By Amanda Feldman Jay

The Northern Virginia area has long been one of my favorite places to visit in spring. Whether it be for the cheery cherry blossoms in nearby Washington D.C., the lush vineyards of Virginia’s wine country, the slightly warmer temperatures that often feel more spring-like than those in the northeast, or all of the above, NoVA makes for the perfect springtime jaunt. After recently receiving our Covid-19 vaccines, my mom, nana and I hit the road and convened at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner for an early Mother’s Day celebration and girls weekend. If a last-minute drivable Mother’s Day trip or a girlfriends getaway is on your to-plan list, look no further than this elegant escape. And if you prefer to kick back and relax for the journey down, be sure to check out Amtrak’s massive limited time sale with train fares up to 50% off in honor of their 50th anniversary this year.

After having to skip our annual girls trip last year, we indulged in everything from long-awaited hugs to the hotel’s many luxury amenities and toasted to life and the sheer ability to safely spend quality time together again. We tucked into our spacious suite and the impossibly soft slippers and robes that essentially became our weekend uniforms for enjoying everything from cozy movies in bed to afternoon tea service en-suite. The property’s British-inspired Royal Tea menu is served on weekends and is now delivered right to your door for ultimate comfort and safety. The decadent spread includes three tiers of sweet and savory treats, your tea blend of choice, and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Rosé to top it all off. The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner’s afternoon tea rivals any of the traditional European high tea services I’ve had (of which I am grateful to have had many!).

If you’re still peckish after tea, there is no shortage of delicious food and drinks right onsite, especially if you opt for Club Level access. The Club Level has an all-day rotation of refreshments from breakfast in the morning and afternoon snacks to pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres and post-dinner desserts, as well as a limitless supply of virtually any beverage of your choice, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike. As soon as your glass is running low, the super hospitable club concierge will be over to top it off before you even have the opportunity to notice. You can book accommodations right on the Club Level or tack it onto your reservation as an add-on service if you stay on a different floor.

In the spirit of spoiling ourselves, we built massages into our itinerary because in my mind, no proper girls getaway is complete without a spa. The Ritz-Carlton Spa at Tysons Corner features everything from traditional massages and facials to a host of unique therapies like stress busting CBD-infused enhancements and a full-body Champagne and rose body polish treatment. The spa facilities are modest in size, but like everywhere else onsite, the service is sublime.

You certainly don’t need to step foot off property to enjoy a full-on pampered experience, but if shopping is on your to-do list, you won’t want to miss the shops at Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center, the premier upscale malls that the Tysons Corner name is synonymous with, located adjacent to the hotel. For a touch of culture, there are plenty of museums and attractions nearby in D.C. such as the International Spy Museum, The Library of Congress, The National Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian Museums, and much more. Simply hop on the Silver Line Metro, which is walkable from the hotel. If you prefer to sip on local wines in the vineyards where they originated, take a scenic drive through Virginia’s wine country and visit one of the many vineyards including Paradise Springs Winery and The Winery at La Grange, which are amongst the closest wineries to the hotel. The hotel also features a special RdV Vineyards Experience package, which includes roundtrip transportation to the scenic RdV Vineyards, tastings, and more.

There are endless things to do and see in Northern Virginia to make any girls weekend special and The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner is the perfect home-base to luxuriate.

Photo Credit:
The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner