Dine With History at the Wayside Inn

The food was in keeping with the era -- American, but not stylishly modern. I had Miss Irene's Famous Crab Cakes, which came with French fries that were perfectly done, tender, yet crisp, with catsup and tartar sauce elegantly served in small side dishes.

I'm not much of a meat loaf eater, but it would have been interesting to have tried Miss Irene's Famous Meatloaf. "Miss Irene created this famous dish many years ago," the menu reads, "but left her recipe for all her friends to enjoy." While it was fun to dine here, we especially liked walking through the various dining and sitting rooms. You could dine here many times and enjoy a different experience every time. The Inn looks like a room setting in a museum. With each step, you felt as if you walked further back into history. We definitely would like to return to have a snack in the intimate little pub that was once the servant's kitchen. Dim and dark, it would be the ideal place to relax and pretend that you are living in the 18th century.

In addition, there are modern conference facilities and rooms, gardens, terraces and patios that would make a fairy-tale setting for a wedding or reception. Make reservations, and you can also stay in one of their 22 elegantly appointed guest rooms, surrounded by antiques such as French armoires and Windsor chairs, yet with modern amenities. We were told that there are even stories of ghosts who inhabit the Inn, especially Room 23, where a little girl named Annie is said to have resided.

One of the best parts about the Wayside Inn is that is near so many wonderful attractions in the Shenandoah Valley, including such classics as Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive and the Great Strasburg Antique Emporium. And the Wayside Theater is just up the street from the Inn.

The Wayside Inn is located at 7783 Main Street in Middletown, Virginia, and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America, of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. From Washington, D.C., take I-66 west

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