking into some fabulous private homes. The ladies of First Baptist Church serve boxed chicken lunches, and high tea is served at the last house on the tour. Contact the Rappahannock Association for Arts & the Community, tel. 540-675-3193. (For other events, visit www.raac.org.)

Culpeper

Around Town

It took a little time, but after walking up and down Davis Street, popping into shops and talking to local business owners, we finally met a person born and raised