Hotel at a Glance: Walden Hall

Thoreau went out to Walden Pond to reconnect with nature, and you can do the same at Walden Hall. Inspired by the famous transcendentalist, the bed and breakfast brings guests to a beautiful, secluded setting while providing modern comforts. Rooms, named after famous authors, sport a little individual charm: the Emily Dickinson room has a claw-foot tub with a view of the pond, the Thoreau’s Pond suite boasts a two-person whirlpool, and the Emerson Pool suite has a private entrance.

• Enjoy a gourmet breakfast made from farm-to-table ingredients in the dining room, on the wraparound porch, or in your suite.
• Literary decor: Rooms aren’t just named after American authors; their furniture was handpicked to fit each writer’s style.
• Do a little stargazing in the adirondack chairs around the communal fire pit.
• Play billiards and darts in The Club, which also has a hidden arcade room.
• Fun in the water: Take a dip in the outdoor saltwater pool, or go fishing with a rental pole in the stocked 2-acre pond.
• Great for couples: Chocolates and a bottle of wine are included with some options.

Culpeper County, Virginia: Historic American Roots in the Great Appalachian Valley

Though it’s now a peaceful farming community, Culpeper County was home to some important figures of the American Revolution. At just 17, George Washington himself had the job of county surveyor, but it was the local people who really made a mark. A collection of 350 men known as the Culpeper Minutemen defended their homeland in the Battle of Great Bridge here in 1775. Though the war is long over, it can seem as though no time has passed in some of Culpeper County’s quiet little towns. Fields of crops dot the landscape, while wilderness abounds in the nearby Radipan Wildlife Management Area.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.