Want to unplug, refresh, and explore? Plan a restorative retreat to the River Realm. A car ride away will open up a world of opportunities to catch your breath and calm your mind. Invite your girlfriends for a getaway or escape on a romantic retreat with your partner. Discover romance in everyday life here by the water. Get creative with art classes, breathe in the fresh air by boat or foot, pamper yourself at a salon, and discover wellness finds at our local boutiques. You’ll return home refreshed and inspired.
Here’s how you can spend a wellness weekend in the River Realm:
Check In to a Restful Retreat
From boutique hotels to gorgeous vacation rentals, you’ll want to find somewhere to snuggle up and slow down during your wellness retreat. For example, the Hope & Glory Inn in Irvington is full of magic and wonder. Wander its gardens and even take a bath al fresco in its private Garden Bath. The saltwater pool will be a welcome cool down for your mind and body. Vacation rentals will feel like a home away from home with an elevated twist. Book a house big or small depending on your group size. Options like Rosehill Cottage and Twisted Lemon are poised right on the water if you’d like to wake up close to the river. If you want to get even more in touch with nature, consider sleeping under the stars at a local campground. Opt for traditional tent camping at campgrounds like Belle Isle State Park and Cross Rip or go glamping at Grey’s Point Campground and Bethpage Camp Resort.
Break a Sweat
It wouldn’t be a wellness getaway if you didn’t get a few workouts in. BodyFit in White Stone has something for everyone–24-hour access, group classes, personal training, and more. Try something new at Shakti Aerial Yoga. The Kilmarnock yoga studio offers traditional mat yoga classes, aerial yoga classes, and soon pole dancing classes. For a deeper dive into your overall wellness, book a session with Motion Studios, which offers movement therapy and barre. Blue Honey in Irvington hosts pilates, yoga, and more.
Get Outside & Calm Your Mind
The River Realm is the perfect place to rejuvenate because of all the beauty and bounty of the land and waters here. Infuse some of this fresh air into your wellness getaway. Start by getting on a boat for a sunset cruise, a waterman’s tour, or charter your own boat. Get on the water without a motor by renting a kayak, canoe or paddleboard at campgrounds like Bethpage Camp-Resort, book a guided eco-tour with Windmill Watersports and they’ll bring the gear or use a self-service kiosk located around the region by Paddle On. Explore more ways to get on the water here.
Our parks also offer a way to enjoy nature. Enjoy seven miles of shoreline and trails at Belle Isle State Park, which also offers educational programming. Take a bike ride on many of the local trails and roads. If you’re staying at the Tides Inn or Hope & Glory in Irvington or Chesapeake Inn in Urbanna, you’ll have bikes at your disposal to explore.
Finally, we recommend sipping local wine in the sunshine to round out the days of your wellness getaways. Soak up the sun and views at spots like Good Luck Cellars in Kilmarnock and Dog & Oyster Micro-Vineyard in Irvington.
Feel Good Shopping
Our local shops are full of unique self-care finds to enhance your restorative retreat or to bring home to keep the good vibes rolling. The Daily Magic Shop is loaded with books about gardening, bath soaks, nutritional supplements, and more alongside shelves of jewelry, kimonos, and clothing.
Pamper Yourself
A little pampering is always in order during a wellness retreat. Come away from your River Realm trip with a little more sparkle. Indulge in facials, massages, skincare, nails, and more. LaSource Spa offers customized massage therapy, facial and skincare services, brow tinting, waxing, and more. The Tides Inn Spa is open to guests and non-guests of the resort. Indulge in body scrubs, massage therapy, facials, waxing, brow tinting, and lash tinting.
Unlock Your Creative Side
Restore your mind and spirit during your visit to the River Realm by learning a new skill or getting creative with the many artists who call the area home. Sewlovelee and Village Needlepoint in Irvington welcome crafters who love to work with fabric. The Tides Inn’s Maker Space hosts one-of-a-kind art classes from local artisans including pottery, painting, and drawing. The Rappahannock Art League Art Center is not only home to events and galleries featuring artist work, but has a busy schedule of art classes of all kinds.
Show Us How You Restore by the River
We hope you discover a fabulous escape that will restore you in mind, body and spirit. While you enjoy some much-deserved R&R, check out your photos and share the best with us! We hope more people like you can enjoy the calming and enchanting spirit of the River Realm. Tag us using @virginiasriverrealm and we’ll share your photos.
